Been way too long since I had an author over for a chat, so I'm double happy to present this awesome lady and her debut. Ladies and gents, give it up for Priyanka Menon and "The One That Got Away"!
Interview with Priyanka Menon
1) What do you like most and least about being a writer?
Being a writer is very liberating. You get to live through your characters, experience new things, visit new places, say things you probably would never say in real. For instance, I don’t think any man would be as arrogant as Mr. Darcy and say, “She is not handsome enough to tempt me.” :P
What I like the least about being a writer is when a story has to come to an end. In my mind, I’m always writing beyond the requisite number of words and pages that a book would have.
2) Do you prefer a specific genre for reading and writing?
I’m a book-dragon, honestly. There’s no specific genre that I prefer to read or write. Presently, I’m reading Isaac Asimov, Angela Carter, Manto, Johanna Lindsey, and Twinkle Khanna.
A day inside my head is Diwali in DisneyLand.
3) To you, what is ‘typical’ for Indian romance novels?
You know, in India we have this notion that you don’t marry one another, you marry the entire family. Or well, something along those lines at least. So naturally, love and romance also need to account for family (both immediate and extended). Indian romance novels also rely heavily on this, at least the ones that I have read so far. But what I also appreciate about Indian romance novels, that is typical to them (but not typical to romance novels outside of India) is the protagonists are not carved out of perfection. It becomes easier to relate to these imperfect characters.
4) Any books and / or authors who have influenced your writing?
There are too many…wayyyy too many authors and books that have influenced my writing. Jane Austen has always been a goddess for me. In recent times, Chimamanda Adichie comes pretty close to being one. In the romance genre, Penny Jordan, and Johanna Lindsey are my absolute favourites.
5) Use these 5 words to write a mini-story: passion, compassion, think, woman, decision
There was a strange kind of restlessness in her voice that night. Her songs were the same, but her voice…it felt different. Decision made, he walked towards her then, slowly, letting his heartbeat settle into the rhythm of her song. He’d seen this woman every day for the last three years. Every night, he sat at the same table in the crowded bar, while she sang songs of compassion, life, and love with the same unbridled passion. But tonight was different. She was different. And he wanted to know why.
He stopped just short of the stage, and whispered, “Nina?” She stopped singing then. The bar manager grunted his displeasure and the customers around started howling theirs. But he didn’t care about them. He saw only her. He saw her eyes twinkling, brighter than ever. She put her hand on the mic, whispered, “Green room in five minutes,” and went back to singing.
Exactly five minutes later, he found himself standing in front of a battered old wooden door. On it was the sign – Green Room. He knocked twice, and a soft voice said, “Come in.”
“I have an answer for you,” she said just as he perched on a small stool.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered back. He looked down at her hands then. She was wearing his ring.
*The End*
6) Do you find it easy or difficult to write ‘sensual / steamy scenes’?
Hahaha…no! How can you be a romance writer and be squeamish about writing sensual scenes? Although, truth be told, the only time I actually got squeamish about such a scene was when my 81 year old grandmother told me she is halfway through my book. I am sure she has read a certain scene or two. Which is probably why I haven’t asked her what she thinks of the book. *covers face*
7) Is there a question you have always hoped somebody would ask you? (Feel free to answer it, too.)
Whenever I would attend a book-signing, I would always imagine myself sitting where the author sat and a reader would come up to me and say, “Could I have a copy signed, please?”
I can’t tell you how excited I am since it’s happened to me! So, if anybody wants a signed copy, come, come! <3
8) Complete this sentence: A writer’s most important tool is…
(Ctrl+A+Del)
A good writer has to be a great editor.
9) Describe your debut “The One That Got Away” in 3 words.
“It’s out now!”
10) Please tell us more about your latest book(s) and plans for the future.
My book ‘The One That Got Away’ is the story of estranged best friends who try to find their way back to each other.
I’m writing another romance novel at the moment, along with a few pieces of spoken word poetry. They’re keeping me busy and laptop sleeps for only as long as I do (3-4hours).
Being a writer is very liberating. You get to live through your characters, experience new things, visit new places, say things you probably would never say in real. For instance, I don’t think any man would be as arrogant as Mr. Darcy and say, “She is not handsome enough to tempt me.” :P
What I like the least about being a writer is when a story has to come to an end. In my mind, I’m always writing beyond the requisite number of words and pages that a book would have.
2) Do you prefer a specific genre for reading and writing?
I’m a book-dragon, honestly. There’s no specific genre that I prefer to read or write. Presently, I’m reading Isaac Asimov, Angela Carter, Manto, Johanna Lindsey, and Twinkle Khanna.
A day inside my head is Diwali in DisneyLand.
3) To you, what is ‘typical’ for Indian romance novels?
You know, in India we have this notion that you don’t marry one another, you marry the entire family. Or well, something along those lines at least. So naturally, love and romance also need to account for family (both immediate and extended). Indian romance novels also rely heavily on this, at least the ones that I have read so far. But what I also appreciate about Indian romance novels, that is typical to them (but not typical to romance novels outside of India) is the protagonists are not carved out of perfection. It becomes easier to relate to these imperfect characters.
4) Any books and / or authors who have influenced your writing?
There are too many…wayyyy too many authors and books that have influenced my writing. Jane Austen has always been a goddess for me. In recent times, Chimamanda Adichie comes pretty close to being one. In the romance genre, Penny Jordan, and Johanna Lindsey are my absolute favourites.
5) Use these 5 words to write a mini-story: passion, compassion, think, woman, decision
There was a strange kind of restlessness in her voice that night. Her songs were the same, but her voice…it felt different. Decision made, he walked towards her then, slowly, letting his heartbeat settle into the rhythm of her song. He’d seen this woman every day for the last three years. Every night, he sat at the same table in the crowded bar, while she sang songs of compassion, life, and love with the same unbridled passion. But tonight was different. She was different. And he wanted to know why.
He stopped just short of the stage, and whispered, “Nina?” She stopped singing then. The bar manager grunted his displeasure and the customers around started howling theirs. But he didn’t care about them. He saw only her. He saw her eyes twinkling, brighter than ever. She put her hand on the mic, whispered, “Green room in five minutes,” and went back to singing.
Exactly five minutes later, he found himself standing in front of a battered old wooden door. On it was the sign – Green Room. He knocked twice, and a soft voice said, “Come in.”
“I have an answer for you,” she said just as he perched on a small stool.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered back. He looked down at her hands then. She was wearing his ring.
*The End*
6) Do you find it easy or difficult to write ‘sensual / steamy scenes’?
Hahaha…no! How can you be a romance writer and be squeamish about writing sensual scenes? Although, truth be told, the only time I actually got squeamish about such a scene was when my 81 year old grandmother told me she is halfway through my book. I am sure she has read a certain scene or two. Which is probably why I haven’t asked her what she thinks of the book. *covers face*
7) Is there a question you have always hoped somebody would ask you? (Feel free to answer it, too.)
Whenever I would attend a book-signing, I would always imagine myself sitting where the author sat and a reader would come up to me and say, “Could I have a copy signed, please?”
I can’t tell you how excited I am since it’s happened to me! So, if anybody wants a signed copy, come, come! <3
8) Complete this sentence: A writer’s most important tool is…
(Ctrl+A+Del)
A good writer has to be a great editor.
9) Describe your debut “The One That Got Away” in 3 words.
“It’s out now!”
10) Please tell us more about your latest book(s) and plans for the future.
My book ‘The One That Got Away’ is the story of estranged best friends who try to find their way back to each other.
I’m writing another romance novel at the moment, along with a few pieces of spoken word poetry. They’re keeping me busy and laptop sleeps for only as long as I do (3-4hours).
About the Author
Priyanka is a lecturer and spoken word poet, who literally moonlights as a romance writer – she typically writes into the wee hours of the morning. Her affair with romance novels began when she was barely out of the school room. For that she doesn’t know if she should thank or blame her aunt, who gifted her her first romance novels. For leisure, she loves watching reruns of The Wonder Years, reading comic books, and dissing saas-bahu soap operas with her grandmother. She believes she gets her writing powers from red-velvet pastries and white-chocolate mochas at Starbucks. You can write to her at
About the Book
What are school friends for? Shared lunches, secrets, movies and studies. And if there is a best friend, you want to share everything with him. But do things really work out the way you want them to? Is life really fair? Shyamita and Jai know they have to go different ways once school is over. Shyamita is going to pursue dance and Jai is off to Cardiff for further studies. What happens when they meet after several years? Sparks fly, shocking them both. Before they can figure out what is happening, love strikes.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qHkWgN
Flipkart: http://goo.gl/zkibSs
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qHkWgN
Flipkart: http://goo.gl/zkibSs
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