Wednesday, November 21, 2018

AUTHOR'S CIRCLE interview SULEIKHA SNYDER


Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Readers!

May this year be filled with gratitude, family and feasting for all.

On Author’s Circle today, meet author and editor
Suleikha Snyder to talk about writing, life and his/her book, 

TIKKA CHANCE ON ME.

Hi Suleikha, thanks for dropping in and letting us have a peek into your life.


1.     So, what’s TIKKA CHANCE ON ME about? 

     On the surface, it’s a really straightforward romance about a girl who works at her family’s Indian restaurant in small-town Indiana and the hunky bad-boy biker who always comes in for food. But, of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems! It’s really, at least in my mind, about the things that bring you together even when it looks like you have nothing in common—and about taking risks in order to be happy.   

    2. What’s your favorite line from your latest novel? Why? 

     I wrote so many jokes. So. Many. Jokes. But let’s go with this: He looked like heroism and hedonism’s beautiful bastard. And, at least for tonight, he was all mine.  


     3. What’s your favorite book by another author, and why?

    
   A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle. It’s such a beautiful look at a teenager’s first real experience with death and grief, but also an exploration of her creative journey and her finding her voice as a poet.  

4.    If your book becomes a movie whom would you want to play the hero and the heroine? 

     Well, the hero, Trucker Carrigan, is inspired by Chris Evans. So, he’s the one I’d want playing that role—even though he’s probably a little old for it now! As to the heroine, Pinky, I really like Shazi Raja, who plays Jaya on CBS’s God Friended Me.   

5.       How did you become a writer? In other words, tell us YOUR STORY. 

In my family’s region of India, Hindus do a special ceremony when a baby turns six months old. As part of it, they put a bunch of items on a plate—money, a book, etc. Whatever the baby grabs will define their future. I grabbed a pen. The rest is history. I’ve never wanted to do or be anything else.

6.   What is your best marketing tip? 

Do only what feels comfortable and natural to you. Don’t force yourself to be on social media if you hate Twitter or Facebook. Don’t force yourself to do signings if you’re an introvert. At the end of the day, writing the book is your most important job. All of the other stuff is secondary to that—and secondary to your own mental health!

7.     Why write what you write? 

Romance has always been my favorite genre, and I write it because I believe South Asian women deserve kissing and sexytimes and happily-ever-afters, too. 

8.     Is your writing character-driven or plot-driven? 

Totally character-driven. I seldom have any idea where the plot is going beyond a few high points. I let who the characters are inform the story.

9.    Naturally, in part you are all your characters (they come from your head) but which of your characters is the most like you? Or resonates in you the most? Why? 

Probably Ashraf in Bollywood and the Beast, because he’s survived something traumatic and is just trying to keep going and power through his career—but at the cost of his own happiness. He has no idea who he wants to be and what his dreams are. That’s the closest I’ve probably come to exposing my own vulnerabilities on the page.

(Peeps, I ADORE Ashraf too!!!)

10. What can we expect from you next? 

Right now, I’m revising a romantic suspense manuscript and giving it a paranormal bent. I’m also working on a really bananas but promising project with erotic romance author Charlotte Stein. She is an absolutely amazeballs writer, so I’m very excited! I don’t know when either of these things will be in front of readers’ eyes, so just stay tuned!   

11. To end let’s try a Rapid Fire round:

LIFE: lesson
PASSION: pain
HERO: villain
LOVE: nothing
HATE: everything

Thank you once again, Suleikha, for being here and talking to me. It was fun!


About the author:

Editor, writer, American desi and lifelong geek Suleikha Snyder is an author of contemporary and erotic romance. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity in publishing, Suleikha is frequently ranting when she should really be adding to her body of work — which includes multiple Bollywood-set romances and several shorts and novellas. 

Suleikha lives in Chicago, finding inspiration in genre fiction, daytime and primetime soaps, and anything that involves chocolate or bacon. Visit her online at www.suleikhasnyder.com 

Connect with Suleikha Snyder: 



No comments:

Post a Comment