Literary in the City

You know what I love more than a good romance novel? A good romance novel with representation! Reading about characters that look like me and act like me never fails to put a smile on my face. There’s something so powerful about truly resonating with a story. 

Sara Desai is my go-to author for romantic comedies featuring South Asian protagonists. Her books have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, People, Oprah Magazine, and more! I started with her book, The Dating Plan, and quickly fell in love with the hilarious characters and sizzling chemistry. Since then, I’ve read The Marriage Game and The Singles Table. Once I get my hands on her newest novel, ‘Til Heist Do Us Part, I’ll devour that one too!

I reached out to her a while ago (because why not) and requested a virtual interview. Spoiler alert: she said yes! I really hope you enjoy reading this interview, as this one is particularly special to me.

Without further ado, here it is:

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1. What drew you to writing romantic-comedy novels?

I write romantic suspense and romance with darker themes under a different pen name and wanted to expand my horizons and write something lighter and more fun. I have always been a fan of romantic comedy books so it was a natural fit!

2. You’ve written three extremely popular and beloved novels: The Marriage Game, The Dating Plan, and The Singles Table. Who is your favorite character amongst these three books and why?

It is hard to pick just one! When I’m in the process of writing a book, those characters are always my favorite characters because they’re in my head. If I had to pick a favorite female character, it would be Zara from The Singles Table. She is someone I’d love to know in real life—fun, outgoing, impulsive and eternally optimistic. My favorite male character would be Jay. I’m a sucker for the grumpy guys who can’t help but fall in love with the sunshine in their lives!

3. How has your own identity shaped and impacted the stories you choose to tell?

I think every author’s life experiences inform what they write. For me, my South Asian heritage played a huge factor in developing my romcom stories, from the meddling aunties to the delicious food and from the cultural expectations to the importance of family. I draw on people I’ve met, places I’ve visited, jobs I’ve held and stories I’ve heard.

4. If you had to use one word to describe your writing style, what word would you choose?

I’d describe it as quick and light. I try not to spend too much time on exposition, internal monologues or long descriptions. I like the character’s conversations to drive the story.

5. Your new novel, ‘Til Heist Do Us Part, comes out later this year. What was the writing process for this novel like? 

My heist series involved a different writing process from my Marriage Game series because I was juggling multiple characters and a complex storyline that involved twists and turns and a fair amount of foreshadowing. I am usually a “pantser” who just sits down to write with only the bare bones of a story framework, but for the heist stories, I had to plot out the entire sequence of events. It was quite the challenge!

6. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

I find inspiration in my lived experience, the people I meet and the events I read in the news and social media. All these elements settle over me like a blanket and somehow become stories!

7. What’s your favorite thing about being an author?

I love seeing the stories in my head come to life on the page and interacting with my readers!

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I hope that you enjoyed reading! Once again, thank you to Sara Desai for responding to my questions. It means the world to me, especially since her stories have provided me so much joy and laughter. 

Please consider checking out her other works on this website!

As always, please let me know what you think in the comments below ❤

Entering her fall-era,

H.