Chatting with a writer of romance – Adite Banerjie

Adite Banerjie is a screenwriter and published author. Growing up in a home with a filmmaker dad who worked in the world’s largest film industry (yes, Bollywood!) and a voracious reader for a mom, it was inevitable she would fall in love with both films and books.

tgbc: What’s your personal brand of romance?
Adite: Heartwarming romance with a dash of Bollywood.

tgbc: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Adite: I draw inspiration from a variety of sources – news headlines, movies, songs, images on Pinterest. Anything that inspires the question, “what if?”

tgbc: How do you do your research?
Adite: Internet provides enough and more resources for research. But if there is something very specific that I need to know I prefer to talk to an expert.

tgbc: Who is your favorite character in your book/books?
Adite: Oh! I love them all. You can’t expect to play favourites, do you? J
Apart from the protagonists in both my books (Maya & Krish in The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal and Neel & Raina in Trouble Has A New Name) I had great fun writing the character of Agra Aunty. She is one of those irritating relatives we all know so well – in your face and completely aggravating – but she also has a touching vulnerability about her.

tgbc: Difference between love and lust?
Adite: To quote the queen of romance Danielle Steele: “Without love, lust and romance will be shortlived.”

tgbc: Does Tall, Dark and Handsome work for India? Or would it be Tall, Fair and Handsome?
Adite: Either works…it all depends on how drool-worthy you can make the Hero. Never mind the complexion, it’s all about the ‘Hotness Factor’. J

tgbc: Your favorite M&B author or a memorable one you read years ago!
Adite: Anne Mather was my favourite author back in the days when I would be borrowing M&Bs from the local library. These days, I am happy to curl up with my Kindle and the latest book by Sarah Morgan.

tgbc: In what way (apart from the Indian characters and Indian setting) are the Indian Harlequin/M&B’s different from their western counterparts?
Adite: Family is an integral part of Indian romances. Besides, many of the themes that are touched upon are very Indian including arranged marriages, big fat Indian weddings, etc.

tgbc: The nicest gift you have received from a loved one!
Adite: A handcrafted book shelf to keep my large collection of M&Bs!

tgbc: What would you cook up for a romantic dinner?
Adite: Preferably something non-messy, like a platter of delicious cold cuts, a nicely done chicken roast, and a wicked chocolate mousse. There would be a nice bottle of wine too.

tgbc: On a date – would it be a chiffon sari and bindi, or a long sexy gown?
Adite: Well, Rayna (my Heroine from Trouble Has A New Name) would carry off anything, and would be smashing in a sexy gown!

tgbc: Your favorite fragrance.
Adite: Chanel No. 5

About Preeti Singh

I am a bookaholic. I love stories, storytelling. I enjoy helping people structure their storytelling, and I love to share the stories I discover.

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