Banker’s write route to love
From cash to mush, finance to romance, it’s been quite a jump for Shoma Narayanan, 37 — a banker who recently turned romance writer.
She is the first Indian author to release a M&B book globally. Her book Monsoon Wedding Fever is set in an Indian milieu and is the story of a couple falling in love after breaking each other’s heart six years ago. Shoma says, “The characters in my story are fictional but the setting is very familiar as I have incorporated my observation of many places in India.”
A hobby writer, Shoma started with short stories before participating in a writing contest that won her the contract to write an M&B. “Somewhere at the back of my mind, I always wanted to pursue writing and kept looking for opportunities despite a job with HSBC Bank. I took time to write short stories, out of which 3 were published,” she says.
Shoma does not agree that the advent of genres like chick lit has dented the market for mushy happily ever after romantic novels. “The writing style of the writer matters a lot in proving a draw. I have kept my book very Indian,” says Shoma.
Managing time for writing was a little difficult, but weekends provided the answer. “I did not want writing to remain a hobby. I managed to write the book over weekends. And support from my family and office helped a lot,” says Shoma.
It’s time for a pause before she plans a second book. “I can manage only short stories as of now. I will think of taking up writing full time later,”she says.
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