We chat with author Aurora Palit about Sunshine and Spice, which follows two complete opposites who agree to fake date in order to solve their cultural dilemmas, and they find the only force more powerful than an immigrant mother’s matchmaking schemes might just be true love.
Hi, Aurora! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi readers! I’m a Canadian romance writer of South Asian descent living (sometimes thriving, sometimes perishing) in the prairies. I’m a longtime romance reader who enjoys self-medicating with chocolate, pretending like I know what I’m doing at the gym, and a good meal I don’t have to cook. I also aspire to be one of those Northern Lights chasers but fear I don’t have the fortitude. Oh, and I also write stories with humour and heart.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always felt like I had so many stories living rent free in my head, but I never dreamed of becoming a writer; there weren’t any South Asian authors in the YA space when I was growing up (at least, not at my local library) and I certainly didn’t see many South Asian characters in what I was reading. Flash forward to 2017 when a friend encouraged me to put my stories onto paper, I started writing as a hobby, which turned into a blessing in disguise, partially because I found myself stuck at home in the evenings with a one year old with an early bed time. I attribute a lot of where I am today to the lovely, wonderful members of the romance writing community who helped propel me forward and I am eternally grateful to them.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: one of those “I Can Read” books for early readers. It was Rapunzel, I was four years old, and some of the illustrations scared me.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Chai Factor by Farah Heron was the first South Asian romance I read that made me feel like my stories might have a place on the shelves, too.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: How do I choose just one! I’ll go with Trust Me On This by Jennifer Cruise.
Your debut novel, Sunshine and Spice, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Colorful, self-discovery, honest, heartfelt, humorous.
What can readers expect?
When struggling brand consultant, Naomi Kelly, lands the lucrative opportunity to re-brand a neglected South Asian business, she quickly realizes she might be in over her head. As the daughter of a free-spirited Bengali mother who refuses to acknowledge her roots, Naomi knows very little about the cultural nuances her new employer wishes to preserve in her rebranded business. So she teams up with her employer’s son, Dev Mukherjee, who agrees to act as a cultural guide in exchange for Naomi posing as his fake girlfriend to ward off his mother’s persistent and unwelcome matchmaking efforts. Things becomes very complicated with Naomi and Dev develop real feelings for each other against the backdrop of their families who think they are completely unsuitable for each other.
Where did the inspiration for Sunshine and Spice come from?
I’ve always deeply connected with identity politics and diasporic stories, both from an immigrant’s point of view and their first generation offspring. I grew up in a very homogenous small town and always felt the strain of living between cultures and wondering where I fit in. I think everyone feels a sense of imposter syndrome at different points in their lives and this novel is a love letter to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit the mold of who or what they’re supposed to be.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I enjoyed exploring the shift in Naomi’s mindset when she stops worrying about how she should feel and how she might be perceived by others, and embraces living in the present instead. Both she and Dev have these lovely moments of finding their voices and using them, and it was a joy to write. But I should also add that writing a grumpy, soft-hearted love interest was a lot of fun, especially when it came to writing his banter with Naomi!
Why romance?
Happily ever afters are so special – they bring comfort, inspire hope, and, I think, provide readers with a gratifying sense of closure for two characters (sometimes more!) that they’ve become deeply invested in. I love reading these kinds of stories, so writing one was an easy choice. And it’s special privilege to write a novel that shows people of colour receiving their happily ever afters, too!
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I owe so much to the writing community; they taught me so much about craft, self-confidence, and the publishing industry. After an unsuccessful round of querying my first manuscript, I wrote something new (Sunshine and Spice) with zero aspirations that it would go anywhere. But when the 2021 Pitch Wars mentorship program opened for mentee applications, my writing friends insisted I apply with my very messy manuscript. My stars must’ve aligned because I was chosen by the incomparable Regina Black (author of The Art of Scandal) and Nikki Payne (author of Pride and Protest and Sex, Lies and Sensibility). They are incredible mentors and in three short months, helped me whip my book into shape for the Pitch Wars agent showcase. Things kind of snowballed from there: I signed with a dream agent, went on submission (which is lingo for sending your book to editors at publishing houses with the hope they’ll read and buy your work), and, after a brief but dramatic auction for who would get the rights to my book, signed with my editor at Berkley Romance in November 2022!
It has been a whirlwind and I can’t believe my debut date has finally arrived.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on a second book, also published by Berkley Romance. I can’t say much, yet, but I’m deep in the revisions cave for this standalone that lives in the same universe as Sunshine and Spice. If things progress well, it will be published in 2025 and features tropes like rivals to lovers, workplace proximity, and he falls first.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I’ve enjoyed too many to name, but here are a few: Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb, I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta, Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea, and If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha.
I’m looking forward to reading: Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb, Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North, But What Will People Say? by Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe, and The Summers Between Us by Noreen Nanja.
