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Reet Singh Interview – The Cure was Love Book

Let us know about Reet Singh and her writing in her own words:

Dear Writestory,

I am a medical doctor on a full-time work schedule, but after I get home, I do the things that heal my spirit and bring me peace.

In the evenings, therefore, you may find me sipping Assam tea (or red wine) and reading, or I could be drooling over crochet designs on Pinterest; I may write, depending on my muse, or I may not, in which case I’m likely to be lolling about in an over-stuffed sofa watching (these days) ‘You’ve got a minute to win it’.

During the advertisements, I dream, or blog, or get on to social media – but I bring home a lot of academic work too, so just in case you’re thinking I’m a big couch-potato, I do plenty of academic writing at home on the days that I don’t get any done during work time.

My first ever publishing contract was with Mills and Boon® – it was propitious that I entered their Passions Writing Contest. My short story won me a two book contract and here are the fabulous covers.

Scorched by His Fire released in February 2014 – a lovely Valentine’s day present from Mills and Boon to the world; The Cure was Love is my latest offering to romance lovers.

One look at the covers and people invariably suppose that I have a foot fetish – maybe I do (I’m not telling) – in actual fact, however, it was a happy coincidence!Reet Singh

What inspired you to start writing?

My love of reading brought me to oral story-telling. Then, a craving for romance and adventure – and the undeniable need for excitement and reinvention – urged me to creatively apply myself to writing down the stories buzzing in my head

What did you like to read when you were a girl?

Grimms Fairly tales, Enid Blyton, Princess Tina, Archie Comics, Mills and Boon, Erle Stanley Gardner, PG Wodehouse, Georgette Heyer, Max Brand, Oliver Strange (Sudden), Alistair Maclean, Victoria Holt, Wilbur Smith, Richard Gordon, the Classics, and a million authors I haven’t space to list – Oh, what a lovely childhood that was!

What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?

THE greatest challenge for me is making time to write. I’m not the first author torn between a demanding day job, family commitments, and an unfinished manuscript, and I won’t be the last – I just have to work really hard at improving my management of the 24 hours a day that I’m given.

The other big, fat challenge is the marketing of books that are already published. There is so much that one can do – in cyberspace, in bookstores, at book fairs, and at literary festivals – it can be quite overwhelming for a writer who wishes for nothing more than to be allowed to write while the marketing takes care of itself! Unfortunately it doesn’t take care of itself, so authors have to invest themselves in the marketing, and though it is much easier nowadays – what with Book Clubs, Bloggers, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, and Pinterest – it takes a ton of time and knowhow; hence, is challenging.

How much research do you do before writing the book?

Quite a bit before, and vast quantities of it during the writing.

I would hate to get facts wrong – thus, for example, in The Cure was Love, I explored New York with the help of Google maps, looked up its history, seasons, foliage and festivals.

Then, I researched cars – I wanted Rudy, a successful surgeon, to be driving a high-end car, one that readers could reasonably expect to see running about on the streets of New York.

Simi, meanwhile, had to be wearing the right kind of clothes for November in New York, so I asked around and people were fabulously forthcoming. So, yes, quite a bit of research is mandated if you want to get the setting of your story just right.

Reet Singh

What motivated you to write the book “The Cure was Love”?

Indian medical students are forever moving to the US for studentships in preparation for relocating there after graduation. I was itching to write a doctor’s story and I wondered what a young Indian girl would do in today’s world – if she met someone to die for during her brief sojourn abroad, would she have a fling or would her roots hold her back? Would she give love a chance? Would she turn her back on a foreign lover? Writing Simi and Rudy’s story helped me find creative answers to these questions.

Can you tell us more about your latest book “The Cure was Love”?

Simi Gill is an army brat about to complete her medical degree in India. While she is in New York – for a short period of training, a medical studentship – she bumps into the rather delectable surgeon, Rudy Bhatnagar, and her life goes haywire from that moment on.

Rudy is incredibly charming and utterly captivated by Simi despite all the scrapes that he gets into thanks to his impulsive, accident-prone new acquaintance.

Both Simi and Rudy are on their guard owing to bitter experiences in their respective pasts. There is sizzling chemistry between them that they struggle against; there are also all sorts of difficulties involving dogs, bullets and babies. Before too long Simi’s time in New York is up and you’ll have to read the book to find out what eventually happens to the two love-lorn doctors.

How did you come up with the idea of writing romantic fiction genre book?

I had been writing comedic blogs – it was easy-ish to do probably because I am a bit of a clown. Then, in 2011 or so, I chanced upon the Mills and Boon Passions Contest announcement, and I told myself (since I am an avid reader of romance, and an avid romantic myself) to try my hand at it. I sent in a story, which was not selected; tried again next year, but it was no go again, until I struck gold in the third year. Rather King Bruce-ish – moral being to never give up, especially when your instinct tells you to persevere!

Who are your favourite authors?

All the authors I have listed above, and some more! Eoin Colfer, Agatha Christie, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Neil Gaiman, Tom Holt —– Oh dear! Somebody stop me!

If I have to choose only one – somebody I could read over and over again – then it would be PG Wodehouse, the master of devious, convoluted, humorous plot.

How much time do you dedicate to writing on a daily basis?

I’ve read that 500 words a day, every day, keeps the doctor away, but I haven’t been able to achieve that. Some days I am just so beat that I don’t write a word; or, there are just so many deadlines that this deadline takes a backseat – *sigh*!

On the days that I do get my 500 (or more) words down, I feel powerful and worthy – so my advice to new authors is to buckle down and get the words on paper on a daily basis – the endorphin rush is too glorious to miss!

What words of wisdom would you like to give to aspiring writers?

Write. Read the genre you favor. Travel. Observe. Take notes. Read other genres. Research. Write some more. Promote yourself. Promote other authors. Market your writing. Review other authors’ books. Keep writing. Do not react to an adverse review, but do learn from it. Don’t give up writing.

Thank you so much for hosting me, Writerstory, I am absolutely delighted to be on your blog today!

You can buy her book now:

  

About Nikhil Narkhede

He likes to read inspirational books. He is a Professional Blogger, Entrepreneur and a power networker. By education he is a Computer Engineer and by profession he is an Online Marketer.

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2 comments

  1. Nikhil! It’s fabulous to be here …Thank you so much! I had a great deal of fun with the interview

  2. You are welcome! Thank you for your time.

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