A Walk Down Memory Lane

Why I'm so possessive of the books I read

Jun 16, 2022

IMahalo,

I am writing this edition of The Writer Gal Letter listening to Kris Bowers’ Material Girl, which is definitely making its way into the Blaze soundtrack. This edition is a little different than other TWGLs because I really am just writing a letter to you, sharing what I am, and how I feel with you.

Next to me are two things - my trusty organizer that keeps me on track with endless lists and a worn copy of The Villa by Nora Roberts. I spent half the night reading The Villa for the umpteenth time because I adore it so much.

Miz Roberts is the only author whose books I own in both digital and physical forms. Yes, even her early Harlequin romances and ALL of her books - both PNR and standalone - till about 2014 when I kinda drifted away from her style of storytelling and began to fall in love with a lot of other incredible storytellers. (About the time I too became a published author, I might add).

To this day, though, I can lose myself in a Nora Roberts romantic suspense novel. I might even be insanely fond of murder and love and sex in the same story because of her! And, you can bet the bank I’ll be revisiting True Betrayals and the Irish Thoroughbred series before I plot Nashit’s book :) It’s doubly wonderful because I can call this ‘research’.

Everyone’s first instinct since the advent of social media and tech is to basically document every aspect of their lives (hello, I’m writing TWGL to do the same). But, I grew up in a time when books were my best friends. My most special friends. The feat of imagination inside a well-told book is unmatched by anything found IRL, to me.

So, here I am, telling you about my love for The Villa (which is similar in tone to Burn and Blaze) instead of posting on social media. Maybe because we feel like friends, you and I, Postmate. And I cherish that bond and connection more than I can say.

I hope you feel this sense of connection and love when you crack open an Aarti V Raman paperback or download an Aarti V Raman ebook. If you do, I hope, with all my heart that one day you WILL trust me enough to come and tell me about it somewhere, somehow.

In weather news, the rains have begun battering my city and it is *insane*. The temperature though, has gone down enough for me to put my thinking and writing hat back on and do what I love doing most :P Curse the heavens for not already having written the book.

In family news, my booboo is in the ninth grade now! I could remember holding him in my arms as he slept off peacefully like it was yesterday. And now he towers over me and does complicated math equations. I am bittersweet with the passing of time.

Lucky for me, storytelling does not need math equations. It does need words, though. And mine are slowly beginning to wake up, stretch, and make their presence known. Mili is seething and strong in my head, Nihaal is brooding magnificently while knowing he has screwed up phenomenally with no way of making it up to Mils. And…deadly danger is careening in the pitlanes of Formula One Grand Prixes…

Let’s see what happens to them now.

Here’s both Burn and Blaze in the same frame for you and me to ogle at so I finish the book faster and announce the real release date. (NO. It is not December 31st! Yes, it could be June 30 if my back pain recedes and I get to write it ASAP).

Pre-order Blaze

Catch up on Burn

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As you know, Postmate, my novella in the Shades of Love anthology is about the Ruthless Billionaire who started it all. Mili’s boss and VC investor extraordinaire - Drake Fallahil.

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Writer Gal’s Writer Pals Present

In this edition of The Writer Gal Letter I’m super kicked to introduce two fellow Indian romance authors who write the spectrum of sweet, sensational and steamy angsty romance - all with a dash of Indianness, also called desipan.

First up is Madhuri Tamse’s new release (it’s the third book in her bestselling Mr and Mrs series!) And I am quite intrigued by the premise of a secret marriage romance. I mean…YES, right? (PS: I’m going to be doing something with MT tomorrow, the 17th, on Instagram which you are SURE to want to get in on!)

Read on KU

Next up is Dee Jame’s totally free novella about a sweet sunshine meeting her match in a grumpy hero. Who doesn’t want more of that, am I right?

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Last but never least, Melissa Chambers has an INSANELY steamy contemporary romance boxset (that’s three books in one) for you on sale. Check this super sexy beast out here!

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Here are a few more exclusive events for you to check out and get in on the a

Steamy Romance Corner

Bosses, Billionaires & Bad Boys

Dark and Dirty in Kindle Unlimited

That is it for this edition of The Writer Gal Letter, Postmate. I’ll be back next week with an awesome event (regular readers know it’s that time of the quarter again), Blaze update, and paperback news of the good kinds :D

Till then, stay safe and awesome.

Aarti