An Aarti-Verse promise I can finally keep

Plus, ARC team update!

Mahalo,

I’m listening to I’m Just Ken by Ryan Gosling as I write this edition of The Writer Gal Letter. I’ve actually taken THREE WHOLE DAYS off because of Barbenheimmer weekend, Postmate (it’s where the whole world collectively watches Barbie+Oppenheimmer or Oppenheimmer+Barbie!). And I had my fill of colors, sounds, explosions, stories, emotional heartstrings tugs, horrific realizations, existential angst, and more through these two vastly different stories.

And what’s best? It gave rise to what will now become known as the three cornerstones of The Aarti-Verse.

Postmate, I give you - Barbenheimmerning!

For all my life, ever since I put pen to paper and decided to write my very first romance (and it was only ever romance in all its various sub-genres and forms, Postmate) I was fascinated by three VERY different kinds of storytelling. I have been reading since I was nine years old and my parents never ever reinforced censorship on what I should. Neither did the librarians who encouraged me through the formative years of my youth.

1. The traditional category romance as defined by Miz Nora Roberts, the woman who inspired and kickstarted my own writing journey. :) And. Every. Single. Mills and Boon/Harlequin book EVER.

2. The gripping plotlines and emotional sagas of Sidney Sheldon, Penny Jordan and Barbara Cartland with their sweeping world-views and lush world-building really drew me in. I also read Jane Austen, Jackie Collins, Ayn Rand (a little bit of Shakespeare but Shakesy was more in college and later on, tbh).

3. And finally AAH! Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins, Alastair MacLean, Colin Forbes RULED my head with their daring action spy saves the world at the last minute thrillers!

If you have read ANY single one of my books, you’ll find at least two of these three things in an Aarti V Raman story. Because I only write what I want to know more of and these are all the things I always want to know more of.

Thrills. Bombs. Explosions. Lush world-building set in interesting places with interesting careers by real, three-dimensional characters who grapple with grounded problems. And so much sickly cute romance with a guaranteed happy ever after. NOT necessarily romcom (although You’re Just Not My Type is the ultimate feel-good rom-com with *spoiler alert* no third-act breakup).

And with the MASSIVE success of all three kinds of movies - MI7: Dead Reckoning, Oppenheimer, and Barbie, I can proudly and ecstatically tell you that YA GIRL is basically Barbenheimmerning Writer Gal.

I write dark. Light (rom-com and contemporary). Suspense. I write oodles of sexy times and strong women who are still hot messes and powerful men who discover their conscience - sometimes their world almost ends in literal shootouts and explosions or accidents. Other times it’s just emotionally wrecking.

Either way, you are guaranteed a happy ever after and escape the existential angst of living in the real world for a few hours.

This is the old-new Aarti-verse promise. :) One I am honored to keep every single, with every single story, every single Writer Gal Letter, every single social media post and everything else I do from here on out with you.

This promise is particularly important for me because, as I have been thoroughly candid with you for the last year or so, I have been lost. Struggling. Trying to find the words, the motivation, and the light. :)

I won’t go so far as to say that I am completely found but…The Aarti-verse promise will now be my beacon, my homing light when I wander too far off the path and forget how I am meant to serve and entertain you, Postmate. :)

And I am so PLEASED with the kind of reception Claim, Burn, Blaze, and YJNTM have gotten from you, Postmate.

You. Read. Me.

My heart is full.

You’re Just Not My Type ARC Team Info

I am on the very last chapters of You’re Just Not My Type and then it’s off to the editor for a quick polish and then to the ARC readers who are eager to get this book and read it!

If you want to be part of the ARC team that gets a digital ARC of You’re Just Not My Type then smash the pink button, fill out the form, and let me know. Team Barbenheimmerning Writer Gal will be happy to have you :)

I will be doing ARC teams for each release going forward so you are signed up to do just THAT book if you’re into it. :) And each book will have its own ARC team signup if that is your jam. If not, no worries, Postmate!

But I can’t leave you without a tasty morsel of You’re Just Not My Type so here are the very first lines of this book, just for you.

The first few lines of YJNTM

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of a fortune must be in want of …

Not a wife.

That’s the truth, mom. A filthy rich man who has it made is looking to dip his dick into as many vajayjays as he can before a paternity test catches up to him. And he is forced to go into rehab or clean up his act.

Welcome to dating in the twenty-first century.

“Niva!” Mom snapped her fingers at me. “Where are you? Are you even paying attention to me?”

I gave her the approximation of a smile. Flashing teeth, stretching lips. And kept the eye roll on the inside. She wasn’t above whooping my butt if she thought I was sassing her. Indian moms did not put up with shit, I tell you.

“Of course, I’m paying attention, Ma. I am just trying to understand why you…you…ambushed me today, when I am only here for the weekend.”

Mom gave me a nonplussed look. “Ambush?” She ventured finally.

I nodded rapidly. “Ambush. You didn’t tell me there was going to be a marriage set up scene happening when you begged me to fly home this weekend. Across the country, I might add.” I waved my ladle full of onion pakoda batter – greasy besan (Bengal gram flour) and all the masala mixed to the right consistency of thick, syrupy pakoda covering. Shook it at the window outside where the familiar New York City sounds blared in full Philharmonic symphony – cabs honking, sirens blasting (ambulance and police), people chattering to their phones.

“Marriage?” Mom squeaked. “Set up?” She took a deep breath. And vigorously added the petal-cut onions into the batter, almost snatching the bowl from me. “You read way too many romance novels, Niva. I am not setting you up for anything.”

I will be back super soon with yet another edition of The Writer Gal Letter and more updates on the general state of the Aarti-verse. Please do not forget to read the footer at the end of this edition of The Writer Gal Letter so you’re caught up on EVERYTHING happening with the books!

Till then, embrace your Barbie and Oppenheimer, yeah?

Xx

Aarti