Read-a-Romance-Month is celebrating diversity in romance in January. Here's my post....

Joy – such a tiny little word but so big on emotion. It evokes so many happy memories: Indian Tycoonthe first drops of a monsoon shower on your face, the aroma of smoking hot samosas and freshly brewed coffee, the soft breath and cosy warmth of a little puppy, the azure blue of Pangong Lake on a chilly morning in the barren landscape of Ladakh. And all those lovely little moments that make you feel warm inside out.

During my teenage years in Bombay, I discovered the joy of reading Mills & Boon romances. I devoured every single one I could lay my hands on. I couldn’t have enough of the super-hot heroes and sexy heroines caught up in romantic conflict in exotic locales. The only problem: my pocket money couldn’t keep pace with my passion for reading M&Bs. That’s when I had a lucky break. A ramshackle neighbourhood library came up with a novel idea: anyone who borrowed and returned two books within a week would get two books free. I have no clue whether the scheme worked for the library-on-its-last-legs or not, but it made me one deliriously happy reader!

My passion for happily-ever-after stories also makes me a huge movie buff. Especially, the over-the-top, mushy, Bollywood variety. These two-hour-plus movies of pure escapism, spiced up with a unique blend of traditional family values, song and dance set-pieces and happy endings, have given me more hours of joy than I can count.trouble new name

I experienced yet another kind of joy when I won a publishing contract with Harlequin. I wish I could say that writing a romance is as easy-breezy as reading one. But it definitely gives you a high like none other when your manuscript transforms into a beautiful book with your name on it!

As Rumi has said, “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

Here’s to all you lovers of romance—may there always be rivers full of joy running within you!

Read the full article here and post a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of my book and/or Amazon gift card. Good luck!