Happy Tuesday, guys. I hope you are all keeping well and safe, and staying indoors?
Today on The Book Babe, I’m delighted to be sharing with you my very first author interview on the blog. It’s an absolute pleasure to be introducing you to Ritu Bathal, author of ‘Marriage Unarranged’ today, and I hope you’ll grab yourselves a nice cup of tea and settle down to enjoy our chat! So kick back, relax, and please do feel free to say hello in the comment section to let Ritu know you’ve popped by. We would both appreciate that very much! So, without further ado, let’s get this author interview underway.
Hey there, everyone! Just wanted to give you the heads up that my book baby, Marriage Unarranged is on sale this weekend, from Friday 3rd April, through to midnight on Monday 6th April!
Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.
But then Aashi found the empty condom box…
Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.
Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.
And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…
And it’s gathering ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews too!
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Splendid
Marriage Unarranged is probably one of the best “Getting Over a Breakup” stories I’ve ever come across. Culturally rich and emotionally captivating, it’s a story that inspires us to find and refine our best qualities, to get back up off scraped knees when life knocks us down. From the first sentence, I was hooked. This novel, though written in lush prose, reads quickly, and deserves to be re-read in years to come. Sit back with a cup of chai and immerse yourself in the splendor that is Marriage Unarranged.
5.0 out of 5 starsYou fall in love with the characters… And India!! Such a beautiful read.
Where do I start!! An amazing read and incredibly relatable. I’ve read this in an afternoon! I did not want to put it down!! Ritu captures your full attention in the first few pages….. The mention of Hindi tapes! There are so many ‘throw-backs’ in this novel, which have made me very nostalgic about the 90’s (I’m a mid-80’s baby!) The Ravi and Nishi characters, their behaviour, reminiscent of many characters from my school-days, but then there is Aashi. She is courageous, displaying self-control, behaving with such integrity and dignity. She is inspiring. This is a fantastic read. Ritu has inspired me to revisit India!!
It’s been a whirlwind week since the launch, last Sunday, and I have been overwhelmed by the support from everyone.
From the blog tour posts (thank you to the awesome hosts), all the sharing of my book release, to the numerous comments of encouragement, I have been overwhelmed!
And, I am so excited to tell you that there are already several 5-star reviews on Amazon AND Goodreads.
But… there are so many people who automatically thought that as I have written a book, it must be about my life.
Er, no, folks, it’s not an autobiography, it’s fiction!
And, if you weren’t aware, I am married, happily! (No unarranging here – it wasn’t arranged at all, total love story here, but that is a personal story 😉)
If you ask any author, they will have been asked similar questions – unless you write science fiction, or fantasy, in which case, most readers will presume you have created your world from your crazy imagination.
It’s true what they say:
“Be careful around a writer – anything you do or say could be used for inspiration.”
But that doesn’t mean that I would take a person from my life and base a character, or story around them. Do I want to be sued?
Made with Canva
Sure, there may be elements of different people I have encountered in my life, within certain characters.
I’ll tell you for free that Daddy-ji in Marriage Unarranged is based loosely on my Pops. But the situations in the story are not situations that have arisen in our lives. It’s just his manner and how he handles things. Those who know my Pops would agree.
But aside from the fact that my main character is a young British-born Sikh girl who happens to be from Birmingham, there is nothing to link her to me (other than I created her!)
The places we visit in the book, in the UK and India, are based upon places I have been to. If I haven’t been there, how can I give you the best, most realistic feelings?
In fact, my mum is currenty reading the book, and, aside from making a small comment about a couple of rude Punjabi words used, said that she is enjoying it immensely, and the descriptions of the trip to India are bringing back memories of our own trip to Delhi when we went to do my wedding shopping twenty years ago.
So, no, the book isn’t about me, at all, and it’s not about you either (well, not all of it…😉)
You want to know what all the fuss is about?
‘Chick Pea Curry’ Lit, Chick Lit with an Indian twist
It all started ended with that box…
Aashi’s life was all set.
Or so she thought.
Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.
But then Aashi found the empty condom box…
Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.
Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.
And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…
No, not sit in a drinking establishment and sup a gin or three all day (though that may be quite fun!) but Publication Day.
After all this time, my book baby has finally been delivered!
Yes, Marriage Unarranged is finally out there, in the world, delivered to at least fifty Kindles this morning, and the paperback is also available too.
How am I feeling?
A bag of nerves. The feedback will hopefully start to filter in soon, and I know I love my book baby, but I really want you to love it too!
Described as Chickpea Curry Lit – Chick Lit with an Indian twist! And not just for chicks, you chap(patti)s too!
Graphic made by Kate Rock ❤
‘Chick Pea Curry’ Lit, Chick Lit with an Indian twist
It all started ended with that box…
Aashi’s life was all set.
Or so she thought.
Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.
But then Aashi found the empty condom box…
Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.
Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.
And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…
I’ve had some fantastic Blog Tour visits, so far, and there are are still a few to come, so please check them out to get a few more insights into the book, and me!
Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after. But then Aashi found the empty condom box…
Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.Old images erased, new beginnings to explore. And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…
Welcome to the fifth stop on the whirlwind blog tour of Marriage Unarranged by Ritu Bathal. If you have missed previous posts on the tour, check out the blog tour listing on the right to enjoy all the snippets and reviews of the fabulous new book.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of…
Ritu Bhathal 