| Interview with Romance Junkies by Brooke Wills 
Favorites and Fun Questions What is your idea of the perfect romantic hero? What qualities must he have? A perfect romantic hero to me is sensitive to his partner’s innermost feelings and is true to her and to himself. He has self-esteem but no ego problems. He is hardworking, not ashamed of working with his hands. He has a quest for knowledge and can talk on every possible subject there is. He is well read and intelligent. He doesn’t need to be handsome but he has charisma that appeals to everyone. Interview Hi, Renu and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at
RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects? Well, I’m working on a story about a young widow, young and very naïve, in Rajasthan, India in the 1930’s when the freedom struggle was at its last legs—Jyoti, my main subject survives Sati tradition, that of wife jumping on the funeral pyre to be with her dead husband and how she suffers in her late husband’s household, gets kicked out of there, becomes involved with freedom fighters and evolves into an exceptional woman of substance.
When first beginning a new book, where does the idea for it come from? A newspaper article, something you see or hear, or some other way? Do you outline it first, or just start in writing? It can come from any or all of these inspirations. I think of a story, think of the characters how they are going to advance the story and then start writing.
Do you remember what you were doing when you found out you sold your first book? Who did you tell the exciting news to first?
I was talking to a friend in New York, on the phone, and he asked me how to get it online, then ordered it. I guess after that, lots of my friends bought it online, I was just numb and didn’t know if I was excited or what. I guess I was still getting over the fact that I had my book published.
What is the best thing about being a writer? What is the least best thing? Is there any one thing about the writing profession you wish you could change? The best thing is that you are the creator of the people that reside in your book, it is thrilling to be able to weave their lives around them. The least best thing is: so now you are published…what next…most writers like me don’t know a thing about promoting their own work…it is frustrating to say the least. I would like to have no restrictions as to how many words, what kind of a story line, what kind of characters should I have. The restrictions just curtails you spontaneity. What is the best way an author can promote herself? By being more visible in the media and talking about herself and her book, if you won’t, no one else would.
Do you have any special hobbies or collections?
I love to paint and write poetry.
What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Read, go online to chat and discuss, or simply crash on the sofa, with the TV on but my mind blank and resting.
Where is the one place you must visit, and why?
I would like to visit Tsumani hit, Andeman Nicobar Islands, in India, because I was supposed to be there vacationing when the event happened. I had cancelled earlier. I would like to go see the devastation and pay tribute to those who lost their lives, their dear ones and their houses. Which is more romantic and why: soft music or glowing candles? Soft music, I think. It is less intrusive and great for meditation.
How do you describe Renu Mahajan?
Well, Renu Mahajan to me, is a sensitive, emotional and eager to please everyone kind of person. She is successful in a lot of areas, but is still vulnerable to hurt and insecurities. She loves people and is curious like a child. How do Renu Mahajan's family and friends describe her? That she has a sunny disposition, with a ready smile and sparkling eyes. She is attractive and engaging. She influences people and is a leader, rather than a follower.
MORE FUN…
Are you one of those organized people who has all her Christmas shopping done, or do you still need to start? Have you made your list yet?
I still need to start. Absolutely, not. Are you a purse person? Do you carry everything including the kitchen sink or just the necessities? Yes I m definitely a purse person. And my purse is a black hole where you can put everything you want to, but not find it…lol
Eh, eh, eh. I am gonna peek under your bed! I am gonna peek under your bed! What am I gonna see?
Nothing! Absolutely nothing!
Name the one household chore that should be abolished. Which one do you not mind doing at all?
Vacuuming. It should be abolished or it should be the man who does it. Cooking, I love feeding people.
And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?
I love ice cream and black forest cake, tons of it.
Yum! Black forest cake! I have very fond memories of that wonderful confection… Thank you very much, Renu, for spending time with us at RomanceJunkies. Good luck with your current release and future projects.
By Brooke Wills
Interview with The Tribune by Aditi Tandon Portraying pangs of love
 Chandigarh-bred Renu Mahajan is living the joy of a dream realized. As her debut novel “Whispering Vines” travels through the critics’ circuit in India, she seems confident of her labour, believing her passion will not fail her. And she has all the reason in the world to relax, for responses to her first work of fiction have been encouraging in Canada where she migrated years ago. Back to roots, she is feeling comfortable as any writer would. But she does answer with a chuckle when one confronts her on the intriguingly named characters in her romantic novel which is set in Chile. “I certainly worked hard on my characters, their entire personality. The names I chose emerged from my research. Daphne Deveraux, the French-Canadian woman, is the soul of my work. Damian Antunez is the love of her life, literally by default. Daphne has survived a fatal air crash, so has Damian’s daughter Anna who needs to be nurtured with love. Damian urges Daphne to impersonate his wife Francine who died in the crash,” says the writer in an interview with the Tribune in Chandigarh on Tuesday. What follows is a poignant tale of love lost and found, and of the true love’s journeys through hardships. For Mahajan, the work is not very new for it was born in her imagination many years ago. The script had been lying in the basement of her Calgary home in Alberta for long until she garnered enough courage to make it public. “I was not expecting that America’s foremost publishers Publish America would grace the work. But it was sold out in three months,” she prides. The sale might have something to do with the “broken heart” of Daphne Deveraux. Broken hearts always run into several editions. Mahajan concurs, “Romance is eternally relevant. As far as the plot goes, I was clear in my mind as to what I wanted my characters to do. Later of course the characters decided for themselves.” Well versed with children’s literature which she formally studied in Canada, Mahajan earlier handled the kid’s section for Calgary Herald, a daily published from Calgary. Later she published poems and several articles on issues concerning women across the east-west divide. “This divide is purely geographical. Those who think women in the west are any better off than those in India are hugely mistaken. Our problems are similar. It’s a man’s world and a man loves to assert himself, despite nationalities. I have written several short stories on this issue, besides writing and directing plays in Canada,” says Mahajan who is also working on another novel which is set in India. Also active on the cultural front, Mahajan has long served the cause of community in Calgary. She still organises concerts, conferences and bashes for her Indian friends in Canada. But more than anything else, she writes about women’s sensibilities and about how they change with the changing tides. TNS | 