Blog Tour: Guest Post by Shobhan Bantwal

As part of the blog tour for The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal, the author has decided to stop by today at Jo-Jo Loves to read with a guest post!  If you missed my review yesterday you can view it here.


So here is what Shobhan wants to share with us today:

Creating a Unique World

By Shobhan Bantwal

When a writer begins to write a novel, she is not only weaving a story but she is also creating an entire world where her characters live and work, love and hate, give and take.

They say there are a finite number of storylines in the entire universe. How those stories are crafted and told to the readers, the author’s voice in other words, is what makes it different and unusual. However, a very large element in fiction writing, besides crafting the characters, is the creation of the special world that surrounds them. Whether the genre is suspense, sci-fi, paranormal, contemporary, historical, or fantasy, the backdrop can make the difference between an ordinary novel and an outstanding one.

In every one of my books, I try to create a background that introduces the reader to the scents, flavors, textures, and colors of my ethnic Indian background. Saris and cholis, lehangas and sadras are some of the clothing my characters wear. Curries, dals, raitas, kormas, and chapaties are interesting foods they eat.  If I do not introduce such unique elements then my books would not stand out as a different variety of fiction.

In my latest book, THE SARI SHOP WIDOW, I have offered the reader a glimpse into the Indian-American fashion industry. Set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey’s Little India, a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love, family, and her traditional roots as she fights to save her sari boutique.

New Jersey’s Little India is an interesting little slice of India in the heart of suburban America, and this is the slice I have chosen as the world in which my story is set, a world of sari shops, Indian restaurants, ethnic cafes, jewelry boutiques, music shops, and video stores.

THE SARI SHOP WIDOW is available at all U.S. and Canadian bookstores and online booksellers.

To contact me or learn more about my books, author events, book trailer video, recipes, short stories, and sign up for my newsletter, visit my website www.shobhanbantwal.com.

Thank you for hosting me on “Jo-Jo Loves to Read.”

Shobhan Bantwal

Thanks for stopping by today Shobhan!  As you could probably tell from my review, one of the favorite things about this book was being able to visualize the sights and tastes of the Indian culture.  Thanks so much for sharing about why you enjoy implementing these elements into your novels. I want to give a special thank you once again to both Jamie and Dorothy from Pump Up Your Book Promotion for allowing me to participate in this virtual tour. I truly wish you the best with your future endeavors and also that the remainder of this tour is a success.