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You guys, I’m so happy to feature Brooke today! I love following her travel adventures on IG (she has an airstream!!)-Also, how adorable is she?!
Hey Brooke! I’ve been so excited to do a Q&A with you. I read The Marriage Code right before it came out in 2020 and fell in love with how you described Bangalore with all of its traditions, customs, and especially the food! I read in your bio that this story is based on some true events, would you share with us?
Thank you! The Marriage Code started out as a memoir of my experience moving to Bangalore, India and meeting my husband. Everyone kept saying, “Your story would make a great movie!” and because I’d always been a writer (and didn’t have the aspiration to be a Hollywood producer) I wanted to try and write about it. So there are definitely events that inspired the book—like my move to Bangalore, meeting my husband at the office, a vacation in Kerala, and the many, many drool-worthy meals! I had no idea how varied Indian cuisine is until I moved there. And of course, I included some of the challenges my husband and I faced being a couple coming from different cultures, and with his family’s wish for him to marry someone within his community. Luckily both Emma and Rishi, and my husband and I all had happy endings!
In your latest book, The Name Curse (which I adored by the way 😍), the characters are hiking an Alaskan trail. I’m sensing a travel/adventure theme in the stories you tell…are you an avid traveler? Is this what inspires your stories?
I do love travel and adventure, so I’m not surprised that’s an emerging theme. I have always wanted to write love stories featuring women who have a sense of adventure, even if they don’t know it yet (much like Bernie in The Name Curse). I’ve lived in three different countries aside from the US, and love to explore new places. During the pandemic when international travel felt a bit risky, we took a lot of road trips in our airstream and camped (well, “glamped”) around the US to appease the travel bug that kept urging us to get out of the house. I love hiking, exploring, and still hope to live outside the country again. There is so much to learn about other cultures, and in turn, learn about yourself when you’re in an unfamiliar setting.
What was the feeling like after you published your first book?
Finally getting your first book published is every writer’s dream, so the feeling was absolute elation! One thing I never anticipated was the response from readers. While I am quite familiar with the joy that sinking into a good book brings, I’ve never been one to reach out to my favorite authors and let them know how much their words affected me. But that has definitely been one of the most rewarding parts of having a book out there. Every time someone read The Marriage Code and told me that it made them cry seeing a STEM heroine, that it resonated with their own life, or that they had to order nonstop Indian takeout while reading it—that was the best feeling!
How long have you been writing?
Even when I was little I had an urge to tell stories. I remember getting a Snoopy diary for Christmas when I was in third grade and started writing in it; I still have it, and its tiny lock that keeps the trials and tribulations of a nine year old top secret! My niece has also recently unearthed an illustrated story of my family that I wrote in first or second grade on construction paper that is bound with yarn. Those were the origins of my writing, and eventually it turned into poetry and short stories in high school and college. I didn’t start anything novel length until I started drafting The Marriage Code though!
What does a day of writing look like for you?
Ah, my dream day! I still have a day job, so I usually write in the mornings on weekdays before work, and one reason I look forward to the weekends, is because I wake up and have a day of writing ahead of me. I usually go sit outside at one of my favorite coffee shops in Austin to write for several hours. Sometimes another writer friend will join me and we’ll brainstorm, or work through any story challenges we’re having. Then I’ll finish the day off by reading whatever book I have on my nightstand. Those are the best days!
Do you have a book recommendation that you think everyone should have on their TBR?
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is one of my favorite romcoms (as it probably is for everyone!). There are so many amazing books out there it’s hard to pick just one! But that one I enjoyed so much I re-read it two more times right after I finished it.
I can tell from some of your posts that you’re a dog lover 💕Tell us more about your fur babies!
I have a 5 year old Great Dane, Rani (which appropriately translates to “queen” in Sanskrit), and a 10 year old boxer, Ike. They are the best dogs, and often my writing assistants, giving me company in my office while I’m working on a book. Actually, Ike was the inspiration for Bernie’s dog in The Name Curse!
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
I spend a lot of time trying to make a dent in my TBR pile because there are so many amazing books that keep coming out, I feel like I can’t keep up! I also love traveling, whether that’s going to visit my in-laws in India, exploring a country for the first time, or camping at a state park for a weekend. I also love Bollywood dance, and am part of a group here in Austin.
Let’s do some THIS or THAT!
Mountains or beach: Ooh this is a tough one, but if I had to pick one place it would be the beach because I love the sun and the sound of the ocean.
TV or reading: Reading FTW!
Fancy or casual: Default casual, but I also love dressing up in sparkly things for weddings or dance events!
Fly or drive: Depends where I’m going, but if it’s in the US, driving can be part of the adventure!
Background noise or silence: I love the background noise of a coffee shop to write.
Dinner or dessert: Wait, isn’t dessert just the end of dinner? LOL (so, um both?)
Scary movies or funny: Funny, all the time! Scary movies give me nightmares.
Readers (me 😂) want to know if you have another book on the horizon? I have to say, I’m super excited for what you come up with next!
The project I just finished is a romcom inspired by the small town in Kentucky where I grew up. I wanted to write something about the area because it’s gone through so many changes in the past several years. Also, it was an opportunity to highlight some of my favorite parts about growing up there. This story is about a woman who always wanted to escape the place she’s from, and when she returns for her sister’s wedding, she gets roped into actually planning it with the groom’s son who happens to be her high school nemesis.
I’m so appreciative that you took the time to do this Q&A with me, I love getting to know you better! Man, I would enjoy being able to travel like that, but I’m such a homebody. So for now I’ll just live vicariously through you 😍. I’ll be anxiously waiting to hear more about your newest book! Thanks Brooke!
Friends, if you want to follow or learn more about Brooke then check out her info below 👇🏻
Website: www.brookeburroughs.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/brookeburroughswrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brookeburroughsauthor/
Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@brookeburroughswrites
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