Coastal Magic Convention 2025 Featured Author Spotlight: Mona Shroff
Please give a warm welcome to Mona Shroff to the Blog today, one of the Featured Authors for the Coastal Magic Convention that will be at Daytona Beach, Florida (February 20-23, 2025). Check out the Interview below with Mona Shroff where you get to read about five fun facts about her, her typical writing routine, a glimpse into her upcoming books and so much more.
1) Five Fun Facts about yourself that readers may not know about you.
- I used to run triathlons
- I was on the TODAY show years ago as a finalist in a cake baking contest. I met Martha Stewart. But I did not win.
- Coffee, not chai! Don’t judge.
- I met my husband when I dated his best friend. We were 18 at the time, and everyone is still friends.
- I was afraid of dogs growing up, but I am now, wholeheartedly a dog person.
2) Could you share your typical writing routine? How do you stay organized while juggling plot, character development, and world-building?
I tend to be a bit of a pantser. So I start with two people, or trope I want to investigate. I then build their backstory (and their WHY of everything). I do stay organized by jotting things down in a notebook. Each book has its own notebook, and I keep track of characters as well free-writing, plot in there. Also – I use A LOT of post-it notes all around to remind me of what I need to add, or an idea that I had.
3) How do you develop your characters? Are they based on real-life people, or do they emerge purely from your imagination?
A mix of both, really. For The Second First Chance, I started writing a fire fighter book where the male lead was the firefighter, because I had been inspired by a fire fighter who was Indian and male. But a couple chapters in, I realized the fire fighter was a woman. In general, I will give my imaginary character some characteristics of real people I know.
4) For new readers that are wanting to start reading your books, where would you encourage them to start?
The Second First Chance is a good place. As is Matched by Masala, which is a sister’s best friend trope. Road Trip Rivalry, is rivals-to-lovers, and is my latest and has my first novella in the back of it.
5) Can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming books or projects you’re working on?
I am currently editing a book called If You Can’t Stand The Heat… which is about two chefs in a reality show cooking contest. This is a grumpy/sunshine, where he is the sunshine, rivals-to-lovers, single mom. I just handed in a MS of a best friends to lovers which also deals with anxiety and depression.
6) How do you handle writer’s block or creative slumps? Do you have any go-to strategies to overcome them?
Many times, simply free-writing will help. But more often than not, I need to call a friend and brainstorm. Sometimes, I just need to step away from the MS, maybe go for a drive, listen to some music.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring romance authors who are just starting?
Start writing. Keep reading. Network. Find your local romance writing group and get feedback, motivation, brainstorming, all of it. Writing is solitary, but you do not need to be alone.
8) Outside of writing, what are some of your interests or hobbies?
Obviously., I love reading. I still love baking as well, though I don’t do as much. I travel whenever I can. I am always looking for that perfect cup of coffee. I recently starting going to Barre class and I love it. I mean it’s super hard, but I love it!
9) What are you looking forward to most at Coastal Magic Convention 2025?
The people! Last year was my first year, and I loved meeting the readers! You all are so sweet, and so well prepared, I felt like you all knew me before I got there.
10) Fun Question: Imagine one of your main characters is hosting a dinner party. What real-life people (dead or alive) would they invite?
- My daughter, for sure, because they only get life with her approval
- Me – obvious reasons LOL
Mona has always been obsessed with everything romantic, so it’s fitting that she writes romantic stories by night, even though she’s an optometrist by day. If she’s not writing, she’s making melt-in-your-mouth chocolate truffles or riding her bike or doing her favorite thing, reading. Alone time is precious, but Mona is just as likely to be raising a glass of wine or her favorite gin and tonic with friends and family. She’s blessed with an amazing daughter and a loving son who have both gone off to college. Mona lives in Maryland with her romance loving husband.
Check out Mona Shroff’s Website and follow her at the following sites: Facebook | X | Goodreads | Instagram | Bookbub.
For a full list of Featured Authors, Information about the weekend, and link to register to attend, visit http://www.CoastalMagicConvention.com. And be sure to watch for more Featured Author spotlights coming up here each month!
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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