‘Honey and Heat’ gives readers romance, examines power dynamics in the workplace

PHOENIX — If you’re looking for a workplace romance full of sweetness and spice, Aurora Palit’s latest book is for you. 

RELATED: Looking for a rom-com with yearning? Bestselling author Kate Golden’s contemporary debut has you covered.

Honey and Heat is Palit’s second novel and follows Cynthia Kumar, a successful and fierce woman working to be the heir to her father’s multimillion-dollar construction company. She has it all… until she doesn’t, and her father picks someone else to be his successor: none other than her one-night stand, Rohit Patel.

But when the company’s reputation is on the line, Cynthia and Rohit have to put their differences aside and work together. Will they be able to restore Kumar Constructions to its former glory? And what’s more important, their careers, or their possible happily ever after?

12News asked Palit all about her latest book before it hits shelves on Sep. 16. 

>>This interview has been edited for clarity.

Question: First of all, congratulations on Honey And Heat! Can you tell me a little bit about how you first got started writing?

Answer: “I will forever be grateful to the colleague (turned friend) who, after hearing me talk about a story idea that I couldn’t stop thinking about, politely told me to ‘shut up and write it.’

Being an author had never seemed like a possibility to me, even though, growing up, I loved writing and read everything I could get my greedy hands on. But after my first child was born, I found myself more homebound with time on my hands after the baby turned in for the night, so I took my friend’s advice and wrote my first book.”

Q: Talk to me a little bit about how you are pitching Honey And Heat to readers. How are you describing the book to folks who may not have read your books before?

A: “Honey and Heat is a black cat/golden retriever, workplace romcom about a fierce, assertive woman determined to prove herself as the worthy successor to her father’s multimillion-dollar business. Unfortunately, there’s someone standing in her way: the one-night stand she can’t forget.

For the folks who may not have read my books before, I stand by my pitch but would also add that beneath its spicy romance surface, Honey and Heat also examines traditional power dynamics in the workplace, complex family dynamics, and how women are held to different standards than men when it comes to success, perfectionism, and forgiveness.”

Q: This is your second book, which many authors say is the hardest book to write. How was the experience for you? What was different when writing this book as opposed to Sunshine And Spice?

A: “At the risk of making enemies (which would be sad, I’m very lovable, I swear!), writing Honey and Heat was delightful, and it’s largely thanks to the female main character, Cynthia Kumar. She’s so competent, intelligent, and independent, it’s no surprise that she practically wrote herself. 

Also, after Sunshine and Spice came out, many readers reached out demanding that Cynthia (who plays the character foil in my debut) have her own story – I think this solidified my belief in her as a character while boosting my confidence, too. And once I had developed the right love interest for her – a ride-or-die man named Rohit Patel who loves, appreciates, and respects every part of her – everything just clicked into place.

I did, however, write this book under contract, whereas Sunshine and Spice was a story I wrote to distract myself from querying (i.e,. trying to find an agent for) my first book. 

Querying is a difficult time for aspiring authors, and I was keeping my expectations low, which allowed me to leave my heart on the pages of Sunshine and Spice. I never thought it would go anywhere. Knowing Honey and Heat would eventually sit on bookshelves made me more intentional – I wanted to push myself, improve my craft, and try new things.”

Q: In your first book, readers got to delve into the fake dating trope, but in your upcoming release, we are treated to enemies-to-lovers. Do you have a favorite romance trope? Is one easier to write than another? 

A: “I have been a romance reader for a long time: Give. Me. All. The. Tropes.

While I can’t say one trope is easier to write than another, as a writer, my ideas for a story usually start with a meet-cute before moving on to fleshing out the characters and then the plot. Tropes are added like seasoning depending on what the characters – and plot – need for story perfection.”

Q: I loved Cynthia from page one; she truly caught my heart as a reader because of her fierce determination to succeed and take over her father’s business, even with the odds stacked against her. Talk to me a little bit about writing her character, especially incorporating the expectations and pressure she feels from her cultural identity and her family. 

A: “*Happy sigh* I love knowing when Cynthia resonates with readers–thank you! When I created her character for Sunshine and Spice, I was ready to do her dirty as the perfect antagonist, but of course, plans have a way of changing as you work through a story. Still, I was a little surprised when readers insisted I give Cynthia her own book. At that point, I wasn’t sure how much I liked her.

As a career-driven woman from a patriarchal culture and upbringing, she has a lot to overcome and it was important to me that her character growth showed a change in her understanding of what it means to be “successful.” 

For immigrant families, success is often defined by wealth, educational accolades, upward mobility and public approval, and seeing tangible results from years of hard work. It’s easy for the children of immigrants to inherit these values and chase these dreams for their parents’ sake. I wanted Cynthia to break free of this cycle and find her own way.”

Q: This story also features a lot of familial love that is complex, messy and layered. Why was it important to you to bring these storylines to the page? How was that experience like writing family characters and familial experiences we see Cynthia and Rohit have and work through?

A: “I blame my own upbringing (I’m Bengali-Canadian and my parents were immigrants) for my inability to leave the complex, messy, layered families behind. Family is everything in South Asian culture and, as such, my perspective will always be peppered by the stoic fathers with hearts of gold, the well-meaning but opinionated mothers, and siblings you sometimes want to throw off a cliff.”

Q: With such dynamic main characters like in Honey And Heat, I can’t not ask—what was your favorite part of writing Cynthia and Rohit’s love story? What were the most challenging parts?

A: “Writing a love interest who is literally heart eyes personified next to an icy main character who doesn’t know how to receive love/acceptance she hasn’t earned led to fun banter, shameless pining, and romantic moments that I hope make readers feel squishy inside. I loved writing Rohit’s reaction to Cynthia–whether it was to her strength or her snark–because he is so consistent in his feelings for her.

It was challenging, however, to write Cynthia falling in love with Rohit in a believable way that did her justice. I didn’t want to fall into the trap of creating a ball-busting female main character who needs to do a one-eighty by the end of the novel to get the happily ever after. Her layers required a lot of thought and care, so while Rohit is more than happy to be her doormat, readers can still see and feel the mutual respect and love they have for each other. She’s down bad for him, too!”

Q: The book enters the world so soon! How are you feeling? What do you hope readers take away from this story?

A: “Even though I’ve been through this wild ride once before, the [publication] date still crept up on me. Knowing the words I’ve cobbled together will be read by others–and maybe have an impact on them–is still so surreal! 

Every time someone posts something online about my book or sends me a DM, I feel so grateful and teary. My hope is that readers walk away feeling empowered by Cynthia and Rohit: sometimes you have to set your own rules and boundaries. It’s okay to go against the grain.”

Q: For readers who are excited to read more from you, is there anything you can share about upcoming projects?

A: “I’m currently working on a few projects, including a contemporary romance with a speculative twist that involves a main character coming into her own with the unexpected help of her loving, sassy grandmother.”

For more information on Pilat’s work, visit her social media pages and website.

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