Hailing from right here in South Africa, Arini Vlotman is shaking up the literary scene with her debut novel, Pretty Average. So grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine—we won’t judge) and dive into this fun and flirty chat with the woman whose giving romance a fresh, local flavour!

FEMME: Spill the tea! How have your own love stories (and maybe a few heartbreaks) shaped the romances you write?

Arini: I met my husband on a blind date through mutual friends and I’m happy to report that I’m living my happily-ever-after. The state of falling in love and being in love, getting hit with all those endorphins (almost like reading a book lol) is what I love most about
writing. But we all know that life isn’t a fairytale. Life is more like dropping your Kindle on your face in the middle of a really steamy scene, abrupt and sometimes painful. With my writing I can have the good, the bad and the teary, but I can always end it with a HEA.

F: What’s the best part of writing love stories? Is it the swoon-worthy moments or knowing you’re making hearts flutter everywhere?

A: What’s better than crafting the perfect protagonist? Having others fall in love with them as well! I love when readers message me while reading the story, I get to relive those plot twists, the highs and lows, with them.

F: Balancing love, life, and the perfect plot twist—how do you keep it all together without losing your mind?

A: Don’t tell anyone, but I think I’ve already lost my mind! I’ve found that sharing my experiences with readers, and other authors, have been invaluable to keeping a good balance. My family know how important writing is to me, so having their support has
been a key motivator while being open and honest with the bookish community helps me during my lows. For that, I’m eternally grateful.

F: When you’re not dreaming up steamy scenes, how do you recharge? Got any guilty pleasures or secret hobbies?

A: I’m a firm believer in the power of a good nap, nothing can surpass a good bout of power sleep (much to my family’s dismay). I also love fangirling – I can jump into a rabbit hole when I enjoy a particular book or movie and it’s hard to pull me back out.

F: What made you dive into the world of contemporary romance? Was it a grand gesture or a meet-cute moment with the genre?

A: Give me a good old fashioned grand gesture any day. Contemporary romance tugged at my heart because I can write about someone you and I can meet in our everyday lives. The person you see standing in line at the pharmacy or that cute guy you spotted at a party, they could be living a romance right now. We’re living those lives, going to work, laughing with friends or spending time with family. All those little moments, with a bit of dramatic effect, make for incredibly juicy writing.

F: What was the “aha!” moment for your latest book? How did you dream up this irresistible story?

A: As unusual as this is for a romance, where there are two people on this rollercoaster together, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Esha’s journey unfold. She struggles with things that we all do and she very competently overcame each obstacle in (mostly) realistic ways. See, her HEA inspired me to write about woman, and how powerful they can be so I continued with this theme and I’ve now got two more books coming up for release.

F: Dish on your leading characters, especially Kane, what makes them so swoon- worthy or delightfully complicated?

A: Kane is my kryptonite. Picture Hrithik Roshan and Henry Cavill sweeping you away on a date of your dreams- that’s Kane in a nutshell! He comes with his own baggage though and I thoroughly enjoyed how Esha pulled him along for the ride. Having him go from the confident, and arrogantly professional to the bewildered and adoring man that lay behind his façade was incredibly entertaining.

F: What’s your secret sauce? How does your romance stand out in a sea of love stories?

A: This is a tough one to answer so I’m going to quote some feedback I received from a reader which made me believe that Pretty Average stands out: Writing believable characters in an everyday world but with extraordinary circumstances. I could have kissed the reader who told me this!

F: Johannesburg is all about hustle and bustle, not exactly a city that screams romance. How did you turn this urban jungle into the perfect backdrop for love in Pretty Average?

A: I fell in love in Joburg and I know so many other people who have too. I remember looking out into the streets while travelling on the bus when I was younger and despite being on the same route for weeks or months, I’d notice something different. A new painting on the side of a building, a new restaurant, or something as simple as how a street looked in summer vs autumn. It was all so alive, you never know what you’re going to get but it was also beautiful – just like a romance.

F: Your leading lady, Esha, faces real-life struggles, including anxiety. What words of wisdom do you have for our readers who are dealing with anxiety and panic attacks themselves?

A: I suffered from anxiety as a young adult and I have first-hand experience on how crippling it can be. Like Esha, I had to figure out what works best for me. And to remember that we don’t have to struggle alone. I had to find someone to help me. Don’t shy away from learning who you are and what matters to you. One of my favorite quotes is ‘You’re not having a bad life, just a bad moment.’

F: Esha also embodies the modern working woman, juggling it all. What tips do you have for balancing work, life, and a little fun along the way?

A: I’m a firm believer in celebrating every win because it’s those small moments that make a difference every day. Call a friend to shout out your news, take a long shower, get your hair done, go out for a coffee on your own and be authentic.

F: Got any golden nuggets of advice for aspiring writers who want to pen their own love stories?

A: Please write that story. Don’t put it off and don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed. I want to read it! Which means you already have one reader. And if you don’t know where to start, someone else does. Find your community and most importantly, write what you love. If you want to write to publish, it’s a good idea to invest some time into researching what’s happening in the publishing industry but don’t forget that there’s a reader for every story.

F: What’s your go-to advice for our readers who sometimes feel like they’re just “pretty average” in a world that demands perfection?

A: Bugger the world! Find your tribe and you’ll realize that the people who expect you to fit a standard or mold are not important. And I know this is easier said than done because I struggle with this as well, so if you need a reminder, look me up 😉