MK Schiller | Life Lessons

My father taught me many valuable lessons. As an immigrant, he came to this
country with an abundance of hope and very little capital. Yet, he was able to
achieve great things. He once told me when I chose to read a book, I was
choosing an experience instead of merely passing the time. He went on to say
that stories broadened our horizons, fueled feelings of compassion for others,
and in general made us better people. He said there was some kind of magic in
books that couldn’t compare to anything else.

I remember crying after I read THE GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein as a child. I cried my eyes out for a freaking tree! Now, if that isn’t powerful magic, I don’t know what is.

I believe the deceased are never really gone. Not if they loved someone. Then
they left a mark that will carry forward. As long as we have stories to share,
their memory lives.

So, I share with you these things my father taught me, knowing his story lives
on. He encouraged a passion for reading. With each book, I got lost in amazing
worlds, rich with quirky characters and unique settings. This passion became the
catalyst which drove my decision to become a writer.

As an author, I feel blessed to create books (or as Dad would say ‘experiences’)
for readers. In my new novel, Unwanted Girl, the hero happens to be an author
too (yes, it was stretch). He makes a comment to the heroine (who happens not to
care for his books) that there is no one-size-fits-all hero. That’s my
philosophy as well. I tend to gravitate toward stories that feature someone who
doesn’t fit a traditional mold. Or maybe they do and that’s what makes them an
authentic hero.

What I love about writing multicultural romance isn’t showing the differences
between cultures, but rather, highlighting how much we have in common. With
technology, I’m seeing the world grow smaller each day, which is a good thing.
Instead of tolerating differences or worst ignoring them, we are embracing them.
We need to spread the same message about diversity in the romance world.

Coming from India, I love writing Indian heroines. When I was younger, I only
saw Indian women depicted as the docile housewife if at all. I’m excited to see
barriers breaking on television and movies and yay…books!

In the new series Quantico, the lead is a kick-ass FBI agent of Indian heritage. In the Mindy Project, we see a successful doctor, who is really into fashion and men. It’s refreshing to see these dimensional, multi-faceted characters play out. UNWANTED GIRL is about a girl from a small village in India, who falls for cynical New York City author. These two have oceans of culture separating them, not to mention a ticking clock since her student visa will expire in a few months. Both characters also have scarred pasts that limit their views of a promising future. Yet, together, they learn to embrace life for the first time. Shyla, the heroine, wants to write a story, but she is no writer. Nick, although a seasoned successful writer, has lost his passion. The novel goes between the story they write and the one they are living. I’ve never attempted anything so outside the box. But then again, who wants to live in a box?

Although Dad would probably skip the spicier scenes, I’d like to think he would
have enjoyed this book! After all, I dedicated it to him.