Bio
Hi, I'm Swati! I'm a romance author with Penguin Random House as well as a freelance editor, mindset coach, and self-proclaimed coffee shop enthusiast. I live in Bangalore, India, and I can usually be found at the nearest cafe sipping a hot mug of tea, or singing Taylor Swift songs off-key at karaoke night.
You may have heard that my books are agonizingly slowburn with side effects like screaming "JUST KISS ALREADY!!!" at the characters at 3 am. Well, the rumors are true. My adult romance novels include Match Me If You Can (2024), Can't Help Faking in Love (2025), and Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt (2026), and my YA career is just getting started with As Long As You Loathe Me (2026) and another YA to follow in 2027!
I'm so excited to put my SmoochPit mentor hat back on and help my mentee get published :)
Manuscript
Wishlist
(MSWL)
I'm looking for voicey adult contemporary romance and rom-coms that are full of heart, humor, and emotion. I'd especially like to mentor diverse/marginalized authors.
Here's my MSWL, but please apply even if your manuscript isn't a perfect fit--my taste in romance novels is ever-changing!
- Slowburn romance across all spice levels
- Tropes like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, fake dating, second chance
- Dual or multi-timeline romance like People We Meet on Vacation (my fave romance of all time!)
- Dual POV romance (it just hits different, you know?)
- Books set outside of the United States
- Authors who are marginalized, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent authors
Some of my favorite romance authors: Emily Henry, Nisha Sharma, Amy Lea, Talia Hibbert, Sarah Adams, and Hannah Bonam-Young.
Please note I would NOT be a good fit for dark romance, bully romance, or romance featuring abusive, toxic, or alpha male love interests. I'm completely fine with mentions of past abuse or trauma off-page, but not if it happens within the primary romantic relationship in the book.
Mentoring Style
As a mentor, I'm equal parts cheerleader, critic, and coach. I focus on what's already working in your manuscript alongside what needs improvement. With my 9+ years of experience as a freelance editor, my background as a certified mindset coach, and a very gruelling querying journey before my 5-book deal with Penguin Random House, I know how important it is to be encouraging and compassionate while giving editorial feedback.
I'm hoping to work with a mentee who's just as eager to improve their craft as they are to get published; who understands that publishing is a journey, not a destination; and who writes what they love, not just what they think will sell. I'm still close friends with almost all my mentees over the year, and I'd love to find a mentee this year who also values connection with their fellow authors.
Applications
from Connections
Please do not apply to me if we're on each other's Close Friends list or if I've already worked with you in any capacity as an editor. Anyone else, feel free to apply!