A Cape Town author’s new book Next Level Love is currently one of the bestsellers at a local bookstore.
Goodwood resident Shameez Patel, author, wife, mother and former civil engineer, works in the automotive industry, but in her spare time writes romance novels. This new book is her second romance novel to hit the book shelves.
“I have written for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of a full story was around the age of ten, and it was titled The Treasures of Zombie Island, which hilariously, featured no zombies at all,” she explains.
She says writing and publishing a novel has always been a dream of hers. “One I fully dedicated myself to during lockdown when everything felt bleak and we all needed an escape.”
Her new book is currently among the bestsellers at Exclusive Books.
Asked how she feels about this achievement, Patel responded saying: “I am honored that Next Level Love achieved the weekly bestseller status at Exclusive Books Canal Walk. I am so deeply appreciative of every purchase which made that possible.”
Next Level Love is an URL to IRL romance where two gamers, who have fallen in love through online chatting, end up unknowingly working together in a civil engineering office where their careers depend on their working relationship. It is for fans of Ali Hazelwood, an Italian romance novelist, and lovers of the Hollywood movie You’ve Got Mail, which features Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.
Patel says her next book is already in the making.
“The next book is a work-in-progress and while I have given it a title, it is not something I can share just yet. It is in the fun, carefree drafting state.”
She also shared her advice to aspiring future authors.
“It sounds foolish to say, but my most important advice to aspiring writers is that they need to write. Finish your draft. Do not switch ideas. Do not start deep editing. Of course, every writer is different, but learning how to finish a draft is an incredibly important skill.
“That and knowing that someone somewhere will absolutely adore your work,” Patel says.
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