LAUREN HEWITT
041 sat down with local author Arini Vlotman, and she found a woman fully immersed in her happily-ever-after. Arini is living her dream life with her husband, son, and two rescue pets, Pikachu, her fabulously aloof cat, and Oh, the loyal pup who inspired a character in Pretty Bossy. With book two of the Femme Facade series set for release in 2026 and a new holiday novella taking shape, Arini’s literary journey is far from over.
Tell me a bit about your road to publication in South Africa –
I’ve been quite lucky! I wrote my first novel in 2023 and submitted it to a trad publisher in the US. They offered me a contract, got me to publication, and here I am. At first, I didn’t expect distribution in SA but when Pretty Average started gaining traction, my senior editor got cracking and secured distribution to local bookstores.
Are any scenes in the books based on real-life events? –
Not any one particular scene, but I’ve pulled from experiences and observations. The fun part about writing a contemporary romance is that I can make the world real and hopefully, relatable. Driving in Joburg traffic, adhering to somewhat ridiculous corporate rules, or even just enjoying a night out overlooking the Johannesburg skyline are all things I’ve seen and heard.
If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
This is always a tough one because I want readers to imagine the characters as they’d prefer, but think 2000’s Bollywood romances and a bit of romcom flavour and you can take your pick!
What is your favourite childhood book? –
Alice in Wonderland for sure, who wouldn’t want to doze off and then find themselves in an alternate reality? Although as an adult, I’m not sure I’d want that lol
Tell me about your writing routine –
I’d like to pretend I’m professional and have a strict routine but I’m a mood writer. Most often, once my son is in bed, I whip out my phone and either re-read what I’ve written, write or research – it all boils down to my energy levels and honing my craft. Sometimes I can write till the wee hours of the morning, and others I end up picking up a book to read instead.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book? –
This is weird, but I didn’t really celebrate any of them until my launch. It’s almost as if it doesn’t seem real until I can stand with my readers and celebrate with them. I think, when I sell the next one, I should drink some champagne
How do you select the names of your characters?
Google lol Once I have the backstory and history for my characters, I try and find a name that reflects their culture and that’s that!
What inspired the idea for your book?
In all honesty, I had no plan or idea for the plot. I just knew it would be a romance because that’s my favourite genre and I knew my FMC would go on an adventure- everything else worked itself in which is one of the best arts of writing.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I’d love to meet Nalini Singh or Patricia Briggs! I love their books and their writing style so if they gave me a bit of their wisdom, I can die happy lol
Would you be friends with any of the characters from your book in real life? Most definitely! They do things I’d never dream of so I think they could teach me a thing or two.
Do you have a message for your readers?
I always remind readers that reading is for pleasure, which means you should choose what you enjoy. Not every book is for every person, but every reader has a book. Oh, and feel free to connect with me, I love chatting 
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