Nisha Sharma is an American author of adult and young adult contemporary romance novels featuring South Asian characters. She also writes sci-fi, paranormal, and fantasy romance as Nina Saxena.[1]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Sharma is the daughter of Indian immigrants. She has stated that the Bollywood movies she watched as a child influenced her affinity for romance fiction.[2] Sharma enrolled at Muhlenberg College, where she began a pre-medical track before switching to an English major. She graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2007 and later earned an MFA from Wilkes University.[2] She also holds a JD from Hofstra University.[3]
Career[edit | edit source]
Sharma published her first novel, My So-Called Bollywood Life, in 2018, after writing the book as her master's thesis at Wilkes University.[2] The novel earned a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America,[2][4] making Sharma the first author of South Asian descent to win the award.[5]
Sharma has written three adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare into novels featuring South Asian characters,[6] a trilogy titled "If Shakespeare Were an Auntie." The series, published by HarperCollins, includes Dating Dr. Dil, based on The Taming of the Shrew;[7] Marriage and Masti, based on Twelfth Night;[8] and Tastes Like Shakkar, based on Much Ado About Nothing.[9] Influenced by James Baldwin, Sharma wrote that she viewed writing adaptations of Shakespeare as a form of decolonization.[6]
As of 2022, Sharma taught a creative writing class at Muhlenberg College.[2]
As of 2024, she is working on a PhD in social justice and English.[10]
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
As Nisha Sharma[edit | edit source]
Stand-alone novels[edit | edit source]
- My So-Called Bollywood Life (2018)
- Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance (2021)[11]
- The Karma Map (2023)[12]
- The Letters We Keep (2024)[13]
- Illusions of Fire (2025)
- The Lotus Inn (2027)[14]
The Singh Family[edit | edit source]
- The Takeover Effect (2019)
- The Legal Affair (2020)
- A Singh Family Christmas (2022)
- The Rival Partnership (2026)
If Shakespeare Were an Auntie[edit | edit source]
- Dating Dr. Dil (2022)
- Tastes Like Shakkar (2023)
- Marriage & Masti (2024)
As Nina Saxena[edit | edit source]
Stand-alone novels[edit | edit source]
The Shukra Duology[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Nina Saxena". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Kita, Meghan (March 15, 2022). "Happily Ever After". Muhlenberg College. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Nisha Sharma, JD, MFA". Parents. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ↑ León, Concepción de (January 7, 2020). "Romance Writers of America Cancels Awards Program". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Inside the Spectacular Implosion at the Romance Writers of America". Jezebel. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "How James Baldwin Changed How One South Asian Author Reads Shakespeare (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. November 9, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. June 4, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. May 11, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ Editors, She Writes (August 5, 2024). "DIY DEI in Publishing: What Workplace Diversity Taught Me about Advocating for Myself as an Author". She Writes. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ "Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. May 20, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ "The Karma Map by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. January 19, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ "The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma". Publishers Weekly. April 24, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ↑ Albanese |, Andrew. "Book Deals: Week of January 8, 2024". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Books". Nina Saxena. Retrieved January 6, 2026.