What is your favorite line from any movie or book? “You look good wearing my future.” -Some Kind of Wonderful

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Always been a night owl! It’s getting harder every year.

What is your favorite restaurant? It varies on where I am going and with who… If I am going to lunch with my son, I like La Grande Orange in Pasadena, CA. It’s close to the train station (yes, we have public transit in Los Angeles!), across the street from a killer park, and they have wonderful short rib tacos and white sangria. Plus, they give chocolate chip cookies with sea salt as a gift at the end of your meal. Everyone in the family is happy when we leave!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why? India, so I could explore the country more, meet some of my family, and eat samosas all day long.

What is your motto? Just do it!

What is your favorite quote? “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anaïs Nin

If you could date any celebrity who would it be and why? I have a serious crush on Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation and Friends with Kids. He’s adorable, smart, has great hair, and just seems like the total package of smarts, wit, and sexy!

What is your favorite dessert? Tiramisu and fruit tarts are my favorite.

What is your favorite meal to cook? I’m going through a rice pilaf obsession at the moment. Pilaf with some kind of protein, adding dried fruits and nuts and a fresh dressing, like shallot-lemon vinaigrette. It’s fresh, healthy, and tastes great because of all the different flavors melding together.

What are your favorite pizza toppings? Meat. Meat. Meat. Oh and mushrooms and tomato.

Which punctuation mark best describes your personality? Why? M-Dash because I’m informal and often have a lot of ideas and interests that aren’t essential to one another…

Can you comfortably eat in a restaurant by yourself? Absolutely, yes.

Pen, pencil, or keyboard? Pen, then keyboard.

Favorite ice cream flavor and favorite sundae topping? Peanut butter chocolate ice cream, and I love hot fudge and bananas on my sundae.

If you could be a character in any novel you've read, who would you be and why? There’s been so many inspiring characters… Right now, I will say that being Tilo, the protagonist in The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, would be cool. She can help people with spices she chooses just for them, and she has a lot of wisdom.

Business is sweet for pastry chef Indira Aguilar. Her indie bakery, Cake Pan, is fast becoming the talk of the wedding circuit for its unique take on cakes and homespun creations for the modern bride, garnering national recognition and drawing in celebrity clients. But while her professional life is blossoming, her personal life is crumbling. Indira may have a talent for blending buttercream into bliss, but when it comes to relationships, she’s got a lot to learn. Considering that the love of her life, Josh Oliver, is not only married, but also runs the award-winning pastry department of her fiercest competition, Crystal Cove Resort, Indira puts much more at stake than just her heart when she ends her affair with him. Rumors begin to fly as the small seaside community of Long Beach learns of her secret relationship, and Indira must defend not only her actions, but her wedding business and her reputation while trying to maneuver the choppy heartbreak waters of starting over, finding new love, and facing her past. With the support of friends and family, a fondness for butter, and a determined spirit, Indira may just bake her way back to happiness and possibly into the heart of Crystal Cove’s dishy new chef, Noah. But one thing is certain. Where there’s heartbreak, there must be cake.

About the Author Cindy Arora was a staff writer at The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Orange County Register and Sacramento Magazine. She’s been published in Saveur, Tasting Table, Orange Coast Magazine and Fodor’s. She’s also a mother, a feminist, a whiskey enthusiast, and proud to call herself a Chick Lit author. Heartbreak Cake is her debut novel.

Add Heartbreak Cake to your Goodreads shelf! Follow along with the Heartbreak Cake Tour via Fictionella! Visit publisher Simon & Fig for more information about the book, and connect with Cindy at cindyarora.com!