Mansi Shah was born in Toronto, Canada, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young girl. She first lived in rural Oklahoma, in a small town of fewer than 5000 people with only a single stoplight—it could not have contrasted more from the cosmopolitan city of her birth! She then lived in Hannibal, Missouri (the boyhood home of Mark Twain), and she was in fourth grade when she wrote her first novel and decided she wanted to publish a “real book” someday. (That first book is likely in a box in her parents’ garage.) Her family later moved to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and from there she attended the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.

While at UIUC, Mansi majored in psychology, and still never ceases to be amazed by human behavior, firmly believing that truth is always stranger than fiction. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in Melbourne, Australia, and her love for exploring other countries and immersing herself in new cultures was ignited! After Australia, Mansi moved to Los Angeles to attend law school at UCLA. After working at a large international law firm for a few years, she moved to London to attend the London School of Economics and hoped an adult sabbatical to England would help her figure out “what she wanted to be when she grew up.” The answer hadn’t changed since fourth grade. While working as an entertainment lawyer upon her return to Los Angeles, she began writing The Taste of Ginger. She signed her first “real book” deal in 2020.

When Mansi is not writing, she’s traveling and exploring different cultures near and far. She’s traveled to over 70 countries spanning all 7 continents and has many more places she wants to visit. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her in the kitchen experimenting on new culinary creations and finding ways to blend Indian flavors with other cuisines. She also loves the satisfying feel of striking a tennis ball, the smooth motion of swimming, and long walks while listening to audiobooks.

Photo credit: Ron Derhacopian

Learn more about Mansi on her website.