Mindy Kaling reveals why penning book with B.J. Novak 'isn't weird at all'

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The actress is currently co-authoring a book of essays with her former Office co-star and partner
Mindy and B.J. reportedly landed a $7.5 million deal for the book
The Mindy Project star is also due to release her own memoir Why Not Me? next Tuesday

Published: 12:53 EST, 8 September 2015 | Updated: 14:41 EST, 8 September 2015

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As the star of her own television series and a bestselling author with another book on the way, Mindy Kaling is the epitome of success, and now the talented is taking on yet another daunting project - working with an ex.

Earlier this summer the 36-year-old star of The Mindy Project revealed that she and her former boyfriend B.J. Novak, whom she met on set of The Office, are penning a book of essays together, landing a reported $7.5 million publishing deal in the process. Despite their dating history, the two have famously remained good friends – and are often the subject of much speculation about how they remain so close without their past feelings getting in the way, something which Mindy insists is not an issue.

'I don’t know if I would have written this book with him five years ago,' Mindy told Yahoo Style of working with B.J. 'But no, it’s not weird at all. We fight all the time.'

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Full of laughs: Mindy Kaling's new book of humorous essays, Why Not Me?, debuts next Tuesday and chronicles her rise to fame and life in Hollywood

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Modern love: The 36-year-old actress is also penning a book with her ex-boyfriend and close friend B.J. Novak, which she said is 'not weird at all'

'I’m hoping that the creative process will be lively but good,' she added.

In her new collection of essays Why Not Me?, which debuts next Tuesday, Mindy writes about B.J. falling asleep on famed playwright Edward Albee when she took him to see the award-winning play Doubt.

And when it comes to other famous exes putting the demise of their relationship in words, Mindy said she would like to one day write about B.J. in the way Anjelica Huston wrote about her relationship with Jack Nicholson in her memoir, Watch Me, before adding that she doesn’t dare compare that former couple’s ‘fame or charisma’ with her own.

'I hope when I’m Anjelica Huston’s age that B.J. would permit me to write about him in that way,' she said. 'She’s writing about [Jack] as though he’s dead. I just can’t believe he’s cool with this.'

From boyfriend to co-worker: Mindy and B.J. (right) dated off and on after they met on set of The Office. The two have remained close friends despite their previous romance

Fresh start: The actress' show, The Mindy Project, is making its debut on Hulu this fall after it was cancelled by Fox after three seasons on the network

Babies on the brain: Mindy's character on the show is pregnant, and the start admitted that she does think about having children from time to time

And when it comes to lasting relationships, Mindy explained that she is no longer obsessed with the idea of marriage as she once was.

'I admire [a good marriage] when I see it. I think it’s a beautiful thing,' she said. 'In my 20s, and especially in my teens, I completely fetishized a wedding.

'But I think much less about marriage now. It’s less interesting to me.'

Mindy, who said she 'dates on Saturdays', added that she is now more aware of what she likes in a partner, which she said makes 'dating harder and easier' - and sometimes just the idea of someone is enough to keep her happy.

With age comes wisdom: At 36, Mindy said she is no longer as interested in having a wedding like she was in her 20s

Night out: The accomplished actress and writer said she doesn't really have time to go out on dates, but when she does, it is usually on Saturdays

Woops! In one of her essays in her new book, Mindy recalled getting drunk and accidentally insulting the host at a baby shower for a famous pop singer

'I’m surprised, sometimes even a nice strong crush will sustain me for a long time,' she explained.

The writer's character on The Mindy Project, which is moving to Hulu this fall after being cancelled by Fox, is pregnant, and Mindy explained that although she personally is less-than-enthusiastic about the prospect of marriage, she does have children on her mind.

'I think I’ve decided that unlike everything else in my life, I’m going to be fast and loose about kids. I’m going to not actively plan, but if it happens, it would happen,' she said.

Mindy continued: 'I’m not cavalier about who I would have a kid with. But the thing I ask every parent that I really admire, the one comment they all have is that they wish they had kids earlier.'

In her new book, Mindy chronicles her rise to fame, detailing all manner of awkward and embarrassing experiences she suffered during the first few years of her career.

Occasional thought: Mindy also discussed her body image, explaining that there are times she wishes she were thinner

'Like everyone else, I like get rich quick schemes and get thin quick schemes,' she admitted

For example, she includes an essay about how she once had too many glasses of Champagne at a baby shower for an 'extremely famous pop singer' only to offend the host by cracking a joke about Hollywood stars who are against vaccinations.

The book is a candid and humorous look at her life, and Mindy, who admitted she has an Egg McMuffin and a side of hashbrowns from McDonald’s every Monday, also reflects on the fact that like anyone else, she sometimes wishes she was thinner.

'Like everyone else, I like get rich quick schemes and get thin quick schemes. When people talk about the way I look, it obviously bothers me,' she explained. 'But the way it bothers other women that I know is just so astonishing to me.'

Mindy, who has posed for numerous fashion magazines, including Vogue and Elle, went on to say that stylists have never had a problem dressing her body.

'They’ve always managed to find me clothes at photoshoots,' she added. 'They’re never like: "We can’t dress this creature!"'