OF RIVETING PROSE AND TAUT THRILLERS

Author Interview : Abhimanyu Saxena

Abhimanyu Saxena’s profession can be known as a Software Engineer, but his one true love is creating new worlds in the reader’s minds and writing something that he would enjoy reading himself. He has written over 100 short stories in his school, and the love for writing has increased to ten folds since then. He loves the control over his characters when he writes and loves killing them off (a big fan of George RR Martin). He has recently come out with the book “Death and Dishonor”. There is hardly any second when something is not brewing up in his imaginative mind. He loves being the mastermind of it all; always trying to create an entertaining story. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his latest book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more.

Please tell us more about Abhimanyu Saxena as a person.
An IT professional who becomes a storyteller by the weekend. Loves creating and killing characters in his world. Avid gaming, reading books, listening music, binge-watching movies & TV series, trekking and partying with friends are some of the few traits.

Has writing always been a part of your life? Or did you chance upon it later on and then instantly fell in love with it?
Yes, writing has been always a part of my life. I had penned down numerous short stories spanning all genres since my childhood which later converted into novels. I have always loved writing – the sense of excitement and euphoria you get, when you start a new project or complete it. Even completing writing a chapter is a gratifying experience.

Can you tell us more about your book “Death and Dishonor”?
‘Death & Dishonor’ is the first part of a trilogy. It is an edge of the seat thriller where the lead protagonist Arjun Rathore, an ex-cop is framed for a crime he didn't commit. And then the chase and quest begins which unveils shocking twists and turns at every corner. His inner demons haunt him and he cannot trust anyone. To what lengths will he go to clear his name and whether he is able to do it or not forms the crux of the story. To summarize, it is completely unlike the usual thriller books and the readers will keep guessing what is going to happen next till the last page of the book.

How has the response of readers been to this book?
The response has been tremendous. I had never expected such a response for my book and that too at my debut. I receive appreciations and positive messages almost every day about the book and it is so satisfying. I couldn't have asked for a better response from my readers.

What type of research went into writing this book?
As almost the entire book revolves around Police officers, it required a lot of research. From Police stations to how the Police officers carry out their daily tasks and so on and so forth. A lot of planning and research went down but I cannot divulge any details as it will spoil the climax of the book.

In terms of the complexity of the character and the nuances of the dialogues, the character development of whom was the most difficult in this book?
The most complex character in the book will have to be the lead himself - Arjun Rathore. Having suffered a devastating loss and then losing his pillar of support spiralled him down. Every day he used to die a little more and drinking alcohol, every waking second of his life didn't do him much good. He is always plagued by visions and nightmares but the feeling of hatred and revenge drove him forward. Also the character development was completely justified by him. The readers would connect with him, laugh with him, cry with him and see him learning from his actions and mistakes by the end.

What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
My favourite books are the Harry Potter ones. All of the 7 parts had almost all the genres combined among them and the story was so captivating. Even my parents are huge Potterheads. Apart from them, I love the books from Donald E. Westlake, Brad Thor, Caroline Kepnes and James Patterson. There is no favourite genre for me. What I look for in the book is the content. If the storytelling is apt and the story is captivating, readers will be hooked to whichever genre it may be.

What do you think is the literary scenario in contemporary Indian English fiction?
There has been a huge upward rise in the contemporary Indian English fiction which is a treat for sore eyes. There is an abundance of talent here and it feels great that more and more Indian authors are stepping up.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
Avid gaming, reading books, listening music, binge-watching movies & TV series, trekking and partying with friends.

Are there any other literary projects in the pipeline?
Yes, there are tons of projects lined up. I have numerous stories to tell the world but the first one will be the sequel to Death & Dishonor.

There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?
For all the new writers, my message would be to keep writing. Even if you feel that it is not quite up the mark, keep writing. Eventually everything will be alright.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?
Follow your heart! Ironically, this phrase holds a huge importance in my book as well. The entire story revolves around this phrase itself.