One has heard of blog tours but a Blog Relay was quite a quirky idea and got me hooked. While we write about our own individual writing process, we pass the baton to two new authors at the end. And the chain goes on....Neat ain't it??? Thank you Shweta Ganesh Kumar for making me a part of this.

What am I working on?

Currently I am occupied with promoting my new Mystery Thriller 'THE EMPEROR'S RIDDLES'- The Emperor's Riddles. Touchwood...the book has now entered Bestseller lists at Amazon, The Asian Age and DC Current Books. After winning acclaim from Amish Tripathi & Ashwin Sanghi, it is also getting rave reviews on Goodreads & Flipkart. Besides that, I am researching for my next book and film script

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Every book is different from others since it's an extension of the writer who is a unique individual. Time will tell whether it's better or worse than others of its genre but an eminent reviewer has written that what sets my book apart is the writing. She says it does not talk down to the reader but respects his intelligence and in doing so sets the bar really high for other writers of the genre. Besides that my readers are also enjoying trying to crack the cryptic riddles in my mystery thriller that lead them to the final enigma.

Why do I write what I do?

That’s a difficult question to ask any creative soul. Why does he do what he does? I guess it’s your calling. I love devouring mysteries and thrillers. I have grown up reading Poe, Christie, Doyle, Wallace, Grafton and Brown and have secretly wished to emulate them. So I always knew my first book would be a mystery thriller where I take my reader on an esoteric quest of twists and turns that finally ends in a stunning climactic epiphany. Also I am fascinated with history and mythology, so my book had to be a history meets mystery. The powerful historical legend of the Emperor used in the thriller, acts as the perfect backdrop for the contemporary mystery. The Buddhist myths and sci-fi intrigue in the book are also my tribute to our enigmatic past.

How does my writing process work?

I can start writing only when I have a skeletal structure in mind. Once I start keying into my laptop, I need to have a clear idea of which direction I am going in. A basic idea makes it easy for everything else to fall in place. Of course the path of the plot meanders a lot as you write. It almost takes a life of its own and after a while all you can do is follow it obediently. My first draft undergoes quite a bit of revision. Each time I read it, I find flaws. I avoid clichéd expressions like hell and try to give my reader something exciting to read. Once I am satisfied, I share it with people whose feedback I value. My first draft for this book was ready in about 6 months but went through quite a lot of modification and re-negotiation. The fun is when sometimes a brilliant idea suddenly strikes you and you find yourself switching on your computer at three in the night! Since my book has all these riddles and forensic investigations, I have come across many dead ends only to find solutions at the most bizarre places and times.
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Now let me tag two amazing authors, whose writing is already winning them admiration and recognition.

1. Kulpreet Yadav, author of India Unlimited - Stories from a Nation Caught Between Hype and Hope and A Waiting Wave. He is all set to come out with an exciting thriller trilogy this year.

2. Abhishek Gupta alias Abhi, author of the just released first part of the thrilling fantasy trilogy Embers of Light and The Sacred Secret

The stage is all yours guys...!!!