29 June, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: #Interview with Moitrayee Bhaduri, #Author of The Sinister Silence


*** Special Feature - June 2016 ***

About the Author
Moitrayee Bhaduri is a writer, reader, and music enthusiast. She loves reading crime thrillers as much as she enjoys writing them. She adores epic detective characters like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Feluda, and Byomkesh Bakshi. Since she wanted to read more Indian detective stories with women protagonists, she decided to create the character of Mili Ray. Moitrayee’s first book, The Sinister Silence is an action-packed suspense thriller that introduces private detective Mili Ray, an ex-super cop.  
Published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors, The Sinister Silence has been receiving great response and appreciation from the creative fraternity, booklovers, and the social media. The author has been featured in leading dailies like DNA, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, and The Asian Age, as well as on popular online news & blogging sites.
Moitrayee grew up in a close-knit family in Kolkata, the booklover’s paradise. She enjoys dabbling with different forms of writing – technical content writing, copy editing, creative writing, and more. She has worked with leading IT organizations in various writing and people-managerial roles. For now, she is settled in Mumbai, working full-time, and trying to focus on completing her second crime thriller. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, watching cricket, and hanging out with loved ones.


Contact:


Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
As a kid, I loved listening to stories and narrating my own! My mother used to make subjects like geography and physics interesting by teaching me through stories. So I guess I picked up storytelling from her. Professionally, I decided to become a writer when I joined my first writing job with the Content Team at oxfordbookstore.com 

What inspires you to write?
People, nature, animals, society. 

What kind of research goes into your book?
I like researching on the backdrop or setting of my book. For instance, if I am writing on the IT industry, I should have sufficient facts to substantiate my content. A lot of research also goes into building the characters – to make them unique yet believable, relatable, and interesting. Since I am currently focusing on the crime-fiction genre, I read up/research on police procedures, forensics, administration, detectives et al. Traveling and interacting with people also help in gathering useful information. 

What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on my second book – The Musical Murders. Private detective Mili Ray will be the protagonist in this one too.  

How did you come up with the idea for your current story? 
My passion for music led me to believe that an interesting thriller plot can be built around Indian Classical music.  

If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why? 
I would send my book review request to Dame Agatha Christie, the queen of crime-fiction. I would love to know her views on Mili Ray (my protagonist) and the Indian setting. 

Have you read any books that have inspired you to improve or change yourself in any way.
Absolutely. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho tops the list followed by Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. 

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
Yes, many times. I try focusing on an activity other than writing – like reading, singing, watching a movie etc. If that doesn’t work even after weeks, then I write anything that I have on my mind. For example: I could write a paragraph on “I have this writer’s block and I know only I can get over it. But how?” Spending time with ‘pen and paper’ or the laptop doing nothing also works for me. Importantly, ‘doing nothing’ also means disconnecting from the Internet at that time.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
The editing bit. It is tricky and time- consuming but good fun! At times you don’t want to delete something because you are emotionally attached to the idea. But once you do, you realize that the manuscript looks neater :-)

Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes, I have a fair idea of what the last chapter should look like when I start writing the first. However, when you spend a considerable amount of time shaping your characters, there may be a difference in the way they react to something in the final draft vis-à-vis their reaction to the same situation in the first draft. Therefore, the ending may change in the final version of the manuscript. 

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
That I am not one in a million. There are many people in this world who think like me and who would be interested in my writing. So, I should always write for myself, regardless of what people expect. Conviction in your own work is important. 

Anything else that you would like to share with your readers?
If you like reading, please buy books, share books, and encourage others to read. 




Book launch of ‘The Sinister Silence’ in Kolkata (L to R – Mr. Biplab Dasgupta, Ms. Amrita Mukherjee, Ms. Yajnaseni Chakraborty, myself, Mr. Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ms. Mona Sen Gupta)


Reading from my book at Crossword Bookstore, Mumbai (L to R – Mr. Prasoon Joshi, myself, Ms. Sangeeta Mall, Mr. Damodar Mall)


As Guest Lecturer - with the fabulous students of Podar International School, Mumbai


About the Book:
When ace software engineer Saahil is found battling for his life on a rainy morning, it looks like a case of attempted suicide. However, Saahil's family strongly denies that possibility and calls in ex-super cop-turned-detective Mili Ray to investigate. While doctors are uncertain about Saahil's survival, the police discover the blood-soaked body of Saahil's colleague Farzad. Why are IT engineers being targeted? Is there a link between these ghastly attacks and Saahil's cutting-edge invention – the PA software?
Ray and her team – Advocate Gatha and ex-army officer Anubhav – dive into this case, which is turning murkier by the hour. Unaware that a conniving assassin is stalking her, Ray races towards a dangerous trap while murderous attacks continue to haunt the IT world. Who is behind these assaults – a jealous co-worker, an IT kingpin, an estranged friend, or someone else? With the killer on the loose, Ray's credibility is at stake...
Set in Mumbai, The Sinister Silence is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that traces detective Mili Ray's journey through a mysterious case that poses new threats every time she inches closer to her goal.


Book Links:


Giveaway:
·     
3 Paperback of The Sinister Silence by Moitrayee Bhaduri - for Indian Residents Only
a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

  1. The piece de resistance of the blog series. I have known Moitrayee since we were both children, and she is a talented individual, and most importantly a fantastic human being. It's great to have her as a friend and I look to her for writing guidance every now and then. She is the one who inspired me to write! Ms. Bhaduri you are the best!

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