*** Special Feature - January 2020 ***
About Sharmishtha Shenoy
Her short stories have been published in efiction magazine and Woman’s era. She loves writing murder mysteries, the kind of books that she likes to read. Her favorite authors are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. She also likes the work of Satyajit Ray – especially the Feluda Series.
Before starting to write, she had been an IT professional and had worked in TCS, Satyam, Infosys, and Microsoft.
She is a big foodie and enjoys Biriyani (both Hyderabadi and Awadhi versions) and rasgullas like most Bengalis. She is also a lusty singer of the bathroom singing variety.
Though she is happily married to Mr. Shenoy in real life, in her fantasy world she is wedded to her creation Vikram Rana. You can get to her blog by typing the word “Sharmishtha Rana” into Google. No, seriously, try it.
She was born in Calcutta. She is an M Tech from the University of Reading, Great Britain and had received a 100% British Government Scholarship to study there. She lives in Hyderabad.
Interview with Sharmishtha Shenoy
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I worked in IT for the first 15 years of my professional life, and I have worked at TCS, Infosys, and Microsoft. Initially, it started as a hobby as I was bored with routine IT job. I wrote a story for my son. He liked it so much that he suggested that I publish it. Working in IT enhances your analytical ability and also gives exposure to meet with a variety of personalities both national and international level. You travel a lot to different countries as part of the job and understand different cultures. All of this has immensely helped me in writing the novels and sharing the experience. More importantly, you get more satisfaction when you do what you like the most. I am an avid reader. I read all genres, but comedy and suspense are my favorite.
What inspires you to write?
A writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily or she is supremely talented. A writer is someone who keeps pouring her soul into her words in the hope that she would be able to leave her footprints on this earth even after she is long gone. Footprints, that may not be for everyone, but at least for her near and dear ones, and of course some loyal readers.
What kind of research goes into your book?
The problem with researching while you’re writing is that you squash your momentum. Your draft will take longer to finish and it will be harder to write if you need to jump out of your writing mindset to switch over to research. The solution: Don’t research at all once you’ve started writing until your rough draft is finished. Write first, fact-find second. When you hit an impasse in your draft and you’re tempted to look something up, whether that’s a quote, a proper name, or details about a location, mark that TBD spot with the letters “TK.” TK annotates a spot in your draft to return to when it’s time to research. Why the letters “TK”? There are no words in the English language that have the letters “TK” next to each other, making it easy for you to use the Control+F command to find your TBD spot later on. By setting aside your research for later, you can keep moving on your draft and fill in the small details later.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on another Vikram Rana Mystery at the moment. This is set in Kolkata and is based on the life of a Marwadi family. The first draft has been completed now.
How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
I don’t know. I really mean it. I was taking a walk, thinking what could be the plot of my next novel, when the idea just popped inside my mind.
Please share three interesting facts about the characters in your book.
Vikram Rana – the protagonist in all my novels except for one, is an ex-cop who is a big time foodie. He is afraid of his wife Veena. Veena is a vegan and health conscious. She ensures that Vikram stays in shape by nagging him constantly to do his exercises. Vikram’s best friend is Gopi Reddy, also cop. They had known each other from their days in the police force. Gopi is also a foodie, and this has cemented their bonding.
If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
I guess, it would be J K Rowling. It’s because she is an expert writer and could have pointed out my flaws and how to improve my writing style. Not only that, I would have the opportunity to interact with her directly, which would be a dream come true.
Have you read any books that have inspired you to improve or change yourself in any way?
I'm OK – You're OK - It is a practical guide to transactional analysis as a method for solving problems in life.
Name three things that you believe are important to character development?
Quirks of the character, how he behaves with folks who are his subordinates, how he treats folks who are his equal, how he treats his family, how he reacts to failure and success. The list is endless.
Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
No – never. A lot of story ideas keep popping up. My problem is which one to write first.
What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
Writing the conclusion of course!
Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes of course. I write the plot outline first, before developing the story. You have to, if you are writing a murder mystery, which I do.
What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Edit, edit and edit.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
There is very little money in this game. You will find that people are quick to point out the flaws and only a few generous hearted readers would take the time to write reviews, if they like the book.
Anything else that you would like to share with your readers?
Thank you for sharing your love. The best thing about writing is you get to explore a thousand different personalities, all by going deep into your own soul. The worst thing? You have to be alone to write... Being alone can be very painful. Dear reader, as John Cheever said, 'I can't write without a reader. It's precisely like a kiss—you can't do it alone.' If you drop an email, it makes me feel good and inspires me to continue writing. If you write a good review, I feel that that I have touched your heart and you are reciprocating back. That makes my day! It’s an indescribable, beautiful, happy feeling.
About Fatal Fallout:
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| Check out the Book |
When love is an obsession, rejection is fatal...
Beautiful model and aspiring actress Gauri is found dead on the highway from a gunshot wound. The jewelry she had been wearing and other valuables are missing. Is it a case of a robbery gone wrong? Or is it premeditated murder?
Gauri’s friends and family hold her boyfriend Akash responsible for the death. Gauri had recently broken up with him because of his abusive behavior. Did the fallout of the breakup turn fatal for her? Did Akash decide that if he couldn’t have her, nobody else would either?
Moreover, why did the film director Madhav hire detective Vikram Rana to investigate her death? Is it because he loved her, or because he wanted to point the needle of suspicion away from himself?
Adding to the puzzle, is the corrupt police inspector Phani Kuma sabotaging the case for his devious motives?
The media, meanwhile, is sensationalizing the case, and pressure is mounting on ACP Gopi Reddy to resolve the case at the earliest.
Ace detective Vikram Rana swings into action to untangle a complex web of abuse, lies, and murder to get to the truth.
Giveaway:
Win an Amazon Gift Card worth 125/-A Paperback Copy of Fatal Fallout by Sharmishtha Shenoy
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