"It is important to create an impactful storyline that readers can relate to" - Sourabh Mukherjee
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sourabh Mukherjee has written two psychological-thriller novels and three short story collections appreciated by readers, critics, and the media. His books have been adapted into audiobooks and considered for screen adaptations. He works in a senior leadership position in a global technology firm. He speaks frequently in technology conferences in India and abroad and has authored a popular book on emerging technologies.
INTERVIEW:
Q. Characterize yourself in one word?
Optimist.
Q. Please describe what the story/book is about in one sentence.
“The Sinners” is a fast-paced thriller set in Mumbai, that unravels against the backdrop of corporate warfare, adulterous relationships rampant in modern urban India, and ruthless seduction games.
Q. Briefly, what led up to this book? What were you writing (and getting published, if applicable) before breaking out with this book?
The underlying thought behind the concept of “The Sinners” is that we are busy developing technology for the future, but at the end of the day, we are all human beings with primal, caveman instincts. The contradiction is a very interesting subject to explore.
Prior to “The Sinners”, I wrote 2 psychological thriller novels in the Detective Agni Mitra series – “In the Shadows of Death” and “The Colours of Passion”. I also wrote three short story collections – “Romance Shorts” (paperback and in 2 parts in Kindle), “Beyond 22 Yards Series” (2 Kindle e-books), “It’s All About Love Series” (7 Kindle e-books). I also co-wrote a technology textbook “Big Data Simplified” published by Pearson, the largest education services company in the world.
Q. What has been your biggest achievement?
Here are some of my literary achievements:
My debut novel In the Shadows of Death was among the first titles adopted as audiobooks in the immensely popular platform Storytel on its launch in India. It was selected by MyBookPick.com as one of the best thrillers written by Indian authors in 2015. My second thriller The Colours of Passion is an alternate sexuality thriller unique in the Thriller genre in India and was long-listed for WordToScreen 2018 organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI). It was among Top 10 New Arrivals in Starmark stores across India for the month of its release. It was again selected by MyBookPick.com as one of the best thrillers written by Indian authors in 2017. Romance Shorts was ranked #4 in the Romance genre in an online poll conducted by Salismania.com in 2016. Its story “Nargis Through my Summers” was adopted from a short story that won the Golden Pen Award in the Monsoon Romance Contest conducted by Sulekha.com in 2015. My 2 e-books Love Beyond 22 Yards and Crime Beyond 22 Yards were among 400 titles adopted as audiobooks in the Amazon Audible platform on its launch in India.My collection of 7 short stories It’s All About Love was released over 7 weeks as Digital Exclusives on Amazon Kindle, and are now among Readers’ Club All-Time Best titles on Juggernaut Books, now Airtel Books.
My books have received accolades from readers, book critics and the mainstream national media, the most prominent among them being The Times of India, The Hindu, Business Standard, The New Indian Express, The Statesman, Punjab Tribune, Yahoo India News, Zee News, The Free Press Journal, Absolute India Tabloid, Go-Getter, the Go-Air in-flight magazine, and Shubh Yatra, the Air India in-flight magazine. My books are among the top sellers in online stores like Amazon, mobile platforms like Juggernaut and leading bookstores across the country like Story, Starmark and Crossword.
Q. Looking back, what did you do right that helped you break-in?
I believe it is important to create real, identifiable characters in a story. Correct use of the language is essential, and so is the flow of the narrative. An author should ensure that a story progresses at a uniform pace – a story that slows down after an energetic start is a big let down. Finally, it is important to create an impactful storyline that readers can relate to.
Q. Did you have a platform in place? On this topic, what are you doing to build a platform and gain readership?
From my early days in 2014 when my work started getting published till now, I have maintained a regular, consistent, and extremely interactive presence in social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. My website www.sourabhmukherjee.com also enjoys a good deal of footfalls. I am also thankful to forums such as yours for helping me reach out to my readers.
Q. Favorite book?
I have different favorites from different genres. For Thrillers, I love the writing of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, Keigo Higashino, James Patterson and Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling).
Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
Not many people know that I have sung on stage in college and through the early years of my professional life without getting anything hurled at me from the audience.
Q. Future of SALISMANIA.com through your eyes?
I think you are doing a phenomenal job in promoting Literature. This is a great platform for authors and readers to discover them and their works. Publishers are now willing to experiment with new talent, and these are great times for authors. And I see SalisMania growing from strength to strength as you provide authors with a platform to reach out to their readers and share their views and opinions. My best wishes to the entire SalisMania team.
WHAT TO READ: THE SINNERS by Sourabh Mukherjee
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Vikram Oberoi is found dead in his penthouse. A few hours ago, his involvement in a sex scandal in NexGen Technologies made headlines across the world. Who is behind the sinister conspiracy that destroyed Vikram Oberoi, the philandering India Head of NexGen? Rivals within and outside the firm? One of his many jilted lovers or the miffed wife? A mysterious conspirator laying out honey traps to sabotage his plans? Or, is it the ghost of a sinful past that continues to haunt the Oberois? The Sinners is a fast-paced thriller with a shocking twist that unravels against the backdrop of corporate warfare, illicit relationships, and ruthless seduction games.
PUBLISHER: Srishti Publishers & Distributors
PAGES: 200
GENRE: Crime, Thriller & Mystery