He is the author of the book A Tale of Two and a PR Professional who helps several brands build their image and reputation among the public and in the media. He is passionate about writing stories and different perspectives and hopes to continue on this journey in the near future as well.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. The one thing that people usually don't know about me when they come across me face-to-face is that I am a quiet guy and prefer to listen to others rather than talk to myself.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. I am currently working on my new book and hope to publish it by 2026. The new book will also be a fictional story, but delving more into school drama and nostalgia.
Q.3 When and why did you decide to write A Tale of Two?
A. When I was 17 years old, I first got the idea for my book. But as the years went by and my perspective changed, I decided to write my book at the age of 25. My first draft, which my sister reviewed, had several issues, and I took my time to come up with a better story. Thereby, at the age of 28, I finally published A Tale of Two.
Q.4 The novel delves deep into Mumbai's slums and the underworld. How did you research and portray these settings authentically?
A. Most of my experiences about the slums and the underworld come from my experience of roaming around in the slums myself and a little bit of inspiration from Bollywood.
Q.5 The story unfolds through dual timelines. What motivated this structure, and how did it enhance the storytelling?
A. Initially, when I wrote my story, it was a straightforward one. But my sister gave me the idea of doing dual timelines, and as my story evolved, it simply fit the narrative I wanted to go for. It felt like connecting the dots and weaving the threads all together for this storyline.
Q.6 Inspector Mohit Sawant plays a pivotal role in the investigation. What was your approach to crafting his character amidst the political pressures he faces?
A. Inspector Sawant is one of the characters that I thought would be easily able to weave my story, which has dual timelines. He is the catalyst and the motivator in trying to understand the dual timelines from different perspectives. That was the idea behind crafting him.
Q.7 The supporting characters add depth to the story. Were any of them inspired by real-life individuals or experiences?
A. More than real-life experiences, the supporting characters were crafted with the thought of not only adding more depth to the story but also being the dots that connect the complex story as well.
Q.8 How long did it take you to complete the first draft and then move into revisions?
A. The first draft of the story took almost 2 years to complete, and then with the revisions, it took another 4 years to finally complete the book.
Q.9 What was the most challenging part of writing this book and how did you overcome it?
A. The most challenging part of writing A Tale of Two was writing down the entire story to my satisfaction. In my head, the story is playing like a movie that I can keep watching. But writing it down needed immense grit and determination. So I kept pushing myself until I reached that stage wherein I was satisfied with it.
Q.10 As a debut author, what was the most surprising thing you learned during the publishing process?
A. I initially thought that once the book is published, my work is over. But there is more to it. You need to promote the book, ensure it reaches the right readers, and you can also able to get their feedback as well!
Q.11 Who are some authors that have influenced your writing, especially in the crime fiction genre?
A. Robin Cook and Dan Brown are two authors who are my inspiration for this.
Q.12 What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A. My book is simply not a crime thriller. It's a commentary on the duality and complexity of life itself. It aims to shatter people's perceptions of slum life, urban life, and a straightforward character as well.
Q.13 How do you hope readers will perceive the moral complexities presented in the story?
A. I would rather leave it for the readers to come to a conclusion themselves. I left it open-ended for people to decide how they feel about each character.
Q.14 What advice would you give to aspiring writers interested in exploring crime fiction or socially charged narratives?
A. I would say to give it your best and give it your all. Don't hold back and always be open to advice from others. You never know when it might trigger a better story idea.
Q.15 If you could sit down with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you ask them?
A. I would sit down with Ravi, one of the goons in the book. Since he is one of the smart guys, I would ask him as to why he hasn't used his intelligence to either take over the gang or work in a legit field!
Q.16 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. I haven't experienced it yet, so I wouldn't be able to comment much on it.
Q.17 What was your writing process like for this book? Plotter, pantser, or a mix of both?
A. I would say I am more of a plotter. Considering the many dots I had to connect for this book, I had to create several plotlines and stories to weave them in a cohesive manner.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. My family and friends have been very supportive of my pursuit as a writer. They have helped me grow by leaps and bounds over the years.
Q.19 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. At times, I feel that I am doing an injustice by writing female characters. Most of the male characters, I can easily imagine how they would behave, being a male myself. But a female character is difficult, and I am scared at times that I might offend women with the way I write. But I try to do my best.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. It's been an amazing journey, and I hope to continue doing it for a long time.
Share your social account links -
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/author.abhishek.v/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/author.abhishek.v
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishek-vissapragada-1779b2a6
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@yomanakaabhishek
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