AUTHOR’S BIO:
Abhishek Sinha is a passionate Indian storyteller whose fascination with the lives of people around him inspires the characters in his stories. An alumnus of IIT Delhi and ISB, Abhishek works in the tech industry and carries a deep love for books, movies, and cricket. By Hook Or By Crook is his debut novel, a thrilling crime story that reflects his sharp eye for detail and a gift for suspenseful storytelling.
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
I grew up watching movies and reading fiction novels, where some characters and events kept me thinking. After completing the movie/book, I’d ponder upon the specific parts and thought about alternate possibilities. That was my entry into the world of creating stories. Kept exploring that just for fun, and started coming up with my own short-stories slowly. By Hook or By Crook was also a short story initially, which grew into a full-length novel.
Inspiration almost always comes from the characters. I am very particular about characters in my stories, and people in general. Whenever I think of an interesting character or meet someone who I feel should be introduced to everyone, my mind jumps to think of a setting where this character will undertake a tale worth telling. I’ve always been a fan of character-driven books and movies like Godfather, Catcher in the Rye, The Guide, which take you into the character’s shoes, and I try my best to deliver the same to my readers, irrespective of which genre I am writing in.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
Anyone who has been through the process of publishing a book, especially a fiction, will tell you how challenging each step is. While writing, you frequently get writer’s block, pitching to publishers is a nightmare for debut authors, and finally even when the book is out, it’s extremely difficult to reach the right eyes and convincing people to pick it up, now with OTTs coming up with new content every week.
Particularly for me, having no connection to the writing world, I was extremely lost and confused at each step in this process. It’s always important to have some mentorship in the journey, and I was lucky to have my publishing agent Suhail Mathur and The Book Bakers to help with tailoring the story rightly, finalising a publisher and finally marketing it the right way.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?
Back when I was pitching my book to publishers, many of them came back with partnered publishing option which I strictly did not want to pursue. I was actively looking for either traditional publishers accepting manuscripts directly from authors, or a literary agency with significant industry presence. I remember reading a few blogs on the leading literary agencies and The Book Bakers appeared in almost all of them. Parallelly, I was frequenting bookshops to understand which traditional publishers get better shelf-space. There, I read The Book Bakers’ name on a few books and that triggered the memory of those blogs. I wrote a proposal email and fortunately got a positive response.
4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?
Despite being an author, I’m unable to express my gratitude for The Book Bakers team and Suhail in words. Being a debut author, I was initially very sceptical about every step in the process. Suhail was very professional and kind in explaining everything over a few calls. He was the one who suggested to make this a full-length novel and not a short story. Suhail also guided me on multiple points to improve the story. Finally, due to his immense efforts, I got multiple offers from traditional publishers. He even guided me in choosing the right publisher and is still mentoring me on promotions and other aspects. There’s no step in my journey where The Book Bakers has not played a significant role.
On a personal note, Suhail is extremely funny and interesting to be around. You won’t realize how fast time passes when you’re having a conversation. And I always wonder how he manages to represent so many authors while ensuring he gives personal attention to each of us, and still managing to have time for impromptu engagements.
5. How do you see literary success for yourself?
The reason I write stories is because of the interesting characters whose stories I want to bring to more people. The more people like the characters, the more successful I feel in my efforts. Having said that, there are four types of statements which make me feel extremely happy and successful.
First, when people come and say “Good to see you pursuing your hobby. I also want to pursue mine, should be doing it now”, I feel happy to motivate someone into pursuing their calling.
Second, when I hear “I want to write something, can you help?”, to find myself of some value, having been through this journey.
Third, when people say “I haven’t read anything in a while. Will get back to reading with your book”, feel happy to promote reading.
Fourth, when I hear “wow, you’ve killed it in By Hook or By Crook”, the best kind of satisfaction.
6. When can we expect your next book?
I already have 5 stories in my head, all from different genres. Currently just taking some time off, before starting with one of those stories. But planning to start something within this month. Let’s see when it finds the light of day.
7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
I’d say three things to anyone aspiring to be an author, or are on their initial days:
Don’t move the goal post. Be happy with small wins.
Always seek help. You’ll be surprised to see how many people are willing to help.
Be patient. It may feel like you’re losing time, but trust the process.
BOOK NAME: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
PUBLISHER: PETALS PUBLISHERS AND DISTRIBUTORS
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:
A missing cop.
An abducted journalist.
A city plagued with crime and corruption.
Shahid becomes embroiled in a web of suspicion and intrigue in his quest to find his journalist brother. As he navigates the complex maze of lies and betrayal to clear his name, the shocking revelations put every known fact into suspicion. With Shahid engaging in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the hidden forces, the lines between good and evil start to blur.
Is Shahid really as innocent as he seems?
Who can you trust in a world where everyone has something to hide?
Prepare to be captivated by this thrilling crime story of “By Hook Or By Crook” that will keep you guessing until the very end.