Author: A. S. Raisa a_s_raisa

Blurb :

Indian all-round cricketer Mayank Sharma had always treasured the unlikeliest dream ever, he was a guy who fascinated himself as a serial killer. The rare talent had forever been a sea away from being content with his life in and away from the field. The path of destiny led him to was only an enormous mistake, or that is what he believed it to be. Unlike many of his peers, he had always considered himself unworthy of the glorious position he secured, the cold faith that he cherished deep in his heart claimed that he was born a sinner, the very chest of evil was the precise place he belonged to. His life was gliding by at its own pace until one night fate made him cross path with a 15-year-old belonging to a team he was mysteriously reluctant to face. Following a series of events, he finally found himself at a spot where the shortcomings of his life, at last, seemed to rectify themselves. Being awarded the key to ominousness that he always dreamed of, would he let it take over?

My Impression: A riveting and heavily textured psychological thriller.

Interview :

Q. What does cricket mean to you?

A. Let me start off with a pretty cliché saying - 'Cricket is not just a game. Cricket is an emotion.' The words could not be any truer for me. I always say that I watch cricket since my birth which means I have grown watching the game. Sometimes I wonder why my first words were not 'How's that?' (That's disappointing, baby me!) I rarely watch anything on the television except cricket. It dominates a fair portion of my brain (though I often claim that I don't have one) and I can barely pass an hour without thinking of it. The obsession results in frequent dreams as well as nightmares relating to cricket. I inhale oxygen for my lungs and cricket for my heart.

Q. Would you like to share a memorable moment related to cricket?

A. I have got innumerable memories related to the game. Some are hilarious, some are sad, some are magical and some are simply wonderful. Let me share a funny one about how I got my best friend into trouble.

It was the year 2018 and I was in class eleven. There was a match between Bangladesh and West Indies but unfortunately, I had classes that day. Despite my unwillingness, I began to drag myself towards the college with another friend of mine but before I did, I put my phone inside the bag (we were not allowed to carry mobile phones to the college). I knew that I was pretty much likely to get into trouble but my heart thought beating was important as well. On the way, I took my phone out and that was when I realized (for the umpteenth time) that my phone was a jerk and it would not let me access the scorecard. My soul, however, isn't easy to tame. I suddenly remembered that my best friend had an app where it is possible to check the score. Without a second thought, I called her, completely forgetting that it was around 7 AM in India (that's where she is from). My call woke her up but I was, however, not murdered. Although she laughed hard when I told her what my desperation was about but of course, she knew the plight. I entrusted her with the duty of providing me score updates from time to time.

I kept checking my phone for updates after getting into my class. The teacher walked in soon and I had to be extra careful. As far as I remember it was the second or third period. There was no message from my bestie for long and needless to say, my heart was desperately searching for its own brand of oxygen. I couldn't bear it anymore and tapped the 'call' icon. A few rings......and the call was declined. But no messages. I had absolutely no idea about what was going on. She did not get back to me anymore and later at Almighty's grace, my life was saved by my brother's girlfriend.

I talked to the culprit (my best friend) again in the evening and came to know how my call ruined her life for the second time that day. How could I have known that she had forgotten to shut her phone's mouth before entering the class? (She was in the first year of Mechanical Engineering back then and was the only girl in her class)So guess what happened when I called? Let me see if I can capture the scene in a poetic fashion. Her phone started roaring at the top of its lungs. The whole class along with the teacher shipped their curious gaze to the bewildered sinner. The world around her apparently stopped for a moment to witness the mire and her innocent, glistening eyes could only ask, "Are you guys gonna freakin' murder this poor little kid?!" Following that she dramatically introduced her eyes to the phone and went like - 'yeah yeah... it's mine...' She declined the call and offered a quick apology which, I am afraid, could not make a way to her own ears. But thankfully, her life was spared.

Q: What inspired you to write a story based on cricketers and their personal life?

A. When it comes to real-life cricketers, I am not really interested in their personal lives. For me, it's mostly about my team and the game itself. But I don't think that's what you meant.

Well, you see, I am completely obsessed with the game of cricket. Although I write about diverse stuff from a very young age, cricket is a very recent inclusion.

I think the biggest reason behind my disinterest in writing about cricket was the dearth of confidence I had on myself. For a pretty long time, I focused too much on what readers wanted and ignored what my heart had to say. I used to think that there are readers from all around the globe who might not be interested in cricket at all. But somewhere deep inside, I knew that I wanted to write about it.

When I first joined Wattpad, I posted a few of my short pieces. I wasn't really quite active in here back then. One day, out of sheer curiosity, I put 'cricket' in the search box (I am so, so glad that I did!) and eventually bumped into a story called 'The Final Innings'. The sport based crime fiction managed to captivate a great deal of my attention. I read the first few chapters and left some comments. I wasn't really expecting the author to get back to me but he did, within a surprisingly short period of time. That is how I met my Wattpad twin Maneet (Back then I had no idea that things will go so far and we will be such good friends). It kicked off with me stumbling upon his book and gradually we began to talk about writing as well as the game.

I told him that I was too scared to write about cricket since the readers might not be interested. Maneet did admit that it gets tough at times because of the readers who are not quite familiar with cricket but he was way more optimistic than I was. It was he who encouraged me to give it a shot.

His inspiration led to the birth of 'Little Big Disaster' - my very first novel featuring cricket, which is currently on hold.

My writing started to improve dramatically and I suddenly realized what was holding me back. That was it. I had to listen to my heart. I had to bleed out the words that my heart was holding in for so long. Within a very short time, I could notice a massive change in my writing style. Following that, I never had to look behind.

Q. Who is the favorite and the least favorite character in your story and why?

A. The first portion of the question is rather difficult to answer. But if you insist me to pick one, I guess I am gonna choose Aanvik Kumar. He is an efficient captain and has a heart spacious enough to accommodate the world. He is sweet and caring, innocent and childlike, affectionate, and selfless and is currently giving the author a very tough time with his immaculate character. I guess his easy-going nature is his greatest flaw which might get him into trouble in the future. And that being said, let me apply some adhesive between my lips.

My least favorite is without a doubt, Elita Gomez. She basically represents the part of media that never thinks twice before going to literally any extent to get the players into trouble for the sake of its own interest. She also portrays the ugly face of nepotism and its evil consequences on society.

Q. How much research have you done to create a plot based on cricket?

A. Being knowledgeable about cricket since a pretty young age, it didn't take much for me to start working on the plot that I had in mind. But of course, there is still a lot to learn and I often have to seek help from various sources. Besides cricket, I need to gather knowledge about human psychology and cultural facts to add life to the story. I am currently looking forward to studying more about psychology.

Q. If there is one thing you would like to change in you as a writer, what would it be?

A. I would definitely change my habit of procrastinating and I think most writers can relate to this. I want to finish my novel in a day but can't convince myself to stop messing around.This is not a thing that I would 'like to change', this is a thing that I 'need to change'.

Question 7: What makes a great thriller?

A. The first thing I look for in a book irrespective of the genre is a combination of good grammar, decent sentence structure, and rich vocabulary. I believe these elements play a massive role in conquering a reader's attention.First of all, a thriller must have a unique and intriguing plot. Mainstream and predictable stuff are most likely to turn the readers away. Secondly, the story must be adorned with vivid descriptions. At last but not least, a thriller should always leave a little homework for the readers.

Q. The one thing that stands out in your story is the banter between your characters. How do you come up with such interesting dialogues?

A. First of all, I'm flattered!Now, if you want me to drive straight to the answer, I would say the fuel working behind the dialogues is the friendly yet savage arguments that I have with my friends. Being a cricket fan, I surround myself with people who are equally passionate about the game, and not everyone among them roots for the same team. As a result, I often find myself running a teasing marathon with those friends of mine. Despite the pure entertainment the fights provide, they might appear to be silly but look, the energy and brain we put behind them came to some use at last!

Q. Are we not going to meet any female character?

A. Let me admit that I am not really comfortable with writing female characters. Nowadays, I don't even find myself reading stories with a female protagonist anymore. The reason is pretty simple, despite being a girl, I can't really relate to women.There is already a female character who is, well, not so nice. She is not going to be the only one but we will have very few women in the journey. I am gonna give away another thing- expect a little surprise at the end of the story.

Q. Did you read any other stories based on cricket? If yes, what are they? (On and off Wattpad)

A. We don't find a book featuring cricket every day but I have read a few.The first one is (I have mentioned earlier) 'The Final Innings' by Maneet Surana. The story used to be on Wattpad but it has recently been moved to Inkitt and is currently available under the title 'Off The Field'. It's a crime thriller based on cricket and I absolutely love it.The second one that I'd like to mention is 'Born to Live' by Sharan Kumar, a very good friend of mine. It's basically the story of a young, passionate cricketer. The depth and the poetic touch in the story never fail to impress me. The story is currently under editing process and the edited version will hopefully be here on Wattpad very soon.

The blurb of 'The Zoya Factor' by Anuja Chauhan managed to steal my attention. Although I haven't got the chance to read the book yet, I have tried several times to get my hands on it. I'm not quite interested in movies, so, hopefully, I'll manage to get the book from somewhere.

Besides, I'd like to read the biography of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the former captain of the Bangladesh team. Who would miss the chance of getting to know a true legend better?

I'm always looking for great cricket stories on Wattpad and outside it. Hopefully, I'll keep bumping into such amazing stories and authors.

Q. If you get to meet your favorite cricketer, what question would you like to ask?

A. I think the most difficult part is to pick a favorite in the first place. But let's be honest here, I'm not quite interested in meeting a cricketer personally.

But for the sake of the question, I'll assume that I've accidentally got stuck with my favorite cricketer (let him be Mr. X) inside a dungeon and since help is on its way, we have nothing to worry about. We have some time to spare and I have finally got the chance to ask him something. I'm surely going to ask him which Hogwarts house he is in. I just hope I'm not getting stuck with a muggle (for the ones who are not into Harry Potter- the people who don't have magical abilities are known as

Q. Why are you on Wattpad?

A. When it comes to writing, fellow writers play an immense role in the development of your skills. The easiest way of connecting to amateur as well as experienced writers is to join an online writing platform. I used to be on a platform called 'Figment' which is unfortunately not there anymore and I had to look for an alternative. I eventually settled here in Wattpad and I don't regret choosing it as my new home. I have made amazing new friends and learned a lot from here. Wattpad is a huge community of readers and writers. If anyone is eager to pursue writing as a career, Wattpad can lend them a hand.

Q. Where do you see your book in the next five years?

A. I see that you have provided me with a good amount of time. But the truth is, I would rather engage myself in the present. The first thing I need to do is to stop myself from procrastinating anymore. Although I am pretty slow, I don't think it will take five years for me to finish writing the book. So, we can assume that after a specific period of time, I will have a completed book in my hand. Hopefully, by that time I will be done with the editing part as well.

I dream of becoming a published author someday, so, once my book is ready, I am most likely to approach publishing agents. If it doesn't work for me, I might even consider self-publishing. But right now, I want to focus on the book instead. I need to put a great story before the readers and improve my skills through the journey. After five years, I really hope I will be a much better version of my present self as a writer.

Q. Do you have any other story in mind?

A. New story ideas keep poking my mind from time to time no matter how hard I try to stay focused on a single story. I am determined to finish writing my WIP 'Silent Downfall' and keep other ideas inside the closet for the time being.

Keeping sport as an integral part of the plot, I wish to explore the other genres of literature. Right now I have a few ideas in my mind that cover comedy, mystery, thriller and literary fiction. The one thing that you will never find in my stories is romance. Despite being stuck in this romance obsessed world for more than 18 years, I am extremely romance repulsed and love to focus on the platonic side of love and relationship. I believe that platonic love is the purest of all but unfortunately, it's something that is not celebrated in literature quite often.

Although I want to focus on a single book at present, I always save a little space for the new ideas to float around inside my head. Hopefully, I will transform these into killer books someday.

Q. Describe your idea of a perfect book.

A. I believe that there is no such thing as a perfect book. A book might be perfect for a specific reader while another reader might think it belongs to the trash can. You see, it actually depends on the reader. For example, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling is close to perfection according to many of us (especially the writers) but then again, there are many people who did not find it appealing. Once in a contest, I managed to pull out extra marks from a judge with my ending while another one said that the ending did not work for them.

What I look for in a book is a blend of clever use of language, impeccable grammar, intriguing and unique plot, rich vocabulary, vivid description, good sentence structure, captivating start off, cliffhangers at the end of chapters and an unpredictable ending. The list is a bit long and annoying but something around perfection is not really easy to achieve.

Q. The story is obviously not complete. Without giving us any spoilers, can you give us an insight into what's going to happen in the upcoming chapters?

Ans. Since it is a mystery-thriller, it's actually difficult to talk about it without giving away spoilers. But let's try.

I plan to focus on the inner world of my protagonist and the battle he is constantly fighting with his own self. In chapter six, he has finally found himself on a spot from where he can approach the life he wants to lead. But the question remains, does he really want it? The story is basically based on the feud between his apparent self and true self and how the people around him are responsible for the emergence of the darkness in him. You can expect the other protagonist to unknowingly have a massive impact on the storm in his mind which might eventually lead Mayank to salvation or absolute destruction.

In this story, I will also try to focus on the diverse aspects of human psychology and interaction. I am not really concerned about the book's length as long as I can successfully portray the things I want to.

Q. How do you handle criticism?

A. Criticism can be a tough thing to deal with at times but it's an integral part of an artist's life. We all have shortcomings and criticism helps us to overcome them.

While handling criticism, I carefully go through what the reader has to say. Not all criticisms are helpful and I often have to discard the suggestions I receive in this way. But some readers truly care about the story and the author, they are the ones who want us to make progress. They always leave behind useful feedback through which we can eventually master the art of writing.

Q. Any other hobby other than reading /writing and watching cricket?

A. Not really. I love to sleep but I think that sounds more like a symptom of depression than a hobby.

Since we are talking about hobbies here, let me mention a very unusual one that I used to have a few years back.

I had a strange liking for national anthems. I loved listening to the national song of countries around the globe and I even memorized some of them. I know it's weird as hell but guess what? I still have a few in my memory and I love singing them.

Q. Do you think writers should deliver what readers are looking for in the story?

A. Caring about your readers' opinion is nice but you got to make sure that you don't put your readers on the driver's seat. You certainly don't want your story to collapse into a ditch.

However, a writer must go through everything a reader has to say about the story and carefully consider their words because sometimes, they come up with brilliant suggestions. But submitting to each and every wish is a very bad idea unless you are planning to write a Schrödinger's story.

(Just in case the reference is unfamiliar to you, look up 'Schrödinger's cat'. Fair warning: It's annoying)

Q. What is your favorite motivational phrase?

A. I have got a few.

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."-Toni Morrison

"Dream is not what you see in sleep, dream is something which doesn't let you sleep."- Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam

"If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word."- Margaret Atwood

"Always be a poet, even in prose."- Charles Baudelaire

Q. Have you ever faced writer's block? If yes, how do you cope with it?

A. Writer's block is a pandemic in the world of writers and I have never seen a writer whose immunity is strong enough to prevent this disease.

This deadly disease slowly kills a writer from inside. The most common symptoms are depression, apathy towards pen and paper, and a few broken bones (the frustration studded punch was meant for the air but damn that wall!)

So, if you have ever faced writer's block, congratulations, you are a writer!I have dealt with writer's block several times in my life. I believe the best way to beat writer's block is to stop swearing at it and start writing. Writing trash is better than not writing anything at all. Remember the quote by James Ellison - "You write your first draft with your heart, and you rewrite with your head."

Expose yourself to everything that inspires you to write, embrace the good things that kick awake the writer in you. Beating writer's block is difficult, not impossible.

Q. What suggestions would you like to give to an amateur author?

A. If you have just started your journey as a writer, please keep the following points in mind:

1. Never give up. Some people will always be there for you no matter what, wait, hold on, I mean they will be there to discourage you with their pessimistic souls. You will have to act blind and deaf when they are around. Your first few words will never meet your expectations but don't let that make you relinquish your dreams. Remember- "A professional writer is an amateur who did not quit." Richard Bach said that, not me.

2. Never compare yourself to other writers. They did not reach that height in one day. Give yourself enough time and you will eventually be there.

3. Read, read, and read. Build a thesaurus inside your brain. I will put another quote here- "Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river." (Virginia Woolf)At last but not least, be ready to handle criticism. Good critiques play a great role in a writer's life.

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Thank you so much for you time @a_s_raisa. Please feel free to tag your friends.