As we kickstart our "For the Love of Art" series, we introduce you to the bestselling author of "UNNS: The Captivation" and "Finders Keepers". Meet Sapan Saxena

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1) Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a software engineer by profession, dancer by hobby, writer by passion, and part time Master-chef when I am in mood. I did my graduation from MNNIT Allahabad and started writing blogs almost 5 years back. I work as a Software Engineer in the serene town of Chelmsford in Massachuesetts. I belong to the city of Nawabs, Lucknow, hence the customary tehzeeb is part and parcel of me.

2) What has been your first tryst with writing?

If you ask specifically about serious writing, I started writing blogs almost 5 years back. My closest of friends were surprised not because I was actually writing blogs, but I chose a topic as serious as Indology. They expected something on PJs or maybe Rahul Dravid or SRK(big fan), but never expected Indology. Soon, shock gave way to acceptance, and my posts soon earned me lots of followers. They then asked me to try my hand with a book, and thus, my first book was shaped up.

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3) How has your experience of writing been so far.

As far as creative writing is concerned, it has been very fulfilling. There are ideas and worlds and wars and emotions, dramas, musicals and what not playing in every mind you come across, creative writing gives a vent to all those thoughts. Add to that some nice story telling skills, and it works wonders.

As far as marketing and promoting books is concerned, its tough, and a gets a bit on your nerves at time, but then, it is how it is. You have to compensate it with whatever good is coming towards you in the form of reviews, sales, etc

4) Your previous book "Finders Keepers" and current book "UNNS" are two different genres. Please tell us something about both the books and the contrast in the form of writing.

I think that is a very good question. Why contrast between two of my novels, UNNS itself consists of three different ages, eras, seasons, there was a huge contrast within that one novel itself.

Finders, Keepers was a very fast paced story based on Indian history and mythology. There were puzzles all over, how the protagonists solve them, and a consistent running against the time setup. In a way, the plot itself moved the story forward.

UNNS is a romantic espionage thriller. The pace is still fast, but the story is backed by a very deep sense of love and romance between the protagonists. This is more character driven and the characters move the story forwards. There is calm in the story and things happen at their own pace. The story spans across 30 years, and every time I had to make sure the characters behave and speak like the age they are in the story.

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5) How much of the book is inspired from your life?

Damn! You caught me off guard.

See. What you read in a novel is a subset of what all the writer has in his mind. He can do a bit of research or more, but still he will write only what he already knows.

UNNS is a love story. It doesnt have a lot of scope of research as long as love story is concerned. So, of course, you start taking inspirations from real life. I wont say its my own story. But, it definitely is the sum total of all the love stories that I have seen around me and beyond me. My friends, my colleagues, my seniors, my school life. It takes inspiration from all. There are romantic movies I have simply adored. Like Lootera. Via UNNS i have tried to pay a tribute to those movies.

6) What motivates you to write? What is your writing schedule?

The response from the readers. That is the BIGGEST reward. There are people who would often ping and claim they are waiting for the next one eagerly. What more could you ask for. With each passing book, if this group keeps on increasing, that is the biggest motivation.

Writing schedule is mostly haphazard. In fact whenever I get time. But the most creative juices flow late at night. So, I try to shorten my sleeping schedule in weekdays to almost 5-6 hours and then cover up during the weekends. Its tough, to be honest, juggling with a regular job, but my wife is very supportive and I manage.

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7) What books do you prefer reading? Any three favorite books of yours?

I like reading the type of books I like writing. The story telling should be good and plot should be sharp. I love 'It' by Stephen King, "The Immortals of Meluha" by Amish, and Digital Fortress by Dan Brown. My top 3 favourites.

8) Apart from writing what else interests you?

As I mentioned earlier, dancing. In fact I did a small jig on SRK's Jabra Fan and he himself retweeted it via his official Twitter account. I like cooking as well and my wife loves the fact that I like cooking new and unexplored recipes. Recently I have been trying to learn guitar as well.

P.S. Just to add, I love coding as well.

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9) How has been your experience with Indian publishing industry and any tips for aspiring authors looking to find publishers?

Let me say that during my first book, maybe it wasnt that good. I signed up with a few forums for marketing that didnt turn out very good, and I had little to no support back then.

With UNNS, I think it all fell just right into place. I pitched the book to the Book Bakers, and Suhail Mathur did an excellent job of improving the book and finding a traditional publisher for me. My publisher Inspire India and Richard Matta are like warehouse of ideas and the support system that was missing now existed.

Then I have really had a gala and fulfilling time working with Half Baked Beans' Richa Saxena, WritersMelon's Priyanka Roy Banerjee, Writing Geeks' Deepika Verma, The Book bakers' Nidhi and Arudha Club. Lets say I was lucky this time just to find the right people to work with.

My advice to aspiring authors? Keep trying and perseverance is the key. Listen to feedback and improve as much as you can rather than rushing into it.

10) What next projects are you currently working on?

Currently I am working on the sequel of my first book Finders, Keepers. The three main characters will continue but the setting will be completely new.

I am also working along with TBS for a comic series of a superhero. The details are yet to be kept confidential, but yeah I am pretty excited about it.

You can follow the author at @sapansaxena on Twitter