Akhila Saroha: First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on the successful publication of “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”. As an author, how has the overall response to your book been so far, both from critics and readers? Have you found the feedback to align with your expectations?
Sumit Kapoor: Thank you. Well, I haven’t had much of a response yet to be honest and I think most of it is because I haven’t done anything yet about marketing it. I haven’t even spread the word around among people I know. As far as the feedback is concerned, I’ve had a couple of them saying they’ve found it an interesting read. It kind of works for me bearing in mind it’s my first ever attempt at writing something this big.
Akhila Saroha: What was the initial spark or idea that led you to write “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”? Were there any personal experiences, specific events, or people in your life that served as inspiration for this work?
Sumit Kapoor: yeah, so I am sure you’d agree that we all are faced with certain unexpected situations in life and then we either turn to GOD, praying or blaming him for whatever happens in our lives or we become so cynical that we forget to look at the positive side of life. So, my mother, who also is my Guru, guided me and to help me understand things better advised me to read our very own Indian gems like “The Geeta” and other similar books. I realized that there’s a rationale to everything that ever occurs in our lives whether or not we’re able to see it. Everything happens for a reason all of which has a connection to our past.
Akhila Saroha: When structuring “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”, how challenging was it for you to decide the order and placement of ideas throughout the book? What approach did you take to ensure that the themes remained accessible and easily understandable for readers without diluting the depth of your message?
Sumit Kapoor: I won’t lie, after a point it became really challenging for me to maintain the natural progression of the story, so much so, that I decided to give it a break until I get the next best idea. So the book laid there, half written, until after a few months when the idea just fell upon me one day and I resumed the journey again. Now, in all honesty, I can’t be 100% certain to how the book has shaped up so I am a bit nervous about how it gets received.
Akhila Saroha: What are your thoughts on the state of contemporary literature, particularly in relation to how well it captures and represents the complexities of human nature? In your view, does present-day writing do justice to portraying the human experience, especially in light of the themes you explored in “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”?
Sumit Kapoor: I feel, it won’t be right to generalize the whole writing style as every writer brings to the table something new. There’re innumerable writers in across the world today of which there’re good writers and I’d be lying if I said I’ve read all the good writers. The ones that I have read, there’re some really good ones in there who’ve managed to deal with and bring out so many aspects of human nature so beautifully that I feel it’s commendable.
Akhila Saroha: Your distinctive style of writing really stands out in “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”. Are there any specific authors or literary works that have influenced your writing style or that you particularly enjoy reading? Could you share some of your favorite books or authors with us?
Sumit Kapoor: Thanks. Well, I am huge fan of Ayn Rand’s, definitely an inspiration. And then because I come from literature background fortunately, I’ve had the honour to read all the classics from the likes of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charllotte Bronte, Virginia woolf, and the likes.
Akhila Saroha: “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure” seems to resonate with a broad audience, cutting across different demographics. How would you personally categorize or define this work in terms of its genre or its broader appeal? What kind of readers do you think the book speaks to most?
Sumit Kapoor: It’s a suspense drama as far as the genre is concerned. It’s definitely am adult fiction, so not meant for people under 18 or the vulnerable as it has disturbing content at certain places. I’ve written the book keeping in mind today’s youth as I feel youth is the backbone of any country and if we can instill strong values in the youth by way of stories like these which they’d enjoy reading too, it could make a difference, even if it’s a little, in the way they think. In the end, we’re all driven by impulses and instincts and it requires a thorough deliberation and introspection to check those strong impulses that could drive us to do things which we’d later regret.
Akhila Saroha: With “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”, you’ve introduced readers to your unique voice as a writer. Can we expect to see more of your work in the future? Could you share a little bit about any upcoming projects or ideas you’re currently working on?
Sumit Kapoor: I am currently working on another suspense thriller, but it’s too early for me to talk about it.
Akhila Saroha: The title “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure” is intriguing and deeply evocative. What’s the story behind the title? How does it tie into the central themes or messages of your book?
Sumit Kapoor: It simply says, actions have consequences and that we are all connected to each other because of our own previous “Karma” and desires. So, the book revolves around one of the book’s main characters (Deepak) who goes through a roller coaster ride throughout his life and no one apart from him is to blame for what happens in his life. Like they say, “karma” would catch you and bite you in the back whether or not you’re prepared for it. The only way to avoid being bitten is to check your impulses.
Akhila Saroha: The themes you’ve explored in “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure” are not often discussed in mainstream conversations today. In your opinion, why do you think these ideas are underrepresented in contemporary discourse, and what motivated you to give them a voice through your work?
Sumit Kapoor: I actually don’t think so, I feel they’re many bold writers out there and they talk about many similar subjects without any restraints which is what I call the beauty of writing i.e. there’s no censorship. Also, I don’t feel I’ve particularly written about a taboo subject. On the contrary, majority of today’s world understand the concept of “Karma” and that bad “karma” could only beget adverse consequences. It’s no longer an alien subject even for the western world.
Akhila Saroha: If you were to describe “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure” in just a few words, while still keeping the essence of the story intact and without revealing any spoilers, what would those words be? How would you encapsulate the core of your book in a brief description?
Sumit Kapoor: Well, like I mentioned earlier, the story revolves around a couple of main characters who go through very realistic ups and downs in their lives because of their own actions and choices in life and its interesting how their paths connect. The reason why this book makes an interesting read is because every character in the book is connected with another character and contributes towards furthering the plot even though they’re not related to each other.
Akhila Saroha: For aspiring writers who are considering delving into the same genre or thematic landscape as “Connected: Free to Act, Bound to Endure”, what advice would you offer? What are some of the key things they should keep in mind while crafting their own narratives?
Sumit Kapoor: I think I am not currently positioned well to be doling out advice as I am only starting out as a writer. But I guess, if someone feels very strongly about something and they have the required skill set to put that in words they should take it up without caring how well it’d be received.
Akhila Saroha: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. It has been a pleasure learning about your journey as a writer. I wish you all the best with your future endeavors and I’m looking forward to reading more of your work in the years to come.
Sumit Kapoor: Many thanks.
