Espionage is a theme that appeals to most bibliophiles. Hence, author and entrepreneur Kochery C Shibu’s latest book titled ‘Amongst the Believers’ is sure to hit the mark. The book also bears the distinction of having been shortlisted by Salismania in its list of ‘Three Must-Read Authors and their Masterpieces’. On the occasion, he speaks to Sunday Guardian about his writing process and the book. Excerpts from an edited interview:
Q. What has your journey as an author been like so far?
A: The thriller genre has always excited me. My very first book was ‘Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar’ which was published in 2015. It was a thriller set in the backdrop of a hydroelectric project in the Himalayas. The book depicted the travails and triumphs of the ordinary worker who risked his life and limb in the construction of the project. A life exclusive to a hydroelectric project that starts with the assembling of the workers at the beginning of the project and ends with the commissioning of the project. The book also brings to life nuances about life in the Himalayan village, the local customs and traditions and the life of the Gujjar community.
My second book, ‘Faith and the Beloved’, was published in 2020. It’s a murder mystery with women protagonists as the lead characters. Two diamonds, a rape and two murders are at the core of this novel. It covers a vast canvas from LTTE’s operations around the world to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The book takes you through a journey as the protagonists try to evade the police and the underworld in their quest for survival and to protect their beloved ones.
My latest novel, ‘Amongst the Believers’, is an action suspense thriller of epic proportions. The book delves into the world of terrorism, international politics, espionage, and wars. The novel dwells on the lives of the protagonists set against the contemporary backdrop of South Asia and conflict-ridden Ukraine and Afghanistan. Loyalty, betrayal and love in the face of terrorism form a central theme. The book covers a large geographical area from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to the jails of Russia and war-torn Ukraine. It shows the machinations of the intelligence agencies and the changing geopolitical situations. The challenging situations ensure the protagonists must make difficult choices which blur the lines between heroes and villains. All of them have shades of grey – even the terrorist is a human being. This fast paced novel is a heady cocktail of action, espionage, and adventure for the thriller lovers.
Q. What was the process of your research for this particular book?
A: The research for this book began in 2020. I believe in character-driven novels and a lot of effort goes into fleshing out the characters. Every reader should feel that the character is live in front of them as they read. Then a fair amount of time is spent on researching the details about the places and geographical locations where the novel is going to play out. The research was an ongoing process all through the writing process.
Q. Do you think the market is too clogged by this genre? If yes, how can a good writer stand out?
A: Indian crime thrillers have been gaining popularity in recent years. OTT platforms are always on the lookout for new stories and suspense thrillers form a huge base. The challenge of writing a good suspense thriller is the research and detailing involved. They should create Indian characters that are relatable and the story should have a credible plot.
Q. What are some of the challenges you faced while writing this book? And how did you overcome them?
A: There are many challenges that come with writing an action suspense thriller. The vast canvas of the novel with the protagonists moving from India to Pakistan to Afghanistan and Iran required a lot of detailing and research. It was even more difficult when it came to countries like Tajikistan, Ukraine and Russia. Another challenge was the changing dynamics of Afghanistan even as the novel was being written. Some of these aspects had to be reviewed and rewritten to align with realities on ground. International espionage and politics is a nuanced area and a lot of research has gone into identifying reported incidents which could be related. Whilst the characters and the story is fictional, the background and geopolitics and events are relatable and meant to be so for the readers. Though the novel doesn’t require the reader to be well-versed in any of the above, a discerning reader will enjoy the details provided which makes the story compelling and convincing.
The emotional challenges of the individuals when faced with difficult choices in life is another aspect, which always brings in a moral dilemma. Not all readers may like the choices made by the protagonists. The training camps of the terrorists and their modus operandi is not an easy topic to write about.
One of the challenges faced by the author as well as the readers is the portrayal of the mindset of a suicide terrorist who is willing to give away his life for a cause. A series of difficult questions always go with such choices. Can anyone justify killing innocents even if he is killing himself? Can the readers relate with any kind of details about a terrorist that may humanise him even an iota? Is there any such thing or a person known as a good terrorist? Many of these questions were in the background whilst writing the novel.
Another challenge has been representing the events in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Finally, the novel is an action suspense espionage thriller and a fictional one at that. The effort has been to not be judgemental in any way.
As with my other novels, I have taken the less travelled path for this one too. Whilst the novel is largely plot-driven, it’s equally focussed on the characters and their emotions. Every single scene and every action of the characters moves the story forward in a style that is unique. The evils of society and the miseries created by human beings also form a collage in the novel. One of the major challenges was the development of the characters and the task of evening out the actions. The plot intricacies are nuanced and the challenge is always to give hints to the reader without giving away the plot.
Q. What are you working on next?
A: I am working on a sequel to this novel. The work is in progress and the research is ongoing. It’s expected to be published in 2025.
Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com.