Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m an author, novelist, political analyst and human rights activist. I

originally hail from a legal background, moving into journalism writing on a

range of topics, ranging from history to politics to current affairs. My

writing has been featured in the IB Times, South Asian publications and

mainstream press outlets such as The Guardian and The Independent. It

was through this that I decided to author books dealing with social and

geopolitical issues, leading to my breakthrough novel ‘The Butterfly Room.’

Which writers inspire you?

Similar writers who deal with issues far wider than mere fiction, writers

such as Salman Rushdie, Yukio Mishima, Stephen King and Shusako Endo

that go far deeper and beyond the subtext of their subject matter to deal

with true elements of the human condition.

Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?

No I’m far too much of a control freak! However, I have been collaborating

with other visual artists for some animated and graphic novel projects that I

am working on.

When did you decide to become a writer?

It was when I realized there was an audience for my work, for novelists that

use their skill to create stories that say something deeper and far more

complex than just fiction, and to use the medium to discuss socio-political

issues that interested me.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Part time at the moment but it is my intention to change that. Build it and it

will come.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea

takes you?

I always work from a thorough, scripted outline, sketching out my

characters in detail and considering all elements of the story and the

characters motivations. Through the process, certain script and plot

elements will change depending on the truth of the subject matter at hand.

There must be some semblance of control otherwise everything reads as

haphazard as the approach. Fail to plan, plan to fail definitely applies to the

art of writing.

Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers?

My strategy is to writing compelling work and ensure that media outlets

pick up on it; there are promotional tools and competition and offers that

can then be utilized if need be but I don’t believe in treating it like a fine art.

My ethos is to write something compelling that makes a person want to part

with their cash, a thousand reviews won’t make that decision.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

You can’t please everybody, and bad reviews come from people you don’t

know so I don’t take it personally. At the same time I am my worst critic, I

don’t scrutinize every review but obviously a downward trend is something I

need to be concerned about!

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

My website www.sauravdutt.com covers all my work and my blogs are

sources for debate that have made it across the electronic desks of

mainstream media and notable luminaries in the media and political world.

I’m on Twitter as well @sd_saurav

Any Comments for the Blog readers?

If you’re a writer, never, ever give up. It is remarkably easy to do and if you

give up the world won’t care, make the world care, graft and polish your

craft and consider every new book a wonderful challenge that reflects your

growth both as a writer and a human being.