Let us know about R. Santosh in his own words:
Presently I am the consultant endocrinologist and diabetologist in Magna Clinics for Obesity, Diabetes and Endocrinology (MagnaCODE), Hyderabad Unit. I am one of the directors of the company Magnacode Healthcare and Research Pvt Ltd.
I studied in the St Vincent’s High School in Pune, did my MBBS in BJ Medical College. Then I was off to Pondicherry, where I did my MD in Internal Medicine in JIPMER. Then I followed that up by doing my fellowship (DM) in Endocrinology in PGI, Chandigarh.
I have 31 publications as on date with regards to medical literature, which include articles in national and international journals and five text book articles.
Recently I have crossed addressing 300 scientific forums as a speaker, which includes international, national and regional conferences and Continuing Medicine Education Forums (CMEs). I have also been invited faculty in five management college lectures.
What inspired you to start writing?
My parents instilled the reading habit in me. As a kid, I grew up in a age where books were becoming the brand new sources of entertainment, There was only national TV, no internet, no video games and no structured sports. But books had just recently become more abundant and accessible, My cousins and many of my close friends also read books avidly.
What did you like to read when you were a boy?
As a young boy, the reading started with Tinkle, Target and the various Diamond Comics (Chacha Choudary). As it was with my peers, I graduated to Famous Five and the Secret Seven soon. From age ten to fifteen, it was Hardy Boys all the way, initially the conventional books, and later the Case Files. The William Series by Richmal Crompton also was one that I wrapped up.
The Next books to fascinate me were those written by Jeffery Archer, Sydney Sheldon, Eric Van Lustbader, Fredrick Forsyth and Robert Ludlum.
There was a huge halt in fiction reading once I picked up those really heavy books in medicine.! And so it was, barring a few novels here and there for the next twelve years, the period i was in Medical college.
How did you come up with the idea of writing fiction genre book?
I has started writing mystery stories since when I was eight or nine. All were for reading by the near and dear of course. My first small published works came in school magazines in the forms of poems and short stories. In the meanwhile, I picked up a unique habit of authoring songs, one which continued through my college days as well. I have authored almost one hundred songs! Of course none of them saw the light of the day because of our aims in life to do well professionally. Only three were translated into studio recordings with a college band, but it never got released mainly as I moved on to Pondicherry from Pune. In BJ Medical College and in JIMPER, I was the editor for two satirical college magazines. Academically, my ability to write papers and orate were being appreciated.
What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?
The main challenges that I personally faced was to balance my family, professional-academic-management commitments with the story writing. The multitasking that involved being a good son, husband, father, doctor, thought leader (in academics with regards to diabetes and endocrinology) and a good boss along with being an author took a toll on me (mainly my sleeping hours thinned down) . This book did involve a lot of research in the fields of genetics, Astronomy, and Hindu Mythology, on which I spent a substantial time reading books and articles on the internet.
What motivated you to write the book “The Science Redemption”?
My daughter (presently eight and a half years) served as an unique motivation. She always demanded (or rather still demands) bedtime mystery stories. The plots of these stories had to be incredibly complex as she grew up. She used to question about the big bang, evolution, and God. The three questions are adequately expressed in the book the Science Redemption.
The final thrust was seeing in print a book written by another doctor-author and published by Leadstart co., (The Accidental Immortals by Prasant Nayak). This got all my energies driven into finally authoring a book.
What motivated you to write the book “The Science Redemption”?
I always thought that destiny plays a major role in orchestrating one’s life. This destiny had to be controlled by super power or some super rule of nature. Therein came the idea of writing a book which mainly discussed religion vs laws of nature in controlling the happenings of the entire universe. Was it a super power who made the universe as it is now? Was it God who was involved in beautifully crafting the human body and mind? Or was it Basic Rules in Physics and Biology that lead to ultimately what we are now since the inception of the universe?
Can you tell us more about your latest book “The Science Redemption”?
The Science Redemption has two parts. Part one mainly concentrates on the lives of six individuals, their family, their friendships, their romances, break ups, change in attitudes and finally culminates in them settling into a happy family life.
Part two is a set in a furious pace (over 48 hours). It mainly describes the journey of Dipti, who is a born atheist, and is about to reveal two stunning findings, which would prove beyond doubt the absence of God. But she gets pitted against probably the longest lasting religious cult in history, who want Dipti herself to reveal the presence of God and not the absence of HIm. But they do not want to force her, they want her to believe it….in those 48 hours. These 48 hours also, almost all, tears the apparently simple story in part 1 into shreds.
Who are your favourite authors?
I picked up reading soon after. I am now mainly into reading Dan Brown, Anand Neelakantan, Archers, Sheldons and even older classics.
How much time do you dedicate to writing on a daily basis?
On an average, I wrote/researched for one hour a day (mainly it was between 11 am to midnight). It took me nine months to complete the book.
What words of wisdom would you like to give to aspiring writers?
My message to aspiring authors is:
Follow your passion.
Remember to address at least a part of the book to interest a large part of the audience
Have a good story line or foundation around which you could build your story.
Have a lot of patience with your first book. Don’t be in a hurry to publish it. Read it properly yourself, get it proof read by some one close and then by a professional editor.
Get a good publishing house. Wait till you get one. It may take months, but it is always better to go traditionally rather than self publish.
You can buy his book now: