Uday Satpathy Interview –

Uday Satpathy is a MBA from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. He had completed Electrical Engineering from VSSUT, Burla, Orissa. He is currently working as a Client Manager at HCL Technologies at New Jersey, US. He has won numerous awards in quizzing at regional and national level. Let us know more about his writing.

What inspired you to start writing?

I have been more of a reader than a writer throughout my life. Being an avid fan of thrillers, my mind frequently comes up with some interesting plots. Till Brutal, I had never put them on the paper. The change happened when I struck a brilliant plot twist one day while thinking randomly. It made me desperate to put my thoughts in writing. That was the beginning of my dedicated attempted at being an author.

What did you like to read when you were a boy?

Hardy boys and Nancy Drew series were my favorite books. I also read Raj Comics a lot and still have a massive collection of those comic books at home.

What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?

For me, the biggest challenge has been to stay true to the theme of a genre. It’s very easy for an author to get waylaid and lose the plot, making the novel become something else. To me as a reader, if a book is marketed as a thriller, it better be a thriller.

How much research do you do before writing the book?

A lot, and it’s a continuous process as I proceed with the story. Politics, geography, weaponry, history – I still can’t believe the amount of research has gone into Brutal.

What motivated you to write the book “Brutal”?

The story itself was a great motivator, because it was really exciting and got my adrenaline pumping. But, it was my wife who pushed me to actually go ahead and write it.

Can you tell us more about your latest book “Brutal”?

“Death penalty looms over a schoolteacher who commits a heinous crime with absolutely no motive. The whole nation is seeking revenge. A very obscure vigilante group makes it deliver brutally. This violence starts even before the trial could begin. Just when the world thinks that the bloody saga is over, two journalists dig deeper into the case. And so begins their nightmare. Treading over bodies of their leads and chased by assassins, they will soon realize that some mysteries should better be left untouched.”

Who are your favourite authors?

I love reading Robert Ludlum, Michael Connelly and Steig Larsson.

How much time do you dedicate to writing on a daily basis?

However much I would like to, I am not able to spare time everyday for writing. Balancing a grueling job and writing has been tough for me. Till now, I have usually written on impulse, when I strike an interesting scene or a conversation. I am working towards bringing in more discipline into my writing.