Kaustubh Nadkarni

What’s your background, what compelled you to start writing?

My parents encouraged me to read from a young age. This love for reading eventually spilled over to writing.

What book from your childhood do you remember the best? Why?

The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton had fascinating elements – a long vacation, adventure, delicious food and a private island. The book that stood out was Five Go To Smugglers Top. Who doesn’t like a house on a hilltop, dangerous marshes and secret underground tunnels?

Does writing energize you, or exhaust you?

The first few drafts are fun, but the final edits are exhausting.

What does literary success look like to you?

I love plot-twists. When I reach the last page, my eyes go wide and I frantically flip the pages. So, literary success for me is when readers say, “I could have never guessed the ending!”

What kind of research do you do?

I read extensively in my preferred genre. Also, to create an accurate atmosphere, I use a picture or video as reference.

Did you always want to be an author?

Absolutely. It’s a great opportunity to create a world from scratch.

Were you an avid reader while you were growing up?

Yes. I used to binge-read series like – The Secret Seven, Famous Five, Goosebumps and Sherlock Holmes. Thankfully there were no smartphones to distract me!