Inside the Mind - Sachin Karnik

I've always been a storyteller by nature and a voracious reader, but I began writing only later in life, after retiring from my professional service. What inspired me was, and still is, my curiosity. An interesting question, an unfamiliar subject or an unusual possibility often catches my attention. I start exploring it, reading about it and looking at it from different angles. Somewhere along the way, I find myself asking, "What if?" That is often where a story begins. I enjoy developing an idea, creating characters and discovering how the story unfolds. In many ways, writing allows me to explore things that intrigue me and take my imagination in directions I hadn't initially considered. That's what keeps me writing.

My latest published book is *Out of Sequence*, a psychological suspense novel that explores memory and the uncertainty of human recollection. The story revolves around Neil, who finds himself accused of a crime he cannot remember committing. He remembers the crime scene, but the crucial moment when the crime actually took place is missing from his memory. As he tries to piece together what happened, he begins to question how much he can trust his own recollections. I was interested in exploring how memory works, how gaps in our recollection can affect our understanding of events, and what happens when our own mind becomes an unreliable witness. It's a story that keeps the reader questioning what really happened and how much of what we remember can be trusted.

I don't follow a fixed formula for creating characters. Quite often, an idea or an interesting situation comes first, and the characters begin to take shape as I explore it. I try to understand their personalities, motivations, emotions, fears and the reasons behind their actions. I'm particularly interested in human behaviour and why two people may react very differently when faced with similar situations. I also allow my characters to evolve as the story progresses. Sometimes they surprise me by taking the story in a direction I hadn't originally planned. I enjoy that process because it makes writing an adventure of discovery for me. I want my characters to feel believable, with their own strengths, weaknesses and contradictions. After all, real people are rarely one-dimensional, and I don't see why fictional characters should be any different.

I don't follow a fixed writing schedule. Since I'm retired, I have the flexibility to organise my day as I wish. There are days when I get deeply involved in my writing and spend almost the entire day working on it. On other days, I may not touch my manuscript at all. I don't force myself to write just to meet a daily target. Sometimes I spend time researching a subject, exploring an idea or simply thinking about how a story should develop. Even when I'm not actually writing, the story often stays somewhere at the back of my mind. I prefer to let the writing happen naturally rather than follow a rigid timetable. For me, enjoying the process is more important than counting the hours or words I write.

One of the challenges I've faced is that writing a book involves much more than just writing the story. Since I began writing later in life, I had to develop my own way of working, balancing writing with research, especially when I explore subjects outside my professional background. Making sure that the details are accurate and the story remains believable can take considerable time and effort. Another challenge comes after the book is completed and published. There is editing, proofreading, getting the book ready for publication and then the work of making readers aware of it. Promotion, reaching the right audience and getting a book noticed in a crowded market are not easy tasks. In fact, the work doesn't really end when the book is published. I enjoy the creative side of writing, but I've gradually realised that being an author also involves many responsibilities beyond storytelling. Learning to manage these different aspects has been an important part of my journey.

I'm quite simple when it comes to writing tools. I don't use any specialised writing apps or software. ChatGPT is the only AI tool I use, mainly as an research assistant when I need to explore an idea, discuss something, clarify a point or improve the flow of my writing. I still prefer to do the actual storytelling myself. The ideas, characters and direction of the story are mine.

My advice to new and aspiring indie authors would be to write because they genuinely enjoy storytelling, rather than focusing only on getting published. Don't be afraid to explore unfamiliar subjects or experiment with different genres. Let your curiosity guide you. Take your time with the manuscript. Research your subject, develop your characters and don't rush the process just to finish the book. Once the manuscript is ready, give equal importance to editing and proofreading. A good story deserves careful presentation. Also, remember that writing the book is only one part of being an author. After publication, you have to find ways to reach readers, make your book visible and connect with the right audience. This can be challenging, so patience and persistence are important. Above all, don't compare your journey with someone else's. Every writer has a different pace and a different path. Enjoy the process, keep learning and, most importantly, keep writing.

Book promotion is one of the more challenging aspects of being an indie author. Writing a book is one thing; getting it noticed by the right readers is quite another. I try to use the platforms available to me, including my blog, GetUrBook, and my author profiles on various book-related websites. GetUrBook gives me an opportunity to connect with readers through book reviews, author interviews and articles about books and reading. It also provides a space to introduce my own books. I believe promotion should be about reaching readers who may genuinely be interested in a book, rather than simply trying to get maximum visibility. Social media can help create awareness, but I don't believe that posting frequently or making promotional reels necessarily translates into book sales. I'm still exploring what works best. As an indie author, I have to learn not only how to write and publish books but also how to make them reach their readers. It's an ongoing learning process.

Yes, I'm always exploring new ideas and working on stories. I have two completed manuscripts that are yet to be published: *Where Stars Align – Threads of the Unseen* and *72 Hours*. At present, I'm working on *72 Hours*, a techno-thriller. It is quite different from some of my earlier books and has involved considerable research, particularly because technology is not my professional background. I enjoy exploring different subjects, so I don't like restricting myself to a particular genre. Once the current project is complete, I'm sure another interesting idea or question will lead me towards a new story. For now, my focus is on taking the completed manuscripts through the publication process and continuing to enjoy the journey of storytelling.