Author

While a lot of management development books try to teach you a lesson or give you a scenario of what corporate culture and work practices are about, they're theoretical and written in a sermonizing way. Most people don't get past the first chapter, and they just look nice on the bookshelf.

It is almost impossible to win back a reader's loyalty once it's gone.

I write largely plot-driven stories.

I am very adventurous with authors, but not very with genres.

My favourite authors are Jeffrey Archer, for his story telling skills; John Grisham, for the completely new genre he created; and James Patterson, for the way he created a new business model out of writing.

As authors, we know that it is very difficult to unleash one's creativity.

When 'If God Was a Banker' became a success, it changed my entire perspective. I wanted to write more and wanted to be lot more successful as a writer.

I firmly believe that there is no better thriller writer than Harlan Coben.

The problem with most of the want-to-be authors is that they are unable to focus. Either they have no idea of where to begin, or they have hundreds of ideas and don't know which one to pick. Both scenarios leading to one result... they give up even before they start.

I can write in my living room with my wife and kid around.

I am not a great fan of serious, heavy writing. I prefer simple, short sentences, light on prose.

Thousands of books are published every year in India, and it's becoming more difficult to stand out and get people to buy the books. The only way to get people notice the book is to create a buzz much before it's released.

Books should be both enlightening and entertaining.

I'm an executive director at a company which gives out retail loans.

The distribution might which Penguin brought to the table and the stature they gave me as an author is unparalleled.

I must say that books in India are not only underpriced but are also undervalued.

A misconception that exists in the eyes of the general reading population is that authors make truckloads of money.

I believe if you've written a book, you have to stand up and say, 'Guys, buy the book.'

A bookstore has thousands of titles to sell. You need to be the guy the store attendant recommends to the reader.

My favourite authors are John Grisham and Jeffrey Archer. Grisham rapidly established himself and now completely owns the legal space of fiction writing, something I want to do in financial space. I like Archer because he keeps his readers engaged: every chapter is a page turner, and he keeps his writing simple.