Author: Maneet Surana
Blurb:
Rehaan is a young Indian cricketer. He is the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team. In the midst of the 'World ODI Cricket Championship Trophy', being hosted by India, Rehaan starts receiving threatening phone calls from a mysterious person. Who is this mysterious person? Will the person be able to achieve all the wrong he wants? 'The Final Innings', is a fictional crime thriller series surrounding the story of Rehaan.
My Impression: Wonderfully woven crime thriller within the cricket context.
Interview:
Q. How important is cricket to you?
A. In a country where cricket is an emotion, it's highly predictable how important it is to an avid fan. It's obviously an important part of my life, it gave my first Wattpad story, what else do you want?
Q. Who is your fav cricketer and why?
A. I am a big fan of almost everyone from the Indian Cricket Team, but there's no one in particular that I follow. It's because of the way they are carrying 1.3 billion emotions on their backs and are good in their own ways
Q. Can you tell us a bit about the story? Why should people read it?
A. The Final Innings is a sports-based crime thriller. It talks about the reactions and repercussions of a sport-fixing offer a young Indian Cricketer receives and how he unveils the mystery behind the caller. Readers should look forward to some great entertainment and also, it depicts the evil side of one of the most crowd-pulling sports in the world.
Q. Who are your fav and least likable character in your story?
A. Almost all the characters are pretty good and being the brainchild behind them, there's no scope of having one favorite. They are all created out of my imagination, that's all. Everyone has flaws, so do characters, so there are no grudges.
Q. How long did it take to plot?
A. It actually took 5-6 days to come up with the basic plot after the idea of the story got to me. So, I had this app installed in August 2017 with a view to writing something on here. One day I was watching an ODI and there's where I thought, I'd write something on cricket. What's cricket without some thrill? So, then I came up with a police officer closing down on a betting gang plot. But, there were no dots connecting the lead and the investigation. Finally, in the same month, one morning I woke with the actual basic plot of a murder mystery and a cricketer on the hunt of a betting racket. I was elated!
Q. Have you researched all about cricket mafia and betting? Can you give us a tidbit that surprised you the most about the cricket world?
A. Well, this is the first-ever story I have ever written, I didn't go in with research, you could associate the lack of research to the usual excitement and immaturity of an amateur. That's where I missed it, I feel this story would have been far better have I not chosen to go in without updating the knowledge I already had. I went only with what I had watched in movies and read in a few real-life stories.
Q. What is the most challenging part to write this story?
A. Managing to write the end I have planned for it! Anyone, help?
Q. Do you regret not becoming a cricketer?
A. I have never considered cricket as a profession once I was mature enough to understand that I wasn't good at it and that in a country of 1.3 billion cricket crazy people, it requires you to have extraordinary potential to make it to the final 15. Since then, I have been happy playing street cricket, watching matches as an avid fan, getting involved in heated arguments with fellow cricket fans and watching some random analysis shows and cricketer interviews which have helped me understand the game better. And, well, in a general context, I regret absolutely nothing in my life, because, you cannot improve or change something by fretting over it or complaining...
Q. What makes a great mystery story?
A. Firstly, a good enough plot. A great detective (if any), well-layered characters (Ahh! Hypocrite, The Final Innings, flaw no. eternity, poor Character development). Not giving away much at the beginning and having that surprise factor in your ending. Remember, you're writing a mystery, people are always expecting something different from you, so, PLEASE do not be cliche! And, the most important part, your storyline should be absolutely unpredictable.
Q. Has any book or author inspired you to write? Is yes, then who and what about it inspired you?
A. I have always hated reading long novels. So, no, nobody inspired me to take up writing. It is something I developed in my school days writing those essays, letters, interviews, and whatnot. Not bragging, but, back in childhood, I'd received a lot of praise for my formal writing through teachers, friends, etc. But, to be honest, all this going on currently is nothing like those essays and stuff, they were a cakewalk in front of this. So, if you're looking for a profession in writing(which I have never looked for, I write only out of interest), start reading/watching films on unusual topics, like, a dark horror or a murder mystery. Try giving it your own ending to in your head. That really helps. I have been subconsciously doing that since a long time now. In my personal opinion, a good enough vocabulary is the icing on the cake, but you don't have to learn the entire Oxford Dictionary to become a successful author.
Q. Why are you on wattpad?
A. Just got bored of nothing on hand in 12th standard and had an urge to write at least something in my entire life, so I got a recommendation from a friend to check this app out. I'd forever be thankful to her for this.
Q. What is the best book you've read on wattpad and recommend everyone to read it?
A. have read a lot of good books on here but, these are, my top 3 reads :
1. Unhinged by SheHopes
2. The Body by The Alvarez Chronicles
3. Forever in Your Heart by SheHopes again.
I'd recommend people to check my reading lists for some more great reads on here.
Q. What is the best comment you've received on or off wattpad?
A. I receive a lot of amazing comments, I am forgetful, sorry readers XD!
Q. Are you an avid reader? If so, what kind of book do you generally prefer or not prefer to read?
A. I don't consider myself an avid reader, but, yeah, I do like reading. I am still not comfortable with the idea of reading a 3,000-page long novel, but short stories with a unique plot, mostly all sorts of thrillers win my read!
Q. What is the one thing you feel you could have done better in your story?
A. Character development. It's the most ridiculous part of my story! Also, I would have loved to slow down the pace at which my story is running at. It was a result of an instant adrenaline rush while writing the first 10 chapters.
Q. Where do you see your story in the next two years?
A. It will get what it deserves to. Personally, I feel wattpad is a bit biased to Teen fiction and romance category, even though that, the response to my story is satisfying, especially, when I have not been able to write in the last few months and that it suffers from some major flaws. So, let's see.
Q. Do you see Rehaan as any of the real-life cricketers?
A. Rehaan is actually an amalgamation of current Indian Cricket Team Captain and ace Cricketer Virat Kohli and former Indian Captain and one of the successful names in Indian Cricket M.S. Dhoni, but I won't really associate him with anyone in general, because of certain things which have so far happened in the story and which will happen in the later stages.
Q. If not cricket, what could be the subject of the story you'd prefer to write? (or) Do you have any other story in mind? If yes, what are your plans with it?
A. I have quite a few plans about future stories, I wanna write a political thriller, a courtroom drama and have a dream of making my own psychopath killer character, but that's too far we think of, first, let's get done with TFI and my exams in December.
19. If you get a chance to meet your fav cricketer, what is the one question that you'd ask?
A. As I said, I don't have an individual favorite, but if I do meet a cricketer whose on the top of the world right now, I'd ask them, when was the last time they had a normal day? (Pretty silly actually, but there's absolutely nothing I think I could ask, I'd just click a selfie, and be done XD)
20. What books do you plan to read in the future (on and off wattpad)?
A. First priority (reading) off wattpad - The Sherlock Homes my brother bought for me from Harvard Library. If I get an opportunity, I"d love to read something from the great Agatha Christy. On Wattpad, (some promotion for the interviewer first *wink*) I would like to go through the Hayden Mackay series when my exams are done. I have a few other books added to the library as well, that I need to catch up with.
21. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
A. As Michael Dell said,'If you have an idea, try it'. Having good prose and vocabulary is surely a great deal and one of the most important things, as an author, but it is not what makes you a good author. A good enough imagination, the ability to convey your imagination in a creative manner, in my opinion, that it is what makes you a good author. You don't have to be a mine of words, you just need to know how to play with the words you have. Your ability to convey is, according to me, your biggest strength. Imagine things, and make people imagine those things by your writing. Great characters woven by an intriguing plot are two essentials of a story, if even one or both of them are not up to the mark, then your story is just a pile of good enough words, wasted.
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Thank you so much for your time, Maneet Surana. Please feel free to tag your friends and share your experience.