Dense Forests, Untold Stories, and an Unheard Evil - Embark on a Thrilling Journey with Shvass!-  Five writers, five stories, and countless mysteries .

1. What inspired the creation of Shvaas, and how did the idea for a multi-author book come about?

Shvaas came from a shared dream of five authors who wanted to blend their unique skills in suspense, horror, thriller and mystery into one book. The idea was first suggested by Varsha Srivastava, and together, the team shaped it into something exciting by combining their different writing styles.

2.How did the collaborative writing process work for this project? Did you follow specific routines, or was there a particular workflow to keep everyone aligned?

Writing with five authors meant we needed to plan well and work together closely. We held regular discussions to keep everyone aligned, so even with different styles, we stayed on track. Each of us brought our own way of writing, but respect and open communication helped us blend our approaches smoothly. The authors have given each other suggestions to improve their story and match with the theme of the book, also they have reviewed each other's story for editing errors.

3.The characters in Shvaas feel vivid and memorable. Are they inspired by real people or events, or did they come entirely from imagination?

This book is unique in this sense that each author is a character in the story telling his her own story. Readers will not only read a story but they will also meet their favorite authors through this book. Each author added a character with their own unique personality, often inspired by our own experiences or writing style. These all characters are connected by a central character which is the soul of each author. Although, there are some fictional characters in individual stories which are completely fictional.

4. What themes does Shvaas explore, and what do you hope readers take away from these narratives?

Shvaas is primarily a psychological suspense-thriller  covering a mix of themes like suspense, horror, romance, woman empowerment  and psychological issues. This perfect mix of different themes ensures to captivate readers in different ways. It explores feelings like fear, love, tension, faith and freedom, making readers reflect on these ideas. By blending different genres, we hope readers will enjoy seeing how these themes work together.

5.The book’s setting and atmosphere are quite immersive. How did the team handle world-building, and did any real locations or events inspire the setting?

We choose an unique story telling style which ensures that each author can tell his/her story in their style but readers don't feel like they are reading a collection of stories. All stories are connected by a base story having mind blowing suspense which ensures that readers enjoy the transition between stories.

6.How did you approach balancing originality with genre expectations in a multi-author project? Were there any challenges in integrating different writing styles?

Balancing originality with the right style for each genre was important, as each of us is known for a specific type of story. We worked hard to keep our unique voices but also focused on making sure readers get a smooth experience. The challenge was making our styles fit together while still letting each one shine. This was achieved by the unique story telling style of the book. 

7.The book maintains a gripping pace. How did you ensure the narrative flows seamlessly from one author’s section to another?

Keeping the story flowing across different writing styles needed careful planning and pacing. We made hours of discussion on a daily basis to ensure that all the authors are on the same track. Each author shared his/her story on each stage and incorporated the feedback given by other authors. We edited our stories many times to ensure it meets the book quality.This way, each author could bring their best, while the story felt like one complete journey. 

8. How do you see traditional storytelling evolving in today’s digital age, and how did that influence your decision to release Shvaas as a paperback?

For a long time we were writing on a digital platform (pratilipi) and continuously  received feedback from our readers which improved our writing. We know that digital is an easy and economic option for readers, but we felt a co-authoured physical book would give readers a richer experience, unmatched by any digital experience. By releasing Shvaas as a paperback, we want to reach readers who enjoy holding a book and feel more connected to the story. This collaboration also shows how stories can bring people together, not characters, readers but also authors.

- Get your copy of Shvass now and join the adventure!