As the temperature continues to rise and most people prefer to stay indoors, you may be on the lookout for a page-turning crime thriller to read. Or perhaps you are on vacation and just want something easy to read in order to pass the time. I certainly enjoy fast-paced potboilers in situations like this, and a book that I recently came across which fits into this category is “Faith and the Beloved” by Kochery C. Shibu.
As the bestselling and award-winning author of the book titled “Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar”, Bengaluru-based Shibu pursued his passion for writing later in life. He graduated from the prestigious National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla in 1981, and served in the Indian Navy for many years, even commanding two warships. After his retirement, he was responsible for executing hydroelectric projects in the Cauvery River basin in Karnataka, the Beas River basin in Himachal Pradesh and the Teesta River basin in Sikkim. Shibu has a postgraduate degree in Defence Studies from Chennai University and an MA in English Literature from Pune University.
Shibu says, “I changed tack from enjoying the snow-clad mountains to the blue oceans when I became associated with the setting up of a shipping company in India, where I’m currently working.” My second book is titled “Faith and the Beloved.” Many of the characters in the novel are inspired by those I have encountered during my extensive travels. “
His passion for writing goes back to his school days. “Since I joined the National Defence Academy and was a career sailor, I had time to dedicate to professional writing. The extensive writing that was part of my defence career provided adequate experience in general writing skills, though I honed my creative fiction skills the hard way, without any formal training, “he explains.
His choice to write a crime thriller was a deliberate decision on his part. The title of the book, ‘Faith and the Beloved’, depicts the challenges of the protagonists, who have to learn to believe in themselves as their value systems are tested in difficult situations. Having received over two thousand reviews on Amazon, the success of this book is evident. Shibu shares with candour, “The book has been received well by most people but criticised harshly by some.” I welcome both the bouquets and the brickbats! “
When asked about his writing process, Shibu explains that he starts by sketching characters, as he believes bringing them alive is the most challenging part. He spends a large amount of time doing the research, observing, and putting together potential characters and sketching out their details. Simultaneously, he begins research on the subject matter and starts fleshing out the story line he has in mind. Then he weaves the plot through the stories of the characters. He says there is an iterative process of reviewing as the plot is built. Once he starts writing, everything falls into place and then he simply rounds off and finishes.
“My first book called ‘Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar’ took me four years and 3600 man writing hours to complete. The second book ‘Faith and the Beloved’ was quicker and easier to write. It took me two years and 1800 man writing hours,” he says. If not crime fiction, Shibu believes he would be interested in classical story telling. Reading is the most important source of inspiration for him, as well as events happening around him and his astute observations of the people he comes across in life. “Research is what makes the book authentic. Reading, meeting people, experiencing events and situations form the backbone of research,” he asserts, highlighting the fact that his current day job at a shipping company, helps him in his overall writing career.
Now that ‘Faith and the Beloved’ has been noticed by the reading community of India, Shibu is gearing up to write his next book. He does not have a subject as yet, however, he says, books and the creative process are always works in progress. One looks forward to what he has to offer next. Till then, one can buy his first two novels on Amazon and Flipkart.
Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com.