A long run needs an honest you : Sudeep Nagarkar

What wikipedia says about him?

" He met his girlfriend in college days and their love life flourished until they broke up with each other.He adapted his own story into a novel. Now, he is the author of two bestselling novels Few Things Left Unsaid (2011) and Thats the Way We Met (2012). His third novel It Started With a Friend Request was release in July 2013, which was also a national bestseller and most popular Indian fiction 2013 by Amazon.com. His upcoming book is also based on true story which is scheduled to be released in Feb 2014. "
No hard to guess, the man we are talking about is the young talented man with pen, Sudeep Nagarkar himself!
Fortunately, Vanya's Notebook got a chance to be one with him in a FB chatbox and we are sharing the witty answers we got for our naughty questions here:

• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  So tell us something about Sudeep-the person rather than Sudeep-the author! What he feels when he is reading his own books ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  I feel shy when it comes to reading my own books and hence even in book reading sessions I prefer to be informal and interact more with the readers rather than reading long passages from the book. Even after selling more than lakh copies today when my new book releases I fear if someone will buy it or not
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  What were the circumstances under which you started writing your story, the plot of Few thins left unsaid ? As it was a narrative form of your own personal diary, did it took too much of your mind in converting your story in Aditya's ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  I was in depression when I wrote my diary about my love life. The break phase was saddening. My friends insisted to give it a face of novel. More than efforts, it needed patience. I had to frame the incidents and had to sort out the best ones from my diary. I read many books during that time and then started penning down my own. It nearly took me 8 months to complete 'Few things left unsaid'. Many times I felt that I should quit as this is not my cup of tea but my friends supported me a lot and handled my frustrations superbly. I am thankful to all those who stood behind me all the time.
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  And popularity, well you soon gained a position in heart of indian readers! Do you agree that their sympathy to you also helped the book in getting placed in the bestseller's list?
  
  

  

  
  
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  No I don't agree. If that was the case then all the authors who followed the same path would have gained the popularity. But according to me, I only know couple of more who have achieved the tag. If that tag was in my mind anywhere in the entire process then I wouldn't have poured my heart in writing. I believe the book was instant hit because of the fact that almost every teenager goes through a break up phase. Everyone could relate to Aditya's and Riya's situation. We see so many love stories which have flooded the market. How many do you remember from the past couple of years? So your writing has to connect with the readers. Sympathy, attractive titles and marketing can only give initial boost. To sustain in long run you need to be honest with your work!
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  You said you read books while writing 'Few Things Left Unsaid'! A review of your book says : " What I feel can be better is the language. It feels childish at places" How will you advocate this?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  I can show you even worse review than this. Should I? Even reputed authors and in that case actors get such reviews. I take it sportingly and if I feel it is genuine then I try to implement in my work for sure. Where there are lovers, there are haters too!! Yes it was my first book and moreover it had few grammar mistakes too which were rectified in the later editions. However I am not the one who go behind reviews and pay reviewers to write something good about my book. For me readers are best reviewers.

  
  

  Vanya's Notebook

  The titles of your book are getting an increament of 1 word each time! What things you keep in mind while choosing titles ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  Oh God! Even I was not aware of this fact. But my fourth book's title is decremented by 1 I look for trendy titles which gels well with the story of my book! After reading the book, reader should feel this was the perfect title for the book.
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  So tell us somethings about your upcoming title!
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  I feel its a perfect title for current generation where we see so many break ups and link ups too within a short span. The title goes perfectly with the theme of the book. Its a true story of Delhi College Band!
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  " After Few Things Left Unsaid, I was expecting a lot from the sequel but it turned out to be similar to the first one."

  This is what a reader says about your 2nd book, what will you say to this?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  If they feel so then I accept it with grace. However I know I had given it a best shot and I don't feel that I should have modified something in it. Just to make a better story I didn't want to hurt the readers by portraying a fake story as a real one!! The incidents which happened in the second innings of my life were similar to the first then I think destiny should be blamed. On serious note, I feel the book has all the elements that were needed to take the story to next level. It was the end of Aditya-Riya love story!
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  Do you ever feel that now a days you too are one among crowd of young authors of genre-romance ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  No. I don't think so. Atleast that is what my publisher and my readers says. Its just 2 years that I have started writing and you can already see my name listed on Amazon. I give all credit to my fans and those readers who read my book and recommended it. Also to those who read it, cursed it and recommended not to read it. 'It started with a friend request' is listed as popular book of 2013 by Amazon and that certainly makes me more responsible. I hope in coming future too I fulfill the expectations of the readers. I am happy with the response of all 3 books. Especially the reviews and response of ISWFR was mind blowing.
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  does author Sudeep know that there are people who talk behind his back that he uses wrong English at times and question his capabilities.. What's his take on this?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  Its good that they atleast talk. I will feel bad when they stop talking. I never cared about the people who talked behind my back. I believe they must be having lot of spare time to gossip over my capabilities. I just want to say one thing to such people 'Grow up in life.'


• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  Do you take yourself as 'just' an author, or as 'also' an author ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  Its too early for 'just' but I would love to take that in future. Currently am doing my management studies and let time decide the rest.
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  What do you take writing as : passion, need, hobby, or anything else ?
• Sudeep NagarkarIn early days it was 'need' to overcome depression. Later it became 'hobby' and now its my 'passion'. I don't know what it will be in future. 
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  Vanya's Notebookwhat do you think you posses more than any other teen author of your genre? If a reader asks you to compare yourself with durjoy, ravinder or Faraaz, where will you place them around you ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  I would rather place them around me and click a nice photograph .
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  Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  If you are to act as a co-author of some Indian writer, who will be your first choice ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  No one!
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  Most of the reviews about Preeti's 'life is what you make it' say that its title is misleading, yet she is one of the prominent indian authors ? What are your views regarding the contribution of reviews in popularity of a novel ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  As I said earlier that I do not believe in reviews and neither do readers. Reader who runs into crossword or browses flipkart do not look for a book with good review. If he feels he should buy it then he will. Mostly in India word of mouth plays a major role. I strongly believe half of the reviews are paid and there are many false acts that takes place from reviewers as well as author's side. You pointed it right. There are many books which are doing well inspite of bad reviews given by reviewers. Just because few reviewers rated a book low on rating scale does not mean the book will not be loved by the readers.
• Vanya's Notebook
  

  
  

  most of the publishing houses have 'request review copies' section in their websites, so will you suggest them to change it to 'please don't review' ?
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  
  

  I am not an expert to give publishing houses suggestion. But certainly I would tell those authors and even few publishers who pay reviewers to review their book and then manipulating reviews according to the money given! I still get messages from reviewers saying pay me a certain x amount and we will review your book. It is necessary to see whether your book is getting reviewed by genuine people or not. There are few genuine people too in bloggers world and there is no harm in giving them. But spending money behind online reviews is not what I look for. That's completely my take and you can disagree to it 

  
  
  

  

  Sudeep at a book signing event!

  
  Vanya's Notebookokay, so we wish for a great writing career of yours!We also wish you a happy new year and a beautiful 363 ahead!
• Sudeep Nagarkar
  

  Thank you so much for considering me!! 
  

  Wishing you too a very happy new year