An interview with the author of JustUtter's first ever released horror book series named "Bhoota Gappa". This interview will not only let readers know more about, the origin and inspiration of these horror stories but also the challenges of fear and ruthlessness of the inner soul that unravels the story of the main character "Azagka".
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Why did you write "2minhorrorstories"?
As an afternoon ritual back in my childhood days, my grandmother used to always narrate us stories about ghosts, witches, and unexplained incidents from her childhood, youth, to her middle age.
Those stories, enabled me to enter into a realm of a parallel dimension, that had some power beyond realism. It created a sense of fear, but at the same time the thrill lingered around for days, turning me into an adventurous soul that pushed my intentions beyond being scared and thus overpowering my inner fear.
"2 min horror stories", was a way to tell the audience about similar stories and experiences that have occurred in and around my native state of Odisha and in various other parts of India. Most of these true experiences of horror, supernatural, dark magic, has been shared by my father, who taught me the art of story telling. He made me use the essence of animals, inner jolt of emotions, expressing the ordinary in such a manner that no one will feel that this can't be them.
Why do you think people will read it?
People will read it, because horror is an expression of fighting against your inner fear. An individual can get rid of remorse, heart break
loss, when they start getting embedded into this genre. When I launched "2 min horror stories", back in Aug, I never thought that within a span of just 3 months, the reach of my audience will cross 3.1 million. I was pinged by enthusiast readers all across the globe, to share their unnatural experiences and the instances which made them believe in a force greater than just living.
What segment of people will read this book and why?
This book can be read by anyone over 12 years of age, who wants a good story before they end their day, or celebrate their vacation, or when they want to socialize with strangers, or friends who they haven't met for a decade or have just started talking to over a drink or two.
My daughter who is 11 years old, read the book and gave me this review and she is eagerly waiting for the next one.
"Amazing work. I love the cliffhangers and how all the stories are linked to one main story. Very scary and spine chilling. I rate it 10 out of 10."
Who are your favorite characters in the book and why?
My first favorite character in the book is "Azagka", because I feel she has a closer resemblance with myself. I know my greatest fear is penetrating the dark to fight against the unknown. With the sudden demise of my father, now I also resonate with her pain in the urge of finding that one person who tries to help her in every quest independent of the realm they both continue to dwell in.
My second favorite character in the book is "Dev", who acts as a shield to Azagka, without even letting her know, that he will always be around, even though he has left his own chapters of dark.
My third favorite character in the book is "Viansh", as he is the youngest, of the siblings, and the most reliable character. His connection with Azagka, is really special, as they have the ability to read each other's minds.
What is the theme of the book that the readers will feel positive about as horror seems to be a very dark genre?
That's a good question, for the readers this book will help them enable a world of stories and experiences that will always take them back to their childhood and make them feel connected with all their loved ones who they have lost in the path of their growth trajectory. Who they still relate to, who they still go for advice, with whom they felt that someone is always there who is ready to lend an ear to them despite everything else ongoing.
"Bhoota Gappa", will elevate the reader's inner capabilities to sustain life's turmoil like never before. After which they will encounter every twist and turn of fate by the pact of swerving and coming out of darkness as one circumpasses trauma inside their minds. It will make the reader not only get scared of the shadows they see when they walk into a dark room, but also ease through their inner fear of who do they actually want to see and have a conversation with, while they trudge their way through an unknown dilemma, that has instantly hit them hard in life.
Why are all the stories based mostly in and around Odisha?
I was born in Rourkela, Odisha, and stayed with my parents until I finished my engineering, which was precisely more than 20 years of my life. During that tenure, I visited my grandparents on both sides who lived in Central Cuttack and outskirts respectively. When I moved to Mumbai, to get a job and earn a livelihood, I couldn't believe that there were people outside of Odisha, who didn't even know where the state was, or what language was native to my state.
Right then I got the purpose of my life, which was to make the extended folks in India aware of the folklore and authenticity of culture and literature from the land that I come from. After I moved to the US, it was again a groundbreaking attempt to make the people understand all the cultural elements that I resonated with while growing up. Hence I finally decided to write all my stories highlighting the places, the dialect, the stories, the emotions that willl drive everyone towards Odisha, triggering an instant upsurge, that it's more than just being a sacred land of lord Jagannath.
Bonus Question: Can you give us a sneak peek to what happens in the next chapter?
Sure, in the next chapter of "Bhoota Gappa" series, there is a curse that will be disclosed and not only Azagka, but also others will have to begin understanding their hidden power to fight back and get united. Also there will be seven other fresh horror experiences again intertwined with each of these characters that will be surfaced while I unravel the second part of the JustUtter horror book series.
Here is a quote that summarized the book and this interview well enough:
"Beyond love are the souls that you miss, and the guilt that you couldn't even tell them how much you loved them beforehand."
Other books written by the author Pratiksha Misra, is "Innocent Thoughts" an emotional upliftment through scintillating thoughts that capture our minds all the time while we go through ups and downs in life.
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