Interview With The Author Of "Bhoota Gappa" Horror Book Series & "Bhoota Gappa 3" Made Affordable & The Challenges Of Reading Books Being Obsolete
An interview with the author of the Bhoota Gappa horror series, exploring Odisha superstitions, fading beliefs, and the purpose of storytelling in the age of AI.
Q1. Why did you write this Special Edition on Odisha superstitions?
Pratiksha: I grew up around these beliefs. They were never just stories, they were a way of living. We were told not to go out at night, not to answer certain voices, and not to question rituals. And we listened, not just out of fear, but out of trust.
Odisha is a land deeply rooted in culture and memory. It has given rise to some of India’s most respected literary voices, and yet, beyond books, it carries stories that were never written down. It is home to 62 diverse tribal communities, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, forming over 22% of the state’s population. In these communities, beliefs are not theory, they are lived experiences.
When I moved to Mumbai in 2005 after my engineering, I realized how little people knew about Odisha. Many had never heard these stories, and some did not know the depth of its culture. That stayed with me, because for me, these were not just stories, they were a part of who I am.
Over time, I began to see these beliefs fading. Not because they were wrong, but because no one was documenting them. And once something like this disappears, it does not come back.
This book is my way of holding on. Of bringing these stories, beliefs, and voices forward. It is not just horror, it is a piece of home.
Q2. Are these just superstitions… or something deeper?
Pratiksha: They are deeper. Much deeper. Because behind every belief, there is an experience. Something someone saw, felt, or went through, that stayed.
I remember reading about a village in Odisha where deaths happened back to back. Not one or two, but enough to shake the entire community. People stopped cooking after evening, and stopped stepping out at night. They believed death was roaming outside after sunset, and that the souls of those who had passed had not yet left the ground.
From the outside, it may sound like superstition. But from within, it was grief trying to make sense of itself. Even authorities were concerned, because such beliefs can affect harmony. But what we often miss is that these beliefs are not just about fear, they are about loss.
I understand this in a very personal way now. After my father’s sudden demise in November 2024, I realized how deeply loss changes you. You carry it quietly, and it shows up in moments you don’t expect. Even today, I sometimes feel out of place in gatherings and celebrations.
Grief does not follow timelines. Everyone processes death differently. For some it takes months, for some years, and for some it never fully leaves. So if a person, or even a community, takes five or six years to heal, we should allow that.
Because sometimes what we call superstition, is actually pain, memory, and healing, finding its own language.
Q3. Bhoota Gappa has become widely loved—what worked?
Pratiksha: I think it connected because people are naturally drawn to fear. There is something about night, silence, and the unknown that makes horror feel real. Today, more people enjoy binge reading or watching horror, especially in those quiet, late hours.
For me, it has always been about consistency. I write every day. Over time, that became a growing collection, including the Mini Horror Series by Bhoota Gappa. Small, sharp stories, but rooted in something familiar.
What really worked is the intersection of fear with authenticity. These are not just imagined horrors, they carry the voice of the land, the folklore we grew up hearing. When someone reads it, it feels like stepping back into an old house from their childhood, something they had forgotten, but never fully left.
That familiarity makes the fear stay longer.
But for me, this is not the end. It is just the beginning of building something much larger, a world where these stories continue to live and evolve.
Q4. You made Bhoota Gappa 3 more affordable. Why?
Bhoota Gappa 3 released last year as a premium edition. It combined two parts into one, introduced a horror folklore creature dictionary, included color pages, and had much better print quality and visuals. I wanted to create something that felt complete, something readers could hold on to.
But even before it released, my mother told me something very real. She said, “No one is going to buy a book in India at that price.” And it stayed with me.
I remember being a kid, wanting an encyclopedia that cost around ₹2000. My mother paid for it in installments, just so I could have it. That memory came back to me again and again.
I realized something. The audience I truly want to reach is not sitting in resorts or on cruises. They are college students, aspirants, people who want to write, people who save up to watch a movie in a theater. I have been one of them, and in many ways, I still am.
So I made a choice. Stories should not become a luxury. If I want Bhoota Gappa to reach the right people, I have to make it accessible.
This is why I made it affordable. Because this is not just about one book. It is about building something bigger, and for that, I need my readers with me from the beginning.
So if you are someone who connects with these stories, this version is for you. And trust me, what is coming next will make this journey even more meaningful.
Q5. What did that struggle teach you?
It taught me that writing is only half the journey. The real challenge is reaching people in a world full of distractions. Today, you are not competing with books anymore, you are competing with attention.
Q6. You have built a community of around 140K active users across platforms. I’m sure they reach out with questions—what do they usually ask?
Pratiksha: This is the most real part of my journey.
People message me saying they have a story in their mind, but they don’t know how to write it. Some ask how to structure a book, others want help researching horror folklore for college essays. Many simply say they want to write, but don’t know where to begin.
And then there are the honest questions. Can writing make money? How long does it take? Is it even worth starting?
These are not polished writers. They are raw storytellers, people with ideas, emotions, and experiences, just looking for a way to express them. And in many ways, I see myself in them.
Q7. Is that why you started JustUtter Saturday Classes?
Pratiksha: Yes.
I want to help youngsters, and keep storytelling alive. Because storytelling itself is going through a major shift. Writing books in silos is no longer enough, even for popular authors. Today, you have to connect with your community, build a niche, and create an experience where people don’t just read, but also participate and write.
JustUtter Saturday Classes are my way of doing that. I keep it simple and practical, breaking storytelling into frameworks like Shadow, Bed, and Mirror. These are not just ideas, they are templates that can be shaped into real stories and even full books.
There is no jargon, no pressure. Just a way to help someone move from, “I have something in my mind,” to, “I created something real.”
This is also my attempt to give horror storytelling its own platform, where it stands out, evolves, and becomes something people can truly engage with.
Q8. You mentioned building a storytelling platform. What is that about?
Pratiksha: I’m working on something larger, a storytelling engine.
We are in a new age where there is endless content to watch and read. What will start to matter is not just the story, but the signals it creates, who it resonates with, and how the right audience finds the right writer.
This platform is about that shift. A place where ideas can be tested, stories can be structured, and writers can understand if their work is connecting with the people it is meant for. It is about helping audiences find their niche writers, and creating a more personalized storytelling experience.
Because today, inspiration is everywhere. What people really need is direction and connection. Let’s just keep it at that for now. More to come.
Q9. Can writing really make money?
Pratiksha: Yes, but it is a long-term investment, not a short-term success.
Writing takes time, and building readers takes even longer. If you start only for money, you will lose patience early. But if you stay consistent and focus on the story, the money can follow over time.
Q10. What’s next for Bhoota Gappa and your storytelling journey?
Pratiksha: Bhoota Gappa 4 goes into the dark realm, where possessiveness becomes central.
This time, readers may not just read the book, they will become part of it, finding characters they deeply connect with. There will be more twists, new characters, and many new horror folklore creatures.
I will keep it affordable, because this journey has to stay accessible. Along with that, I am bringing more binge-worthy short stories, from me as well as JustUtter writers, and possibly small storytelling frameworks within the experience.
This is no longer just a book. It is becoming a Universe.
Q11. What is the purpose of JustUtter and Bhoota Gappa, and how do you see AI impacting storytelling as reading declines?
Pratiksha: The purpose is simple, to keep storytelling alive and make it more real, more connected, and more accessible. Bhoota Gappa brings stories rooted in culture and memory, while JustUtter is about helping people tell their own stories and become a part of that journey.
At the same time, the reality is that people are reading less. I see it myself, even daily sales fluctuate, and visibility is constantly shifting. It is not just books, even movies and series are struggling. If they are not building a strong, engaged community, they are not resonating the way they used to.
The AI age will bring a lot of noise, fake writing, over-generated stories, and even copyright challenges. But every evolution also brings new ways to validate what is real.
And I believe this strongly, authentic and genuine stories will never lose their readers.
This conversation is more than just about a book. It is about a voice that refuses to let stories fade away.
From the villages of Odisha to the growing Bhoota Gappa universe, what stands out is not just horror, but a deeper intent to preserve, to connect, and to create something that people can feel and belong to.
In a time where attention is scattered and content is endless, this journey reminds us that real stories still matter. That somewhere between fear and memory, there is a space where we all recognize a part of ourselves.
And maybe that is where Bhoota Gappa truly lives.
If you have ever had a story in your mind, a moment you could not explain, or a fear you never spoke about, this is your invitation.
Step into the Bhoota Gappa universe.
Read it. Feel it. And most importantly, start writing your own.
Because the next story… could be yours.
- The Interviewer Signing Off Until Next Bhoota Gappa
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