No, I Haven’t Killed Anyone... Yet!

Whoa. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be sitting here, crafting my very first newsletter. But strangely enough, this feeling—this surreal blend of disbelief and quiet pride isn’t entirely new to me. After all, I never thought I’d get to publish a novel either.

Just a few years ago, working on a crime/thriller felt like a distant, unreachable dream… something reserved for people who lived very different lives than mine. And yet, here I am, sitting at my desk with my debut novel staring right back at me. And it hits me, hard and deep that this moment is real.

It’s been nearly two weeks since They Would Die For You made its way into the world, and the whirlwind hasn’t slowed since. My Instagram DMs are overflowing—people asking where they can find different editions, excited readers sending snapshots of the book in their hands, and a few cheeky accusations wondering aloud about my fascination with... well, MURDERS!

And honestly? I’m loving every second of it. The curiosity, the encouragement, the late-night texts filled with wild guesses and nervous theories… it’s all part of the storm I once quietly dreamed of getting caught in. Because this isn’t just about a book finding its place on a shelf. This is about a once-hidden idea, soft, scared, and secret, making its way into people’s lives, starting conversations, raising eyebrows, and connecting in ways I never imagined it could.

A few days ago, I attended an event where I had to meet some very distant relatives. In a family as tightly-knit and ever-curious as mine, word about the book had already traveled faster than I ever could. And not gonna lie—being the only person in the extended clan who's dipped into fiction writing definitely has its perks when it comes to grabbing attention. That night, every conversation felt like an interrogation, albeit a well-meaning one. From plot spoilers to personal questions, everyone had something to ask. And somewhere in between dodging spoilers and trying to explain that not every murderer in the book is a reflection of me, the idea for this newsletter was born.

So, through this, I’m going to attempt to answer one of those questions… the one that has followed me since the book’s release.

Why crime/thriller? Does the genre come naturally to me?
The short answer? Not exactly. I don’t think any one genre truly belongs to me yet. I’m still fresh in the world of writing, and I want to explore as much as I can—to experiment, to stumble, and to surprise myself. That said, there’s one genre I know I won’t be diving into any time soon: Romance.

Not because I don’t appreciate it—quite the opposite, actually. I think writing a compelling, original romance today is one of the hardest things to do. So many incredible stories have already been told in that space that I genuinely don’t know what new I could offer. If you’re someone crafting a romance that has swept people off their feet, trust me—I admire you deeply. That kind of emotional clarity and nuance takes a special kind of writer.

As for me, I’ve always been more drawn to the darker, more shadowed corners of the human mind. Psychology fascinates me… not just in the textbook sense, but in the raw, unpredictable ways it shows up in everyday decisions, in the silences we carry, and in the mess of our contradictions. It’s the grey zones that pull me in—the places where good and evil aren't opposites but neighbours sharing a thin, flickering boundary.

When I write, I’m not just trying to tell a story, I’m trying to build a world where characters are constantly pushed to their edges. I love constructing people who seem ordinary on the surface and then throwing them into situations that test everything they thought they believed in. What do you choose when every option feels wrong? What part of you rises to the surface when survival, guilt, love, or revenge is on the line?

That, to me, is the heartbeat of storytelling: to hold up a mirror that doesn't just reflect what we are, but what we could become under pressure. To ask the reader quietly but insistently—what would you do if this happened to you? And then step back and let that discomfort stir something real. So, to sum it up, No! I’m not bound to any one genre. But I am drawn to a style… a lens through which I examine people and their choices when the stakes are dangerously high. That’s the soul of They Would Die For You. And nothing fills me with more joy than seeing readers dissect those messy characters and the impossible decisions they make. Knowing that I created those little ripples, those subtle reactions… that's the kind of success I crave most.

There’s so much more I want to talk about—so many little stories behind the story, moments I’ve held close, and thoughts that deserve their own space. And I promise, I’ll be sharing them with you in the newsletters to come.

Until then, keep your questions coming! I genuinely love hearing from you. Whether it's curiosity about the characters, theories about the plot, or just a message to say you’re reading—find me on Instagram at @ankeshkprasad or drop me an email at [email protected]. I try to read and respond to every message because your words matter to me more than you know.

If you haven’t already, please do check out my debut novel, They Would Die For You—available now in both Paperback and Kindle editions.

And if you’ve made it this far into this little letter of mine, thank you. Truly. Take one more step and tell me what you thought of this article. Whether it’s a single line or a long message—I’d love to know. When you reach out to someone who’s poured their heart into creating something, it can mean the world. So yes, your response matters deeply to me.

Finally, to all the pings asking about the inspiration behind the story and the murders in it… the title of the article is your answer!🙇