1. Akhila Saroha: Could you encapsulate the essence of "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses" in a few words, avoiding any spoilers?

Saurabh Singh: The book teaches 7 essential skills to start and run a sustainable business. Chances of creating a sustainable business without these 7 skills is very remote. The book conveys and teaches these 7 skills via questions and answers with the protagonist of the book. The conversation form makes the book engaging and holds the reader’s attention throughout. 

2. Akhila Saroha: For aspiring writers in a similar genre, what advice would you offer based on your experience with "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses"?

Saurabh Singh: In the era of reels and snapchats, the younger generation is losing touch with books. My advice to aspiring writers would be to think about writing engaging books. If the content is sheer knowledge but boring, it will not create an impact in the business genre. Hence, aspiring writers must convey their message in an unbiased and curious way via their books. 

3. Akhila Saroha: Do you believe you've conveyed everything you intended through the book, or do you foresee more exploration of the same themes in your future works? How extensive was the research and revision process before finalizing the manuscript?

Saurabh Singh: Ohh, I have spent nearly 8 years researching, discussing and filtering information for this book. Must have read 100s of books, talked to hundreds of entrepreneurs and that too not only successful ones but also the ones who have failed in their ventures. I have also been mentoring and consulting startup companies and learnings from these engagements also are part of this book. 

I believe, a writer or any creator for that matter, always finds some scope of improvement in his or her work. Keeping that writer’s dilemma aside, I think I have conveyed what I wanted to convey, in this book, very effectively.

4. Akhila Saroha: How has the audience responded to "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses"? Does it align with your expectations?

Saurabh Singh: The feedback from the readers in the last two months have been amazing and beyond my expectation. 

5. Akhila Saroha: The book elicits emotional responses from readers. How did you infuse emotions while keeping the narrative authentic?

Saurabh Singh: I believe, emotion is a very powerful force, in fact, more powerful than thoughts. If someone is starting a long-lasting endeavor, without powerful emotions in place it is hard to sustain. Authenticity touches the right chords in human psychology. By being authentic and writing on topics which otherwise are not discussed publicly has helped me to emotionally connect with readers. 

6. Akhila Saroha: Reflecting on your literary journey, what elements contributed to your growth as a writer leading up to "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses"?

Saurabh Singh: I would say ‘observation.’ I observe a lot. Virtually, there are multiple strands of thoughts running in my head when I interact. Be it any type of interaction -  with a human or with nature, it can be via communication or just through silence. But I observe intensely. Over the years, this trait has made me more mature as a person and probably as a writer. 

7. Akhila Saroha: Managing complex perspectives in a simpler version is no easy feat. What challenges did you face in achieving this in "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses"?

Saurabh Singh: “Simple can be harder than complex. - this is one of the famous quotes by Steve Jobs. So, yes, keeping the prose simple is always a challenge, particularly in writing about something as varied as a business. Sometimes, I had to rewrite a sentence at least 10 times in different ways to make it simple. It was about finding the right words to convey things in the most effective way. 

8. Akhila Saroha: Despite the personal touch in "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses" you maintain a narrative detachment. How did you strike this balance as a writer?

Saurabh Singh: For months altogether, I had to personify how Suraj would think in particular situations given his background and what questions he may ask. 

As you know it is tough to act as an observer and the observed at the same time while maintaining sanity in the arguments. 

9. Akhila Saroha: The title is striking and memorable. How did you come up with "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses"?

Saurabh Singh: Freedom is the core desire of every human being. I live by the adage that everyone should have freedom to do whatever one wants to do in life. This freedom comes from inner enablement. One should be equipped enough with the right skills to feel free and act free in choosing the entrepreneurial pursuits. The subjective word ‘Freedom’ and a number ‘7’ together creates the necessary impact which makes the title memorable.The book has received many positive feedbacks about the uniqueness of the title. 

10. Akhila Saroha: Best wishes for the book's success. How do you envision its impact and reach among readers?

Saurabh Singh: I think it has made a huge impact on the people who have read it in the last couple of months. On an average I get a couple of very positive feedback about the book in my inbox on a daily basis. I am confident and expect that this book will help at least a million readers with entrepreneurial ambitions to fulfill their dreams. 

Knowing you as an Author:

1. Akhila Saroha: What prompted you to pick up the pen and explore your potential as an author? Can you share the journey of your evolution as a writer?

Saurabh Singh: I am from an engineering background. However, since my childhood, I was hooked on books. Even now, not a day passes in my life without at least half an hour of reading. In my childhood, I developed an affinity for words. The immortality of written words always enticed me to write. To borrow my favorite author’s thoughts on writing - I have ‘aesthetic enthusiasm’ towards writing. It comes from the desire to share something valuable while deriving pleasure from the firmness of a good prose. 

2. Akhila Saroha: If not a writer, do you see yourself exploring other creative pursuits? What might those be?

Saurabh Singh: If not a writer, I would do full time business consulting. There are lots of creative elements in this profession which I love and do part-time. 

3. Akhila Saroha: Every writer has influences. Who are your favorite authors and how have they impacted your writing?

Saurabh Singh: Well, my favorite author is Mr. George Orwell! I get lots of inspiration from Mr. Orwell’s writing. The courage and clarity that he had as an author is something that I strive for. I try to bring facts and truth in a way that resonates with Orwellian style of writing. 

4. Akhila Saroha: Beyond writing, what other personal activities engage you as an individual?

Saurabh Singh: I like to read. I like to play with my son in my free time. I also love meeting people and discussing contemporary politics and its impact on society. 

5. Akhila Saroha: Summing up your writing journey in one sentence, how would you describe it?

Saurabh Singh: It’s just started and a long way to go!!

6. Akhila Saroha: Considering the evolution of reading and writing, how do you perceive their future, given the significant changes from past to present?

Saurabh Singh: This is an era of tweets and snapchats, wherein this generation feels that worthwhile things can be said only in a few words. There are all sorts of online portals offering summaries of books and readers are falling for it in throngs. Readers’ attention span is dwindling. These are all the realities.

However, in my view, there is no alternative to long form content like books. To delve into any arena the context has to be set, the past and present has to be told and then the plot creates the necessary impact. Content is the logical dimension and context is the emotional dimension of writing. Therefore, I firmly believe that long form content like books will always be relevant and sought after. 

7. Akhila Saroha: Balancing a busy schedule, how do you dedicate time to writing? Is there a daily routine or a specific time allocation?

Saurabh Singh: After my first book, I have taken a break for a couple of months. I will start my second book soon. The plot has already started taking shape in my head. Since I work with a few businesses as well, generally my writing is during nights and free days. I try to dedicate three to four hours on a daily basis for my writing. 

8. Akhila Saroha: Writer's Block is a common challenge. How do you overcome it or handle those moments?

Saurabh Singh: For my first book, I encountered it once. I paused my writing for close to two weeks. By the end of two weeks, the urge to write became unbearable. I started scribbling and my thoughts started to take shape. 

9. Akhila Saroha: What are some of the guiding principles, dos, and don'ts you follow as a writer?

Saurabh Singh: My guiding principles are - 

Say the things in the least possible words. I keep on cutting words till there is a scope. I always do. Sometimes, a paragraph of 7 sentences ends up having just two sentences. I always strive for concise writing with an economy of words. 

I avoid oft-repeated cliches in my writing. There are many metaphors which have lost meaning with time. I tend to avoid using those.  

10. Akhila Saroha: Reflecting on the journey of publishing "7 Leaps to Freedom: Crack the Code to Create Phenomenal Businesses" what insights or guidelines would you share with aspiring writers?

Saurabh Singh: Since I am an avid reader, I end up reading lots of books. A lot of times I find that some books are written just for vanity or maybe to see the writer’s name in print. 

My advice to aspiring writers would be to treat writing with utmost sincerity. Do not hold back if you have something worthwhile to say but do not say anything just for the sake of saying it. 

Secondly, consistency is key in writing -  write daily, maybe a page, maybe just a few sentences. 

Do not underrate your writing, particularly if you are just beginning. Write with pen and paper, that way you cannot wipe it out. Employing a ‘delete’ key on a computer is very easy and sometimes wipes out invaluable views. 

Do not overrate your memory, Always keep a pen and paper to take notes when some intriguing thoughts strike. Note it down. These notes will be a treasure trove while writing.