The Lost Expedition follows a former Indian paratrooper who, while trying to enjoy a vacation in Dubrovnik, gets sucked into a web of danger involving war photographers, mystical relics, and Croatian warlords. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Being an Indian thriller novelist, I felt obliged to have an Indian protagonist in one of my thriller series. I wanted history and global locations. The series had to be educative, too, and preferably, have a link to India. And of course, the protagonist had to handle dangerous situations. Thus was born “Izak Kaurben.” Izak is a play on Isaac, and Kaurben is arguably an Indian-sounding name. Izak Kaurben is an elite paratrooper who, after a bitter experience in a mission (described in the series’ first book, RELIC) wanders the world. Croatia caught my eye as a good kick-off point for the series. So, Kaurben arrives in Croatia, hoping for a peaceful Eastern Europe backpacking experience, and instead, gets embroiled in trouble. THE LOST EXPEDITION follows closely after the events of RELIC. It is nearly a Part II because it closes plot lines opened in RELIC. However, readers have sufficient background to get into the story without reading RELIC. That being said, it’s a more enjoyable read in order.

The Malian Empire and Mansa Musa (the richest man ever) have been on my mind for years. The idea of a fabulous treasure-laden expedition across the Atlantic and the hunt for that treasure is a hook that never gets old. Linking it to Croatia and other key elements — like the ship graveyard in Nouadhibou and slave trade — was the hard part. But, if your review is any sign, I believe I’ve created a plausible and exciting scenario. 🙂

What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?

If you notice, each “part” of the story begins with a Cast of Characters. I felt it a good way to ease them into the picture without overwhelming the reader. I enjoyed writing Chief Inspector Goran. In RELIC, he is a no-nonsense ‘top cop.’ Here, I had fun ripping away his ‘work ethic’ yet keeping him honorable. Writing the Senegalese characters was challenging, because of the non-linear plot structure — it switches between present-day and flashbacks often — and determining the optimal way to plug them into the events of RELIC.

I felt that the action scenes were expertly crafted. I find that this is an area that can be overdone in novels. How did you approach this subject to make sure it flowed evenly?

I avoid unnecessary action. If my characters can flee instead of engaging, they will do that. Even in an action sequence, I do not labour with distance measurements, specifications of guns and bullets, and physics and chemistry. It has to be quick, like you — the reader — is watching it. This, keeps it light and fluffy, like a good pancake. 🙂

What will the next book in that series be about and when will it be published?

I’m on a book-a-year process. The next book comes out in 2025. Without revealing too much, Izak Kaurben will come face to face with a ghost from his past. And there’s a dollop of history, too.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | The Lost Expedition-Behind the Scenes | Amazon