Book Title: Grandest Revelation: The Ascension
- Author: Anubhav Anand
- Publisher: Evincepub Publishing
- ISBN: 9789373351094
- Year: 2026
- Pages: 346
- Genre: Science Fiction / Space Fantasy
1. What inspired you to create the Grandest Revelation universe?
Ans.: Hah, you started with a very difficult one. To be honest, a couple of factors were involved: the first was a willingness to write something special, unique, and different. I was waiting for the ultimate plot or a concept on which I could work. That plot might or might not have been converted into Grandest Revelation. But the very factor, or the thing, that inspired and ushered me to write Grandest Revelation was the stars. Their persona, strength, and power inspired me to write something about them. Although Grandest Revelation is a much bigger project and is not only about them, it was kickstarted because of them.
2. How did the idea of stars transforming into human-like beings first come to your mind?
Ans.: Well, at that time, for me, it was a very unique idea that arrived in a very peculiar place—the side lower berth of a train during a post-midnight journey. There was not much to do, and my eyes were doing the heavy lifting for me, cherishing the dark fields under a decent moonlight. And then they made their way up to the sky—the clear night sky, adorned by a multitude of stars. The stars and their universe had always amazed me to some extent, and that day, as if it had been long awaited, a spark in the form of an idea came to my mind. That day, I thought I would write something about them. The idea was formed from a very simple theory, but the entire story took years to shape up.
3. Which character in the series is closest to your heart, and why?
Ans.: Hah, all of them, to be honest. But Grisha Hathaway surpasses them all because of her weird aura and temperament when it comes to handling even the simplest things. Her character was developed around a trauma, and she was fortunate to be a Demistar, as it enabled her to bring justice and vengeance upon those who were responsible for that trauma.
4. Grisha Hathaway is a very powerful character. What inspired her personality?
Ans.: There are a lot of adjectives to describe that, but long story short, it was the trauma, followed by the will to overcome it and the determination to make a comeback through proper planning. Despite all the aggression and impatience, she remained wise, controlled, and adamant about fulfilling the responsibilities expected of her—commitments she had set for herself.
5. How much scientific research did you do before writing about celestial powers, stars, and wormholes?
Ans.: It was a lot, to be honest. When the idea came to me in 2014, I knew that writing a book—a novel—from this idea would not be sustainable unless it was shaped properly. To bring the concept to life, it took around five years to structure the story, along with conducting scientific research on stars, portals, and principles such as magnetic flux, vacuumable energy, residual energy, and other related concepts. Despite the novel being fiction, I wanted to make it as close to scientific concepts as possible so that it would feel real and relatable.
6. How long did it take you to complete Grandest Revelation: The Ascension?
Ans.: The first book, Grandest Revelation: The Exordium, took seven years for me to complete, including the design and research, which also encompassed the storyline for the second installment, Grandest Revelation: The Ascension. Therefore, writing and editing The Ascension took only one and a half years, since most of the prerequisites had already been completed during the development of The Exordium itself.
7. What were the biggest challenges while writing such a large fantasy world?
Ans.: While writing The Exordium, the major challenges were shaping the storyline, developing relevant characters, and doing proper justice to the scientific concepts woven into the narrative. Another challenge was overcoming writer’s block, during which I was stuck for quite some time before eventually resuming my work. For The Ascension, my biggest challenge was cross-checking facts and timelines with The Exordium to minimize loopholes in the storyline. The challenge with expansive narratives spread across multiple books is maintaining consistency and continuity, as the likelihood of errors and contradictions increases significantly.
8. How do you keep track of so many characters, locations, and storylines?
Ans.: Making notes here and there and keeping track of them has always helped me when it comes to monitoring characters, locations, timelines, and other details within the storyline. Multiple rounds of editing have also helped ensure that the details are factually correct and that there are no loopholes in the narrative.
9. Is there any hidden message or life lesson you want readers to take from this novel?
Ans.: Good question, and I actually had to think a lot before answering it. The lesson from Grandest Revelation—either of the books—would be to take control of situations independently. Things will not always happen at the right time or according to your wishes, but taking charge in those moments and making the best decision based on your own judgment is the core message I would like readers to take away from my books.
10. How important are themes like survival, hope, and sacrifice in your writing?
Ans.: All of them are equally important in terms of their significance. The storyline in Grandest Revelation, whether in The Exordium or The Ascension, runs parallel across all characters and plotlines. Therefore, these themes are naturally embedded within the narrative, as each primary character represents a distinct theme through their journey and experiences. Survival, hope, and sacrifice are among the major themes explored in the series, alongside others such as love, resilience, and destruction.
11. Which international or Indian authors have influenced your writing style?
Ans.: Well, I would say that the writing style may appear similar in some respects, but it is always distinct for every writer. To be honest, my writing style in The Ascension is quite different from that of The Exordium, and it will likely evolve further in my upcoming ventures. Writing styles naturally change from one book to another as an author grows and explores new creative directions.
That being said, several authors have influenced me over the years. Some of the notable names include Joanne Rowling, Dan Brown, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham, and Rick Riordan, among others.
12. If Grandest Revelation were adapted into a film or web series, who would you like to see directing it?
Ans.: Hah, I know it is a very long shot, and it may never happen, but my first choice would be Christopher Nolan, simply because he has worked on several projects that align closely with the genre and themes of my books. If not him, there are many other exceptionally talented directors who have excelled in similar genres and demonstrated a strong ability to handle complex, large-scale narratives. I would feel truly blessed to see any one of them bring Grandest Revelation to life through a screen adaptation.
13. Can new readers begin with The Ascension, or should they first read The Exordium?
Ans.: I would not recommend that, given that The Ascension is a direct continuation of The Exordium, and reading The Exordium first is essential for the best experience. That said, in a worst-case scenario, readers can begin with The Ascension, as I have included a recap of The Exordium at the beginning of the book. They can go through that excerpt and then proceed with the story.
I have also provided character descriptions and explanations of author-created terms to make the narrative easier to follow and relate to, both for readers who have not read The Exordium and for those who may have read it some time ago and need a refresher.
14. What can readers expect from the next installment of the Grandest Revelation series?
Ans.: The next installment, if and when it is released, will delve deeper into the mysteries of the stars and their children, exploring aspects of the storyline that have only been touched upon so far. The characters will receive even greater development and justice, allowing their journeys to unfold in more meaningful and impactful ways. The plot itself will be darker, richer, and more layered, while still retaining a sense of quirkiness along the way. All in all, it would be a thrilling ride!
15. What advice would you give to young writers who dream of creating their own fantasy universes?
Ans.: From my brief experience as a writer, I can say that the first and foremost aspect of creating any fantasy world or imagining any storyline is believing in your story. That belief may waver at times and can undermine your confidence in both your story and your ideas. However, if you continue to have faith in your story, you will always find the determination and perseverance needed to complete it.
To buy this book: https://www.amazon.in/GRANDEST-REVELATION-ASCENSION-ANUBHAV-ANAND/dp/9373351095
