Suresh Guptara
Encyclopedia
Suresh Guptara is a novelist of India
n and British
origin, who lives in Weinfelden
, Thurgau, in Switzerland
. He is the twin brother of Jyoti Guptara
and son of Prabhu Guptara
.
Guptara is perhaps best known as the co-author of the Insanity Saga
, which he wrote along with his twin brother, Jyoti. The pair finished the first draft of Conspiracy of Calaspia
, book one of the fantasy epic, at the age of eleven. After numerous rewrites, it was finally published when the brothers were seventeen and went on to become an international bestseller
. The second book, Codex Culmus,was published in German translation in March 2009. The twins are reportedly nearing the completion of book three of the saga.
, Surrey
, to Prabhu
and Philippa Guptara. His childhood years were spent in Farnham
, Surrey
. When he was seven the Guptara family moved to eastern Switzerland
. He has three siblings, brother Ranjeet, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, sister Anjali who is based in London, and Jyoti
, his twin brother, also an author. Suresh is the elder of the twins.)
Guptara attended Bradfield College
in Berkshire and was in 'A House.' Here he had an interesting life, where he didn't study much but still gained high A-level grades (AAAABb). He would, on numerous occasions, enjoy watching the series 24
with friend, Aaron Lee, instead of studying.
In October 2008, Suresh was studying at St John's College
, Durham University
until he failed his exams and being forced to leave. He is reading for a degree in the Natural Sciences, specialising in Physics
, Philosophy
and Theology
. Here he has taken up the role of thespian in his free time playing parts in productions put on by many of the university's theatre companies.
to write full-time and promote his books, including book tours around the United States
, Germany
, and India
.
. Their acknowledgments in the first book state,
The acknowledgments also list Stephen Lawhead, whom they call a "master of mythic history, a true bard for our age." Other literary influences include David Gemmell
, Terry Pratchett
, J.K. Rowling, Arthur Ransome
, W.E. Johns, and many more.
Suresh said in an interview with Fox News in the fall of 2007, "We're too filled up with our book writing" (to the question "Who are you guys dating?"). As of August 2008, he is focusing his attention on the completion of the third book of the Insanity Saga
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
origin, who lives in Weinfelden
Weinfelden
Weinfelden is a municipality in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of the same name.Weinfelden is an old town, which was known during Roman times as Quivelda .-History:...
, Thurgau, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He is the twin brother of Jyoti Guptara
Jyoti Guptara
Jyoti Guptara is a young novelist of British and Indian heritage, best known as co-author of the Insanity Saga .-Biography:...
and son of Prabhu Guptara
Prabhu Guptara
Professor Prabhu Guptara is an authority on the impact of technology on globalization, on strategy, on knowledge management , on corporate social responsibility , on comparative and cross-cultural ethics, and on management and leadership issues...
.
Guptara is perhaps best known as the co-author of the Insanity Saga
Insanity Saga
The Insanity Saga is a fantasy series written by twin teenage novelists Suresh Guptara and Jyoti Guptara.Book One in this saga is Conspiracy of Calaspia, the first draft of which the Guptara Twins penned at the age of eleven. It was published when the authors were 17 and became a bestseller...
, which he wrote along with his twin brother, Jyoti. The pair finished the first draft of Conspiracy of Calaspia
Conspiracy of Calaspia
Conspiracy of Calaspia is a fantasy novel written by twin teenage novelists Suresh and Jyoti Guptara. It is the first book of the Insanity Saga that follows the story of Bryn Bellyset - a 16 year old heir to an enormously successful drink empire - his fellow barue and others as they race to save...
, book one of the fantasy epic, at the age of eleven. After numerous rewrites, it was finally published when the brothers were seventeen and went on to become an international bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
. The second book, Codex Culmus,was published in German translation in March 2009. The twins are reportedly nearing the completion of book three of the saga.
Early life and education
Suresh Guptara was born in FrimleyFrimley
Frimley is a small English town situated 2 miles south of Camberley, in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire. It is about 31 miles west south-west of Central London. It is part of the Borough of Surrey Heath...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, to Prabhu
Prabhu Guptara
Professor Prabhu Guptara is an authority on the impact of technology on globalization, on strategy, on knowledge management , on corporate social responsibility , on comparative and cross-cultural ethics, and on management and leadership issues...
and Philippa Guptara. His childhood years were spent in Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. When he was seven the Guptara family moved to eastern Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He has three siblings, brother Ranjeet, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, sister Anjali who is based in London, and Jyoti
Jyoti Guptara
Jyoti Guptara is a young novelist of British and Indian heritage, best known as co-author of the Insanity Saga .-Biography:...
, his twin brother, also an author. Suresh is the elder of the twins.)
Guptara attended Bradfield College
Bradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
in Berkshire and was in 'A House.' Here he had an interesting life, where he didn't study much but still gained high A-level grades (AAAABb). He would, on numerous occasions, enjoy watching the series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
with friend, Aaron Lee, instead of studying.
In October 2008, Suresh was studying at St John's College
St John's College, Durham
St John's College is a college of the University of Durham, United Kingdom. It is one of only two 'Recognised Colleges' of the University, the other being St Chad's. This means that it is financially and constitutionally independent of the University and has a greater degree of administrative...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
until he failed his exams and being forced to leave. He is reading for a degree in the Natural Sciences, specialising in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Here he has taken up the role of thespian in his free time playing parts in productions put on by many of the university's theatre companies.
Career
During the academic year of 2007-2008, Guptara took a gap yearGap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
to write full-time and promote his books, including book tours around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Influences
The Guptara's literary inspirations include the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
. Their acknowledgments in the first book state,
"One of our earliest memories is seeing a stage performance of Watership DownWatership DownWatership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
and, at the show, meeting Richard AdamsRichard AdamsRichard Adams was a non-conforming English Presbyterian divine, known as author of sermons and other theological writings.-Life:...
, the author of that much-loved novel. This occasion must have been the first to inject us with real enthusiasm for writing because it put in our minds the possibility that one could not only create for family and friends, but also share this creation with many others."
The acknowledgments also list Stephen Lawhead, whom they call a "master of mythic history, a true bard for our age." Other literary influences include David Gemmell
David Gemmell
David Andrew Gemmell was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explore...
, Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
, J.K. Rowling, Arthur Ransome
Arthur Ransome
Arthur Michell Ransome was an English author and journalist, best known for writing the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. These tell of school-holiday adventures of children, mostly in the Lake District and the Norfolk Broads. Many of the books involve sailing; other common subjects...
, W.E. Johns, and many more.
"We firmly believe that everything you ever see, hear, or experience in any other fashion has an impact on you at some level," the twins have stated. "Therefore, subconsciously, every fiction book we have ever consumed could be classified as a fiction influence!"
Personal life
Recent books tours, public appearances and television interviews have sparked interest and speculation about the twins personal lives, especially their availability. Outlook India notes the twins are "Enough to make a publisher insanely happy...and good-looking, to boot."http://www.twins.guptara.net/media.htmSuresh said in an interview with Fox News in the fall of 2007, "We're too filled up with our book writing" (to the question "Who are you guys dating?"). As of August 2008, he is focusing his attention on the completion of the third book of the Insanity Saga
Insanity Saga
The Insanity Saga is a fantasy series written by twin teenage novelists Suresh Guptara and Jyoti Guptara.Book One in this saga is Conspiracy of Calaspia, the first draft of which the Guptara Twins penned at the age of eleven. It was published when the authors were 17 and became a bestseller...
.