Interviewer: Congratulations on the release of your debut book, An Unsent Apology! How does it feel to finally share this story with readers?
Shaik Jilani: Thank you so much. It feels deeply emotional to finally let this story out into the world. An Unsent Apology isn’t just a book I wrote — it’s something I lived quietly for a long time, in thoughts, in silences, in those small moments that stay with you long after they pass.
For years, this story stayed inside me as a feeling I couldn’t quite express. Putting it into words was both healing and frightening — like opening a door to a part of myself I had never shared before. Now that it’s in readers’ hands, I feel both nervous and grateful.
It’s a strange but beautiful feeling — to know that what once belonged only to my heart now belongs to others too.
Interviewer: What inspired you to write An Unsent Apology? Was there a specific moment or feeling that sparked the idea?
Shaik Jilani: The initial idea came to me during my graduation days — in a very unexpected moment. I still remember it clearly: an insect had bitten my leg, and that small patch of skin turned red and swollen. It wasn’t serious, but for some reason, it made me think — what if something worse happened? What if a person discovered that their time was running out?
That simple, almost random moment triggered a deeper question in me — how would someone feel if they were told they might die soon? How would their mind process their responsibilities, their family, their unfinished emotions, and especially the relationships that still carried unspoken words?
At that time, I couldn’t take the thought any further. But over the years, certain movies, podcasts, and books helped me give structure to that emotion. Slowly, the idea found its voice, and An Unsent Apology became the shape of that early question — not just about death, but about how we begin to truly see life when we realize how fragile it is.
Interviewer: The book beautifully captures themes of love, guilt, and forgiveness in such a quiet, emotional way. How do you approach writing about such deep emotions with simplicity?
Shaik Jilani: I believe emotion doesn’t always need heavy words — sometimes, the simplest sentences carry the deepest truth. When I write, I try to capture what a heart feels in its quietest moments — not through dramatic expression, but through stillness. Because that’s where real emotion often lives — in a glance, in an unfinished sentence, in silence at a dinner table.
For me, simplicity is not about using fewer words; it’s about using honest ones. I never try to decorate emotion. I just try to stay true to how a person would genuinely feel in that moment — confused, tender, afraid, or forgiving. I think readers connect to that honesty more than to any grand expression.
In An Unsent Apology, I wanted readers to feel emotion the way we experience it in real life — quietly, slowly, almost like a whisper that lingers long after the sound has faded.
Interviewer: The title An Unsent Apology is very intriguing. What does it personally mean to you, and how does it connect to the heart of the story?
Shaik Jilani: For me, the title An Unsent Apology represents everything we leave unsaid in life — the emotions we suppress, the guilt we carry quietly, and the love we never find the right words for. It’s about that one letter, one message, one apology that we keep rewriting in our hearts but never send — not because we don’t care, but because sometimes silence feels safer than honesty.
At its heart, the book is about those unfinished emotions. The characters carry their own versions of an unsent apology — to themselves, to the people they love, to the moments they can’t return to. I wanted the title to reflect that universal feeling — that gentle ache we all know, when we wish we had said something sooner.
Personally, the phrase also reminds me that healing doesn’t always come from words spoken aloud. Sometimes, just acknowledging what we never said — even silently — can be its own form of peace.
Interviewer: What message or feeling do you hope readers carry with them after finishing the book?
Shaik Jilani: More than a message, I hope An Unsent Apology leaves readers with a feeling — a quiet reflection on their own lives, their relationships, and the words they might still be holding back. I want them to pause for a moment and think about the people who shaped them, the love they took for granted, and the apologies they never voiced.
The story isn’t about perfection or closure — it’s about learning to live with the imperfections that make us human. We all carry memories that ache, but I believe there is a quiet kind of healing in accepting them instead of erasing them.
If a reader closes the book with a softer heart — maybe deciding to forgive someone, or simply to call a person they’ve been missing — then I think the story has done what it was meant to do.
Interviewer: Writing often involves self-discovery. Did you learn something new about yourself while creating this story?
Shaik Jilani: Yes, absolutely. Writing An Unsent Apology taught me more about myself than I expected. When I began, I thought I was simply telling a story — but along the way, I realized I was also understanding my own silences, my own ways of carrying emotions quietly.
Through Karthik, I learned how deeply we hide pain behind calmness, and how love doesn’t always need to be loud to be real. There were moments in writing when I caught myself pausing — not because the story was difficult, but because it was reflecting a part of me I hadn’t looked at in years.
This book made me realize that forgiveness — whether toward others or toward ourselves — is not a grand act, but a gentle acceptance. In trying to give my characters peace, I think I found a little of my own.
Interviewer: Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? Do you write daily, or do ideas come to you in quiet moments?
Shaik Jilani: I don’t write every day in a strict routine — I write when something moves me deeply enough to need words. Most of my ideas come in very quiet moments — while driving alone, watching the rain, or just sitting in silence after a long day. I think stories don’t arrive fully formed; they whisper. You just have to be still enough to hear them.
Once a feeling or scene takes root in my mind, I let it stay there for a while before writing it down. I spend more time thinking than typing — observing people, replaying memories, imagining what my characters would feel in real situations. When I finally sit down to write, it flows naturally because the emotion has already matured inside me.
So, my process is less about discipline and more about honesty. I don’t force words; I wait for them. Because when they come from a true place, they stay longer — both on the page and in the reader’s heart.
Interviewer: You’ve mentioned before that you love observing people and finding stories in small gestures. How has this shaped the characters and emotions in your novel?
Shaik Jilani: Observation is the heart of my writing. I’ve always believed that real stories don’t happen in big, dramatic moments — they live quietly in everyday gestures: a pause before someone speaks, a smile that hides worry, the way two people sit in silence and still feel connected. Those are the places where emotion truly breathes.
In An Unsent Apology, I built the characters — especially Karthik and Ananya — from those small, human moments. I wanted them to feel real, like people we already know. Their emotions don’t come from grand dialogue, but from what they don’t say — the hesitation, the restraint, the quiet strength that often goes unnoticed in life.
Observing people taught me that love, guilt, and forgiveness aren’t loud emotions; they’re subtle, layered, and deeply human. My goal was to capture that honesty — to show that even silence can tell a story, if you listen closely enough.
Interviewer: Are there any authors or books that have influenced your writing journey or inspired your storytelling style?
Shaik Jilani: Yes, definitely. Two works that deeply inspired me were One Day, Life Will Change by Saranya Umakanthan and the Vikram Betal (Vikrama Bethala) stories narrated by the storyteller Ramaa Raavi.
Saranya Umakanthan’s writing moved me because of its simplicity and emotional sincerity. Her book showed me that love stories don’t need to be dramatic — they can be quiet, heartfelt, and deeply human. It taught me that the beauty of a story often lies in the emotions between the lines.
On the other hand, the Vikrama Bethala stories — especially as narrated by Ramaa Raavi — taught me the power of storytelling itself. The way she blended wisdom, suspense, and reflection left a deep impression on me. I learned how a story can carry both moral truth and emotional depth at the same time.
In a way, An Unsent Apology was shaped by both worlds — the emotional honesty of modern love and the timeless introspection of old storytelling.
Interviewer: Are you active on social media? How can readers connect with you and follow your writing updates?
Shaik Jilani: I’m not very active on social media, but I do stay connected with readers whenever possible. I believe in quiet communication — genuine conversations rather than frequent posts. Readers can always reach me through email or Instagram, and I personally try to respond to every message I receive.
Even a short note from a reader means a lot to me, because it reminds me that the story has touched someone beyond the page. I may not post often, but I value every connection that comes through. Writing, after all, begins in solitude but finds meaning in the hearts of those who read it.
Readers can reach me at:
📩 Email: sk.jilani1000@gmail.com
📷 Instagram: @jilani948
Interviewer: Where can readers buy An Unsent Apology?
Shaik Jilani: An Unsent Apology is published by Literatureslight Publishing and is available across major online platforms. Readers can find the paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon, or purchase directly from the Literatureslight online bookstore.
I’m grateful to the publisher for making the book easily accessible to readers everywhere. Whether someone prefers holding a printed copy or reading on a screen, I just hope they find a little piece of themselves in its pages.
Available at:
- Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9349168812
- Flipkart: https://www.flipkart.com/product/p/itme?pid=9789349168817
- LLPStore Paperback: https://literatureslight.com/product/an-unsent-apology-by-shaik-jilani/
Interviewer: Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We wish you continued success and look forward to your future works!
Shaik Jilani: Thank you so much for having me. It truly means a lot to share a part of my journey and the emotions behind An Unsent Apology. Writing this book has been a deeply personal experience, and knowing that it has reached readers who feel connected to it is the greatest reward I could ask for.
I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me — my readers, my family, and everyone who believed in this quiet story. Every word of encouragement reminds me why I started writing in the first place. I look forward to creating more stories that speak softly but stay with readers for a long time.
About the author
Shaik Jilani is a new-age Indian writer who believes that every story begins with emotion — a feeling that lingers quietly inside the heart. His writing is simple, honest, and deeply human, often exploring love, memory, silence, and the gentle moments that shape everyday life.
He grew up observing people, finding stories in small gestures — in a smile, a pause, a silence. This love for quiet emotions and real human connections became the center of his storytelling.
An Unsent Apology, his debut novel, is a reflection of that belief. It is a story about love that stays, guilt that transforms, and forgiveness that heals. Through this book, Jilani writes not about perfect people, but about ordinary hearts learning to carry and let go.
Outside of writing, he enjoys long walks, observing life, and spending time with his family — the people who inspire his words and give his stories their warmth.
His stories are not written to impress, but to move; not to shout, but to whisper — reminding us that even silence can have its own language.