With the publishers billing it as a haunting and mysteriously thrilling story of  passion and eternal love, the author at the Kolkata launch of the book at Starmark, Quest Mall, engaged with his readers and panelists to help them understand him and the novel better.

Is love capable of healing the deep wounds which love itself creates within you, the book asks, and Novoneel was game answering  the volley of questions from the gathering.

“One thing is pain and the other is absence [of it]. What exactly is love? Is it about physical proximity or is there something beyond we can term as love?” mulled the author with the engaging audience at Starmark as he responded on what made him write the story.

The publishers hoped the book would be a rare read from a male’s point of view about a guy in love with a girl unlike his feminist takes on love.

The panelists wondered if Roses are Blood Red is about secrets and violence "where intention justifies action". Novoneel said "it depends who is doing it and how the other person interprets it."

At the event, the Mumbai-based author also recited a couplet to convey the essence of his new book.  “Do banjaro ko jab pyaar hota hai, Unke dil mein thehrao nahi, Uffan hota hai. Woh manzilein nahi, Ek dusre mein safar dhundte hain. Jiska modh khud ko chubhe, Aisi raah chunte hain.…” he rattled off, dedicating it to an audience member.

Known for his novels' twists, dark plots and strong female protagonist, Novoneel said with Roses are Blood Red, he is presenting a lover "that you would love to have and question whether such lovers still exists."  On a lighter note he shared that he wants his audience to cry while reading the novel.

“Write what you would like to read and don’t force it otherwise. It will come out like that, it’s a creation, so take your time. Patience is the key” said Novoneel about his own creative trigger, coping with selfie spree of his fans and in between signing the books at the launch.

Novoneel Chakraborty so far penned 14 bestselling thriller novels and one short story collection titled Cheaters. His novel, Forget Me Not, Stranger, debuted as the No. 1 bestseller across India. While All Yours, Stranger ranked in the top five thriller novels on Amazon, India-the only one to feature amid other international bestsellers.

(Reporting by Nitin Waghela)