Shahid Insaf is a Psychiatrist, novelist and artist who lives and works in Branson, MO. His passion for writing was evident early on in the form of works of poetry and short fiction that appeared in local publications in Bombay, India, where he grew up. He won awards for essay writing in school and did not shy away from difficult and controversial topics like politics and psychology. He completed two novels in his teens, which were unfortunately never published.
At age ten, he realized that life is of paramount importance and that he would honor this conviction by becoming a physician. At age nineteen, he set out for the former USSR, where he spent seven years in medical school. This temporarily interrupted his writing career, but also provided him with a valuable substrate for ideas and themes for future writing. His appreciation of the complexities of the human brain and mind led to his desire to be psychiatrist.
He was an amateur boxer between ages 20 and 23. In 1998, he received a Diploma from the Institute of Children's literature for articles and short stories written for children and teenagers. In addition to writing, he also kept alive his interest for oil-on-canvas painting and has painted several portraits, landscapes and surrealistic paintings, many of which have been sold to individual collectors.
Shahid Insaf also has an interest in poker and has played in the WSOP in Las Vegas on two separate occasions. He identifies a lot of similarities between the game of poker and Psychiatry, both of which can be much better understood from the perspective of Game theory.

The practice of Psychiatry has certainly been one of the most important factors in shaping his interests, writing style and even the themes he writes about. A person's motive for doing something, in his opinion, is the most important element that makes for gripping, meaningful fiction. His philosophy of individualism permeates his writing and discussions with friends and loved ones. Integrating his philosophy with aspects of psychology has been a constant quest, and his first published novel, '3 tales of Vengeance' is a perfect example of this effort.
His essential goal for writing is to create memorable, unpredictable characters that the reader will remember long after the book is over. Characters who, through their actions, enable the reader to have a rich emotional and thrilling experience, while also providing valuable insights into human motive, morality and behavior.

“All three stories have laudable endings, but “Love” is a slam-dunk and sure to make most readers peruse the tale again—or possibly the entire book. Potent stories and strong-willed characters converge to form a well-rounded collection.”
– Kirkus Reviews