Tell Me A Story...

Tim Walker is not an Indian author but a series of events made a compelling argument for him to write a book for children on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Prisoner of Bhopal combines fantasy, a truly tragic event, and elements of World War 1 and becomes a book that is a must-read this summer for every middle grader. It is engaging, interesting, and unputdownable!

It is only July, but Zen is already well on its way to being called the Book of the Year. This 600+ page tome by Shabnam Minwalla brings together intergenerational conflict and romance against the backdrop of the freedom struggle and protests around the National Register of Citizens. She deftly weaves two stories of Zainab and Zen and they will both leave you altered. In this conversation Minwalla talks to me about finally writing a romance, setting the story in her favourite place - Mumbai, and why it is so important to address and acknowledge controversial topics through books, especially in polarizing times.

Mentions: Mumbai, Sayoni Basu, Mere Desh ki Dharti, NRC and CAA, Cotton Green, Colaba, Vampire Weekend, Ivy League, romance, mystery, horror, Ramzan

Link to the song playlist when you read the book:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Vt1gP4fR48F2xwD6bSGGo?si=031639546b3647ab

Welcome to Season 3 of Tell Me A Story!

We start this season with the smash-hit duo - Khyrunnisa A and Abhijeet Kini who have been creating and illustrating the character Butterfingers for over a decade. I speak to them about what inspires them to keep creating this character, why it has so much timeless appeal, and the contemporaries that inspire them. There are a whole lotta laughs and giggles and even a desperate plea to the universe to commission a comic series with Khyrunnisa as Captain Haddock and Abhijeet as a discount Obelix!

Are publishers listening?

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The one thing you will take away from this episode is that being a children's book illustrator is a difficult job that may not always be worth it but is always incredibly fulfilling. Three of India's top children's book illustrators come together to talk about what inspires them, the genres they love working with, and the most important thing that should change in the industry to ensure they work better. This is an honest conversation about their craft and what drives them. Rajiv Eipe, Pankaj Saikia, and Priya Kuriyan swap tales about where they began and even reveal their favourite books! The rapid-fire round is not one you should miss! Hit PLAY Now!

Dakshin, by Nitin Kushalappa is one of those comforting reads that instantly transports you to happier, more innocent childhood days. Talking to him on Tell Me A Story made it clear that Nitin is passionate about folktales and collecting and documenting oral folklore. But what was more interesting was chatting with him about why it was necessary to preserve these stories and to understand his process of collecting and choosing the right stories for this stellar collection.

Tune in to this episode to listen and learn about the importance of folktales and oral stories and maybe, even be inspired by his drive and passion!

Madhurima Vidyarthi is a doctor by day and an author at every other time. Her debut book, My Grandmother's Masterpiece was a huge hit and addressed a topic we face in our daily lives. Her latest, Munni Monster has managed to surpass even that. In this book, Vidyarthi tells the story of 10-year-old Mishti whose idyllic life with her parents and her grandmother Thamma is suddenly upended by someone who comes to live with them. This relative is disabled and is unlike anyone Mishti has ever met. She now has to share her grandmother, her room, and even her favorite pastry with her! The author writes a book that is as tender as it is powerful. In this episode of Tell Me A Story we talk about writing that tells the truth and creating strong women characters. She also tells me about two contemporaries in the Indian children's literature world who she greatly admires! HIT PLAY NOW! 

The Divining Thread is the modern fairytale you didn't know you needed. This book has an exciting plot, spunky lead characters, and fantastical creatures that will intrigue and excite. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Anjum N Choudhury, a newly minted author, tells me about why she felt the need to rewrite fairytales. She also talks about how her upbringing in many different parts of the Indian subcontinent inspired her to create a canvas and a language for her book. In addition to these exciting details, she also tells us the about the greatest children's character ever created. This episode is a smash hit listen! HIT PLAY NOW! 

CG Salamander sings.
Rajiv Eipe lets us in on his fashion sense and what he truly lives for.
Salamander reveals a pun he has added to the book -- he is sure no one else will get.
Rajiv flexes his marketing skills.
Salamander gives us an amazing sneak peek into the story for Maithili 3
and Rajiv updates us on what's happening with Nagesh, his cats' educational qualifications and what he thinks when he thinks of forests!

Along the way, we wonder why Rajini is missing from this book, what the duo does to get into the mood to write/illustrate Maithili, and what it really is like to work together. Psst...there is another series they are working on too! 

Oh and the laughing! So much laughing! Tune in, because we may just have information that will crash the internet! 

Recording this episode was really special because I *heart* Arundhati Venkatesh and everything she writes! Her latest book Ramanujan is an instant hit with my family and is a book that works on so many levels. Even though the book is about mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, it isn't serious for a minute! Venkatesh manages to write a story that is hilarious and filled with anecdotes and characters that stay in your mind for days afterward. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, she talks about how she is incapable of writing a book without humour and why all her books are so Indian at heart. We chat about young readers being intelligent enough to understand complex references and play a fun game of Rapid Fire where she discloses, for the first time, why all her characters have big, squishy bellies! You can't miss this one! Hit PLAY Now!   

When the universe aligns itself and conspires to help you write a story, how can you refuse? That's what happened to Soumya Ayer when she had the idea of bringing together Vasco Da Gama, a fisherman boy, and a ghost to create The Ghost of Malabar. Published by HarperCollins India, this is one of the few books in the horror genre for middle-grade readers, but rest assured, your child will not get scared! Through excellent storytelling, this book focuses on an important chapter in history and is an absolute page-turner. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, author Soumya Ayer talks about giving a much-deserved platform to Velu the ghost to recount the horrors of the massacre of fisherman by Vasco da Gama. She also cites interesting techniques to ensure the story never gets too scary but continues to enthral and engage the reader. You can't miss this one for sure! Hit PLAY now! 

Reading The People of the Indus was not an exercise we took lightly and that was because of the true nature of the book. A non-fiction graphic novel on the Indus civilization slotted in the children's book category? This was something you don't come across every day! The book honestly, will blow your mind and when you gather your wits, listen to Nikhil Gulati talk about how he came across the Indus Civilization on a random trip with his friends and how the universe sent him a sign to leave his corporate job to write and illustrate this book. This is a conversation that will not just give you insight into the book but also leave you motivated to follow that life-long dream! For now, pick up your copy of the book and Hit PLAY on this episode! 

Chitra Soundar is on a mission -- to imprint India on the minds of young readers around the world. She grew up reading Enid Blyton and seeing those places as an adult thrilled her. It also led her to wonder why the same can't happen with India. That's why all her books have elements that invoke specific Indian cultural traditions. On this episode of Tell Me A Story, she tells me she loves adding bits about food and games the most! Tara and the Friendship Theorem is a story about Tara moving to a new country with her family and leaving behind friends and extended family. All she has is her unfailing love for Maths and a friendship theorem she wants to use to make friends at camp. Through this book, Soundar incorporates her love for Maths, her favourite game Pallanguzhi, and her mission of helping third-culture kids find a way to remember India. We discuss all this and more in this cracker of a episode! Hit PLAY Now! 

Bhakti Mathur's Amma Tell Me and Amma Take Me series of books are probably the reason a lot of Indian children know what they know about Indian festivals and historic places. Chatting with her on this episode of Tell Me A Story and understanding her process as a writer has made me understand how she takes her personal experience as a parent and turns it into a book that she hopes will benefit other parents. Her latest book Amma Take Me To the Taj Mahal, published by Penguin Books is almost a go-to guide for any family visiting the monument. Its easy-to-read style, the interesting questions asked by the children, and the effortless way in which Mathur weaves a story around the facts make this book your next must-buy. Find out what she thinks about spirituality and why she writes the books she does by tuning in to this episode! Hit PLAY Now!

Very few Indian authors have achieved as much success as Shabnam Minwalla has with her novels for young adults. Saira Zariwalla is Afraid is the latest  to become a smash hit and boy, does it pack a punch! This unputdownable book follows Saira Zariwalla as she tries to solve a mystery that hits very close to home. There is murder, intrigue, horror and everything is set in a place that feels like it is happening in your neighbourhood! 

In this episode of Tell Me A Story I chat with Shabnam Minwalla about what it takes to write a novel that is the perfect amount of horror and mystery to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She reveals how her in-house critics play a huge role in her books and why she takes their critique very seriously. She also lets us in on why the city of Mumbai plays a prominent role in every one of her novels. This is one episode you simple can't miss! HIT PLAY NOW! 

Sudha Madhavan's The King Who Turned into a Serpent is a collection of stories about kings and queens from our mythology. Power-packed with action, courage, and valour these stories will inspire and imprint themselves in your mind for years. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, author Sudha Madhavan and I chat about how her father's bedtime stories inspired her to write this book, how she makes age-old mythological stories relevant for today's uber-cool generation, the importance of telling the stories of strong, courageous women, and how Mark Twain inspires her! 

Could there be a better way to celebrate India's 75th year of independence than by reading about life during the Quit India movement? Author Devika Rangachari brings us The Train to Tanjore -- the third book in Penguin's Songs of Freedom Series. This book is about 12-year-old Thambi who dreams of being an engineer someday. Right now, he is busy deciding whether he should join the freedom movement and distribute flyers around Tanjore and risk getting in trouble or listen to Gandhiji and follow a path of non-violence. In this episode, Rangachari talks to us about why this book is so special and why the research felt so personal. She also talks about why a good story will always be in demand no matter the times it is set in. Also, you don't want to miss her talking about how she likes her sambar and which book she thinks is very overrated! Hit PLAY now! 

Anjali Joshi knows firsthand how important it is for children to be able to connect with the books they are reading. She grew up learning from the books she was reading but was saddened by the fact that there were no role models who were from her culture. She decided to right that wrong when she became a mother and began writing books about figures from the Indian subcontinent that inspire and teach young minds. Little Jagdish and the Great Experiment is an adorable book for emerging readers about the eminent scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, who is known as the Father of modern Indian science. The book highlights an incident when Bose was a young boy and showcases his curiosity and passion for knowledge. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Anjali joins me from Canada and reveals how motherhood inspires her to write, why a book is a book no matter where it releases, and how a picture book can inspire young minds. Hit PLAY now! 

How does one write a mystery book for emerging readers? Pika Nani seems to have cracked the code on that one! The Egghead Detective Agency is one of those books that is just the perfect way to introduce a genre to younger kids. Mystery stories demand a certain level of concentration and commitment from the reader and The Egghead Detective Agency manages to get that even from the youngest reader! In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Pika Nani and I chat about the perfect formula to write mystery stories, what her process is like, how long it takes her and why she visits the children's section in a bookstore first! It is a crazy, fun conversation filled with amazing insights into her work! Hit PLAY now!  

When Ashwitha Jayakumar was tasked with writing Incredible Indians: 75 People Who Shaped Modern India, she thought it would be an easy task. But as she puts it, going down the 'rabbit hole of research' revealed so much more than she had expected! This book is an amazing collection of people who have shaped what we know and recognise as modern India. In addition to Freedom Fighters and Shapers of the Nation, she has included people in categories like Literary Marvels, Green Warriors, and even Titans of Industry. Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully put together, this is a book that will pique your child's interest about our nation builders. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Ashwitha and I chat about why the concept of modern India is different for today's kids and which nation builder she would like to see alive to change the country today. Hit PLAY Now! 

Indira Ananthakrishnan didn't care too much for history when she studied it in school, but years later when she started reading for pleasure, she realised she was falling in love with history and wanted to bring that excitement she felt for that subject to young readers. That's how Queen Who Ruled The Waves was born. Published by Hachette India, this book brings alive the stories of kings and queens who were instrumental in the evolution of our country. In this episode, Indira and I chat about her book, her first love -- writing Pyarelal and Lajwanti stories, and why she doesn't publish anything that doesn't make her happy. HIT PLAY NOW!

What inspires Priya Kuriyan? How does she add all those gorgeous layers of detail in the books she illustrates? And most importantly, how does one react when you are asked to illustrate a book on animal poop! These were just some of the questions I asked acclaimed illustrator-author Priya Kuriyan on this episode of Tell Me A Story. You know you are in for a treat when she lets you in on the secrets of her process -- what she reads when she wants to be inspired, who she considers the best in the business, and where she finds ideas to create her characters! We talk about her latest books -- Beauty is Missing and Help! Aai Wants To Eat Me and look back at some classics. If you have a favourite Priya Kuriyan book then this is the episode to tune into -- there will be a few laughs, some serious insight into her work, and will definitely make you run to go look through your favourite Priya Kuriyan book one more time! HIT PLAY NOW!

If you want to read a book that will have you laughing through your read and rooting for the underdog, old-school style, then grab your copy of Paati vs UNCLE! Meera Ganapathi writes a book that is funny, thoughtful, and will make you search for the characters among the many faces you meet in your neighbourhood. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, we talk about her quirky humour and where she found the inspiration for her story, we talk about loneliness among the elderly and why children's books shouldn't shy away from telling the truth, and we end, as always, with the rapid-fire round that is sure to have you asking for more! You will also hear Meera giggling throughout the episode which is sure to remind you of her other book, The Girl Who Could Not Stop Laughing! Hit PLAY Now! 

Chatting with Deepa Agarwal is like getting a masterclass in writing for children. On this episode of Tell Me A Story, I chat with Deepa about her hugely successful book, Caravan to Tibet. It started off as a long story for a magazine, but was later turned into a book and was part of the IBBY Honour List in 2008. Caravan to Tibet is inspired by stories she grew up listening to and in this episode, we chat about researching for the story, how she came up with such memorable characters and of course, her advice to young kids who want to start writing. Don't miss this episode! Hit PLAY Now!  

Adithi Rao's Boy, Bear was my favourite Hook Book from last year. It told a beautiful story of a family of animal entertainers and with simple words managed to convey emotions that you carried around for days. I have been waiting for an opportunity to talk to Adithi and when that happened the floodgate opened and the questions tumbled out! We spoke about writing books for children that don't shy away from telling them 'the truth'. We chatted about why illustrations are so important for a children's book and why they played a crucial role in Boy, Bear. But my favourite part of the interview had to be the rapid-fire round where she lets us in on a little secret from her writing process -- one that is exciting and eerie! Tune in to know all about it! Hit PLAY Now! 

In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Aditi Krishnakumar talks about her book That Year in Manikoil -- that year being a period when World War II raged in Europe and the Japanese army was inching closer to India. Raji, her protagonist, a 10-year-old-girl has a lot happening in her life. She and her family are sent away from Madras to her ancestral village Manikoil, her older brother joins the Indian Army to keep the Japanese at bay, Raji's best friend is a refugee from Malaysia, and she has to battle unfair comparisons with her older sisters! Aditi Krishnakumar writes a story that is insightful, endearing and absolutely believable. She has her readers rooting for Raji all while giving us an in-depth look into what life was like for women in 1940s India. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, I talk to Aditi about her inspiration for the story and the characters. We also chat about her writing process which is equal parts serious and amusing and her love for historical fiction! 

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It takes a special skill to write books for emerging readers and Nandita Da Cunha seems to have mastered that skill. Her books, Miracle on Sunderbaag Street and Pedru and the Big Boom have been smash hits and she is back this summer with My Trip to La La Land, a must-read for emerging readers. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Nandita and I talk about her strong female characters and their representation in Indian children's literature, how young readers can always look for and find hope in the most depressing of stories, and a little bit about parenting in the times we live in! Intrigued? Hit PLAY now! 

When Blackbirds Fly is a hard-hitting account of the Mizo insurgency, a dark period for that region and for our country, an account that has failed to find a place in our history textbooks. Fortunately, Hannah Lalhlanpuii has written this book which will not only educate children about the insurgency but will also keep them gripped by a book that is simply too difficult to put down. On this episode of Tell Me A Story, I ask her why she chose to write about the insurgency and I was clearly not prepared for her honest answer. She talks candidly about how the insurgency affected her family, her community, and why years later it still continues to haunt the people of Mizoram. This is an interview you simply cannot miss! Tune in NOW!

Ameya Narvankar calls himself an "Accidental Author" but the book that he has written -- Ritu Weds Chandni -- is slowly making its mark as an essential read for children. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, I chat with him about the representation of queer folk in books and pop culture where they are not caricatured, about why simply knowing there are books where the queer community is shown would make 'coming out' easier, and how he gets his daily fix of Bollywood Masala! 

Tune in to this episode NOW! 

Protecting Mahatma Gandhi on the Dandi March is not for the faint-hearted but there are six fearless sparrows -- the Mahatma's Guards --  ready to take on the job! But what does it take for tiny sparrows to take on the mightiest of dangers to protect Gandhi? In Heroes the Colour of Dust, Amit Majmudar takes us on a thrilling adventure featuring sparrows, dogs, cats, crows, British officers, and Indians. But why sparrows? Tune in to this episode of Tell Me A Story and hear the author talk about that one spellbinding moment when the story for the book came to him, which sparrow he is most like, how to make history less boring for kids to read, and why after writing numerous books for grownups, he finally decided to write a book for children. Hit PLAY now! 

Is it important for this generation of children to know about India's freedom struggle? Lubaina Bandukwala believes it is. But how do you transport this new-age generation of kids to pre-1947 India? With a nail-bitingly thrilling story, relatable characters, and an absolutely smashing read, that's how! Lubaina Bandukwala's latest book - The Chowpatty Cooking Club is part of Duckbill and Penguin India's new series Songs of Freedom. This book will transport you to a time when Gandhiji had announced the Quit India movement and when three children -- Sakina, Zenobia, and Mehul wanted nothing more than to contribute to the movement. What inspired Bandukwala to write this story? Hit PLAY to find out! 

Bijal Vachharajani admits she is a slow and reluctant writer but I think, the books she writes are so worth the wait! She stops by on Tell Me A Story to talk about her climate-fiction novels, A Cloud Called Bhura and her latest, Savi and the Memory Keeper. In this very candid chat, she reveals many things --  why she believes magic is all around us, how she reached deep within herself to write Savi, and the question she would like to ask Tree! You don't want to miss this one! HIT PLAY NOW! 

How do you seamlessly switch between writing fiction and non-fiction for children? How do you make the history of libraries or the achievements of accomplished women interesting for children to read? On this episode of Tell Me A Story, I talk to Shruthi Rao who has had four book releases this year -- 3 non-fiction and one Holebook. How does she do it? What inspires her to create her books, how much research went into writing Spaceship to the Universe and how she falls back on her childhood memories to create beautiful works of fiction. This episode is filled with insight into a writer's mind! Hit PLAY now! 

You know you will get a rip-roaringly funny conversation when you bring CG Salamander and Rajiv Eipe together, but a podcast where accusations fly about why (and how!) they came up with Maithili and the Minotaur, and a sneak peek into the almost idyllic manner in which they found each other? I was not prepared for that one! 

Tune in to this episode of Tell Me A Story to hear all about how CG Salamander and Rajiv Eipe were inspired by their childhood, their favourite books, and even old Rajinikanth movies to write Maithili and the Minotaur  -- the graphic novel the entire Indian children's literature world is talking about! 

Warning: There will be lots of laughing, some incredible insights, and more than a few revelations about the next books in the series! 

Hit play now!  

Pinkoo Shergill, Pastry Chef is Vibha Batra's 19th book, but it is a book that has a character she identifies most with. She has done it all and is simply not ready to stop. In this episode of Tell Me A Story, Vibha talks about her inspiration for Pinkoo, why she writes for kids, and how she is absolutely fine with not being able to please everyone! Oh, and she does have a thing or two to say to those people who give writers 1-star ratings!  Click to listen now!  

Award-winning author, journalist, and all-around lover of stories, Vinitha sits down to chat with me on Tell Me A Story. We talk about how she came up with the idea for Ammu and Sparrows (it also went on to win the Neev Literature Award), whether Indian children's literature is truly coming of age, and I make her choose between validation from bookstagrammer reviews or awards!

You don't want to miss all this and a super fun rapid fire round! Hit play now!