What originally made you want to become an author and illustrator?
I’ve always loved to read and write. When my first daughter was born, I began reading children’s books again and remembered how much I enjoyed these stories. After the birth of my second daughter, I thought I would finally put all my effort into writing. And it worked out, with my first book getting acquired less than a year later!
In your opinion, what makes a great story?
A great story is one that keeps you turning the page—whether it’s a picture book or novel. In my opinion, any great story will have you asking “what happens next?”
Describe a typical work day in your life as an author. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A typical work day includes answering emails from my publishers, editing works in progress, and brainstorming new ideas. An unusual habit is that I typically like working in a chaotic environment with my kids playing in the background.
What messages or themes do you hope readers take away from your book?
There are many themes covered in this book that are typical to the middle grade experience: Ajay is dealing with a bully, he’s trying to fit in at a new school, he’s got this wonderful, sometimes-fraught relationship with his sister, and he’s trying to figure out the difference between right and wrong. But at its core, this book is about love—self love and familial love—and the lengths people will go to earn that love. I hope readers will walk away knowing that real love doesn’t have to be earned at all.
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in writing?
Read! Read a lot and read widely. Read like a writer. Ask yourself questions: What did you like? What did the author do to make you feel immersed in the story? Also, what didn’t you like and why? I’m not sure who said this first, but I really believe that you can only write as well as you read!