Author of Blue Jasmine, Keeping Corner, Koyal Dark Mango Sweet, Monsoon Afternoon, and My Dadima Wears a Sari.
I was born and raised in India. My favorite childhood memories are listening to stories from Indian epics, Mahabharat and Ramayana, and sitting in my tropical garden filled with plumaria, hibiscus, mango, guava and a pet turtle. My not so fond memories are of snakes, lizards, and scorpions.
When I was in my early teens, I enjoyed reading historical fiction set in India. Those are still some of my favorite books. As a child, I learned traditional dances that told stories.
I came to the US as a teenager. After I received a BS from Iowa State University and an MS in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin/Madison, I worked for the state government.
In 1988, I decided to be a full-time mother. A year later, I founded the dance group, Dances of India. During the next 10 years, I taught Indian folk and classical dances to children and young adults aged 5 to 21, and the group performed throughout Wisconsin. Around that time, I started reading children’s literature (written in English). My daughters, Rupa and Neha, shared their books and thoughts with me. I believe these two activities, teaching dance to children and reading juvenile literature, prepared me for writing children’s books.
Blue Jasmine is my first published middle-grade novel. It was published by Hyperion Books for Children and won the first Paul Zindel First Novel Award. I also has a picture book under contract with Peachtree Publishers.
My husband Rajan, daughters, Rupa and Neha, my parents, my extended family, and my friends have been very supportive of my writing. I’m grateful to them and to my writing friends for their encouragement, critiques, and support.
I travel to India often. On two of her visits, I was attacked by monkeys and escaped unharmed. That doesn’t deter me. I’m ready to go back.
