Chennai, the bustling metropolis in southern India was my only home until I moved to the U.S at the turn of the millennium. A master’s degree in electrical engineering, a coast-coast move, and a brief corporate stint later, I decided I wanted to write for children. Most of all, motherhood that happened somewhere in between transformed my dreams.

I started out writing for adults, blogging on multicultural children’s literature, sharing resources and book recommendations. In 2010, the first book I co-authored for children was published in India. I went on to publish three more books.

During this time, I realized that my own children raised across cultures didn’t see themselves or their experiences in the books they read. I felt compelled to tell our stories, to share the joys and struggles of immigrant life and to explore identities across labels. I’m almost always tempted to write about experiences, places, and people less visible in children’s literature. Because these stories have the power to take us into newer spaces and into unseen lives, and I hope they leave us more empathetic and inspired to celebrate our diverse world.

I’m represented for all my literary work by Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary Agency. Besides writing, I and enjoy school visits and speaking opportunities. I also offer critique & editorial servies to children’s writers and volunteer my time as the Equity & Inclusion Awards Co-cordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) San Francisco North & East Bay region.