Visiting a place for the first time can't be work and work alone, especially when there's so much to see and do. On days two and three at the Asian Festival of Children's Content, I attended fewer sessions, trying to make the most of my time in Singapore!Penning for the Preteen, conducted by Holly Thompson, was a good experience for me, since that's the age-group I write for, and it's always nice to have ideas and thoughts affirmed by a group of writers. It helps me feel a little less lost. During the session, what struck me most were views on what a preteen is like -- and the idea that preteens often have confidence that is almost irrational. They are superheroes! It's before the slide and crash of self-doubt and identity begin ... How interesting it was that this notion of preteens seems to cross so many cultures!Sarah Odedina's session, Lessons to be Learnt: Complex … [Read more...]
Reflections: Day One at AFCC 2016
The Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore was the first literary festival I attended. Here's what I did there.The first session, Cracking the Golden Egg at Literary Festivals, was conducted by Felicia Low-Jiminez and Maria Alessandrino. It was a useful panel discussion, even though it focused more on how to deal with being invited to speak at literary festivals than on 'cracking the golden egg' when you're just another attendee, which is what most of us were. The fine line between networking and pestering people to keep in touch or read your work remains unknown terrain for me!The Irresistible Fantastical Supernatural: Writing a World that Beckons conducted by Cynthia Leitich Smith was simply lovely! She made us write a bit, helping us create a creature that rings true. She spoke of the way in which she writes, the letters she receives ... all with a delicious … [Read more...]
Back from AFCC 2016
So much excitement, so much fun!I attended the Asian Festival of Children's Content at Singapore for the first time, and the opening ceremony was the grand event at which the winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2016 was announced. My unpublished work, Dragonflies, Jigsaws and a Rainbow, was one of the five shortlisted entries, and it was a wonderful feeling being there, waiting, anticipating ...The shortlisted entries were: Chasing Freedom by Tina Cho (South Korea) Codex: The Lost Treasure of the Indus by Aditi Krishnakumar (India) Dragonflies, Jigsaws and a Rainbow by Varsha Seshan (India) Island Girl by Ho Lee Ling, Stephanie (Singapore) The Budding Traveller by Golda Mowe (Malaysia)Aditi Krishnakumar won the grand prize of 10,000 SGD and a publishing contract with Scholastic Asia. Tina Cho was the first runner-up, and Ho Lee Ling, Stephanie was the … [Read more...]
More First Prints!
I wrote not so long ago about the first prints of The Duronto Adventure and Bholu at the Level Crossing. The next two books for young readers are here!A little about these two books ...Kevin has lost his lucky coin! Bholu volunteers to help him look for it, and Deven, Priya, Rohit and Ruth come along. Would you like to explore the train with them?Forty-two children go on a school excursion to the railway station. What happens when one child gets lost? … [Read more...]
Shortlisted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award!
My work, Dragonflies, Jigsaws and a Rainbow, has been shortlisted for the Scholastic Asian Book Award!The award winner will be revealed at the opening ceremony of the Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) in May this year.The objectives of the award are:To recognise excellence in fiction in Asian stories for children To showcase the diversity of literary talent within Asian To encourage and inspire more Asian-themed books and storiesThe five titles were elected by a panel of experts in the field of children’s books. These works are in the running for the grand prize of $10,000 SGD, and the winning manuscript may be published by Scholastic Asia. Between 2011 and 2014, the world's largest children books publishing and distribution company had published six SABA winners’ and finalists’ works, with another three to be launched at the AFCC 2016. … [Read more...]
Duronto and Level Crossing Resource Packs!
I wrote about first prints and the joy of having the resource packs in hand. But how could I cut up the one electric loco kit I had? Now, armed with a spare set, I'm ready to make my own electric loco model.As a child, I loved jigsaw puzzles. I loved them so much that I used to compete with myself as I tried to make my puzzles faster and faster. And I had enough puzzles to make a mat of puzzles on the drawing room floor. Do you see the whizzing hands? Old habits die hard!And then, we have stage one of the electric loco for The Duronto Adventure. We're cutting the sheets, slowly but surely. I cut badly, rarely in a straight line. But does that stop me from enjoying it? Never!The process is slow ... Working on it a little every day, and loving it! … [Read more...]
Launch at National Rail Museum
I wrote about the launch of The Duronto Adventure and Bholu at the Level Crossing about three weeks ago. Finally, here are some pictures!The National Rail Museum was set up on the 1st of February, 1977. So, on the 1st of February this year, we were keen on launching at least the first book for each age-group.The Duronto Adventure, the first book for older readers, explores the electric locomotive, so here's a model that you can make for yourself if you have the kit!Bholu at the Level Crossing, the first book for younger readers, shows you a goods train. The goods train has (as one of my characters puts it) a 'big iron face'. The kit has a jigsaw puzzle of the big iron face!These books are not yet available at your local store, but they've officially been launched! And I'll keep you updated ... … [Read more...]
Two new books by Varsha Seshan!
It's been nearly four years since The Story-Catcher was published. Finally, here are two new books!Launched at the National Rail Museum yesterday, these books are currently available only at the Souvenir Shop of the museum. They are part of a kit that also contains a CD and an activity! Pictures of those will come soon ...The Duronto Adventure Chitra, Rohit, Priya and Deven are travelling by themselves for the first time. They are excited about their newfound independence, but little do they know that their journey is going to be even more adventurous than they imagine! When the train stops at Igatpuri and Rohit goes missing, Priya panics. Yet, this is only the beginning of a crazy ride ...Title The Duronto AdventureAuthor Varsha SeshanIllustrator Rishi BhardwajGenre AdventureAge-group 10+ Bholu at the Level Crossing Welcome to the … [Read more...]
A Brand New Series of Books on Trains: Coming Soon!
Do you know who Bholu is? Since 2002, this friendly guard elephant has been the mascot of the Indian Railways. I'm delighted to be writing a series of stories for children, featuring Bholu, along with many other characters.The series will target two age-groups: Younger readers (aged 5-8) Older readers (aged 9-13)The books for younger readers will have Bholu at the forefront; the ones for older readers will be adventure stories -- all set in and around the Indian Railways.Coming soon - both in print at the National Rail Museum, Delhi, and as ebooks! … [Read more...]
Why not Indian literature?
I read article after article about how Indian literature for children is on the rise. I read about lit fests and how these promote Indian writers and Indian literature. I read about new publishers and new writers all over the country. I feel encouraged, thinking about my future (and present) as a writer.Yet, against all that optimism, a few things come to mind.I often play a game with children, encouraging them to find out what the others read. Recently, I watched sixty children running around enthusiastically as they played the game, shouting to one another. When they shared what they loved and hated reading, not a single Indian writer or book was named. In a Writers' Club that I conduct, children write about France and America and England and Australia, rarely India. I still meet Mary and Lucy, and even made-up names of various sorts, but rarely Indian … [Read more...]