shyamala's world

Bengaluru based award winning children's  author Asha Nehemiah is out with a new book for early readers. Part of Duckbill(PRH) Hook Book series, The Grand Chapati Contest is a delectable tale around the simple chapati. Chetan Sharma's illustrations are captivating and Asha's story engages the readers till the end. Asha Nehemiah shares more about her book written in simple language for 5-7 years.                                   1. What inspired you to write The Grand Chapati Contest? I’m quite an adventurous and experimental cook. I can make fancy cakes and biryanis and even my hand-rolled lasagna sheets! But I’ve always failed miserably at making soft, round chapatis.  That’s what gave me the idea. I had to set the story in a palace – because who else but a queen could organise a ‘Grand Chapati Contest’?   2. Have you ever taken part in a Chapati making contest? How good are you at making chapattis?    I’d come last in any chapati-making contest!!! My chapatis are norma

  Author Vibha Batra is out with a bold, new graphic novel for teens.   P ublished by Harper Collins India, the book doesn't shy away from addressing the pain and angst of today's metro teens. From fat shaming, divorce, remarriage, bullying to LGBT issues, The Secret Life of Debbie G covers it all. Illustrator Kalyani Ganapathy has successfully captured the moods of the different characters with her black and white illustrations. 1.Why did you choose to approach this book as a graphic novel? I didn’t! It all started when my editor asked me if I’d write a graphic novel for them. And I replied, ‘Yes! Sure! Of course!’ with the confidence of someone who’s never written a graphic novel before. And then, I dived headlong into the world of comic books and graphic novels. Devouring them in the name of ‘research’, of course. At some point I realised, I had to stop binge-reading and start writing. So I did.  2.What kind of research went into creating this book? You have got the te