My Crazy Life Full With Books: Author in the picture post : Srividhya Lakshmanan

Welcome on the “Mycrazylifewithbooks” blog Srividhya Lakshmanan !
I read several books of you and I always was pleasantly surprised by the
atmosphere and the lesson that each story contained. So, these were
the main reasons, I invited you to take part of the Author in the picture
blogpost. Off we go with these questions:

1/ Can you tell the readers more about you?

I am an indie author. I have published picture books and short stories
for children. Before venturing into the book space, I used to run a fashion
e-commerce company. I spent several years in the corporate world.

2/ How did you start writing children's and young adults' books?

I started to write as early as eleven. The local radio selected one of the
stories during my high school days. Still, the idea of publishing books
came only two years ago at my daughter's insistence. I published a few
short stories that received excellent reviews in the early days. The
feedback encouraged me to publish more books.

3/ How were you as a kid?

I spent the best part of my childhood in smaller towns and the
countryside, so I was always with friends, exploring nature and playing
in the outdoors. Loads of free time and zero screen time! I believe
that a lot of my creative side was nurtured predominantly in those times.

4/ Which book/series inspired you?

I have many books, but I will keep the list short considering the time -
Roald Dahl's BFG, the Indian mythology series by Anant Pai,
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer.
My most preferred genre is children's picture books. I never a miss a
chance to read one.

5/ How do you chose your stories/ topics?

The ideas for my stories come from everyday conversations with people.
For instance, the idea for my newest picture book, 'Gugulu, The Little
Bear Dares', came from a family trip to the Western Ghats of India.
The previous book, 'Do they all Sleep?' came from a bedtime
conversation with my child. She is my first soundboard. She is a
voracious reader, so I start to develop an idea only after she approves.

6/ Can you tell us a bit more about your writing routine?

I don't follow a strict routine, but I always carry a small notebook
for my story ideas. I try to write at least three days a week. In addition,
I try to keep up with my writing habit by participating in time-bound
story writing competitions. I believe these competitions also
help me improve my skill.

7/Are you proud receiving a good review or an award?

A good review obviously makes me super happy. I love to read it again
and again.

And, of course, awards are significant too. It reassures my efforts and
belief in the books. I was elated when my first book got shortlisted
for the Wishing Shelf Awards.

8/ Are you nervous before the release of a new book?

I am super nervous before a book release. As an indie author, you
must wear multiple hats and spend several months preparing for the
release. If the readers don't accept the book, all the effort goes wasted.

I have a new release scheduled for the 29th of April 2022,
and I am already sweating!

9/ Do you have plans to write other children / young adults' books,
or books in another genre?

Yes, I am working on my next book that will release mostly next year mid.
The book will be again a picture book.

10/ What are your wishes for the (nearby) future?

While I am happy in the indie space, I would also like to try out the
traditional publishing side. I am working on a few picture book
manuscripts. I hope something clicks soon.