What is special about Himanjali Sankar?

Himanjali Sankar was only five when she wrote a poem called “Rain”. Her mother loved it so much that she insisted on reading it aloud to family and friends. “She might have lost a few friends over that but it was the start of a writing career for me,” laughs Himanjali, the author of my favourite young adult (YA) books – “Talking of Muskaan” and “The Lives We Tell”. The author was born in Kolkata, or rather Calcutta, which is what the city was called the she studied English Literature at JNU, New Delhi, and taught English at the University of Indianpolis in the U.S.

Himanjali is a master storyteller who traverses the world of homosexuality and mental health in her young adult books with as much ease as she does fantasy-scifi-humour for Middle readers.

Among her favourite authors for children are Roald Dahl, Peggy Parish, Roddy Doyle and Cornelia Funke – some of whom she read only as an adult. “I read a lot of Enid Blyton as a child and was sad that my children never liked her books!” she rues. Among Indian writers in English for children, she loves the work of her contemporaries, Anushka Ravishankar and Asha Nehemiah.

Books by the author

  • The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog (Middle readers)
  • Missing: A Magnificent Superdog (Middle readers)
  • Talking of Muskaan (YA)
  • The Lies We Tell (YA)
  • Mrs C Remembers (for adults)

The writer’s routine

Himanjali prefers not to follow a set for writing. She says, “I write when I can – at night, in the mornings, more on weekends when I don’t have to go to office. I don’t write every day at all. And sometimes I write only in my head when driving on taking a walk in the park!”

Writing like Himanjali Sankar

Himanjali is an editor as well as an author, so she multitasks writing looks, and editing and publishing them. Sometimes everyday writing takes a backseat. “While I no longer write every day, but I think when you are younger it is important if you maintain a schedule for writing if you wish to become an author some day,” she says. Here are her tips for budding writers.

Definitely maintain a daily schedule with daily targets for you to write towards.
Keeping a diary. It is always a good idea – write about your day, include unusual details, and definitely, observations about your friends and family.
Writing is supposed to be fun and pleasurable activity. It should help clarify your thoughts and understand the world a little better. So you must certainly not do it if you are not in the mood or even if you see it as a chore that has to be done.

Bet you didn’t know that she loves putting blue nail polish or her toes because she looks down she feels like she is getting a peek at a hidden ocean somewhere under her feet!

 

Picture Credit : Google