Book Birthday Blog with Supriya Kelkar

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog! 

Where we celebrate new books by Michigan's children's book authors and illustrators

Congratulations to Supriya Kelkar on the release of her new book,  THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH!

Q#1: Congratulations on your debut picture book, THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH! What inspired you to write this particular story?

Thank you! I wrote this book at a time when hate was once again becoming normalized. It was my way of putting more kindness out in the world, and I hope it does! 

Q#2: Your first book, AHIMSA came out in 2017 and now you have three more middle grade books coming out within the next two years- wow! So, what made you decide to write a picture book? Any more in the works?

I have wanted to be a picture book author for a long time and have written several picture book drafts over the years. This was my first picture book that we went out with though and I couldn't be more thrilled for THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH to be my debut. There is another picture book in the works and I can't wait to share that news soon! 

Q#3: What has been the hardest part about writing for children? What about the most rewarding?

I do find writing picture books a lot harder than writing middle grade novels. It is so much easier for me to make my point in 50,000 words than it is in 500 words. I'm constantly revising and learning from each revision though so as hard as it is to find solutions I also do find it rewarding when I figure things out. I think the most rewarding part about writing for children though is getting to meet readers who have connected to my words. It means the world to me!

Q#4: Can you share some words of wisdom, advice, do's and don't's for writers who have yet to be published?

I would say don't give up! I wrote the first draft of AHIMSA in 2003 and it was published in 2017. If I had given up in the thirteen years it took for the book to get to a place where it could sell, I would never have seen my book get published. In the same breath, I would say that doesn't mean writers should think their draft is the absolute best version of the story it can be. Always be open to revising and find critique partners who you can learn from. I've always found my work to improve a lot with each revision and revised AHIMSA at least once each of those 13 years.

Q#5: What are your marketing plans for THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH? Where can people find and or connect with you?

THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH is one of the October Spotlight books for #classroombookaday so I am Skyping into classrooms that are participating. Interested teachers and librarians can email me at supriyakelkarbooks[at]gmail.com to set up a time to chat! I'm also on Twitter @supriyakelkar_ and Instagram @supriya.kelkar. And my website, which has info on school visits and Skype visits can be found at www.supriyakelkar.com 

A little bit about the book: Harpreet Singh has a different color for every mood and occasion, from pink for dancing to bhangra beats to red for courage. He especially takes care with his patka -- his turban -- smoothing it out and making sure it always matches his outfit. But when Harpreet's mom finds a new job in a snowy city and they have to move, all he wants is to be invisible. Will he ever feel a happy sunny yellow again?

A little bit about the author: Supriya grew up in the Midwest, where she learned Hindi as a child by watching three Hindi movies a week. Winner of the New Visions Award for her middle grade novel AHIMSA, (Tu Books, 2017), Supriya is a screenwriter who has worked on the writing teams for several Hindi films and one Hollywood feature. Supriya's books include AHIMSA, THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH (Sterling, 2019), AMERICAN AS PANEER PIE (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2020) THE SANDALWOOD PYRE (Tu Books, 2020), and THAT THING ABOUT BOLLYWOOD (Aladdin/Simon and Schuster, 2021).