Success Story: Suja Sukumar

My journey into a career in writing happened by accident. I was in my early forties, a full-time physician and mom with two young children, when my sister suggested I enter a short story competition. I didn’t get in but that attempt at writing got me hooked.

My goal was to traditionally publish while providing South Asian diaspora representation. I started with a middle grade mystery, which I ended up shelving after multiple agent rejections. To be honest, this was my fault since I hadn’t done the massive editing and research required before querying.

With my next story, a YA thriller, I joined online critique groups, Critique Circle and Agent Query being examples. I also found beta readers through (then) Twitter and through writing organizations. I researched agents using sites like Manuscript Wish List, specifically looking for ones who accepted my genre and were looking for BIPOC stories. I then sent out queries but ended up with rejections again.

By now, I was left wondering if I should just give up. I barely had any time to write between family and a job that often ran into weekends and nights. But I found I couldn’t stop. Writing gave me a sense of joy and a purpose. I decided to try querying again, this time with a YA fantasy. Unfortunately, this manuscript ended up getting shelved as well.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The months following passed in a blur of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. But this also allowed me a new perspective on life, to live each day and continue to go after my dreams.

So, I thought I’d give it one more shot by writing a YA thriller. I went through all the steps of editing, critiquing, beta readers, and researching agents. I had also been applying for mentoring contests during this time and was picked by the wonderful Dana Mele (People Like Us, Summer’s Edge, and the upcoming The Beast You Let In)) as mentee in the Author Mentor Match contest.

Dana helped me polish the story. A few months later, I pitched it in #DVPit on Twitter. One of the agent requests turned into an offer and In December 2018, I signed with my agent.

After months of editing, we began sending submissions to publishers in late 2019. But Covid hit by the second round and so did the rejections. By 2021, I had moved onto another manuscript when we received an email from an editor at Soho Teen; she had previously passed but wanted another look. I signed the contract in Jan 2022 and the YA thriller When Mimi Went Missing was released in Nov 2024. In Sept 2025, it won the Anthony Award for Best YA/Children’s novel.

This is my long and convoluted path to traditional publication, and I thank you for reading. My advice to fellow writers would be to stay involved within the writing community. Their encouragement and words of cheer kept me going. I wish good luck to everyone on this journey.  Keep writing all those wonderful stories!

Suja Sukumar (she/her) is an award-winning author of diverse suspense novels. Her debut YA thriller When Mimi Went Missing won the 2025 Anthony Award for Best YA/Children’s novel and the 2025 Pencraft Award for Best YA General genre. She is a member of SCBWI, Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Apart from being an author, she is also a primary care physician in suburban Detroit, where she lives with her family.