Posts Tagged “writing for children”

Interview with Sarwat Chadda, Author of STORM SINGER

By on April 14, 2025   /   Articles, Author Interviews  

In Storm Singer, twelve-year-old Nargis, who has the ability to communicate with elementals, is caught up in an epic struggle for the fate of the land of Bharat after she encounters Mistral, prince of the eagle garudas who rule over the kingdom. He’s on the run after a coup which imprisoned his parents. Nargis reluctantly agrees to aid him, thus setting the unlikely allies on a dangerous adventure.

The cover of the book Storm Singer. A girl with a crutch and a bird-like boy with wings pose against a storm.

 

MUF: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Storm Singer is a fascinating story, and I’m excited to learn more. What inspired this story? What elements led to the creation of the world and the characters?

SC: Nargis inspired it. I wanted a hero that represented the weakest and the most downtrodden, and show how someone like her can rise up and overthrow a tyranny. Ultimately what inspired it was the awareness of how unjust the world is, that it is overflowing with resources, and yet those resources are horded by the few. I wanted to write about climate change, but in a fresh way, and fancied creating a cool magic system!

MUF: While taking place in a secondary world, Storm Singer invokes the Arabian Nights and Hindu mythology in the form of the birdlike garudas. Can you tell us more about your use of folklore and myth, and how you adapted it for this tale?

SC: I wanted to create a whole fantasy world that was entirely eastern, but not too bound to one setting or another, hence mixing Indian mythology with the Arabian Nights. Plus I wanted to fill the tale with magic that didn’t owe anything to western/European fantasy. Ironically the concept of elves, dwarves, knights, dragons, etc are now so common they no longer feel ‘fantastical’. I wanted to bring that feeling of the weird and wonderful back, hence creatures like garudas and rocs.

MUF: Courtesy of a childhood accident, Nargis now uses a crutch to walk. What can you tell us about this aspect of her character?

SC: There’s not much to tell. It is just part of who she is. I took a lot of advice on how to portray her in a matter-of-fact, day to day way. Thematically it magnified the difference between her and Mistral, who can after all fly but is, for the most of the story, trapped on the ground as well.

MUF: You like to travel and to incorporate your experiences into your work. Did any of that come into play with Storm Singer? What sort of research or references did you use in developing this?

SC: I recently went to Morocco, so that will flavour the writing. But the main theme, the vast gap between those with wealth and power and those without, comes from the news, and just seeing what the world is. Covid certainly exposed many injustices between the classes, and that inspired Nargis’s story. The garudas in many ways represent the 1%, those rich enough to ignore the troubles of the world, while often being responsible for them.

MUF: What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

SC: Two things, love of the characters, and the awareness of injustice.

MUF: You’ve released 16 books in 16 years. How do you maintain such an impressive output in so many different genres and themes?

SC: I always say ‘yes’! Ask any freelancer and they’ll all tell you the same thing. You don’t turn down work. Themes come as you write, often they’re based on what’s happening in the world, but viewed through the distorted lens of fantasy. My first novel, Devil’s Kiss (2009), was written in response to the Iraq War and Storm Singer was heavily influenced by Covid, and the disparity between the haves and have nots. On top of the novels I’ve written Legend of Hanuman and Baahubali: The Lost Tales for Disney Hotstar and Amazon in India, about 12 seasons all in all. Now that I’ve been around quite a bit I do get editors approaching me with projects, and recently I’ve got jobs based on pitches and sample chapters, rather than having to write the whole thing. There are times when I do get burnt out, I must admit. But in the end I really like writing. There are so many different stages of the process. Research, first drafts, revisions, getting the cover art!

MUF: You’ve said that the best way to learn storytelling is to play role-playing games. Can you expand on that thought? What other advice would you give fledgling writers?

SC: RPGs are pure story-telling. I wrote my own adventures for years for our group, I still do. You can use them as testing grounds to your plots! Also, you have a live audience, your players. You can see what works and what doesn’t. They will ruthlessly exploit any plot holes! My other advice is FINISH. There are no more important words in a manuscript than ‘The End’.

MUF: You wrote a fantastic, apocalyptic Mesopotamian myth-inspired duology, The Adventures of Sik Aziz,for Rick Riordan Presents. What was it like working with that imprint, and is there any chance you’ll do more with them?

SC: IT WAS AWESOME! Rick and I had crossed paths previously, he was an early fan of my Ash Mistry trilogy and a huge supporter of my work throughout, plus we shared an editor, so there was a lot of overlap prior to being invited to join. I knew I wanted to write a Muslim protagonist, but the Arabian Nights angle had been done to death. The whole RRP gang are a great bunch, I’ve never felt such camaraderie amongst writers before. First time in my life I got to hang out with the ‘cool kids’. I do have something coming up soon, not quite RR-related, but VERY CLOSELY connected!

MUF: What’s next for you? Do you have anything else planned for the world or the heroes of this book?

SC: The sequel, The Crow’s Revenge! Oh, Sickle, my beloved crow assassin from the first book, has not finished with Nargis quite yet.

MUF: Bonus question: You’ve expressed a love of dragons as “boss-level creatures.” Which dragon from any aspect of literature, myth, or popular culture is your favorite?

SC: Easy! Tiamat! The goddess of chaos from Mesopotamian mythology out of whose corpse the universe was created. And, cough cough, the big bad in my novel, Fury of the Dragon Goddess…

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Headshot of author Sarwat Chadda, a dapper bald man of medium age

Sarwat Chadda is the New York Times bestselling author of the City of the
Plague God duology, the Spiritstone Saga, the Ash Mistry trilogy, the Shadow
Magic trilogy, and the Devil’s Kiss duology. He has written for Star Wars and
Minecraft as well as the 39 Clues and Spirit Animals series. Sarwat is a first
generation Muslim immigrant of South Asian descent who loves writing over
the-top adventures. His work has received numerous starred reviews and was a
Goodreads Choice Best Middle Grade Award Nominee. He has been published
in over a dozen languages. Outside of novels, he’s written plays, comic books,
and TV shows, including The Legend of Hanuman for Disney+ Hotstar. Sarwat lives in
London. Feel free to drop him a line on X (previously known as Twitter) at @SarwatChadda
and Instagram at @Sarwat_Chadda or visit him at SarwatChadda.com.

 

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Interview with Author Naomi Milliner

By on April 7, 2025   /   Articles  

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome Naomi Milliner to the Mixed-Up Files! I first got to know Naomi after reading her funny and deeply touching 2019 debut, Super Jake & The King of Chaos. She then went on to co-edit and contribute to the MG anthology On All Other Nights, a collection of short stories centered on the Jewish holiday of Passover. Her sophomore MG, The Trouble with Secrets, a heartfelt story of a tight-knit Jewish family impacted by secrets and tragedy, has been lauded by Kirkus as “A touching, intimate exploration of universal themes of trust, conformity, and the impact of family dynamics,” and by author Jeff Zentner as “A moving, gorgeous, and life-affirming exploration of grief, faith and how we can build ourselves a joyous life after everything seems to have fallen to pieces.” The book is out tomorrow, April 8, from Quill Tree Books.

The Trouble with Secrets: A Summary

Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like the best version of herself. Until playing the flute causes Becky to do something not so perfect: keep a secret from her parents.

Then Becky discovers that Sara, her “perfect” sister, has an even bigger secret; one that could turn the family upside down. The sisters couldn’t be more ready to keep each other’s secret safe…until the excitement turns to guilt, and Becky is forced to make an impossible choice.

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Naomi. I’m so happy to have you here!

NM: Thanks so much, Melissa! There is no place I’d rather be. 🙂

Inspired Choices

MR: First, I have to tell you how much I enjoyed The Trouble with Secrets. It was incredibly touching, warm, and highly relatable. Can you tell us a bit about the novel? What inspired you to write it?

NM: Thank you! Secrets is a before-and-after story: before there are secrets; before there are consequences of those secrets; and after everything changes as a result. In fact, before and after play such a pivotal part that the book is divided into two sections: Part One (Before) and Part Two (Now). Although I do sprinkle glimpses of Now throughout Before, to warn readers that Something Bad Is Coming!

As far as the original inspiration… it was a very minor subplot in a TV show I loved back in the day (whose name shall remain a secret!). Although the storyline involved a pair of teenage siblings, they actually never had a single scene together!

Character Study

MR: Becky Myerson, the 12-year-old protagonist, is a flawed but incredibly likeable character. She may not always do the right thing, but the reader roots for her nonetheless. What’s the secret to creating believable and nuanced characters, warts and all?

NM: I think fictional characters, like the rest of us, have to be flawed to be believable. And, so long as their flaws are relatable and understandable – maybe even justifiable (lying to protect a friend or sibling; doing something bad for a good reason) – a character can remain sympathetic.

The Magic Flute

MR: Another important aspect of Becky’s character is her love for music (she plays the flute). Are you a flautist, Naomi? If not, what kind of research did you do to make Becky’s love for the flute so realistic?

NM: I am not a flautist, but I did piano for ten years when I was much younger. My husband and younger son, however, do play the flute, and my older son plays trumpet and a few other instruments – and is a music teacher. Both of my sons were in All-County, and my older one was in All-State as well as All-County Jazz, so I had plenty of inspiration!

Secrets: A Slippery Slope

MR: Secret keeping is an important, overarching theme in this book. What were you trying to say about secrets, and the burden of keeping them?

NM: Keeping secrets can be a slippery slope! They can be fun and exciting, but also have the potential to cause harm – sometimes minor, sometimes major. They can bring people closer together or tear them apart. In Becky’s case, she suffers double the guilt by keeping two secrets, her own and her sister Sara’s; on the other hand, she would feel just as guilty if she betrayed her sister’s confidence. Keeping her own secret is hard enough; keeping her sister’s proves to be even more difficult. There’s really no way she can win.

Exploration of Grief

MR: Another important theme in your book is grief, and how people grieve in such different ways. You explored this theme in Super Jake & the King of Chaos, too. Could you speak more to this?

NM: Thank you for asking. You have such a good memory! I did explore that theme in Super Jake, as well as “Chocolate Tears,” the short story I wrote for On All Other Nights. Apparently, I’m still not done exploring it!

As painful as grief is, we all experience it at one age or another: there is no avoiding it. And there may be no getting over it. But there is getting through it. When I hear that my stories have helped readers (both children and adults) cope with their own losses, it means everything.

Jewish Joy

MR: The Trouble with Secrets is a book that oozes Jewish joy: Becky comes from an observant Jewish family, and her dad is a rabbi. Your debut novel, Super Jake, also features Jewish themes, and the MG anthology you co-edited and contributed to, On All Other Nights, celebrates the Jewish holiday of Passover. Can you tell us why it’s important for you to feature Jewish characters and themes in your books?

NM: The simple answer is, “Write what you know.” I was raised in a very religious family (my grandfather and mother were both Hebrew school teachers and principals; my brother is a rabbi), and Jewish holidays like Passover and Hanukkah were, and are, part of what makes me, me. Some of my fondest childhood memories are tied to Jewish holidays and events, and I did my best to share them with my own children, from participating in our synagogue’s musical services to blowing the shofar on the High Holidays. I am proud to share my Jewish heritage through my books and characters, and hope that all readers can relate in some way.

Path to Publication

MR: Can you tell MUF readers about your path to publication? Was it smooth sailing, choppy seas, or a combination of both?

NM: How long is this interview? 🙂 I guess, in the end, it was a combination. My debut novel took 16 years from first draft to publication (not that I counted)! But the anthology came together quickly (probably thanks to my incredible friends and coeditors, Chris Baron & Joshua S. Levy), and Secrets was acquired just a few weeks later. However… the current version of Secrets is not the original, which I had first written, several years ago, as a YA novel.

The Caffeinated Writer

MR: What does your writing routine look like? Do you have any particular writing habits or rituals?

NM: Nothing gets done before I am fully caffeinated. And fed. And, preferably, after a few word games on my phone… what was the question? 🙂 I am not one of those writers who are disciplined enough to get up at the crack of dawn and write for three hours straight. But, somehow, I always make my deadlines – usually ahead of schedule. And when I’m excited about what I’m writing, I can be found happily scribbling away (yes, I write the first draft in longhand) late into the night, or even sending myself emails on my phone when I come up with a bit of dialogue or a scene I don’t want to forget.

MR: What are you working on now, Naomi? Care to share?

NM: Sure! Thanks for asking. My next book is about four girls who meet at the beach, become fast (and lasting) friends, and try to help each other: save a pet store; uncover a secret origin story; and keep a marriage from falling apart. I’m also revising another mg book about a girl who is an unreliable narrator, which is proving to be a fun challenge!

Magnificent Mah Jongg!

MR: And finally, rumor has it that you’re an avid mah jongg player. (Okay, it’s more than a rumor. I know you love the game as much as I do! 🙂 ) How did you first get interested in mah jongg, and why does it appeal to you?

NM: I was always curious and intrigued by the tiles! I grew up loving board games and card games, but this was something new. My favorite thing is that there is a new card every year, and each card presents endless combinations, so it never gets old or predictable. I only wish my mom had been around when I finally learned how to play. She would have loved it – and been amazing at it. We would have had a lot of fun.

 Lightning Round!

Yellow graphic lightning bolt

MR: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Chocolate. Period.

Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning; tea in the afternoon.

Cat or dog? This one is tricky. We have a (very fuzzy, sweet and adorable) cat, but I really do love dogs… But what I really want is a quokka! 🙂

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Nay.

Superpower? Can it be losing weight while still eating whatever, and whenever, I want?

Greatest indulgence? See preferred writing snack above. 🙂 Also books, whether by the armload from local libraries and bookstores, or a filled-to-the-brim virtual cart.

Favorite place on earth? Highlights. No question. I have formed wonderful and lasting friendships (see Chris Baron and Joshua S. Levy above) at this magical place. It is bursting with talented, creative writers and illustrators, and it’s impossible to leave feeling uninspired (or hungry).

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be?

My 1900-page Riverside Shakespeare (and reading glasses!); Hermione Granger’s fabulous expandable bag (filled with essentials like sunscreen, conditioner, non-perishable foods, and emergency flares); and either Tom Hanks – he knows a thing or two about being a castaway! – or Tom Hiddleston, because he would make excellent use out of the Shakespeare tome… and is tall enough to get plenty of coconuts down from the tree!

MR: Thank you for chatting with us, Naomi—and congratulations on the upcoming publication of The Trouble with Secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know MUF readers will, too!

NM: Thank you, Melissa!

Bio:

Naomi Milliner is the author of Super Jake & the King of Chaos (Running Press Kids) and The Trouble with Secrets (Quill Tree/HarperCollins), as well as coeditor and contributor of On All Other Nights, a Junior Library Guild Selection. She created the Author Book Club for her SCBWI chapter, served on The Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads Committee since 2009, and enjoys mentoring both children and adults. Naomi lives in Olney, Maryland, with her family, too many books to count, and one very fuzzy cat. Learn more about Naomi at https://naomimilliner.wordpress.com.

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STEM Tuesday– Naturalists — Book List

By on April 1, 2025   /   Earth Day, STEM Tuesday  

A naturalist is a person who observes plants, animals and fungi, and looks at how they fit into their environments. You don’t have to go to a special school to learn how to be a naturalist; you just have to be curious. Here are a few books about naturalists, and how you can become one.

I Begin with Spring: The Life and Seasons of Henry David Thoreau by Julie Dunlap and Megan Elizabeth Baratta

Henry Thoreau collected leaves and arrowheads from a young age. He could tell when skunk cabbage was blooming by smelling the air. As an adult, he kept copious notes about nature, sending samples and observations to scientists. Observant readers will enjoy the timeline that runs along the bottom of the pages. Back matter dives into phenology (botanical signs of the seasons) and how Thoreau’s work has helped modern scientists understand climate change.

Wildheart: the Daring Adventures of John Muir by Julie Bertagna

Beginning with boyhood in Scotland and continuing with his adult life in the US, this book presents John Muir’s life in graphic novel format. Muir, more famous as founder of the Sierra Club, was a careful observer of nature. His study of glaciers in Alaska informed his understanding of Yosemite.

Darwin’s Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution by Christiane Dorion

This is an adventure story – a tale of exploration, field research, shipwrecks, and a friendship between two naturalists that evolved over time. Both Wallace and Darwin wrote about natural selection and the evolution of new species. But instead of competing against each other for credit, both tried hard to treat each other fairly – to the benefit of all. Filled with maps and spreads showing diversity of beetles, butterflies, and birds.

The Incredible Yet True Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt: The Greatest Inventor-naturalist-scientist-explorer Who Ever Lived by Volker Mehnert

Another adventure story of two naturalists — Alexander Von Humboldt (a young German inventor who from childhood preferred exploring nature) and Aimé Bonpland (a young French doctor who preferred studying plants and rocks) — who undertook the first scientific expedition into South America’s rainforest and the Andes mountains. Stunning illustrations highlight their discoveries of plants, geology, animals, and cultures unknown to anyone in Europe. As well as Alexander’s later trek through the wilds of Siberia. His books and lectures inspired a generation of naturalists and scientists – including Charles Darwin. With a conversational tone, maps, and direct quotations, this book brings to life their fascinating, daring, and harrowing adventures.

The Lady and the Octopus: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biology by Danna Staaf

From making hats to fine dresses for wealthy Parisians, Jeanne Villepreux put her sewing skills to work. When she had the freedom to study nature, she got interested in sea creatures. Could she bring them into her house like she did caterpillars and turtles? She invented aquariums for holding sea animals, and began to study small octopuses called argonauts that lived in the local waters. Back matter includes “how to be a naturalist.”

What Linnaeus Saw: A Scientist’s Quest to Name Every Living Thing by Karen Magnuson Beil

As a boy and young man, Carl Linnaeus also preferred exploring nature to his studies. This engaging and exciting biography follows his adventures and discoveries in the Scandinavian Mountains, research into the scientific mysteries of unknown animals and plants, and dreams to catalogue every plant and animal in the world. Ultimately, his frustration at a lack of consistency in cataloguing plants and animals, led Linnaeus to create the classification system still used today. Includes period illustrations and maps, scientific update sidebars, direct quotations, and intensive back matter.

Steve and Bindi Irwin by Amy Breguet

From childhood, Steve and Bindi Irwin, where both raised to be modern-day naturalists and conservationists. Filled with great photos, fascinating side bars, and a fair review of controversies, this is a great look at their relationship and dedication to animals, tireless work to preserve wild spaces, and drive to inspire others to preserve and protect nature. Back matter offers numerous ways to get involved.

You Can Be a Naturalist, Too!

The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions by Giselle Clarkson

This book presents four potential sites for conducting naturalist expeditions, along with the sorts of things one might observe while there. They are easily accessible to kids of all ages and include a damp corner (perfect site for discovering more about centipedes and fungi), pavement (great habitat for ants and worms) and weedy patches.

Be a Nature Explorer!: Outdoor Activities and Adventures by Peter Wohlleben

This book is filled with 52 activities that range from following slugs and snails to mapping plants that move. In addition to a pencil and notebook, Wohlleben suggests a few other things to take along including plastic containers, a hand lens, binoculars, and maybe a cell phone with a camera and a nature app.

The Naturalist at Home: Projects for Discovering the Hidden World Around Us by Kelly Brenner

The 20 individual projects specify the season(s) and study topic involved and specific materials needed. The projects range from creating a woodland in ajar, sugaring for moths, and finding tardigrades. With wonderful illustrations, a general naturalist toolkit, easy to follow steps, sidebar tips and warnings, and a few bonus activities, this is a great book for budding naturalists.

The most important book – is the one you’ll use to collect your notes and drawings.

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the Cybils Awards (2017 – present), and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

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