Prabha Girish

While I grew up reading Enid Blyton’s works, to understand the impact of her words, it took me
about a decade of just trying to write. As a girl who grew up in the middle-east during the Nineties,
where books available were limited, traditionally published and written mostly by renowned
foreign authors, I remember wondering if people like me stood a chance at making it in the literary
world. So, when the world of self-publishing opened up, I found the courage to convert years of
writing and imagination into my first book — a collection of Short Stories titled ‘Tiny Tales for the
Teeming Mind’.

Simply put, this is a celebration of Culture and Colour! A collection of 10 heartwarming tales,
spread across 10 countries, that highlight certain cultures and revolve around people of colour,
their everyday joys, hopes, dreams and difficulties. The book also includes a fun hand-drawn
illustration at the end of each tale along with an interactive page for each chapter. This page is
filled with Fun Facts about each country and its culture and also introspective questions for the
reader.

The book is for tweens and teens (middle-grade readers) mainly, as it seeks to gently sensitize them
to the lives and relationships of people of colour, to normalize different ethnicities in a very
relatable, light-hearted manner.

My inspiration to write this book somewhere lies in my past. Having lived in 3 countries, I have
always felt a deep yearning to belong. A lack of awareness about other cultures or ethnicities usually
leads to sidelining or worse bullying at school, as I have suffered. My wish to write for children
stems out of utter cognizance and awareness of how impressionable children are and the impact
of early experiences on their tender psyche. So, the awareness of different cultures and their
relatable aspects sensitizes the reader, making them more accepting of others from a very young
age organically.

I discovered this wonderful institution at the American Writer’s Festival from another children’s
author. I then enrolled for the premium membership because I felt that the SCBWI’s values aligned
with my own. Their initiatives, member’s contributions, works showcased - ring with sincerity
which warms my heart immensely.

I am grateful for the resources available through the SCBWI and hope to support it during my
lifetime with my humble contributions. I look forward to writing and publishing children’s
literature, to develop my skills through observing, listening and interacting with the seasoned
authors who form part of this organization.

Through my writing and this platform, I wish reach young readers in schools, so my book is a
balm to them, a source of innocent joy and humour that will introduce them gently and carefully
to culture, to people of colour, to acceptance and inclusivity - in the hope of instilling awareness
and respect in them, as they grow.

---

Latest Book

Tiny Tales for the Teeming Mind (Prabha Girish, 2024)