Step into the world of dystopian fiction for young readers with Aparna Kapur’s An Absence of Squirrels and Varsha Seshan’s Uncontrollable. From 1984 and Brave New World to The Hunger Games and Divergent, dystopian and speculative worlds have always fascinated teens and young adults. But why don’t we yet see a marquee dystopian series in Indian children’s literature?

In this episode of Tell Me Story, we sit down with authors Aparna Kapur and Varsha Seshan to talk about world-building, creating unforgettable characters, and the future of Indian YA fiction. Plus, don’t miss a fun rapid-fire round packed with insights and surprises!

Horror, Laughter & Raising Readers with Spooky Stories!

Are we too scared of horror for kids in India? Or is it exactly what young readers need? This week on Tell Me A Story, we chat with Sudeshna Shome Ghosh (A Home to Haunt) and Neil D’Silva (JoyRides) about the thrills and chills of writing horror for children.

🎙️ In this fun episode:
Horror, Laughter & Raising Readers with Spooky Stories!

👻Why scary stories help kids become better, braver readers👻How truth can be stranger (and scarier) than fiction👻A rapid-fire round on the real horror that is AI👻What's next from Sudeshna and Neil!

Expect laughs, insights, and shivers down your spine. Hit play and discover why horror belongs on your kids’ bookshelf.

How do you create a book that will hook emerging readers, keep rhem turning pages, giggling all the way, all while falling in love with reading?

In this episode of Tell Me A Story, we meet the brilliant authors -- Bijal Vachharajani, Lavanya Karthik, Cyrus Broacha, Sadaf Siddique, and Sanajana Kapur -- the life behind the POFFS series, a new chapter book series packed with humour, warmth, and a dash of chaos—perfect for emerging readers.

Join us as we chat about why laughter is essential in children’s books, how to write stories that are actually funny, and why the POFFS are the superheroes your child's bookshelf needs right now. We’ll go behind the scenes on character creation, share hilarious writing mishaps, and discover what makes the POFFS stories so irresistible for young readers.

Tune in for a delightful conversation that will leave you smiling—and ready to pick up your next funny read.

Tim Walker is not an Indian author but a series of events made a compelling argument for him to write a book for children on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Prisoner of Bhopal combines fantasy, a truly tragic event, and elements of World War 1 and becomes a book that is a must-read this summer for every middle grader. It is engaging, interesting, and unputdownable!

It is only July, but Zen is already well on its way to being called the Book of the Year. This 600+ page tome by Shabnam Minwalla brings together intergenerational conflict and romance against the backdrop of the freedom struggle and protests around the National Register of Citizens. She deftly weaves two stories of Zainab and Zen and they will both leave you altered. In this conversation Minwalla talks to me about finally writing a romance, setting the story in her favourite place - Mumbai, and why it is so important to address and acknowledge controversial topics through books, especially in polarizing times.

Mentions: Mumbai, Sayoni Basu, Mere Desh ki Dharti, NRC and CAA, Cotton Green, Colaba, Vampire Weekend, Ivy League, romance, mystery, horror, Ramzan

Link to the song playlist when you read the book:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Vt1gP4fR48F2xwD6bSGGo?si=031639546b3647ab

Welcome to Season 3 of Tell Me A Story!

We start this season with the smash-hit duo - Khyrunnisa A and Abhijeet Kini who have been creating and illustrating the character Butterfingers for over a decade. I speak to them about what inspires them to keep creating this character, why it has so much timeless appeal, and the contemporaries that inspire them. There are a whole lotta laughs and giggles and even a desperate plea to the universe to commission a comic series with Khyrunnisa as Captain Haddock and Abhijeet as a discount Obelix!

Are publishers listening?

Hit PLAY Now!

The one thing you will take away from this episode is that being a children's book illustrator is a difficult job that may not always be worth it but is always incredibly fulfilling. Three of India's top children's book illustrators come together to talk about what inspires them, the genres they love working with, and the most important thing that should change in the industry to ensure they work better. This is an honest conversation about their craft and what drives them. Rajiv Eipe, Pankaj Saikia, and Priya Kuriyan swap tales about where they began and even reveal their favourite books! The rapid-fire round is not one you should miss! Hit PLAY Now!

Dakshin, by Nitin Kushalappa is one of those comforting reads that instantly transports you to happier, more innocent childhood days. Talking to him on Tell Me A Story made it clear that Nitin is passionate about folktales and collecting and documenting oral folklore. But what was more interesting was chatting with him about why it was necessary to preserve these stories and to understand his process of collecting and choosing the right stories for this stellar collection.

Tune in to this episode to listen and learn about the importance of folktales and oral stories and maybe, even be inspired by his drive and passion!