Member Spotlight: Sandhya Parappukkaran

8.09.21

Our July Member Spotlight features Sandhya Parappukkaran. Sandhya won an ASA/CA Award Mentorship in 2020 to work on her unpublished manuscript with Sue deGennaro, and is now having her picture book, Amma's Saree, published by Hardie Grant Children's Publishing, Bright Light imprint!

Sandhya Parappukkaran writes stories which are inspired by her multicultural experience. She loves to include scrumptious food and glimpses of nature from her Kerala Indian heritage. Sandhya resides in Brisbane with her husband, three children and a backyard brimming with mango trees, curry leaves, and green chillies.

Sandhya’s debut picture book, The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name, illustrated by Michelle Pereira and published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing (Imprint: Bright Light), will be released in August 2021. Her second picture book, Amma’s Saree will be published next year.

What inspired you to begin a career in writing?

Reading picture books with my son and watching him enjoy and engage with the text and artwork motivated me to write stories for children.

What does it mean to have completed the ASA/CA Award Mentorship, and now having your work published by Hardie Grant? 

Winning the ASA/CA Award Mentorship was an amazing boost to my confidence as a writer. I’m over the moon that it has led to a publishing contract. Working with Sue deGennaro was encouraging and enlightening. The mentorship has enhanced my writing skills and helped me gain insight into the intricacies of the picture book narrative. It was wonderful to have a mentor to discuss ideas, plot points and structure, but more than that, having Sue’s ongoing feedback was invaluable.

I also attended the ASA Pitch Perfect session led by Erica Wagner. Erica’s ideas helped me to identify what makes a story unique and what should be conveyed at the heart of a pitch.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known at the very beginning of your writing journey?

Trust the creative process, keep writing and rewriting and the story will come.

Which Australian authors or illustrators have been influential for your writing practice and career?

So many! The magic created by Jane Godwin, Caroline Magerl, Gus Gordon, Aaron Blabey, Nick Bland and of course my mentor Sue deGennaro has made me love picture books more and more.

Find out more about Sandhya at https://sandhyaparappukkaran.com/