We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sathya Achia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sathya , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I’m an author of diverse stories of joy and adventure for young adult, middle grade, and picture book audiences. Storytelling has been a part of who I am from the beginning. Between the South Asian folklore my grandparents shared with me and my highly active imagination, I knew at an early age that I wanted to create my own stories.

Just like that, the dream of becoming an author was born. But that sweet dream of mine soon met with a reality I hadn’t expected. As I pulled book after book from the library shelves and flipped through their pages, I began to realize that the characters didn’t look like me, didn’t celebrate the festivals my family did, and didn’t eat the foods we enjoyed. Where were the kids like me who lived in the “in between”? … the ones born in the West, but with rich traditions and cultures from the East (I was born in Canada and my parents had come from India). They weren’t just missing from the books—they were barely visible in the magazines or the movies, too.

As time went on, my point of view shifted. I began to feel comfortable in my own skin, embracing and merging all my different influences—all the beautiful, bold colors of my East meets West roots. I was finally able to shed the thought of what made me different as being an obstacle to my authorly dreams and began seeing my differences as my strength.
From that moment, my desire to write the stories of my heart only grew. I was determined to write stories where brown girls and boys could set off on a magical quest, slay the beasts, and be their own heroes!

Then it came to me—I imagined a teenage girl from the West who visits her parents’ homeland in the East and shows the world how fierce, yet vulnerable, she is in her mission to save the day—while wearing a lehenga, bangles, and armor, of course. I tenderly wove these ideas together and eventually it became my debut YA novel, In My Hands—my love letter to my grandparents, my culture, and my heritage—all the things that are truly and wholly ME.

I learned that I’m not just this or that. I’m somewhere in between—I’m a little bit East, a little bit West—that’s where my authentic self thrives. This is how I found my voice. Now, I hope to inspire young readers and authors to embrace and celebrate differences and spark a greater awareness of diversity and representation in children’s literature. Each one of us has a unique story to share.

Sathya , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, where I grew up devouring books and playing along the pebbly shores of Lake Huron, before moving to the United States.

My creative work is influenced by my South Indian Kodava culture—my parents had emigrated from India to Canada before I was born. They encouraged my brother and I to embrace our East meets West roots. I grew up spending summers in the remote hills and lush jungles of the Western Ghats in India, where I learned the art of storytelling from her grandparents.

As a young reader, I missed seeing heroes like me—of two worlds and cultures—so I enjoy writing stories inspired by my culture, mythology and folklore, and the natural world. I love writing about unlikely heroes with hearts of gold.

My debut YA fantasy-adventure novel, In My Hands, released last year. It has the adventure of Tomb Raider and heart of Wonder Woman that’s been infused with South Asian folklore. In My Hands is the story of sixteen-year-old Chandra S. Chengappa, who, after the mysterious death of her mother, is forced to leave small-town Virginia for the jungles of India to find the mythical weapon of a goddess and face the monster intent on destroying her or she risks losing everything and everyone she’s ever loved. It’s a story about belonging, dark family secrets, and learning to love the hard-to-love parts of ourselves fully and completely.

By day, I’m an award-winning communications professional and currently serve as a senior editor at one of the world’s largest global advertising agencies. Previously, I’ve worked in public relations and as a health/medical writer and editor for both consumer and trade publications, pairing my curiosity for understanding what makes the world tick with a love for communicating across print and digital formats.

When not spinning stories, I can be found trying a new yoga pose, exploring the great outdoors, traveling the world, or wrapped up in my greatest adventure of all: Motherhood.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to change the narrative and bust stereotypes. I want to showcase stories of joy, magic, and wonder, and show South Asian kids in central roles, leading the charge, and saving the day. I hope readers enjoy the adventures and connect with the universal themes of belonging, identity, and self-acceptance in my stories. To see a kid like yourself off on a joyful, fantastical adventure is a powerful thing. It shows you that you and your story matter.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author is engaging with readers and sharing my stories with them, and also connecting with the creative community at-large.

Author visits at libraries and schools across the country, book clubs, and events such as WRAD (World Read Aloud Day) and Multicultural Children’s Book Day have been inspiring have been wonderful opportunities to meet readers of all ages who have connected with the story. For some readers, they’ve enjoyed a glimpse of a place or culture they were not previously familiar with, while for readers who could relate to the cultural cross-section, they’ve expressed how they have felt seen and were excited to see protagonists like them front and center.

Another rewarding aspect has been connecting with others who love to create—authors, illustrators, author/illustrators—each of them have been important to my growth as a creative. I’ve learned to hone my writing skills and become disciplined with my craft. Participating in these various writing groups, author panels, conferences, and workshops have given me a sense of community and helped me connect with other like-minded creators! The kidlit community is brimming with amazing talent and folks who are willing to help nurture and watch you bloom! This truly keeps me motivated and inspired.

Contact Info:

• Website: sathyaachia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sathyaachiawrites/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SathyaAchiaAbra
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sathyaachiaauthor
• Other: TikTok handle: @sathyaachiawrites

Image Credits
Bhavan Misra