Not Every Book by a BIPOC Author is a Diverse Book
I realize this may ruffle a feather or two but a book is not automatically a “diverse book” just because it’s written by an author of color. Before I continue…
thoughts
The Yesteryear Discourse has a Misogyny Problem
Let me get the “review” part out of the way first. I liked Yesteryear. I remember seeing Caro Claire Burke’s TikToks discussing tradwife culture and Ballerina Farms way back when,…
The Assumption of Whiteness, and Why you Should Assume my Characters are Brown
Most books published in the West assume whiteness (unless told otherwise). In my work, the default is flipped.
The Story of Mirza Sahiba
How the story of Mirza and Sahiba inspired "The River's Daughter," a novel of rebellion, magic, and forbidden love.
Movie Romance Tropes I Love (& how they go with my novel The River’s Daughter)
I grew up on Bollywood movies, so I love, love, love romance scenes, especially scenes that capture yearning/longing. And so naturally, some of my favorite kinds of romance tropes made…
My Favorite Time Travel Books
Why I love time travel stories, from Sweet Valley Twins to The Time Traveler's Wife, and other stories about time, love, and memory.
The Brown Voices Reversion Saga: Why I Spent 5 Years Fighting to Get My Own Book Back
The full story of how I traditionally published my dissertation, watched it get priced out of its audience, and spent five years fighting to revert the rights.
A Good Birth: Experiences can Matter as much as Outcomes
How a book about childbirth helped me articulate why experiences can matter as much as outcomes.
Writing Publicly as a Woman of Color Online
An archival reflection on writing publicly, navigating disagreement and backlash, and developing resilience as a woman of color in public discourse.
On Apu, Representation, and the Model Minority Myth
A reflection on Apu, representation in American media, and how the model minority myth shapes South Asian American experiences.
Thoughts on Education Policy
A short reflection on education policy, research, and the frustration of watching evidence-based interventions get ignored.
Why I Teach History Through Stories (Teaching Philosophy)
A reflective essay on teaching history through stories rather than memorization, and how storytelling helps students develop historical thinking skills.