I'm so happy to have a dancing author with us today! Sandhya Acharya is the author of the new book Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees (illustrated by Avani Dwivedi and published by Beach Lane Books). It's been garnering great reviews, including a starred review from the School Library Journal, and has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Both of these are big deals in the world of children's literature. Woo-hoo!
Living Bridges is an engaging narrative nonfiction book that follows a boy in Meghalaya, India, as he learns about the living bridges in his village, including how to care for them and the importance of keeping them strong and healthy for his community and the environment.
I'm really interested in the creative process so have decided to interview picture book authors and illustrators from time to time to specifically learn about their creative processes. I'm excited to hear more from Sandhya about how this book came together. And, since I know she studies dance, I'll have to squeeze in some questions about that, too!
My creative process was to first read and learn as much as I could about the subject, then sit back and really feel the emotions and look for an entry point into the story. I kept drafting lines without worrying too much about the arc or where they fit into the story. Sometimes it’s a line or a word that’s the key to finding the right voice and unlocking the rest of the story. And once you do find that opening, it’s so exciting because everything begins to neatly fall into place -- like it was meant to be!
From initial concept through publication (including everything in between), what was your favorite piece of the process?
My favorite part was traveling to Meghalaya to witness these extraordinary bridges for myself. Imagine entering a misty wonderland full of clouds, trees, insects, and birds, walking across a bridge a hundred feet tall and long in the middle of a forest over a gushing river. It felt like I had crossed over into an alternate world. I was IN the story. I am also grateful to the locals and experts on the ground for sharing their knowledge and experience with me.
What if anything did you learn about yourself along the way?
I played with multiple points of view and versions for this manuscript. Every time when it was clear something wasn’t working -- either by my own instinct or suggestions from my editor -- I learned to take a step back and try something new. Once I understood what the problem was, I could approach it in different ways -- sometimes the original suggestions morphed into something even better!
Ok...so now I'm super curious about your dance background. Can you tell us a little bit about the type of dance you're doing now, how you got involved, and what it means to you?
I learn Bharat Natyam. It is a classical dance form that has been practised for ages. It was a childhood dream that I fulfilled while well into my adulthood! Goes to show, it’s never too late! I love the art form -- the skill, the beauty, the challenge, the discipline it requires, the history hidden in its stories, the music that has been passed on through generations. More than anything, it brings me joy.
That's wonderful! I'm also curious if you've noticed any major similarities or differences between the process of publishing a picture book and the process of preparing for a dance performance?
Classical Bharat Natyam is not just the final performance we see on stage. It takes years of preparation as we train our bodies to move a certain way, follow complicated rhythmic patterns, and learn to express and emote. As I spend more time in the writing world, I realize it needs the same practice, discipline, and patience!
Sandhya is also the author of 10 Gulab Jamuns: Counting with an Indian Sweet Treat, illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre. Learn more about Sandhya and her books here.
