In a world dominated by elderly thinkers and scholars, we sometimes conveniently omit that teenagers rule their own world and how dynamic their thinking can be.

My conversation with Disha Mangal supported the thought. The 14-year-old author from Vidhyashram published her first book when she was in 8^th standard. She tells me that the idea struck her mind like lightning in a cloudy sky. She started writing during her summer vacations and a constant persuasion by her grandfather ushered her to her goal.

Her book is called ‘Junior Detectives: Case of The Missing Books’.

What tempted you to write in the first place?

That’s simple! My temptations! I craved to pen down my musings. I would morph into the character I imagined and then write as her.

Do you identify with the protagonist (Alice) from your own book?

Alice and I are very like-minded. She and I keep calm in hectic situations.

Is your book a reflection of your personal experiences in any way?

You could say that. I have a close group of friends and this book explores a tightly knit posse too. Otherwise, I never encounter the mysteries that lie ahead of Alice and the squad.

Why a book only? Many writers write blogs and short stories first and then see how it goes.

I was not exposed to what a blog is or what it does. I always wanted to do something big, grand even. Something no one I knew had done. I am also working on my second book. The title is ‘The Missing Dolls’. And, Alice and her friends are searching for some expensive dolls in this one.

This reminded me of my childhood pal, Nancy Drew.

What do you prefer? Writing or typing?

Writing. I am so old school in that department. Typing does not give me the feels, you know?

I understand and love the teenage jargon!

Educreation Publishing was the one to publish your book. What was their reaction after receiving your manuscript?

They said it was perfect. Although, there were some punctuation errors.

We all want to ignore that period, don’t we? *winks*

The publishing company gave me the format and a preview of how the book would look. They helped me solidify my dream. Later, there was a function to felicitate my achievement in my school.

Disha is an Enid Blyton lover. She was gifted ‘Malory Towers’  by her uncle and she has not stopped reading ever since. I imagine a gigantic bookshelf in her house that is overflowing with books. She confirms this!

If someone younger than you approaches you and asks for advice to become a writer such as yourself, what would you tell them?

It all starts with you. The biggest step towards success is being yourself. Write down your ideas. Think about them and how you can turn them into reality.

I was never scared of getting my work rejected. And even if it did, I knew I would have another chance to improve my writing.

What was your parents’ role here?

I can tell you that my grandfather played a significant role in my journey. He would ring me up every day and ask, “What have you written today?” He is very creative.

My parents were very passive but never discouraging. They knew I was up to something.

I think my book is a joint effort of my brother as well. All the illustrations inside my book are drawn by my brother. I would describe the scene to him and he would practically bounce to sketch it!

I daydream so much that I have to pen it all down somewhere. I don’t want to turn writing into a profession because I don’t want to ruin its sanctity as my hobby.

What is the best compliment you have received about your book?

Bharat Madan is a motivational speaker, with his name under a book title. When he came to our school, he admired my writing style and wished to write as well as I do. He also offered me to edit his second book.

How did you manage to stay grounded after your book came out?

That happened because of my friends. They are the kind to hoist me up in the air for my achievements but they can also yell at me for doing something wrong. They balance things out.

What is that one scene that will attract our young audiences to read your book immediately?

The instance when Alice travels to the police station from the mansion to report and catch a gang of thieves is very interesting. She is on a bicycle in pouring rain. Some people are trying to stop her but her bravery conquers all.

That’s young Disha for you. Her simplicity is mesmerizing to witness. We wish her all the best for more writing adventures!

Photo Courtesy: Aparna Natha