Why I love reading debut authors 😍

Hi Reader,

When I first started reading middle grade books in 2019, I quickly found myself gravitating toward debut authors.

Because it's harder and harder to get published, most debut authors need to have a fresh approach to storytelling or a unique story to tell -- something that gets (sometimes) jaded agents and publishers excited to sell.

So, when I began doing author visits, I knew I wanted to bring at least one debut author to meet students.

In January, we're hosting our first middle grade debut author.

Maria Marianayagam is not entirely new to publishing; she's written nonfiction picture books. However, No Purchase Necessary is her first foray into middle grade literature -- and honestly? She nailed it. It's already received a starred review from Kirkus!

I finished reading this book two weeks ago, and I'm so excited to create a discussion guide for this story because it is highly discussable. It features an 8th-grade Catholic Tamil Sri Lankan boy caught in a moral dilemma and trying to make the right choice.

Three Questions with Maria Marianayagam

I'd like you to hear about the book and the upcoming author visit from Maria.

No Purchase Necessary is your debut middle grade novel after writing some picture books. What made you decide to write middle grade this time?

I’ve always really enjoyed middle-grade stories as a category. I find that these books, in particular, tackle really big topics in digestible ways, and because they’re designed for younger audiences, they have great pacing and forward momentum. So, I really wanted to write one myself, and this idea of a Tamil Sri Lankan kid stealing a chocolate bar and winning a prize came to me.

When I was in grade school, our teacher put forward a moral dilemma similar to the one that Ajay faces in this book, and I remember it really splitting the class in terms of what the “right” thing to do was. I wanted to write a story that asked those questions and had students contemplating what they would do in this situation. I also wanted to center a Tamil Sri Lankan protagonist and showcase the nuances of his life and family since I never had any books that did that growing up.

Ajay’s story is full of suspense and manages to be quite funny while tackling some serious issues. What should readers know about Ajay and this story before they dive in?

Thank you! That was exactly what I was going for 😊. Ajay’s experience mirrors that of many immigrant kids–the drive for excellence and the pressure of perfectionism amidst trying to fit in and “be cool.”

It’s also got a lot of other relatable middle grade themes like bullying, sibling bonds, first crushes, etc., but it’s a story about more than just that. It’s about how far a person would go to “earn” love–the love of family, the love of friends–and it asks the question of whether love should ever have to be “earned”?

What are you looking forward to sharing with kids during your author visit?

I’m so excited to share more about how this book came to be and some special techniques I used in writing the book to share Ajay’s emotional journey with the reader in an engaging way.

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About Maria

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children’s book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada. Maria graduated from the University of Calgary with a B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering and spent a decade working in the energy industry. She fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high-concept middle grade grounded in culture. When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and children.

Maria will be visiting with us on January 23, 2025, at 11:30 AM EST. Her visit will be recorded and available to stream for 30 days. This visit is recommended for kids in grades 4-8!

If your kids want to learn about the journey to being an author and some craft tips for creating dynamic characters, this is a visit you don't want to miss.

Doors close on January 13!

REGISTER NOW

With love,

Afoma

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