Writing With a Broken Tusk

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Writing With a Broken Tusk began in 2006 as a blog about overlapping geographies, personal and real-world, and writing books for children. The blog name refers to the mythical pact made between the poet Vyaasa and the Hindu elephant headed god Ganesha who was his scribe during the composition of the Mahabharata. It also refers to my second published book, edited by the generous and brilliant Diantha Thorpe of Linnet Books/The Shoe String Press, published in 1996, acquired and republished by August House and still miraculously in print.

Since March, writer and former student Jen Breach has helped me manage guest posts and Process Talk pieces on this blog. They have lined up and conducted author/illustrator interviews and invited and coordinated guest posts. That support has helped me get through weeks when I’ve been in edit-copyedit-proofing mode, and it’s also introduced me to writers and books I might not have found otherwise. Our overlapping interests have led to posts for which I might not have had the time or attention-span. It’s the beauty of shared circles—Venn diagrams, anyone?

Process Talk: Tina Athaide on Wings to Soar
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Process Talk: Tina Athaide on Wings to Soar

I love it when histories usually considered obscure find expression in fiction for young readers. I’m doubly delighted to see verse added to the mix in Wings to Soar, from my colleague, friend, and former student, Tina Athaide.

Young Viva’s family is from Goa, embodying the syncretic cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions of that previously Portuguese colony in western India. They’ve made their home in Uganda but in 1972, they are expelled from there by dictator Idi Amin, and sent to a resettlement camp in England. Not all of them make the trip. Viva’s father was supposed to meet them in London, but he never shows up.

Here’s my conversation with Tina Athaide.

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