Meet Ananya Devarajan | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ananya Devarajan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ananya, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success as an author is my motivation to represent and empower Indian American teenagers with nothing more than a pen and a few (thousand) words. I realize how ambitious I might sound right now, but this mission of mine comes down to a single point—I always have and always will write for my younger self. In doing so, I’ve noticed that my writing comes from a place of vulnerability, and my stories, as a result, feel much less like a vehicle for change and more so like a conversation with a friend. It is my hope that this passion will allow me to showcase the very best that the Indian community has to offer, one novel at a time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in writing Young Adult Fiction with an emphasis in the Romance genre, and my debut novel, KISMAT CONNECTION, releases from Inkyard Press and HarperCollins in Summer 2023. I feature Indian American teenagers at the forefront of my stories, and I love to write about how our community falls in love amidst unique influences stemming from our culture, society, and families.

Growing up as an Indian American myself, I remember searching for bits and pieces of my identity in the media. Most of the time, I wouldn’t find any representation at all, and on the off chance that I did, it was never more than a stereotype. It wasn’t long before I decided that if I couldn’t find the representation that I so desperately wanted to see, I’d have to make it myself. KISMAT CONNECTION was born from this moment in my life, and it will forever serve as the foundation for my career in publishing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m currently an undergraduate at the University of California, Irvine, and I have to say, we’ve got the best of everything here in Orange County. One of my favorite spots to grab a bite would be Active Culture in Laguna Beach—our perfect day wouldn’t be complete without the sun, the waves, and a refreshing açaí bowl. Being an author and all, I’d have to take them to Arvida Book Company in Tustin, an indie bookstore with a built-in coffee shop that is truly so cute, and for my not-so-reading-inclined friends, we’d head to Irvine Spectrum for a ride on the ferris wheel. Finally, it’s an absolute must that we explore the caves at Thousand Steps and if we’re lucky, we can catch the sunset too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout all of my family and friends as well as my agent and the entirety of my publishing team for supporting my stories and I from the very beginning. Specifically, I want to thank my parents. I still can’t believe you looked six-year-old me dead in the eye, after I’d confidently announced my dream of becoming a HarperCollins author, and told me with absolute faith and certainty that I’d make it. My words would not exist without you.

Website: www.ananyadevarajan.com

Instagram: @ananyad12

Twitter: @ananyad12

Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58255457

Image Credits
Mehreen Mahida