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Padma, author & speaker

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Coming Soon!

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This #FreedomToRead #Action day I am still smiling thinking of all that happened: meeting icons who do so much to push back against #Bookbans like @alivelshi , authors who are my idols like @halseanderson and @christopherpaulcurtis and so many other awesome people, who have done so much, including @sdye422 and @drnovack (at my publisher @penguinrandomhouse @penguinclassroom ) who are some of the leaders of this fight against book challenges. And I got to write a post about an awesome author I admire immensely, @as_king_ , who has had such an important impact on my writing life ( read the post on @stevenbickmore ‘ s YAWednesday blog: https://www.drbickmoresyawednesday.com/wed-posts/opening-windows-with-surrealism). That’s not all. Today I signed a mountain of books at @booksonthesq - so if you want a signed copy of any of my books, please order via this #independentbookstore (on bookstop for example). And tomorrow I will be @warwickchildrensbookfestival ! As one of my characters says in #BornBehindBars “fear is a lock; courage is a key” and this week, renewed my courage to keep going. Feeling grateful 🙏🏾 #BannedBooksWeek usually leaves me feeling sad that BORN BEHIND BARS was banned, but this time I was inspired to be in a room filled with people who #FightCensorship this #BannedBookWeek. Grateful to share moments with the amazing @alivelshi the awesome @mychal3ts the one and only @halseanderson the wonderful @malindalo the inspiring @christopherpaulcurtis @ibramxk and so many others including @vashtiharrison and the author of Feminist Baby and @jodipicoult @davidlevithan @tracintodd @asgharthegrouch @sassy.librarian @sscheline . Proud of my publisher @penguinrandomhouse for not just being behind us but being at the forefront to #saveourstories with leaders like @sdye422 @drnovack RosieStewart DanNovack. Grateful to MayaAngelou foundation Vonnegut and ChinuaAchebe estates @authorsguild Carmen Alvarez @carmelai and now I better shut up because this post is getting too long! Thanks for supporting my debut #pucturebook #FarawayFamily, @booksofwonder ! Look forward to celebrating with nearby family and friends! Link if you need details: https://booksofwonder.com/products/9780593698860?srsltid=AU7gw4XlFE2ubwZjPi3qPFAavI5Gf1H0iJWX0A3zCw6aiTM3VmjeiqnB 🐇 Maybe I will see you at @bluebunnybooks ? “I still remember the day we celebrated Krishna Jayanthi…” so began my debut novel #ClimbingTheStairs, which came into the world a year after my daughter did. So grateful to @yabookscentral.bsky.social for this fabulous #book giveaway (link below) for #FarawayFamily and such a fantastic #booksigning #authorevent @toadstoolbooks for FARAWAY FAMILY with awesome librarians and educators and booksellers and the wonderful @annbradenbooks whose newest title from @nancyrosep - Hijacked By 🐐 Goats - sounds like it’s surely gonna be in the running for a Schneider book award ! Can’t wait to share #FarawayFamily (illustrated by @painternik9 ) with the world! Can you make it to one of my #AuthorEvents this August? Seems like yesterday she was a toddler… can’t believe she is all set to take flight already! Best of luck to the most incredible young woman I know as she sets off on her journey at @johnshopkinsu ! We are proud of you and being your mom was the greatest privilege of my life. #johnshopkinsuniversity #bluejays #bluejaysofinstagram #defendthenest🐦 Honored to be a presenter a #NCTE2026 in Philadelphia along with co-panelists and moderators I respect and admire including @LesleyRoessing @katemessner @jewellparkerrhodes @anika_aldamuy_denise @jea_bradley @valeriebollingauthor @kari_anne_holt @cordeliajensen1 @johackl @shellybrownwriter ! Nov 20 I'll be sharing about Accessing Nature Through Text along with Nov 21 I'll be speaking about Vision and Verse at 11:00 a.m. #DiverseVerse @diverseverse

Recent Posts

  • Faraway Family, Teacher Resources & Author Events
  • Sorry for all the emails! I was trying to roll over my older blog!
  • YAL Summit and More
  • Many reasons to be thankful this November
  • Happy Poetry Month!
  • Making RI a Safe Harbor for Authors
  • Safe Harbor Activities, Author Events, Essays and Podcasts!
  • Smooth sailing over the holidays and Safe Harbor in 2025!
  • See you at NCTE 2024?
  • Starred Review from *SLJ and NCTE ARC giveaway!
  • Banned Book Week – Early This Year
  • August Anthologies
  • Poetry Month 2024
  • Women’s History Month 2024
  • Fighting Against Book Bans as 2024 Begins
  • Ulaanbaatar, Free Poetry Prompt & Season’s Greetings
  • Wish you a golden autumn!
  • Thank you, teachers, for your courage & dedication
  • National Poetry Month 23 #ClimatePoemProject & DiverseVerse Love Letters To Poetry
  • Free Short Story For You
  • About
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    • Q&A
    • Interviews and Articles
  • Books
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    • Buy
    • Nonfiction
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  • Connect
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  • Resources
    • Faraway Family
    • Safe Harbor
    • Born Behind Bars
    • The Bridge Home
    • A Time to Dance, Island’s End & Climbing the Stairs
    • Writing Prompts & Meditations
    • #AuthorsTakeAction
    • Diversity
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