This week, we welcome writer Anuradha D. Rajurkar. Anuradha is the national recipient of the SCBWI Emerging Voices Award for her contemporary debut novel, American Betiya. Born and raised in the Chicago area to Indian immigrant parents, Anuradha earned two degrees from Northwestern University, and for many years had the joy of being a public school teacher by day, writer by night. 

In the intro, the crew talks about being back out in the world and experiencing extrovert overload - and how that’s led to some waking up in the middle of the night and needing to get back to sleep through counting sheep/Madden plays/fantasy careers. 

At 15:20, Anuradha joins the show. The influence of Call Me By Your Name on her book revisions (16:27), growing up as a journal writer and wanting to become an author (19:45), finding moments to write while working and raising two kids (22:55), Milwaukee’s supportive author and artist community (28:35), breaking ground in the YA genre (33:30), reaction to the book so far (38:15), importance of visual art in the book (40:50), the book’s cover art (45:45), thinking about the movie/show of the book (49:50), learning through the editing process (53:20), turn as Czar of Arts and Culture (54:47). 

Follow Anuradha: Web | Insta: @AnuradhaDRajurkar | Twitter: @ADRajurkar1 

Buy “American Betiya” at Boswell Book Company 

Music Transitions: 

E31 Ephemera 

The ImagineNation Epic Partnership 

Saqiba Suleman