Author Interview Laxmi's Mooch - A Conversation about Books, Balancing & Body Hair
Episode 51 - August 5th, 2021
This is about female facial hair and so much more.
Inspired by this post by my previous guest, Saranya Episode 33, I reached out to children’s book author, Shelly Anand, to discuss her debut book that reflects her own upbringing as an Indian-American.
This became an episode about a kid’s book that is about so much more than kid’s books; A conversation for everyone, not just those with kids in their lives.
Laxmi’s Mooch is the story of a young Indian girl in a diverse classroom who becomes self-conscious about her differences – specifically her mustache – and how her questions help everyone around her understand more about themselves.
The more we balance and interact with other cultures, the more we see our differences. Shelly says, “with diversity comes curiosity.” It’s only natural to compare and contrast our behaviors, bodies and beliefs with others. But how can we move forward with understanding and acceptance rather than judgement?
In this episode, we hear about:
- Shelly’s Story as the child of Indian immigrants growing up in the southern United States.
- A Behind the scenes look at the writing of Laxmi’s Mooch.
- And a deep dive into why these conversations are so important for every member of the family.
*Shelly also gives us some fresh announcements about upcoming books!
Episode Tangents Include
- How to say Mooch
- Who is Shelly?
- Child of Refugees of the Partition of India
- Punjabi, Indian, South Asian identity
- Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
- Finding Indian ingredients in the USA
- Indian-American born in the South
- Living in Georgia, USA after 9-11
- Indian culture becoming mainstream
- Body hair removal
- White gaze and cultural pressures
- Modern day parenting with books
- Hindi language at home
- Racial landscape of the USA
- Toxic masculinity
- & so much more
Who is Shelly Anand?
Shelly Anand was born and raised in Georgia, USA by immigrant parents from India. She lives with her husband and two kids.
Laxmi’s Mooch is her debut children’s book but she has two more on the way!
Twitter: @maanandshelly
Instagram: @likhoshelly
Shelly is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sur Legal Collaborative, an immigrant & worker rights non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. Sur uses advocacy, education, and litigation to build the power of grassroots groups working to end:
- Labor abuses against workers
- ICE detention and deportations
- The prison industrial complex and the police state
Books & Resources from Ep. 51
Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family
“This colorful, lively book is food writer Priya Krishna’s loving tribute to her mom’s “Indian-ish” cooking—a trove of one-of-a-kind Indian-American hybrids that are easy to make, clever, practical, and packed with flavor. Think Roti Pizza, Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar, Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Green Pea Chutney, and Malaysian Ramen.”
When Aiden Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff – Shelly’s example of a book they used as a family to start conversations.
Joshua Funk – Guide to Writing Picture Books (Free Online Resource) – Shelly Recommends this for any aspiring children’s book writers
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