Characters Like Us

On this episode of Characters Like Us, I talk with young adult author Ann Zhao about writing queer Asian American girlhood, online friendships, fandom culture, and creating stories that feel honest, messy, and deeply personal. We discuss Ann’s novel Dear Wendy, the influence of fanfiction and internet communities on storytelling, and the importance of writing queer Asian American characters with c...

In this episode of Characters Like Us , I talk with children’s and young adult author Maya Prasad about representation in literature and what it means to write beyond one-dimensional portrayals of identity. We discuss creating complex, multidimensional characters, writing multiple perspectives, and why meaningful representation is about more than inclusion—it’s about complexity. ✨ In this episode...

On this episode of Characters Like Us , we’re joined by author and multi-hyphenate creative Malavika Kannan for a conversation about queer girlhood, radical storytelling, and writing at the intersection of the personal and political. Malavika reflects on her journey from self-publishing in high school to releasing her YA debut All the Yellow Suns , a novel shaped by her experiences as a queer Sout...

On this episode of Characters Like Us, I speak with poet Jessica Nirvana Ram about finding voice, navigating the margins, and writing the poems that won’t let you go. Jessica shares her path to poetry, what it was like pursuing an MFA, and how writing from a place of layered identity—queer, Indo-Guyanese, South Asian—shapes both her creative work and her experience in the literary world. We talk a...

On this episode of Characters Like Us, I speak with author Tara Sidhoo Fraser about crafting memoirs that break the mold and speak truth to the complexities of identity, disability, and memory. Tara opens up about the nonlinear process behind her powerful memoir When My Ghost Sings, exploring what it means to write about amnesia, queerness, and disability without centering recovery as the end goal...

On this episode of Characters Like Us, we sit down with author Jesmeen Kaur Deo to talk all things writing, representation, and redefining beauty. Jesmeen shares the inspiration behind her debut novel TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, a powerful story that challenges body hair stigma and South Asian beauty standards. We also get a sneak peek into her upcoming book Reasons We Break, explore her writ...

On this episode, debut author Elba Luz joins us to talk about her novel Build A Girlfriend, a queer rom-com inspired by a love of reading, K-pop, video games, and quiet resilience. We dive into her journey from working behind the scenes in publishing to launching her first book, the challenges of balancing a creative life with a full-time job in books, and what it means to keep going — even when t...

On this episode, we welcome author Swati Hegde to discus her writing and publishing journey, behind-the-scenes of her latest books, and the joys and challenges of crafting swoon-worthy stories. Follow Swati on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/swatihegdeauthor/ and check out her books MATCH ME IF YOU CAN ( https://bookshop.org/p/books/match-me-if-you-can-swati-hegde/20601506?aid=113809&ean=9...

On this episode, we welcome author Léa Taranto to discuss her debut novel, A DROP IN THE OCEAN, an engaging YA novel about a girl in treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder that combats the dehumanizing stigma around mental illness. Léa and host Geetanshi Sharma talk about writing mental health and disability representation, OCD representation, stigmas associated with psychiatric disorders, an...

Welcome to Characters Like Us, a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write, with your host, Geetanshi Sharma. Featuring conversations on writing craft and more with your favorite authors! Subscribe to be notified of the first episode, launching THIS WEDNESDAY, May 21 at 3 PT! This video comes with captions and a transcript. 💫 Sup...