Interview with the Author of the Children's Book The Adventures of Asva at Jurassic Park - Niyati Goel

Niyati Goel, a seasoned HR professional with over 12 years of experience across diverse industries, including chocolate making and air travel, resides in San Francisco with her husband. A passionate traveler, she has explored over 21 countries, fueling her love for solo backpacking and literature. Inspired by Ayn Rand, Niyati now embarks on a new adventure as a first-time author, aiming to blend her travel experiences with her literary passions to captivate and inspire readers worldwide.

Author Q&A

What inspired you to write your first book?

I am an HR Executive who has lived and worked all over the world. I never once imagined I would be a children's book author - it came out of the blue when one warm Saturday afternoon I was watching The Titanic and realized I would be really really old one day and my grandkids would pay attention to my words if I had amazing stories to share. And so began my writing company called Travelling Toes signifying the stories are related to adventure around the world , the first book and the one closest to my heart being : The Adventures of Asva in Istanbul. The book has been honored as a Finalist in the prestigious Children's Books International Awards 2024.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? How can readers discover more about you and your work?

I am writing a series of children's books for ages 6 to 10 and have published 4 books in the series. Each book has unexpected twists, real scares, stories of survival and the spirit of adventure. I have traveled to 21 countries as a solo backpacker and my experiences and memories of the amazing places I saw inspired me to pen words on paper. My newest book in the series is totally magical and is called The Adventures of Asva at Jurassic Park, published in April 2024.

All of my work can be found on my website: https://travellingtoes21century.com/

And my Amazon Author Page : https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CL8K5CQX

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Some years back during one of my solo backpacking trips across Europe, I was reading this book by Agatha Christie that was set in Egypt. I was in my 20s and the mysterious setting of the thriller book against the pyramids created magic in my mind as a reader. I have not had the opportunity to visit Egypt yet, but I would LOVE to live in Cairo for a year and base my children's book in the mystical land of the Pharoes, Pyramids and Pagan religious customs of the old times.

Picture this: You feel uninspired and you've sat at the computer for an hour without conquering any words. How do you get your creativity flowing?

To me this especially happens when I have written a part of my children's book say the previous day or the previous week and the next time I open the manuscript, it becomes hard for me to continue the storyline.

In such cases, I leave my desk and go for a walk in my favorite park close to my home in San Francisco to unblock myself. There is something about the vibe of this open space, the warm sunlight, smiling faces of people, the fresh fragrance of the trees and flowers that helps me think in a new way about the storyline of my work.

I start right at the beginning, irrespective of the stage the story is at , and inevitably I get exciting fresh ideas which help me rewrite or build the whole story. I try not to lose that momentum by penning down my thoughts in a rough format once I get home.

Do you feel like it's most important to have A) Strong characters B) Mind-blowing Plot twists or C) Epic settings?

I totally love this question! It's a hard one as obviously all three make or break the story, but personally for me a mind-blowing plot is the most exciting part of any book I read. It helps grant power to the main characters and the thrill of the plot makes the book un-put-downable! I am relatively new to the field of writing, but in my work I seek to develop all three with an extra bit of focus on the plot ;)

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Many of my readers would be surprised to learn that apart from writing corporate presentations, I had never tried my hand at creative writing at all and until now. I had no idea I could and would be able to write children's books, let alone win my first honor. Coming from a background of Engineering and MBA, children's books were never on my radar until I discovered the magic in writing.

The Adventures of Asva at Jurassic Park is available for purchase on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Asva-Jurassic-Park-ebook/dp/B0D13HP3TZ

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