Anjali Bannerjee

July 10th, 2006 · No Comments

In keeping with ALAN'S commitment to young adult literature, a new column, NEW VOICES, is making its premiere. With so many excellent YA novels being published, it is easy for new writers to be overlooked. Each column will feature an interview with an up-and-coming new author.

The debut interview features Anjali Banerjee. Her debut novel, MAYA RUNNING, is published by Wendy Lamb Books/Random House.

THE SEVEN QUESTIONS

ALAN Online: Can you describe MAYA RUNNING for our readers?

Anjali: Maya Mukherjee is the only Bengali middle schooler in her tiny Canadian town. Born in India and raised in the land of moose and snow, she feels neither Indian enough for Indians, nor Canadian enough for Canadians. She longs to fit in, and she yearns for Jamie Klassen, the local bad boy with the John Travolta strut.

Then Maya’s beautiful cousin Pinky arrives from India bearing the scent of

sandalwood and her most coveted possession–a small statue of the Hindu elephant god, Ganesh. When Pinky steals Jamie’s heart, Maya pleads with Ganesh to remove all obstacles to her dreams, a wish that backfires in hilarious and painful ways. She must journey across continents to find the truth, her culture, and herself.

ALAN Online: Who were your favorite authors growing up? Who are your favorite authors today?

Anjali: Among the many authors I loved growing up: Enid Blyton (the Famous Five and Secret Seven series), Alexander Key (The Magic Meadow, Escape to Witch Mountain), C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength, Out of the Silent Planet), Tolkien, John Christopher (The White Mountains, The Pool of Fire, The City of Gold and Lead), Judy Blume, and grown-ups’ books that I probably wasn’t supposed to read such as Eye of the Needle, For Those I Loved (holocaust memoir by Martin Gray) and Dracula. I devoured Agatha Christie mysteries, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and science fiction anthologies.

Today I love Rumer Godden, Anita Desai, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, Elizabeth Berg, Joy Fielding, Dutch author Renate Dorrestein, Anita Shreve (LIGHT ON SNOW), Bharati Mukherjee, Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees), Greg Bear, Tim Gautreaux, Lorrie Moore, Joy Williams and many others. YA/children’s authors I love: Carolyn Coman (What Jamie Saw), Laurie Halse Anderson, Polly Horvath, Terence Blacker (The Angel Factory), Graham McNamee (Sparks, Acceleration), Robert Cormier, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Paula Danziger, Carl Hiaasen and too many more to name. I also love nonfiction: Shadow Divers, The Climb Up to Hell, The Children’s Blizzard, The Devil in the White City, Into Thin Air.

ALAN Online: How do you approach a new story? Some authors plan, some don’t. Some outline, some don’t…

Anjali:My process varies. For two middle grade novels, which I wrote as part of a series, I created detailed outlines. For MAYA RUNNING, I “flew into the mist,” jotting down anecdotes and snippets of memory. I added the Ganesh twist later when I revised and tightened the story.

ALAN Online: Is there anything special you like to wear or do while you write? Where is your favorite place to write?

Anjali: Pajamas! I love pajamas!

I usually make coffee in the morning and go straight to my office to write pages. The cats bother me while I write, so I’m usually wearing one purring kitty on my lap, while another kitty sleeps on the computer hutch. If I don’t write first thing in the morning, other obligations crowd in to steal my time. My office has a big window with a view of the garden, the surrounding forest, and our feeders that attract a variety of wildlife.

ALAN Online: What are your plans for your next novel? Can you give us a peek?

Anjali:Simon & Schuster will release my adult novel, IMAGINARY MEN, in October 2005. I’m currently working on my second novel for Wendy Lamb Books/Random House. I’m keeping mum since the story will change a lot as I revise!

ALAN Online: Are you interested in visiting libraries or schools? If so, how can interested teachers and librarians contact you?

Anjali: I would love to visit libraries and schools. Contact me through my web site, www.anjalibanerjee.com or at anjalibee@aol.com

ALAN Online: What is a question you wish interviewers would ask—but never do?

Anjali: “Can I have your autograph?”
Just kidding.
Interviewers always ask the right questions!