Writing With a Broken Tusk

Writing With a Broken Tusk began in 2006 as a blog about overlapping geographies, personal and real-world, and writing books for children. The blog name refers to the mythical pact made between the poet Vyaasa and the Hindu elephant headed god Ganesha who was his scribe during the composition of the Mahabharata. It also refers to my second published book, edited by the generous and brilliant Diantha Thorpe of Linnet Books/The Shoe String Press, published in 1996, acquired and republished by August House and still miraculously in print.

Since March, writer and former student Jen Breach has helped me manage guest posts and Process Talk pieces on this blog. They have lined up and conducted author/illustrator interviews and invited and coordinated guest posts. That support has helped me get through weeks when I’ve been in edit-copyedit-proofing mode, and it’s also introduced me to writers and books I might not have found otherwise. Our overlapping interests have led to posts for which I might not have had the time or attention-span. It’s the beauty of shared circles.

Uma Krishnaswami 11/23/21 Uma Krishnaswami 11/23/21

Guest Post: Writing in Ida’s Footsteps by Anastasia Magloire Williams

Thanks to SLJ’s Day of Dialog, I had the privilege of being on a nonfiction panel with Anastasia Magloire Williams, whose text for the It’s Her Story series title on Ida B. Wells from Sunbird Books marks her debut as a graphic format writer. I invited Ana to write a guest post about writing this book. What follows is the account of a writer engaging with her subject with humility, integrity, and a loving heart.

Uma Krishnaswami 11/16/21 Uma Krishnaswami 11/16/21

Process Talk: Samina Mishra on the Agency of Children

Here’s my continuing conversation with writer and filmmaker Samina Mishra.

Uma Krishnaswami 11/9/21 Uma Krishnaswami 11/9/21

Process Talk: Samina Mishra on Being an Ally to Children

I first encountered Samina Mishra’s work when I read Hina in the Old City. It’s a picture book about the life of 10-year-old Hina who lives in the old walled city of Delhi and comes from a family of zardosi, traditional embroiderers. I was struck by the warmth of the writing and the careful attention to the small details of a child’s life. Years later, Samina’s still writing into the heart of reality with compassion and heart. I’m delighted to be talking to her about her latest books from Penguin India.

Uma Krishnaswami 11/2/21 Uma Krishnaswami 11/2/21

Process Talk: Nadia Salomon on Goodnight Ganesha

When I heard about Nadia Salomon’s new picture book, Goodnight Ganesha, illustrated by Poonam Mistry, I knew I had to talk to Nadia about it. After all, it was Ganesha who showed me the way to writing for children with the publication of The Broken Tusk.

Also, the name of this blog practically demands this conversation.

Uma Krishnaswami 10/26/21 Uma Krishnaswami 10/26/21

Process Talk: Priti Maheshwari on Sensory Memory and POV

Uma Krishnaswami 10/19/21 Uma Krishnaswami 10/19/21

Picture This: Christopher Corr on Colour and Emotion

10/12/21 10/12/21

Guest Post: Priti Maheshwari on Chaiwala!

Uma Krishnaswami 10/5/21 Uma Krishnaswami 10/5/21

Picture This: Christopher Corr on Two at the Top

Uma Krishnaswami 9/28/21 Uma Krishnaswami 9/28/21

Process Talk: Wah Chen on Escape

9/21/21 9/21/21

Process Talk: Jo Ellen Bogart on Anthony and the Gargoyle

Uma Krishnaswami 9/14/21 Uma Krishnaswami 9/14/21

Climate Change Facts in a Small Package

Uma Krishnaswami 9/7/21 Uma Krishnaswami 9/7/21

Process Talk: Kathi Appelt on Once Upon a Camel, Part 2

Uma Krishnaswami 8/31/21 Uma Krishnaswami 8/31/21

Process Talk: Kathi Appelt on Once Upon a Camel

8/24/21 8/24/21

Magic, Reality and Good, Spare Writing in Ninth Ward

Uma Krishnaswami 8/17/21 Uma Krishnaswami 8/17/21

How Does a Book Begin?

Uma Krishnaswami 7/20/21 Uma Krishnaswami 7/20/21

End of summer blog break

Uma Krishnaswami 7/13/21 Uma Krishnaswami 7/13/21

Sarah Ellis is in a Flap

My friend and former VCFA colleague Sarah Ellis is in a flap about words. That is to say, a BookFlap mini-masterclass, BookFlap being a new collaborative site launched by four Canadian writers and authors of books for young readers--Vicki Grant, Teresa Toten, Marthe Jocelyn, and Kathy Kacer.

7/6/21 7/6/21

On Canada Day and the Fourth of July

I can't imagine such a thing happening in the US but the city I live in now, Victoria, British Columbia, has canceled celebrations this year for the day that commemorates Canadian confederation, the day that is often thought of as "Canada's birthday." It marks a call to make reconciliation become something real, something more than just saying the right words.

Beth-Alison Berggren 6/29/21 Beth-Alison Berggren 6/29/21

Virtual Conference on Access to Books

End Book Deserts is a nonprofit group advocating for children who don’t have access to “age-appropriate books, high-quality reading materials, and book culture.” I see myself more as a grateful ally than an expert in this area, but I do feel strongly enough about kids needing books that I wrote a chapter book about such a kid.

Beth-Alison Berggren 6/22/21 Beth-Alison Berggren 6/22/21

Channeling Fear

What happens when fear for a place you love moves you enough that you’re willing to give your life for it?