Excited to share I have three new projects on the go for 2025!

MESSY PERFECT: A YA novel with Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins. Summer, 2025.

Jennifer Ung at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has bought world rights to Messy Perfect by Tanya Boteju (Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens), a YA novel that explores questions of faith, sexuality, and responsibility in the story of overachieving teen Cassie Perera’s efforts to run an underground Gender and Sexuality Alliance and the complications that arise—because not only does she attend a Catholic high school, but she also happens to be closeted. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the two-book deal. (Publishers Weekly)

An upcoming short story in HOME HAS NO BORDERS: An anthology with HarperTeen. Winter, 2025.

Megan Ilnitzki at HarperTeen has acquired Home Has No Borders, a YA anthology of contemporary short stories by South Asian and diaspora authors that grapple with themes of home and belonging, edited by Samira Ahmed (l.) and Sona Charaipotra, with stories from S.K. Ali, Fatimah Asghar, Tashie Bhuiyan, Tanya Boteju, Tanuja Desai Hidier, Veera Hiranandani, Rajani LaRocca, Sheba Karim, Jasmin Kaur, Anuradha D. Rajurkar, Nisha Sharma, Nikesh Shukla, Navdeep Singh Dhillon, and an author from an open call for submissions. Publication is set for winter 2025; Joanna Volpe and Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights. (Publishers Weekly)

10 WAYS TO BE AN ALLY: A middle grade, nonfiction book with Orca Book Publishers. Spring, 2025.

(More info coming soon!)

July 15 – Coquitlam Public Library Lounge at Evergreen Cultural Centre, Author Talk, 3pm

Sept. 16 – Write On Bowen Festival of Readers & Writers – Writer’s Block (aka I’m Afraid to Write Rubbish (Workshop)

Oct. 20 – Vancouver Writers Festival Panels (Moderating):

–Magic & Misfits: Enduring Fiction for Youth

–YA Stars: Coming of Ages.

Oct. 22 – Surrey International Writers Festival:

–Handing Serious Subjects in Books (Panel)

–“Writing Diversity”: Can We Be Frank? (Workshop)

Nov. 26 – Infusion YA Festival – 2022 Rewind! (Panel) – More info coming soon!

Feb. 15 – The Writers Union of Canada: In Conversation with Liselle Sambury 

Feb. 23 – Vancouver Winter Pride Panel (see here for related book review of Bruised!)

March 9 – Fiction-Writing Workshop (Surrey Public Library)

Sept. 23 – Word Vancouver: Standing Up (in conversation with Sabina Khan)

Sept. 24 – Word Vancouver: Coming of Age & Finding Community (in conversation with Rae Spoon & Sabina Khan)

Oct. 6 – Readings, Conversation, & Writing with Robin Stevenson (made possible by The Writers Union of Canada). Register here.

Oct. 15 – Fox Cities Book Festival: Panel

Oct. 22 – Vancouver International Writers Festival: Top Picks for Teachers – New Classics for School Reading with Cherie Dimaline, David A Robertson, & Robin Stevenson (moderator)

Oct. 21 – Surrey International Writers’ Conference: Colourful Characters (master class)

Oct. 24 – Surrey International Writers’ Conference: Writers Block (workshop)

Oct. 24 – Surrey International Writers’ Conference: Writing for Kids (panel)

Nov. 2 – Ottawa Public Library: Teen Workshop

Nov. 27 – Infusion YA Festival: The Magic of Us Panel (moderator)

Nov. 30 – New York Public Library: TeenLIVE Author Talks

I’m very excited and honoured to be this year’s Teen Writer in Residence for the FOLD. Join me and many, many other authors at The Festival of Literary Diversity in May for workshops, panels, and more! Event and ticket info can be found here. Consider registering for one of these events while you’re there!

You’re invited to attend the virtual launch of BRUISED on March 29, 7pm PST. Please register using the link. More info below!

Lovely to see Bruised on this list!

Check out Bruised and ten other wonderful books featuring South Asian characters in this list in Teen Vogue!

Join me in this workshop presented by The FOLD Academy, where you’ll experiment and play with developing characters who spring off the page to surprise both you and your readers (for ages 14+).
Register here.