Tectonic Teff follows a strong young grain who thinks he can repair the entire village alone after an earthquake and learns that it is okay to ask others for help. What was the inspiration for your story?

The inspiration is my mother who, as a single mother, worked extremely hard at raising me and at acclimating to a new country. It is with the help of the community around us that we will forever be grateful for. My mother was proactive and was very open to receiving guidance from others and she constantly gives back in return. Tectonic Teff doesn’t have the same personality as my mom though, he is quite different but transforms after a natural disaster forces him to learn big lessons!

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mosh. Fajar Shobaru?

Mosh. Fajar Shobaru is a great artist. I have multiple artists for the books in my series Growing Pains of the Grains and they are all very talented. The collaboration process took a lot of time and many drafts since I am very particular about how I would like the illustrations to express the story and Mosh. Fajar Shobaru used his talent and abundant patience with me.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

The biggest lesson in this book I believe is learning to be free from pride or arrogance and that it is important to be humble because we all need others at times no matter how strong we think we are alone.

What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?

Tectonic Teff is the 7th book in my series Growing Pains of the Grains, and the next book is yet to be determined, but it’s exciting to think about it!

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