12 Aug Sandhya Acharya, LIVING BRIDGES: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF INDIA’S WOVEN TREES and a GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited to chat with Sandhya Acharya about her newest book, LIVING BRIDGES: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF INDIA’S WOVEN TREES, beautifully illustrated by Avani Dwivedi.

What a gorgeous book! The story of the living bridges in India is fascinating. As I read this book, I was mesmerized learning about the woven trees that connect communities. Sandhya Acharya’s lyrical language and choice of telling the story through a young boy’s eyes make it not only interesting but also very child-friendly. Acharya’s text and Avani Dwivedi’s lovely illustrations join together to create a book that should be in every classroom.

I don’t always agree with Kirkus, but I sure do with this review: 

“A tribute to the Jingkieng Jri, bridges woven from the roots of living trees by the residents
of northeastern India’s rainy Meghalaya state . . . A perceptive visit to a remote wonder that blends natural materials and human skills.”– Kirkus Reviews

EL: Welcome, Sandhya! Before we get into the nitty-gritty, will you tell us a bit about yourself?

SA: I am a former finance professional. I traded spreadsheets for the love of words! I live in sunny, and sometimes foggy, California with my husband and two sons. When I am not writing, I am dancing a classical form of Indian dance, running, taking classes at my gym, substitute teaching, or volunteering at my kids’ school.

EL: Busy lady! I learned a great deal from reading this beautiful book. I had not heard of these amazing living tree bridges until I read your story. What inspired you to write this book? Did you need to do a lot of research?  

SA: I was always fascinated with bridges and love walking in nature. These inclinations had already helped me tune to the “right frequency.”  So when I came across an article about the Living Bridges sometime in 2021, I was hooked. I was filled with a sense of urgency and excitement to create something. First, I wanted to know all about them. I devoured more articles, videos, pictures, and books. I thought about it all the time. I initially struggled to find the narrative voice of the book, experimented with fiction, non-fiction, first-person, second-person, third-person, and all permutations and combinations you can think of. Then one day I found the voice I was looking for – a lyrical voice filled with wonder. And from there on, the story poured. As the story took shape, I traveled to Meghalaya during one of my frequent visits to India to witness these bridges for myself. They were everything I had imagined, and more. I spoke with experts on the ground, including  Morningstar Kongthaw, to understand more about the culture of the indigenous people who build these bridges, the practice and mechanics of how they build them, the issues they face, and the work they are doing to preserve and celebrate their heritage. All of this guided the story. I also worked with my editor, Catherine Laudone, to make the story more child-accessible and give it final form. 

EL: I love the way you chose to write the story. Learning about these marvels through the eyes of a child is perfect.  Would you consider this book non-fiction? Creative fiction? Can you give us some insight? 

SA: My drafts have probably covered every genre out there! I am actually not sure how to categorize it! My publisher classifies it as non-fiction. Librarians would probably put it in non-fiction or social sciences. Technically, since there is a fictional character through whom we are learning about the Living Bridges, it could be considered fiction. Maybe informational fiction or creative non-fiction? The way I see it – the book took the form necessary to introduce these amazing bridges in a fun, child-accessible way and to inspire children to be stewards of their environment. At its heart, it is a lyrical story filled with wonder, an ode to the extraordinary phenomenon that is the Living Bridges. 

EL: Absolutely! Do you have anything else in the pipeline you can talk about? 

SA: I have another book coming out in 2027 called EVERYWHERE I CALL HOME. It’s about finding “home” in more than one place. A lot of immigrants have experienced conflicted feelings about home. They find themselves torn between multiple cultures, people, memories, and dreams. The book is a lyrical expression of a girl transcending that conflict and thriving in all her “homes”.  

EL: Looking forward to it!  Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are? 

SA: Having a sense of community and accountability through writing groups is CRUCIAL. I am reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits, where he talks about setting systems vs. goals for success. Writing groups are our systems. We can’t become writers just by wishing for it. We need to put in the hard work- day after day, week after week, year after year. Anyone who has struggled with going to the gym or training for a marathon knows that the journey is made easier by having like-minded people around to boost and push you.

EL: What do you think is the best part about writing kidlit? 

SA: Reading your work aloud to kids, seeing them find connection, knowing that what you created is resonating with families, are all special – easily the best parts. A photo shared by a delighted mother, a handwritten note from a young reader – these are what make you want to keep going.

EL: Agree! What about the most difficult part?

SA: The difficult part is the waiting. This industry tests you with all the waiting; be it during querying, on submissions, or waiting for your own next inspiration! 

EL: How true!  I know people will want this book, and it can be found anywhere books are sold!

Thank you so much, Sandyha, for sharing your insight with us today. Now what you have all been waiting for. It’s time for a

Sadhya is happy to offer a free manuscript critique or an AMA  (Ask Me Anything) call. To get in the running, please comment on this post and let me know if you’re a subscriber or if you have shared this post to get an extra chance to win.

Until next time,

Ellen 

On a personal note, I’m currently scheduling school author visits for the 2025-2026 school year. I’d love to visit YOU or a school near you! Please check out

 https://ellenleventhal.com/school-visits/