Why my book focuses on the girl-child – Lois Chatta

Lois Chatta, 12, is author of a book titled ‘Homeless at Home.’ Here, the JSS 3 student of Flora Home International School talks about her writing process and more. Excerpts:   Bookshelf: How did you become interested in creative writing? Lois Chatta: I love reading and remember books I enjoyed when I was about six […]

Lois Chatta, 12, is author of a book titled ‘Homeless at Home.’ Here, the JSS 3 student of Flora Home International School talks about her writing process and more. Excerpts:

 

Bookshelf: How did you become interested in creative writing?

Lois Chatta: I love reading and remember books I enjoyed when I was about six years old like ‘Ikenna’s Golden Spoon’ where I learnt that we should be contented with what we have. Then there is also ‘Lost and Found’ where I learnt that if something is missing it’s good for one to be patient and look for it. In this way, we are likely to find it, but if we are impatient and easily give up, we may never find it.

Bookshelf: At what point did you decide to begin writing your own stories?

Chatta: This was when I was eight years old. In the process of reading other books I began to develop interest in writing mine. The more I read, the more I got exposed to how stories are written.

Bookshelf: What was your experience like writing ‘Homeless at Home?’

Chatta: I wrote daily, except on Sundays, and was able to complete my first draft in two months. I usually wrote after I got back from school.

Bookshelf: Aisha, your central character, was neglected by her parents while the sought for a male child. What inspired you to write ‘Homeless at Home?’

Chatta: I saw that female children are undervalued in our society. They are relegated to the background. Some people are never contented if they get only female children. But when they have only male children you find that they are happier. So, I decided to write a story that will help change that orientation. My family happens to be an exception. We are three girls and my parents don’t have a problem with that. They are contented. But this is not the case in some homes. I wish other families will have the kind of understanding my parents have and girls get to be treated the way I and my sisters are treated. I wish my story gets into every home.

Bookshelf: What challenges did you encounter while writing?

Chatta: I had difficulty where I needed to use certain vocabularies I didn’t understand. I always had to check the dictionary and also ask people around me.

Bookshelf: What part of the story was most exciting for you as you wrote?

Chatta: It was chapter five, because the central message of my story is there.

Bookshelf: What theme do you look forward to exploring in your next work?

Chatta: My next story will explore inferiority complex.