By Diya Cheruku
Hi, I’m Diya Cheruku. I am a daughter of Indian immigrant parents, which makes me the first of the American-Indian generation. I have a sister who is one year younger than me. I’m in 7th grade, and I am the author of “Vacation Mysteries: The Magic Box.” It is a book about two young sisters who go on an adventure in San Francisco.
I started writing short stories when I was about 8 years old. I would read fantasy books and write little extensions of the story and how I would imagine it would continue. I kept writing those small extra imaginary stories, and then slowly started to write my own. I used a journal that I found and whenever I had extra time I wrote short stories. When I was 11 years old, I was writing a story in my journal one day, and my parents asked me if I wanted to turn it into a real story. When they told me the idea, I hated it. I thought it would be impossible for me and that I was way too young to write a real book.
I kept writing my short stories, until one story I was writing really related to me, my life, and my family. I reconsidered the thought about writing my own book, and thought since the story’s family was similar to my family, maybe other people my age would relate. I started writing and decided to make the two main characters sisters. I wrote for a couple of months, and then started to question if two sisters would even fit the role of being adventurous and brave.
After I reached about the middle of the book, I started to feel like my book wasn’t going to be good enough to publish, and since the main characters were Indian and also girls, I thought people wouldn’t have much interest in it. Then, I got writer’s block and stopped writing for a couple of weeks. After that time, I sat down and reopened my computer, and many ideas came to me, and I couldn’t stop writing.
After coming up with more ideas, and thinking through and realizing what America is all about and thinking about diversity in America, I thought it doesn’t matter if the main character is a girl or boy, or Indian or American. I decided as long as I liked the storyline, I could keep going. I kept writing and finally finished my book.
When I finished, we searched for publishing agents, but many people we asked declined to help, many because I am a first time author. I got so many rejections, and the doubts about my book not being good enough made me extremely discouraged. Nine months had gone by and we finally found a company that was willing to help me publish my book. I finally finished and got it published after many obstacles and setbacks.
I hope my book inspires people to go on adventures, explore the great American outdoors and spend quality time with family. I think no matter what your goal is, regardless of your age, gender and situation, as long as you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. But, setting the goal is important.
Diya Cheruku is 13 years-old and started writing short stories when she was only 8. She started writing her first book, ‘Vacation Mysteries: The Magic Box’, in September of 2022, when she was 11. It took 9 months to write the book. When 11-year-old Priya and her little sister discover a box in their basement with six mysterious keyholes, they quickly realize they’ve stumbled upon the adventure of a lifetime. Their sleuthing takes them to San Francisco, where they encounter iconic landmarks and treasured heritage sites while searching for the keys to unlock the box. Along the way, they uncover truths about their own family, revealing a puzzling origin story that spans generations. Diya’s book offers an authentic and relatable perspective, inspired by her passion for American history, her Indian-American heritage, and her belief in the power of girlhood. ‘Vacation Mysteries: The Magic Box’ is an engaging story that promotes curiosity, learning, and the timeless joy of reading.
