On this episode of Characters Like Us, we’re joined by author and multi-hyphenate creative Malavika Kannan for a conversation about queer girlhood, radical storytelling, and writing at the intersection of the personal and political.

Malavika reflects on her journey from self-publishing in high school to releasing her YA debut All the Yellow Suns, a novel shaped by her experiences as a queer South Asian American growing up in Florida. We talk about what it means to write boldly when you don’t see yourself in books, how her Stanford years and journalism career shaped her voice, and what she’s working on now—including her upcoming adult novel set during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From zines to sapphic supper clubs, this episode is a celebration of craft, community, and coming of (r)age.

🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on inclusive storytelling!

Follow Malavika on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/literarymal/ and check out her debut YA novel ALL THE YELLOW SUNS on our Bookshop Page! https://tinyurl.com/clubookshopATYS

⏳ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

02:39 - Numbered Narratives Segment

05:46 - Malavika's Journey to Becoming an Author

09:14 - Malavika's Writing Practice

11:52 - Transition to Full-time Writing

12:28 - Writing First Novel During the Pandemic

15:11 - Malavika's Approach to Reading as a Writer

22:29 - Exploring Nonfiction and Essay Writing

23:01 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Authenticity

27:20 - Advice for Emerging Writers

32:17 - Reflecting on Early Work

39:05 - Navigating Cancel Culture and Online Criticism

48:32 - Closing Segment

50:32 - Closing

This video comes with captions and a transcript.

Characters Like Us is a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write.

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Join our Patreon / https://patreon.com/CharactersLikeUs

Buy Malavika's book on our bookshop / https://bookshop.org/shop/clu

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Music by Hafijur Rahman from Pixabay.

Sound Effects from Pixabay.

#MalavikaKannan #AllTheYellowSuns #CharactersLikeUs #QueerWriters #SouthAsianAuthors #YAfiction #InclusiveStorytelling #ComingOfAge #DebutAuthor

On this episode of Characters Like Us, I speak with poet Jessica Nirvana Ram about finding voice, navigating the margins, and writing the poems that won’t let you go. Jessica shares her path to poetry, what it was like pursuing an MFA, and how writing from a place of layered identity—queer, Indo-Guyanese, South Asian—shapes both her creative work and her experience in the literary world. We talk about claiming space in a landscape that doesn’t always feel like it was made for us, building community, and writing through the feeling of not having “permission,” but knowing you have something to say. From survival songs to earthly gods, Jessica’s work is a testament to the power of naming what hurts—and what heals.

🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on inclusive storytelling.

Follow Jess on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rewritingdestiny/ and check out her debut poetry collection EARTHLY GODS on our Bookshop Page! https://tinyurl.com/earthlygods

⏳ TIMESTAMPS ⌛️

00:00 - Introduction

03:46 - Numbered Narratives

04:35 - Queerness and Bisexuality

10:46 - Jessica's Writing Journey

16:36 - Queer Media and Representation

19:37 - Queerness, Family, and Cultural Context

24:49 - Jessica's Writing Process

36:44 - Spoken Word Poetry

38:03 - Indo-Caribbean Identity

43:09 - MFA Programs

50:14 - Finding Writing Community on Social Media

53:25 - Closing Thoughts and Conclusion

This video comes with captions and a transcript. Characters Like Us is a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write.

💫 Enjoyed this episode? 💫

Join our Patreon / https://patreon.com/CharactersLikeUs

Buy Jessica's book on our bookshop / https://bookshop.org/shop/clu

🌻 Follow Geetanshi 🌻:

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/gee.tan.shi/

YouTube / https://www.youtube.com/@Geetanshi-Sharma

📚 Follow Characters Like Us 📚:

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/characterslikeuspod/

Business Email: characterslikeusspod@gmail.com

Music by Hafijur Rahman from Pixabay. Sound Effects from Pixabay.

On this episode of Characters Like Us, I speak with author Tara Sidhoo Fraser about crafting memoirs that break the mold and speak truth to the complexities of identity, disability, and memory. Tara opens up about the nonlinear process behind her powerful memoir When My Ghost Sings, exploring what it means to write about amnesia, queerness, and disability without centering recovery as the end goal. We talk form, inspiration, and the importance of making space for stories that don’t fit the usual narrative.

This is a conversation about writing from the margins—with honesty, artistry, and care.

🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on inclusive storytelling!

Follow Tara on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tara_sidhoo_fraser/ and check out her memoir WHEN MY GHOST SINGS on our Bookshop Page! https://tinyurl.com/CLUBookshopTara

⏳ TIMESTAMPS ⌛️

00:00 - Introduction

01:23 - Numbered Narratives

04:28 - Tara's Writing Journey

10:45 - Writing During the Pandemic

17:26 - Writing Process for 'When My Ghost Sings'

26:31 - The Impact of Amnesia

29:38 - Stereotypes Surrounding Amnesia and Disability

31:15 - Physical Changes and Identity

36:29 - Connecting with Your Past Self and "Crip Time"

46:36 - Writing a Memoir: Memory and Perspective

48:24 - Advice for Writers

50:00 - Upcoming Projects

51:42 - Closing

This video comes with captions and a transcript.

Characters Like Us is a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write.

💫 Enjoyed this episode? 💫

Join our Patreon / https://patreon.com/CharactersLikeUs

Buy Tara's book on our bookshop / https://bookshop.org/shop/clu

🌻 Follow Geetanshi 🌻:

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/gee.tan.shi/

YouTube / https://www.youtube.com/@Geetanshi-Sharma

📚 Follow Characters Like Us 📚:

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/characterslikeuspod/

Business Email: characterslikeusspod@gmail.com

Music by Hafijur Rahman from Pixabay. Sound Effects from Pixabay.