We are thrilled to introduce you to one of our recently published authors, Ashwin N. Cohen! Ashwin recently published his book, The Charlie Files: A Bird-Brained Scheme, after working with an Inklings mentor to revise his work. At Society of Young Inklings, we offer a number of mentorship programs for youth authors to support them as they draft, revise, and publish their work. We interviewed Ashwin about his experience revising his book with a mentor, and then publishing it and sharing it with the world.
What’s your book about, Ashwin?
This is an action packed book about a cat who solves a mystery to save Washington DC, if not the United States. The birds are up to no good and he needs to figure out why in a short time. Readers can expect plot twists, betrayal, car chases and high stakes leaps of fate.
What inspired you to tell this story?
After coming back from Spring Break, I wondered what my cat did while I was away and made a joke that he was a secret agent. That kernel of a joke grew and it evolved into the book it is today.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
My favorite character in the book is the protagonist Charlie because he is based on my real life cat, Charlie, and I can relate a lot to him.
Did you enjoy revising your story in layers? What did you learn about revision by working on it stage by stage?
I learned that revising a story was more of a complex process than anyone would think. It was a tedious process but the end result was worth it.
What problems did you run into in your revision and how did you resolve them?
My characters initially did not have flaws so I needed to design new scenes and a whole new chapter at the end of the book so that my characters could change and grow and be relatable.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?
I hope my readers understand that anyone can do anything as long as they focus and persevere!
What would you tell someone who wrote a novel and is not sure they want to do revisions?
Doing revisions makes the novel so much better. You will learn things about your story and character you would never have imagined! It’s like getting to know everybody a lot better.
When the birds in D.C. are acting suspicious, it’s up to one cat to do whatever it takes to thwart them. But there’s one small issue: he can’t focus. If he wants to survive, he’s gotta learn to pay attention. Will he emerge triumphant, or will he be killed in a fowl manner? Find out in The Charlie Files: A Bird-Brained Scheme!
Ashwin Cohen is an award-winning poet and a published short story author. He worked with his cat, Charlie, to write this first novel. When Ashwin is not writing, he plays hockey, two instruments, does taekwondo, and competes in math competitions. Ashwin lives with his mom and dad (and of course Charlie) in Washington DC. All proceeds from the book go to City Dogs and City Kitties Rescue in DC so that Charlie’s friends can get adopted.
Are you ready to publish your novel?
It’s time to take your novel, and your writerly skillset, to the next level! In the Fresh Ink Program, professional writers mentor youth through a chapter-by-chapter revision process which results in a printed or published book available through independent bookstores and other retailers. Through Fresh Ink, you will: complete a full novel revision, take your writing skills to the next level, and learn what it takes to publish a book