By Desiree Williams
Her mother describes her as “down-to-earth,” but Towne Meadow Elementary fifth-grader Roohi Sanka’s first chapter book is set in the skies.
The Carmel Clay school board recently recognized Roohi for her novel, “Escaping the Clouds.” Roohi, 10, used CreateSpace to self-publish the book in November.
“I was really excited,” Roohi said. “I couldn’t really believe that it was going to be a book and I was going to be an author.”
Roohi’s passion for writing developed at a young age, and her mother encouraged her with fun writing exercises. She was inspired to follow that passion by an author who visited her school in Arkansas during first grade.
“Escaping the Clouds” started out as a short story, but Roohi added on each day. She had no idea it would grow into a chapter book.
“She started writing every day when she came back from school without even having some food,” said Sharmila Sanka, Roohi’s mother. “She would just log on to her computer.”
“Escaping the Clouds” follows Ziana, 9, as a tornado tosses her into the clouds. She discovers a new world up there and two new friends. The three kids work together to beat the bad magic in the clouds and find a way back to Earth.
The writing and publishing process lasted one year. The Sanka’s received the first manuscript in the mail while Roohi was sleeping, so her mother waited to show her until the next morning.
“I remember that moment when she got her first (book),” Sanka said. “I never saw her get so excited.”
Roohi attends Sunday school at the Indianapolis Sai Center and goes to the North United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen on the first Saturday of every month. Part of the profits from the book will be donated to the soup kitchen.
“Escaping the Clouds” is available for $10 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.
