Serena Patel is an award-winning British Indian children’s author, best known for her ‘Anisha, Accidental Detective’ series, which won the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Award. Celebrated for its humour and authentic portrayal of British Asian families, her work resonates with young readers. Committed to inclusion, Serena creates stories where all children feel seen.
In a conversation with Asian Voice, she talks about her upcoming release ‘Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem’ (out 8 May), South Asian representation in books and more.
What inspired you to create ‘Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem’?
With my books, I always aim to reflect the reality of our lives and communities. While there are many fiction books about pets, I hadn't seen ones featuring South Asian characters and families in those stories. Growing up, having pets wasn't really part of South Asian household life, certainly not in mine or among my friends. But that's changing now, and pets are becoming a more common part of family life. When this idea was taking shape, my own son was campaigning hard for us to get pets, he even made PowerPoint presentations and research lists, suggesting everything from guinea pigs and snakes to honey badgers and spiders! Eventually, we welcomed two cats. All of that fed into the creation of Pia (protagonist of the book), a character who’s desperate for a pet. She’s done all the research, knows everything there is to know, but still isn’t allowed one. Through new friendships and helping others with their pet problems, she discovers that pets can be wonderful but also a lot of work, and things don’t always go as planned.
The story beautifully weaves in South Asian heritage and cultural touches. Why was it important for you to include these elements in a children’s book?
I think it’s so important because this is our children’s world. When I do events, South Asian children often tell me how much they love hearing words like Nani or beta in the stories because it reflects their reality. Growing up, I didn’t see books with those cultural details, and that absence can make you feel like you don’t belong. Including our culture in stories isn’t just about representation; it’s about validation. It’s the small, familiar things that help children feel seen and empowered.
How do you hope young South Asian readers connect with Pia’s experiences?
Books are like windows and mirrors. For children from South Asian backgrounds, I hope my stories serve as mirrors, something familiar they can see themselves in. Of course, no book can reflect everyone’s experience, but if it feels relatable, joyful, and hopeful, then I’ve done my job. Books are also windows, offering a glimpse into someone else’s life, culture, or background and that’s just as powerful. I often hear from readers of all backgrounds who connect with my books in different ways. Some relate to the characters, others to the friendships or the love for pets. That’s the beauty of stories they can resonate with anyone, anywhere, for all kinds of reasons.
You’ve been a strong voice for diversity in children’s literature. How do you think the landscape has changed in recent years, and what more would you like to see?
I definitely think it has changed. I've been publishing for 5 years now, and in that time, definitely, you know, I've seen so many new authors come up with new books with so many different types of representation, which is always really exciting to see. I definitely think we can still be doing more, you know, and I think, I suppose what I'd like to see is that some of these books get the same kinds of attention, you know, both in media, in advertising and marketing, that some of the kind of the bigger names get. I think I would like to see more balance. And I think it's definitely important as well to have representation at every level of publishing. So you know, from the top downwards, really, I think, would really help to create that. More inclusion, more more balance across the board.
What advice would you give to young aspiring authors who dream of telling their own stories?
The best thing you can do as a writer is to write as much as possible and experiment. Try different forms; poetry, short stories, even scripts. Play with styles until you find your own voice. Entering writing competitions is also a fantastic way to grow. I used to be terrified of sharing my work, worried it wasn’t good enough, but competitions gave me a way to put my writing out there without overthinking the reader. It helped build my confidence. And of course, read as widely as you can; fiction, nonfiction, comics, graphic novels, magazines, newspapers, everything counts. Reading across genres can spark unexpected ideas and strengthen your writing. The more you read, the more tools you’ll have to craft your own stories.
