TwiceTold is an exchange between the author and reader, revisiting a book from two different perspectives, discussing insights and experiences of writing and reading respectively.

TwiceTold is proud to host award-winning author and editor Vinitha in conversation with naturalist and author Sejal Mehta on Vinitha’s latest book:

Uma Kapoor vs The Universe

Uma Kapoor vs The Universe, from Penguin Random House is a middle-grade chapter book that talks about menstruation, a mother-daughter relationship falling apart, and the other big M, early onset of Menopause.

About Vinitha:

Vinitha is an award-winning author and editor. An ex-journalist and columnist, Vinitha has written over thirty books for children. Her stories are part of the CBSE and ICSE curriculums. Her book Ammu and the Sparrows won the Neev Literature Award 2021 and is a part of the Parag Honor List, while Jamini Roy’s Unbroken Lines has received much critical acclaim. A Scholarship she won at Hedgebrook’s Writers in Residence Program has led her to write her first not-for-children book - A food memoir.

About Sejal Mehta:

Sejal has been a writer and editor for over 20 years. She has been part of the core teams for Lonely Planet Magazine India, National Geographic Traveller India, Nature in Focus, Femina, The Habitats Trust, and JP Morgan Editorial to name a few. She writes for magazines and newspapers, and does workshops on crafting stories using different formats. She is a published author for both fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults.

She worked on the outreach for Marine Life in Mumbai, an initiative that is creating awareness about the city’s coastline. Her book Superpowers on the Shore was published by Penguin Random House in 2022 and won a Green Literature award in 2023