• In conversation with Thushanthi Ponweera 

Thushanthi Ponweera, a talented author and poet hailing from Sri Lanka, has seamlessly transitioned from a background in marketing and entrepreneurship to bravely follow her passion for the written word. Her literary creations mirror both her frustration with societal inequality and her deep affection for her island homeland. Ponweera’s debut novel ‘I am Kavi’ serves as a testament to her literary prowess. 

Although Ponweera had not always envisioned herself as an author, familial inspiration from writers such as Vijita de Silva and the late M. Chandrasoma, coupled with a love for writing, led her to embark on her literary journey during the pandemic. After having lived all her life in Colombo, Ponweera recently moved to Qatar with her husband and two children.  

‘I am Kavi’ provides a profoundly Sri Lankan experience set against a backdrop relatable to most Sri Lankan kids of the ’90s. The story follows Kavi, a character initially introduced in one of Ponweera’s short stories. The narrative revolves around Kavi’s challenges in the face of a deceased father, a remarried mother, economic hardships, and the complexities of fitting in at a new school.

In an insightful conversation with The Sunday Morning Brunch, the author spoke of her journey, about ‘I am Kavi,’ and why it is important to keep telling stories.  

‘I am Kavi’ tells the story of a deeply Sri Lankan experience, set to a backdrop relatable to most ’90s kids of Sri Lanka. Why did you choose to tell this particular story? 

Kavi is a character I first wrote about for a short story competition at school (which I won!). Back then she was Sumana, but the premise was the same. Dead father, remarried mother, really poor roots, and a new school where she lies to fit in. 

I’ve always wanted to write a book, and after I had decided that I would write my first full-length novel for children, I decided to resurrect Sumana, now Kavi.

What would you say is the main takeaway from your novel? 

As a writer, it’s not my job to decide what the reader should take away from this story. It can be a different experience for every reader, but I do hope it inspires those that read it, especially the young audience it is intended for. I also hope that it opens a portal into the world I grew up in, something that’s foreign for most of its eventual American readers, but also foreign to kids growing up in Sri Lanka now; the post-war generation.

‘I am Kavi’ is your debut publication. Did you always want to be an author? How did you discover that you have a knack for storytelling? 

No, I never intended to be an author. Growing up in Sri Lanka, these aren’t the options presented to you as viable; we were always steered towards more sensible paths. I didn’t study arts for my A/Levels. I did commerce and went on to get my BSc in Management and then worked for nearly a decade in marketing and communications. 

But there are writers in my family, namely Vijita de Silva and the now deceased M. Chandrasoma, who inspired me growing up. I always enjoyed writing and when the pandemic struck, I decided to give it a serious go. The rest is history.

You are also a poet. You have said that poetry comes most naturally to you. What has your journey as poet been like so far and how has it coloured your work as a novelist?  

I love writing free verse and have always turned to it during times of emotional turbulence. It’s a creative outlet for me. I was thrilled to discover that entire verse novels are being published in the US, gaining popularity among young readers as they are easier to read than blocks of prose. All I had to do was piece together my poems to make one longer, cohesive story. It was much less intimidating to me than writing, say, 50,000 words. ‘I am Kavi’ is around 24,000 words, but is still a complete book.

How would you describe yourself as a writer? What would you say is your style and preferred genre? 

I have been told my writing is more lyrical and literary than commercial. In regular speak, that means it is unlikely to be the next Harry Potter. I think this is influenced largely by other Sri Lankan writers, whose books are also usually more literary. I enjoy examining and exploring things that I feel powerless to change; things I see around me, especially in Sri Lanka. I prefer writing about real life, whether it’s set in contemporary times or in the past. ‘I am Kavi’ is classified as historical fiction because it is set in the late 1990s.

Why do you think it is important to tell stories? Should they always be relatable and do you always write with a particular type of reader in mind? 

There is an audience for any good story, as long as it’s relatable. Whether it’s sci-fi, fantasy, or contemporary, the characters and themes need to be universal if it is to reach a larger audience. Luckily, at the core of everything, we are all more alike than we think.

I do need to keep in mind who the audience is for my books, especially the age of the reader and the culture they’re most exposed to, as it shapes the entire process of writing that particular book. 

What are your plans for the future? Do you have your next novel lined up or is there something else in the works? 

I have a picture book coming out next year and a yet-unannounced project in 2025. I’m currently working on my next novel-in-verse, although progress has been slow. I like to work on picture books (I write the text and an illustrator picked by the publisher will add in the pictures) and longer books for children simultaneously, as it helps to keep things from getting monotonous.

Share a few words for aspiring Sri Lankan novelists; what are some lessons learned when writing a debut novel and getting published? 

It’s important to tell stories; it’s more important to tell your story – one that is authentic and unique to your experience. We read mostly English literature written by foreign/white authors and we might think this is the only way to write. But now there are so many amazing South Asian and Sri Lankan authors out there – read their books. 

Know that the path to traditional publishing is a long one, with many setbacks and lots of feedback. Writing a story is only one small part of it. If you want to be published, be willing to put in the work and know that it might take years before your book is out. Writing is not easy but it is fulfilling.

‘I am Kavi’

Year 1998, Colombo. The Sri Lankan civil war is raging, but everyday life must go on. At Kavi’s school, her friends talk about the weekly Top 40, the Backstreet Boys, Shah Rukh Khan, Leo and Kate… and who died – or didn’t – in the latest bombing. But Kavi is afraid of something even scarier. She fears that if her friends discover her secret – that she is not who she is pretending to be – they’ll stop talking to her. 

Kavi’s scholarship to her elite new school was supposed to be everything she ever wanted, but as she tries to find some semblance of normalcy in a country on fire, nothing is going according to plan. In an effort to fit in with her wealthy, glittering, and self-assured new classmates, Kavi begins telling lies, trading her old life – where she’s a poor girl whose mother has chosen a new husband over her daughter – for a new one, where she’s rich, loved, and wanted. This dazzling novel-in-verse from an astonishing new talent introduces readers to a world rarely seen in middle grade, and stars an unforgettable heroine each and every one of us can relate to. 

I am Kavi will be published in September 2023 by Holiday House