Interview: Khushboo Patel
SARAH STEINBACHER: In your debut picture book, STOLEN COLORS, which Kirkus called “a carefully crafted opening for difficult but important conversations,” you and illustrator Tara Anand used Shreya’s art as a visual reflection of her emotions. What’s your favorite piece of art and how does it make you feel?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: Lately, I’m very drawn to paintings of people reading a physical book. And I’ve always loved when the subject makes eye contact with the viewer. I recently came across this painting Secret Garden by Danielle McKinney, and it’s such an arresting mix of those two things. It’s so intimate, and it makes me feel at ease and awakened at the same time.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Booklist called your upcoming middle grade novel-in-verse, ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS, “striking” and “emotionally resonant with rich, lyrical writing.” What’s the best thing about writing in verse and what’s the worst?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: Chandni’s is an intimate, character-driven story about a tough topic (taboo family dynamics). Verse allowed me to get straight to the emotional core. I also loved playing with language, music, line breaks, and the white space. That said, balancing poetics with the story elements (plot, setting, pacing, secondary characters, dialogue, etc.) was challenging. I found revisions particularly hard.
SARAH STEINBACHER: With two books coming out in the same month, what’s something you like to do to relax?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: Spend time with my kids and husband. Go outside for walks and stare at the sky, flowers, trees, moon, birds. Peloton bike/ strength workout. And game nights with friends.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s a book you love to reread?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: I have several poetry collections by Naomi Shihab Nye, and every once in a while, I find myself opening one at random and rereading a poem or two.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Where’s your favorite place to write?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: My desk, in my little home office.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: I’m still figuring out my process, and I think every project is different. For Chandni, I knew the climax and the ending before I started, and I had a list of scenes, but while drafting the first draft, I let myself be free. I spend a lot of time thinking about a project before I make notes or sit down to write.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Which author has inspired your writing the most?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: Jacqueline Woodson
SARAH STEINBACHER: Which do you like most: salty, sweet, spicy, sour, or savory?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: A mix of all! I grew up on Gujarati dal, which is spicy, sweet, salty, and tangy. When I eat dessert, I like to have something spicy or savory on the side, and then I alternate bites.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s something about yourself people aren’t likely to know?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: Public speaking is hard for me. As a kid, I had so much encouragement from my teachers and I would practice a lot, but almost every time, I would freeze on stage.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What do you like most about yourself?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: I’m incapable of becoming bitter.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?
KHUSHBOO PATEL: I have another picture book MY HOUSE IS A MUDDY RIVER, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu coming out from Putnam Books for Young Readers in Spring 2027.
Follow Khushboo on her website, on Instagram, and on BlueSky.
*****Order Khushboo’s newly released debut picture book STOLEN COLORS here, available now.*****
*****Pre-order Khushboo’s upcoming middle grade novel in verse ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS here, available 3/31/26.*****
