Television show host, radio jockey, and ‘Accidental’ actor Mamta Chari asks her “ex-husband’s daughter from a previous marriage” – some questions about the girl’s favorite things. These include his ideal character or hero, what would his name be, an animal that would be his best friend and favorite kind of story. The answers then became a book that Mamathi wrote as a birthday present for the child’s eighth birthday. Two years later, she followed it up with ‘Part II’ as a gift for her 10th birthday. Both these books have now become part of The Making of Heroes: The Adventures of Zoe and ScruffyMamta’s first book for children. But she wrote under the pseudonym Maya Spark – “the eternal child in her, living in a world of illusions”.
Mamathi Chari | photo credit: special arrangement
The book is about Zoe Gowda, an eight-year-old Bangalore girl who moves to Switzerland with her mother, and Scruffy, her adopted dog, after her parents divorce. Zoe aspires to be a ‘spy’ like Nancy Drew, and Scruffy, a dog with superpowers, secretly aids her in her adventures.
Scruffy and his friend, Outstanding Oliver, a mouse, have adventures of their own, directed by Yokai Hitso, a wise mongoose who has lived over 100 years. Both help the animal world – saving endangered animals, helping people in distress, and stopping the smuggling of exotic among them.
real stories
“These are real, for example, one of Scruffy and Oliver’s adventures about saving lapwings in Europe, which are endangered.” Mamathi says the research was the old-fashioned – “reference books rather than Google, because I wanted to verify the facts and not get them wrong.” She has made some pencil sketches for the 288-page book; The cover is also by him with the help of artist Saurish Mitra in color and graphics.
What makes this book even more special is that it will be released on 14th July in the presence of students at his alma mater, Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Church Park. She wanted the school principal, Sister Prabha, who was also the principal in Mamathi’s school, to issue it. “She’s one of the kindest people I know. She told me how proud she was, and that she wanted me to release the book at school. This is what a mothering institution should be – a wholesome, Soul Mother!”
Proceeds from the sale of Readomania’s Imprint for Kids, a book published by Curious Kids, will forever go to the Blue Cross of India and the Spastic Society of Tamil Nadu.
The book is available on Amazon, Kindle and Readomania.com