Started writing stories at the age of 6.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: An Indian American boy from Natomas, California is the proud author of a published work – and he’s only eight years old.
Akshaj Mehta published the first chapter of his debut book, entitled “Super Mouse,” via Lulu.com, an online self-publication that allows writers to have their work published and distributed as e-books. Mehta, who has been writing since he was five years old and is an avid reader as well, has also said he will donate a portion of the revenue he makes from “Super Mouse” to the Sacramento Children’s Home, which offers food and shelter to local abuse victims.
He attends Natomas Charter School’s Star Academy and has written eight stories so far; three of those stories will eventually be included as chapters in “Super Mouse,” which will be published in installments through the same service. His parents and teachers have heavily encouraged Akshaj to pursue his passion. He frequently shares his writing with his teachers and classmates, all of whom love the writing he does.
“I try to set aside time for writing every day but more realistically we write at least three times a week,” said Mehta’s teacher Tammy Fraser in an interview with Natomas Buzz. “Sometimes we have a specific skill we are working on and other times it’s just free writing time. Most of the kids appreciate the extra time to revisit, revise, and finish old entries.”
He submitted his first story, entitled “Adventures in Pyramids,” at age six, which can be read below. He has also submitted Sherlock Holmes-type stories to local newspapers in a serialized format, similar to his anthologized collection of stories in “Super Mouse.”
Adventures in Pyramids
Since I was 3 years old, I had always wished to see pyramids and sphinx from my own little eyes! My wish soon came true, when I won a ticket to visit Africa (Egypt).
I entered first pyramid cave and believe me it was so cool, it had lot of video games, I played them all, the best was the last video game in which I had to be MUMMY and had to destroy the pyramids. Wohoo! I won it.
Next, Second pyramid cave, “oh boy! I was amazed to see shiny gold pieces all over the place. I picked some of them and kept in my backpack for show and tell in my school!
Third pyramid cave looked scary because it was dark , I entered with my torch on. I saw some shadows moving. I turned, saw snakes behind me, I didn’t know what to do? I remembered about my tranquilizer that in my backpack, I took it out and then heard a sound from a massive lion statue behind me saying” you can do it boy”, I shot the tranquilizer at snakes and they fell asleep. I captured them too for show and tell too.
I was excited to come back and share my experiences with my class and show them gold pieces and snakes that were awake now and were locked in cage.