Maria Marianayagam and I connected on social media over our common love for children’s books and South Asian children’s literature a few years ago. I’ve been a fan of her writing for a while now. Although we live miles apart from each other, she is fun to interact with. I’m so thrilled to welcome Maria to Cynsations and to reveal the cover of her forthcoming picture book, Wait ‘Til You’re Older, illustrated by Irina Avgustinovich (Sourcebooks, June 3, 2025).
Could you tell us about Wait ‘Til You’re Older ? What is the book about and where did you get your inspiration for this story?
Of course! Reha despises the present, because her older brother won’t let her play with his dinosaur toy until she’s older. To solve this problem, she decides to build a time machine so she can get bigger faster. But even though she does everything her time travel book says, she can’t seem to get it right. Then in her last attempt to get what she needs, her brother asks if he can help. And Reha starts to wonder if perhaps the present could be okay after all?
When I was in high school, I read one of my favorite books of all time – How to Build a Time Machine by Paul Davies (Penguin Random House, 2003). I picked it up thinking it was fiction, but it turned out to be full of facts on how a person could actually travel in time.
Up to that point, I didn’t realize time wasn’t the same for everyone! And to this day, I don’t think most people do. I wrote this book as a fun introduction to time and time travel. I’m also especially close to my sister, and I really wanted to write a sibling story showcasing how conflict is normal and can be resolved, and how siblings can refocus on the most important thing—each other (without being didactic about it, of course!).
You have four board books, a middle grade novel, and a picture book, with two more on the way! Congratulations, Maria! How did writing for young readers in this age group come about for you?
Thank you so much! I love writing for kids of all ages. I’ve always found children’s books to be the best I’ve ever read. I think because they serve a younger audience, they have to be engaging and interesting or they’ll lose their audience. I find that a wonderful challenge!
And for me, I think every story I write demands what it needs—length, style, and format—and sometimes, it takes some experimenting to figure out which one will serve it best. While I’ve found that some of the stories come to life in board book or picture book format, there are others, like my middle-grade novel, that need many more pages to tell.
How did you make the transition from Chemical Engineering to writing for children? Did any of the skills you learned in engineering college and work influence your work in children’s writing and publishing?
I sort of just took the leap! Even as an engineer, I was always drawn to roles that were heavy in communication. I often had to simplify technical concepts to make them more digestible for other audiences. And I think that helped me as I transitioned into children’s book writing. I love sharing bigger concepts—like time travel—with kids! They’re able to absorb so much more than we think, and we don’t give them enough credit.
And research has shown that this early exposure to STEM concepts can help develop more interest and confidence in math and science as they grow older. I love being a part of that.
Could you describe your experience working on multiple projects and with multiple publishers at the same time?
It’s been a really cool experience, one I don’t take for granted! I’ve been blessed with amazing editors, and it’s neat to develop different types of projects with each one. I often say that we all contain multitudes, and there are so many parts of my identity that I like to explore in my writing. And because these identities can be so varied (i.e., cultural, STEM, faith, etc.), it’s not like every story is the right fit for one editor.
I think that’s been the greatest benefit of working with different houses and editors—that I can explore these different parts of me and not be limited to telling one kind of story.
How many drafts do you go through for every project?
Ah, this changes from project to project. With Wait ‘Til You’re Older, it just poured out of me. It was a couple of drafts, and it was done! With my other upcoming picture book, A Trip Back Home (Astra BFYR, 2026), it took about 30 drafts or more!
What do you want readers to take away from Wait ‘Til You’re Older?
I want readers to know that we can have big feelings, and that’s okay, but as siblings, we can still find a way to focus on the thing that matters most—our relationships. I also hope readers will find the time travel aspect intriguing and learn a little interesting science along the way!
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on a chapter book series and finalizing my next middle-grade novel! I’ve got some picture book ideas always percolating, and I’m hoping I can get out a few drafts next year.
Cynsational Notes
Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children’s book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada. Maria graduated from the University of Calgary with a B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering and spent a decade working in the energy industry. She fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high-concept middle grade grounded in culture.
When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and children.
Maria is represented by Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd.
Suma Subramaniam‘s interests and passions in writing for children and young adults are mostly centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage.
When she’s not writing, she’s gardening or volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children’s books at Diverse Verse blog or Cynsations blog.