The tranquil hills of Coorg is where I come from, and no matter where I went, I carried this rich redundant land’s flavor and fragrance with me.
Years later, in California, I rediscovered my passion. As I raised my two children, I felt a longing for them to reconnect with aspects of my childhood.
That impulse turned into PepperVine Press, a small creative imprint dedicated to stories rooted in Coorg’s everyday life.
Children’s books inspired by my roots
ABCs in Avaya’s kitchen
A playful A-to-Z journey through the foods found in a typical Coorg kitchen. Some are written in English, others in Kodava (transliterated), because not every flavor translates.
Each page introduces a local ingredient. From A for Avaya (grandmom) to Z for Zest, the pages encourage little readers to taste, touch, and imagine the sensory world of Coorg.
123 Coorg Critters
Counting through Coorg’s wildlife, this companion book is a soft, fun, and friendly introduction to biodiversity and the balance of life. From 1 elephant walking through the bamboo groves to 10 glowing fireflies sparkling in the monsoon darkness, every page is inspired by the landscapes of the countryside my children return to in India.
Illustration & Collaboration
Working alongside two brilliant illustrators, David Yambem and Veronica Pinto, together, we crafted a colorful and vivid visual journey while striking a balance between cultural authenticity and universal appeal.
We explored styles and fine-tuned the virtual language using tools like Muraly, Midjourney, and Illustrator, and then ran every illustration through countless rounds of testing with my toughest critics, my kids!
What’s next
My children were my earliest audience, and their joy sparked this entire adventure.
As these books find new readers, I’m reminded that the true reward of creating is the wonder it inspires. And it’s that wonder that keeps me designing, writing, and dreaming forward.
Payment integration is on the way.
Until then, just drop me a note with the titles you’d like and the number of copies, and I’ll get back to you with the payment info!
Currently available in US and Canada only.
Free shipping!
