Her kids and a passion for reading are the inspirations for Ajooni Loves Cake, a new children’s book by first-time Tsawwassen author Tina Johal.
A business woman who loves spending quality time with her husband and four children, Johal initially caught the writer’s bug at the age of eight when she started writing poetry.
It wasn’t until she had her own children that she became passionate about writing children’s books.
“When I had my children I just kind of became obsessed with reading with them and sharing my love for reading,” she said. “Then I had my daughter Ajooni, who the book is named after and the main character. We would make up these goofy little stories and games and my husband encouraged me one day saying I should look at putting all of these ideas into a book.”
Ajooni Loves Cake is a story about a young girl who absolutely loves cake. She loves cake so much that she eats a different flavour every day of the week. There is only one problem: Ajooni hates baking.
Finally, after a week of eating delicious cakes baked for her by her mom, dad, grandparents and three brothers (Ishaan, Zoraav and Niyaam), Ajooni learns a “sweet” little lesson about selfishness and cooperation.
“I realized that through these games and story time with my children that this would be my path and my mission to write stories that would help children, whether it would be improving their vocabulary, help them through difficult times or just inspire them and have fun,” she said.
“Because my kids are my truest inspiration and my biggest fans, when I write books, they are my first audience. It’s something we do to have fun, escape and at the same time it gives them motivation that even in our darkest times, we can use our imaginations and be free.”
The book was released at the beginning of January. Within the first week it was a best-seller online on the Friesen Press website. You can purchase the book online at Chapters, and Amazon and in the community at Black Bond Books in Ladner.
Johal has other books in the works and plans to release more later in the year.
Follow her on Instagram @inspired.4u.books.
