I am an author, yoga teacher, and deputy building inspector, living in California with my wife, my three children, and my dog, Stardust. I am also a graduate in Mechanical Engineering, and a researcher in the photoluminescence of ceramic mantles. Despite my many other passions, I have always enjoyed exploring folklore from around the world and creating my own imaginative stories, which I can trace back to my childhood in India, where I spent time wandering around lush rain forests and coming up with creative games to play with my friends.

My inspiration for writing The Horrible Hollows came when I was at a Halloween party with my three young sons. The boys were in line waiting for an enchantment from the Fairy Godmother, when one of the children ran off with the magic wand and a fight broke out. In the midst of all the mayhem, the wand snapped in half, leading one of the boys to remark, “Now how are we going to be enchanted?”

Fond of my middle name Jyoti, I also use it as a pen name.