Making history: Lashika (left) receiving a plaque from MBR representative Mohamad Nazrul Hafizi Ahmad Fauzi in recognition of her achievement.
At just 10 years old, Lashika Poneswaran has already achieved what many adults dream of – becoming a twice-published author.
Her latest fiction book, The Spooky Summer Camp, recently earned her a nod as Malaysia’s “Youngest Fiction Series Author” by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR).
The book was launched at a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 6.
“I’m truly grateful. It encourages me to write more, and I now feel the responsibility to uphold the recognition by producing quality output,” Lashika told StarEdu.
In May last year, she made headlines with her first MBR entry as the country’s “Youngest Book Author” for her debut title, The Waffle Truffle Adventure.
The Spooky Summer Camp, she explained, is a continuation of her first book.
“As my first book revolved around desserts, I wanted to add a spooky touch to this one.
“Most of my readers wanted to know more about a character, Madam Fellicia, so The Spooky Summer Camp reveals a lot about her past,” the Cempaka National School, Cheras, student shared.
One message Lashika hopes readers take away from her books is the importance of resilience and courage.
“In my first book, the main character, Rose, shows resilience – even though she faced many mishaps, she never gave up.
“In the second book, I highlighted her courageous side,” she said.
At the heart of her storytelling, Lashika relies on her vivid imagination, envisioning four friends and bringing them to life through her writing.
Since young, she has drawn inspiration from little things in her daily life, turning them into short stories.
“Soon, those short stories became chapters, and then those chapters became a book, and that was my first book,” she said.
Writing, for Lashika, often happens at night when inspiration strikes.
“I write every night before I go to bed, as that is when my creative juices start flowing,” she said, adding that writing at night allows her to balance schoolwork without any disruption.
Her dream of becoming an author, she shared, was nurtured by her mother – a pillar of constant support throughout her journey.
“Every Friday after school, my mum and I would go to a mall, and we always stopped at a bookstore. Whenever I read a book, I would look at the cover and read the author’s name.
“I used to smile and ask my mum, ‘Do you think my name will be written as an author on the cover of a book someday?’ and she always said ‘Of course, dear’,” she recalled.
For aspiring young authors, Lashika had a few words of advice.
Stressing the importance of reading, she said she has been an avid reader from the age of four.
“Choose the genre you’d like to write in.
“Then, close your eyes, imagine your story, and describe what you see. That’s how your story comes to life,” she said.
Already looking ahead, Lashika is planning her third book – a continuation of the series that will take readers on a new adventure.
