Bhutan's youngest author dreams to become a doctor

When she is not reading her Roald Dahls and Enid Blytons or dreaming of becoming an Army doctor, Bhutan's youngest author is working on the plot of her next book.
Twelve-year-old Yeshi Tsheyang Zam, who launched her first work 'Khakey' at the 8th edition of Mountain Echoes literary festival here, is happy with the success of her debut novel, and planning a book on similar lines.
"I have been reading since I was in Class 1 and my mother has been inspiring me to read more and write," she told PTI.
Asked about the attention she received at the recently concluded festival, where she was asked to sign books and take photographs with readers, she blushed. "Of course, it feels good as this was my first time," she said.

There was a time when the small-built, bespectacled author thought of becoming an actress. But now she would rather study medicine, and keep writing along with other engagements.
"Earlier, when I was very small, I wanted to be an actress, but that was only for maybe half a year. Now I want be an Army doctor. And I will continue to write," she said.

Yeshi's first book -- 'Kha' stands for snow and 'Key' means delivering in the Bhutanese language -- is based on a traditional game that used to be popular in the western parts of the country on the first day of snowfall.

The game involved children who secretly delivered snowballs filled with treats to their neighbours.
Talking confidently about her plans for the next book, Yeshi recalled a half-written story that she lost because of a problem with her laptop.
"I started writing a book called 'The Statue Thief', but my laptop got corrupted and the file was deleted," she said.
She then thought of writing fairytales, but her mother came up with another idea.
"She suggested it would be great if I wrote something similar to 'Khakey', about some cultural game. So now I am working on that," she said.
The young author, who turned 12 last month, loves to read and play basketball.

"Monday to Friday I go to school and at 5 every evening I go to my mother's shop to help her out. Then back home I study for a while. If I have some time left I write on my laptop and before going to sleep I read for half an hour," she said.
On the range of books she has read so far, the lover of fantasy fiction referred to a few favourites such as 'Dog Diaries' by Kate Klimo and 'The Land of Stories' by Chris Colfer. She also enjoys books by Dahl and Blyton, she said.