The Chills at Will Podcast

Episode 108 with Navdeep Dhillon Singh, Writer of Stirring, Profound, and Clever Work and Author of the Standout and Unforgettable Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions


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Episode 108 Notes and Links to Navdeep Dhillon’s Work
 
      On Episode 108 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Navdeep Dhillon, and the two discuss Navdeep’s childhood filled with moving, his love of reading, fan fiction, and his disparate influences, as well as his dynamic and eccentric and memorable characters. Questions about his standout book, Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, lead to discussions of the book’s themes, including self-esteem and fitting in, cosplay as escape and a welcoming home, grief and its expression, or lack thereof, and much more.
 
      Navdeep Singh Dhillon is the author of Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, an adjunct professor of creative writing and English at Borough of Manhattan Community College, and co-founder of IshqInABackpack, a narrative travel blog. He holds an MFA in creative writing from California State University, Fresno and is a graduate of Voices of Our Nation and the CUNY Writers’ Institute.
Born in England, raised in Tanzania, Nigeria, Dubai, and Fresno, California, he is a Punjabi boy at heart. He was a former linguist in the U.S. Navy, ESL teacher in China, and door-to-door knife salesman.
When he isn’t reading, writing or grading, he is cosplaying across the fandoms with his two nerdy kiddos, while his wife looks on helplessly. He is also a very delicate purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Buy Navdeep Dhillon's Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions
Navdeep Dhillon's Website
At about 2:00, Navdeep talks about his book’s publication being on the horizon (the episode was recorded on February 7, and the book was released on February 8), along with his feelings as the date approaches and work he’ll be doing to promote the book
 
At about 5:40, Navdeep responds to Pete’s questions about any links between his moving around a lot as a kid and his reading habits
 
At about 9:10, Pete wonders about the connections between Navdeep’s childhood, the need for stability, and Sunny G’s own experiences
 
At about 10:40, Pete and Navdeep appreciate the Acknowledgments of the book as the two discuss the cutoff between the writer and the narrator
 
At about 11:45, Pete asks Navdeep about his experiences with representation in adolescent reading; Navdeep talks about being a “third culture kid”
 
At about 13:45, Navdeep describes ideas of “windows and mirrors” in childhood reading
 
At about 14:20, Pete asks about early reading and writing influences and how he got his start writing for keeps-Navdeep points out fan fiction as a starting point
 
At about 15:55, Pete wonders about how Navdeep saw the stakes of his writing as he did various jobs
 
At about 17:05, Navdeep charts some ups and downs in his love/distaste for reading and its connections to the “canon”
 
At about 18:50, Navdeep highlights the power of his reading Syal’s Anita and Me
 
At about 20:40, Navdeep responds to Pete’s question about contemporary writers who thrill him, including Sona Charaipotra and Adiba Jaigirdar
 
At about 23:30, the two shout out Sona and Dhonielle Clayton-what a duo!
 
At about 24:20, Navdeep talks about Ishq in a Backpack
 
At about 26:25, Navdeep talks about his teaching informs his own writing and his experience with community college creative writing
 
At about 30:15, Navdeep describes the world of his book, and Pete talks about the book’s universality and specificity
 
At about 31:35-32:35, Navdeep summarizes the book, Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions
 
At about 32:45, Pete asks Navdeep about publishing and middle-grade/YA, etc., as Navdeep describes some of the themes 
 
At about 35:30, Navdeep details the process of writing the book and ideas of grounding the book’s events and environment in reality, trends, etc.
 
At about 38:15, Navdeep talks about his love of the “dated” Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist
 
At about 38:55-40:10, Navdeep defines “nerd”
 
At about 40:10, the two discuss “nerdom going mainstream”
 
At about 40:55, Pete compliments Navdeep’s worldbuilding a
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