Featured Interview With Devanshi Chowdada
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a 15-year-old student, competitive scholastic chess player, and visual artist. I was raised right here in Missouri, which is where I currently live and create today. I am a competitive Arena Candidate Master (ACM), a member of American Mensa, and a former Missouri State Chess Champion. Balancing my time between high-level academic strategy and my love for art keeps me incredibly busy! While I don't have any pets at the moment, my hours are fully captured by analyzing grandmaster chess matches, training for upcoming national tournaments, and designing new visual layouts for my stories.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My fascination with books began at a very early age, especially when I discovered graphic novels and highly illustrated non-fiction. I always loved how images and text could work together to explain complex ideas. I began seriously writing and illustrating my own concepts around a year ago. I realized that traditional instructional books on strategic logic and chess are often dense, text-heavy, and intimidating for young learners. I wanted to use my own background as a youth chess champion to write the exact kind of book I wish I had when I was starting out—something vibrant, fast-paced, and deeply engaging.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My absolute favorite genre to read is strategic non-fiction, historical biography, and modern graphic novels that push the boundaries of visual learning. I am deeply inspired by classic grandmasters whose annotated game commentaries read like intense tactical mysteries, as well as creative artists who know how to weave education seamlessly into a storyline. In my writing, I am heavily inspired by the brilliant young students I meet in the scholastic chess community. Seeing their curiosity and passion for problem-solving drives me to create books that make advanced STEM and STEAM concepts accessible, welcoming, and exciting for minds of all backgrounds.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is titled The Match That Captured the Chess World. It is a full-color, high-density educational graphic novel designed explicitly to build logical critical thinking, spatial geometry, and pattern recognition in kids ages 6 to 12—though readers of all ages will find its puzzles deeply engaging! By translating advanced board tactics into dynamic comic panels, the book acts as an energetic STEM/STEAM learning tool. It has been incredibly rewarding to see its impact so far: the book has been officially commended by Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and formally vetted and acquired by the Columbia Public Schools' Gifted Program curriculum for elementary classrooms.
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