From paws to pages: a young author’s tale of a canine hero!

Meet the 8-Year-Old in Dubai who turned her dog into a superhero—and a book!

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TEAM, THE JUNIOR TRUMPET

At just eight years old, Manavi Gupta from Dubai has already added “published author” to her list of accomplishments. Her debut book Zeas’s Legendary Feat, is a heartwarming tale of a brave, slightly lazy superhero dog named Zeas—and the story behind how it came to be is just as delightful. We sat down with Manavi to hear about her creative journey, her love of storytelling, and what’s next in her literary world.

Q: Manavi, congratulations on your first book! Tell us, how did Zeas’s Legendary Feat come to life?

Thank you! I started writing this book when I was seven years old. I was inspired by the bedtime stories that my dad and I would make up together. I’ve always loved dogs and superheroes, so I thought—why not combine the two? That’s how Zeas, my superhero dog, was born!

Q: That’s such a fun idea. How did you go about writing it?

I wrote just a little bit every day—about one chapter each day. I didn’t rush. Little by little, it all came together, and then it was published!

Q: That must have been such a proud moment. How did it feel to see your book printed?

I felt so happy. I wanted to read it right away, and then read it again and again!

Q: You’ve also illustrated the book, right? 

Yes! I did all the drawings myself and even helped decide what the cover should look like. It has a red dog (that’s Zeas!) in the center and a red border on all the pages.

Q: Who supported you along the way? 

My parents really encouraged me. My dad especially helped by telling me bedtime stories every night, which inspired a lot of my writing.

Q: What’s the message in Zeas’s Legendary Feat? 

That when you work together, anything is possible. Zeas might be a lazy dog, but when he teams up with others, amazing things happen!

Q: Are you working on another book already? 

Yes, I am! I love writing stories. I even have a notebook just for jotting down ideas whenever I get free time.

Q: What advice would you give to other young kids who want to write a book? 

Always have fun. The book doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours. And when you finish writing your first book, you’ll be so proud of yourself!

Q: What’s a normal day like when you’re not writing? 

I go to school at 6:45 am and come back around 4:06 pm. Sometimes I have classes, then I go to the park, eat dinner, brush my teeth, and sleep. I always make time to read, though!

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I love going to the playground after school and spending time with my family on weekends. Sometimes we go out, and sometimes we just chill at home and play board games.

Manavi Gupta, the young author who's changing the world with her imagination!

Q: Who are your favourite authors? 

Jamie Smart! I love his Bunny vs Monkey series and Looshkin. They’re so funny and exciting.

Q: What’s your favourite subject in school? 

Art! I love drawing so much. It’s such a great way to express yourself. My least favourite subject is PE—I’m not very sporty. 

Q: If you could swap lives with a book character, who would it be? 

Definitely Bunny from Bunny vs Monkey. He lives such a wild and fun life—I’d love that!

Q: What makes you laugh like crazy?

My mom and dad! They’re so funny sometimes, but also super loving.

Q: Besides writing and drawing, what else do you enjoy?

I absolutely looooooooove drawing. It’s just magnifique! I also really enjoy theatre, especially performing solo poems.

From nightly stories to published pages, Manavi Gupta proves that it’s never too early to let your imagination lead the way. With one book already out and another in the works, this young author is a name to remember!