The curated lives we present to others rarely show the full picture, especially for those who’ve worked to separate their past from their present, forging new, unique identities.
Nanda Reddy’s family is extensive. Her father, one of seventeen siblings, and her mother, one of nine, gave Nanda a sprawling family of over fifty first cousins. While some families lose touch, Nanda’s family remains close, even with its large size. She’s a talented writer who immigrated from Guyana to Florida with her family when she was just nine years old. Guyana, located on South America’s northern coast, identifies with Caribbean culture and boasts a tropical climate and rich history. Nanda’s great-great-grandparents were from India and they migrated as indentured servants to Guyana when both countries were British-owned.
Nanda, her husband, and their two sons now live in Reno. She has a master’s degree in education and worked as a fourth-grade teacher. She’s written two books; her second is her debut novel, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl, set to release on March 4 (and is already available for preorder). The book is an epic family saga, following the main character, Maya, an Indo-Guyanese woman, on a journey as she grapples with revealing her hidden past to her husband.
“The book is about reinvention,” Nanda explains. “While it’s not set in Reno, it is a frame story where the main character has to face the secrets she kept from her family and the past versions of herself. Reno is a place where people can reinvent themselves. Many transplants grow roots and come into themselves here, like I did, and that element is woven into the story.”
Nanda and her husband, a physician, moved to Reno for work. They thought they would stay a couple of years before moving on, but northern Nevada captured their hearts. The mountains provided skiing and hiking opportunities they couldn’t get in Florida, but it was the community, made of welcoming longtime residents and transplants from around the country, that helped them grow permanent roots.
Growing up, Nanda kept her writing a secret. She went for a practical degree and career, but never lost her passion for literature. An avid reader, she strives to emulate her favorite authors with her writing style. With her debut, she hopes to walk her readers through a propulsive story, written with attention to detail and approachable, lyrical prose.
A person who has reinvented herself to some degree, Nanda explores themes of identity in her novel. “How much of your past defines you (your upbringing and cultural framework) versus how much are you allowed to define yourself is a major part of Maya’s journey in the novel,” she says. “And I think a lot of Renoites can relate to that.”
Many transplants grow roots and come into themselves here, like I did.