We recently interviewed Yelp! Yeti! creators Sneha Pradhan (author) and Promina Shrestha (illustrator) about the process of creating their first book together, and what it’s like working as a team! Read on to learn more about their process, inspirations, and working partnership.
Sneha and Promina, how did you meet and decide to begin working together? Did you know each other before working on Yelp! Yeti!?
Sneha: I’m a visual thinker and when I wrote Yelp! Yeti! I had a specific vision of how I wanted the art to look. I was on the lookout for a Nepali illustrator who’d be able to showcase the beauty of Kathmandu and capture local nuances while creating characters that matched the joyful spirit of my story. When I saw Promina’s work, I knew she would be perfect. Her characters were adorable and I loved how she effortlessly blended whimsy and traditional Nepali flavours in her art. A friend (thanks, Ritica!) introduced us, and the rest is history.
Promina: When Sneha first approached me, I was in full-blown creative burnout and had sworn off commission work. So when she asked if I’d collaborate with her, my first thought was, Hmm… how can I politely say, ‘Maybe you should try someone else?’
However, when I read the manuscript I was instantly hooked. It was brilliant! Funny, fresh and exactly the kind of story that’s criminally rare in Nepal. My imagination went into overdrive – picturing old, traditional Newari homes, a plushy innocent yeti, a mischievous cat and a goofy, trouble-magnet of a kid who reminded me of my own chaotic and imaginative childhood. I knew I had to illustrate this book!
Sneha’s writing felt like a breath of fresh air from the Nepali literary landscape. And in my head, the illustrations were already sketching themselves – like they couldn’t wait either.
Sneha, how did the idea for Yelp! Yeti! come about?
Sneha: Whenever I told people I was from Nepal, I usually got a similar response — “Ahh, it must be so cold!” or “Cool! Have you climbed Mount Everest?” While it’s wonderful that we’re recognised for our beautiful mountains, Nepal is exceptionally diverse in terms of terrain, climates and cultures. In fact, throughout my lifetime, it has snowed exactly once in the Kathmandu Valley!
The idea came to me one sleepless night while sipping on my tea. Anyone familiar with Yeti mythology knows that the abominable snowman inhabits the Himalayas. So, I thought the absurdity of a boy spotting a Yeti in sunny Kathmandu would be such a fun way to showcase a different side of Nepal. I wanted young readers to be able to relate to Dev’s predicament and wonder, laugh and learn about compassion and friendship alongside Dev, Tuna and Hiũ on this exciting adventure. At the same time, I also wanted the reader to discover some facets of my beautiful hometown. Infusing the story with Nepali mythology, language, traditional delicacies and games allowed me to introduce readers to our rich Nepali/Newari culture and some of my favourite memories of growing up in Kathmandu.
Initially, I had written Yelp! Yeti! as a rhyming picture book and had commissioned Promina to illustrate it as such. However,when the lovely Sam from Flying Eye Books told me that the team thought it would be great if I could re-write the story as an early graphic reader (as part of a series), I was a bit hesitant. However, once I started re-writing, I loved the process. The new format gave me more space to develop the characters and story, expand on Dev, Tuna and Hiũ’s relationship, and create more opportunities to showcase Nepal and my heritage. With the series, I’m also able to introduce readers to different regions of Nepal and offer glimpses into their corresponding cultures.
Promina, you’ve mentioned that the illustrations in Yelp! Yeti! were inspired by your upbringing in Nepal, specifically in the narrow roads of the old inner city in Kathmandu. What is it about Kathmandu that you were particularly excited to bring to life in this book? Are there any hidden details that only a local would recognise?
Promina: I grew up in Thahity, an old neighborhood in Kathmandu near Asson Bazar, where my father also spent his childhood. I have vivid memories of the traditional homes, the tight-knit community and the stories my father told me about playing in the streets during the 1950s. One of those stories inspired the opening scene of Yelp! Yeti! where we see Dev running alongside a bicycle wheel. Many of the cityscapes in the book are based on real places in Kathmandu and Patan. I wanted to showcase Newari architecture in this book, especially the traditional homes and chowks (courtyards). One detail I particularly loved bringing to life was the act of quiet observation – something I did often with my cats, Sasha and Pipa, watching life unfold in the streets below or on neighboring rooftops. I tried to reflect that same sense of discovery in the illustrations, inviting readers to pause and notice hidden moments throughout the book.
We love being given a glimpse into the joys of a childhood summer in Kathmandu, through the activities and the snacks (!) enjoyed by Dev and his friends. Did any personal memories make it onto the page? (For example, Sneha’s mum’s lassi recipe?!)
Sneha: Absolutely! I loved growing up in Kathmandu, and in a way, the book, for me, is a love letter to my childhood and my beautiful city. So many moments stem from nostalgia – sleepovers with my cousins and staying up way past our bedtimes, indulging in sweet mangoes and kulfi (my favourites!) and playing carrom. Occasionally, my mom would surprise us with her chilled lassi which made me so happy!
I spent a lot of time alone with my maas (grandmas), and like Dev, I had to find ways to entertain myself. Also, my younger brother was a pretty inquisitive kid, always tinkering around and getting himself into ‘accidents!’ Lucky for him, our parents were never the strict type, so he never risked getting shipped off to someone like Ranu Aunty!
Promina: Absolutely! Things like sleepovers, reading and exchanging comic books, soaking in the summer sun and playing or hanging out with my cats during my own childhood. I also added small elements like the sanduk (wooden trunk) in the story that resembles one that belonged to my great-great-grand aunt.
Please tell us about the process of working as a team. E.g. does all the writing come first, or do the illustrations sometime inform the story? We’d love to hear about how you collaborate.
Sneha: The writing does come first. Shoutout to my wonderful husband, brother and parents who were my beta readers and sounding boards! Usually, once I’m done with the manuscript, I share it with Promina to check if she has any feedback before sending it to the talented Maryam and Eloise (at Flying Eye Books) for editorial and design input.
After the storyboard process, Promina and I chat to clarify things and discuss our vision for the artwork and story before she begins the illustrations. While the illustrations bring more depth to the story, it’s rare for them to inform the actual storyline, but it happens sometimes.
When I first wrote Yelp! Yeti! as a picture book, I hadn’t envisioned a pet for Dev. Promina asked me if she could include a cat in the illustrations, and I thought it was a cute idea. It didn’t impact the manuscript then, but Promina had done an amazing job of making Tuna very endearing. So, when I re-wrote the story as a graphic reader, it was natural for me to develop Tuna’s personality and character as Dev’s best friend and confidant, making her an integral part of the story we have now.
We also collaborated quite a bit on character development early on. Promina would send me character sketches, and we would go back and forth until we were both happy. For example, I requested that Promina make Hiũ furrier and more youthful. The earliest versions of Hiũ and Dev were quite different. You wouldn’t be able to recognise them!
Teaming up with Promina and the wonderful crew at Flying Eye to bring my first book to life has been an absolute joy, something I’ll cherish forever.
Promina: In our case, the writing came first but it continued to evolve as we worked together. We collaborated closely during the editing process, shaping many details together –like the old Newar house and Tuna, Dev’s loyal companion. Other elements, such as Hiũ’s scarf and subtle visual cues, emerged naturally through the illustrations, adding depth and personality to the story.
What do you love best about each other’s work and process? What’s the most surprising thing about working in close collaboration with a creative partner?
Sneha: The details! Promina does an incredible job adding so much meticulous detail to her art, and it’s such a treat to see our beautiful city with all its glorious architecture, people and culture through her lens.
One of my favourite parts of creating this book has been seeing Promina bring my vision to life while adding her own wonderful contributions. As a debut author, I wasn’t sure what to expect from my illustrator. I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw that Promina not only understood what I envisioned for the artwork, but the background details and playfulness she added complimented my vision and story so well.
Promina: What really pulled me in was Sneha’s writing style as it’s playful, full of cheeky humour and has this wonderful thread of naughtiness woven through it, the kind that only someone who truly remembers what it’s like to be a kid could pull off. She has an uncanny knack for channeling a child’s perspective without dumbing it down or turning it into that awkward ‘adults-trying-to-sound-like-kids’ voice.
I especially loved how she wrote Dev’s mounting frustration with the Yeti, who basically storms into his life like a hairy little hurricane and turns everything upside down—especially when it comes to his parents. Poor Dev tries to keep his cool while this big chaotic snow beast makes him look like the troublemaker. It cracked me up!
Working with her felt like co-creating from the very beginning. She gave me full visual freedom which is illustrator gold. I wasn’t just filling in the blanks; I was co-world-building with her. While she wrote, I sprinkled my own humour in the artwork by planting little hidden gems like Easter eggs for eagle-eyed readers.
It felt like play.
Honestly, I truly admire her writing style – it’s clever, heartfelt and just mischievous enough to keep you grinning. Working with Sneha felt like being invited into a secret clubhouse where ideas bounce around like rubber balls and everyone’s welcome to bring snacks.
And finally, which is your favourite part of the book?
Sneha: It’s hard to pick a favourite. There are so many! But I love the parts where Dev and Tuna search the entire house to find Hiũ, and Hiũ, being the sneaky yeti he is, manages to hide in plain sight. I also love all the bits with Joon. Watching her trying to summon the yeti while Dev, Tuna and even Hiũ look on in awe is so much fun. And of course, the Ranu Aunty character card!
Promina: That’s a tough one – I really love all the illustrations! But if I had to choose, I’d say it is a three-way tie between the cross-section of the house, the spread where Dev is cleaning and Tuna is ‘helping’, and Ranu Aunty’s character card. Each of those scenes holds a special charm for me in different ways.
Thank you Sneha and Promina!
Yelp Yeti! Chaos in Kathmandu
Sneha Pradhan, Promina Shrestha
Dev and his pet cat, Tuna, spot a Yeti in the city, but no one will believe them! A fun-packed action and adventure graphic reader set in Nepal, for young comic fans.
Dev and his pet cat, Tuna, are ready for a summer of sleepovers, endless games of cricket and sweet mangos, until they discover a Yeti loose in Kathmandu. It ransacks the kitchen, creates messes around the house and eats all the snacks – but Dev gets the blame! With his parents threatening to send him away for the summer, will Dev and Tuna be able to prove his innocence… and catch a Yeti along the way?
Get your copy HERE!
