It’s not every day that a neighbor becomes a published author, especially one who hasn’t reached middle school yet.
This past fall, Daphne Park resident Myra Puthuraya published her first book at 10 years old. “Dream a Big Dream” is a collection of short stories designed to motivate kids to chase their goals with courage and determination. Her book is available now on Amazon and Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), or you can swing by Blakely Hall to read the community copy.
Inspiration Rooted in Real Experiences
“Dream a Big Dream” by Myra is now available for purchase on Amazon and Kindle, with all proceeds benefiting the Seattle Humane Society.
For Myra, the decision to begin writing came from a desire to help others. She wanted to inspire other kids to achieve their dreams.
She began by creating her characters, then built the story around them. Piece by piece, the book started to take shape.
Just as her characters do, Myra knows what it feels like to have her dreams questioned. Each story tackles the real challenges kids face—self-doubt, adult skepticism and the courage it takes to stay true to yourself when the world pushes you toward conformity. By grounding these themes in everyday situations, she makes her stories relatable to kids everywhere.
“I wrote this book for people who said their dreams weren’t possible,” she said.
Her stories remind readers that failure is part of the journey, not the end. By weaving in themes of bravery, Myra encourages kids to pursue their goals with resilience and confidence.
“Everyone out there has something they want to achieve, and to achieve those goals, we must be brave,” she added.
Geared toward young readers ages 8–12, the book inspires confidence while offering parents stories that celebrate being yourself rather than chasing perfection.
A Creative Journey Supported by Family
Writing a book at such a young age wasn’t without its difficulties. Balancing her schoolwork and the application process for a private middle school made the process very demanding. Still, she found enjoyment in the process.
“It was something fun that I got to spend my time doing,” she said.
Myra worked on her book while traveling internationally with family over the summer. She would write and design the pages whenever she had the chance.
Myra enjoyed illustrating the book, using her artwork to bring key moments in the story to life. She credits her parents for helping her through the process, especially her dad, who helped with editing and publishing.
The book came together in about two months, wrapping up in September 2025.
Giving Back Through Her Words
Instead of keeping the profits from her book, Myra pledged to donate all proceeds to the Seattle Humane Society, a nonprofit close to her heart.
“I really love animals, and I think they deserve the same amount of help as humans do,” she said.
Myra’s generosity shines just as brightly as her storytelling. Beyond writing, she enjoys creating art, playing piano and spending time with her friends and younger brother.
Looking ahead, Myra is excited to hear from her readers and hopes to inspire kids everywhere to keep chasing their dreams.
Anisha Arasu is a Summit Park resident and member of the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board.
As published in the winter 2026 issue of Connections >>
