According to family stories, Jasbinder was born in a stable in the foothills of the Himalayas. Until she was a year and a half, she lived on a farm in India inhabited by a grumpy camel and a monkey called Oma. Asha and the Spirit Bird was inspired by her strong and special relationship with her grandmother, with whom she was very close.

During an MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University, Jasbinder realised she wanted to write a story set in India, and used the diaries from her own visits as inspiration. She lives in Somerset with her husband, two teenage boys and dog Enzo, and splits her time between teaching and writing.

For student reporter Pheeb's review of Asha and the Spirit Bird, click here.