The following interview with children’s author Shain Dampney was conducted on July 26, 2026. The views and opinions expressed are those of the interviewee.
Bengaluru: Emerging children’s author Shain Dampney is steadily carving a niche for himself in the world of middle-grade fantasy. Currently based in Bengaluru, he is drawn to stories where imagination knows no bounds, blending fantasy, humour, mystery, and heartfelt adventure to create worlds that spark curiosity in young readers.
His poems have appeared in the anthologies The Margins (InkFetish Publications) and The Last Draft (The Favourite Tales). He is currently working on the first draft of his debut children’s fantasy novel—a magical adventure exploring the mysteries of magic, the Multiverse, and the extraordinary journeys that await those brave enough to believe.
In this conversation, Shain speaks about his writing journey, his fascination with fantasy, and the ideas that continue to shape his work.
Q. First of all, tell us a little about yourself. Who is Shain Dampney?
Shain Dampney: I’m a children’s author for middle graders (ages 10 to 15), currently living in Bengaluru. I’ve always believed that stories are one of the few places where absolutely anything is possible. That’s probably why I was drawn to magic and children’s fantasy. It allows imagination to roam freely while still speaking to emotions that both children and adults understand.
I love writing stories filled with magic, humour, mystery, and wonder. If a reader smiles, laughs, or finishes a chapter believing the impossible might just be possible, I feel I’ve done my job.
Q. Why children’s fantasy?
Shain Dampney: I believe a child thinks more from the heart than the mind. At a young age, the heart is much bigger than the mind. As we grow and interact with society, the heart often becomes guarded while the mind takes over.
Through children’s literature, I hope to keep that sense of wonder alive—to remind young readers that despite what logic may say, the impossible can still be possible.
Adults often ask, “Could this really happen?” Children ask, “What happens next?”
That difference is magical.
Fantasy gives me the freedom to build worlds that don’t exist while exploring very real emotions—friendship, courage, loss, hope, belonging, and curiosity. I think children understand these emotions far better than we often give them credit for.
Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend their working day inventing magical creatures, impossible cities, and adventures across the Multiverse?
Q. Since when have you been writing?
Shain Dampney: I’ve been writing for many years, although much of it remained tucked away in notebooks and computer folders.
Poetry became my first public step into the literary world. Seeing my poems published in anthologies gave me the confidence to think bigger and attempt something I had always dreamed about—a full-length fantasy novel.
Looking back, every poem taught me something about rhythm, imagery, and storytelling. In many ways, they became stepping stones toward writing fiction.
Q. Your poems have already been published. Tell us about them.
Shain Dampney: I’ve had the privilege of seeing my work published in two anthologies—The Margins by InkFetish Publications and The Last Draft by The Favourite Tales.
Each publication was a reminder that stories and poems truly come alive once they find readers. It’s an incredibly rewarding feeling.
Q. Let’s talk about your poem The Broken Wand. What inspired it?
Shain Dampney: The poem may speak about a broken wand, but it really isn’t about magic at all.
It’s about resilience.
Every one of us eventually reaches a point where something we depended on—our confidence, career, relationships, dreams, or identity—seems to break. The poem asks a simple question:
“If the wand breaks… does the wizard?”
My answer is no.
The magic was never inside the wand.
It was always inside the person holding it.
I think children understand this lesson remarkably well, and adults often need to remember it.
Q. Humour seems to play an important role in your writing. Is that intentional?
Shain Dampney: Absolutely.
Children are wonderfully honest readers. If they aren’t entertained, they’ll simply stop reading.
Humour makes characters memorable and adventures enjoyable. Even during darker moments, a little laughter reminds us why the journey is worth taking.
I enjoy creating situations where readers smile first and only later realise there was a deeper meaning hiding underneath.
Q. We hear you’re writing your first novel. Can you tell us something about it?
Shain Dampney: It’s a children’s fantasy adventure centred around magic and the idea of the Multiverse.
Without giving too much away, it’s about discovering that there are countless worlds beyond the one we know—and that magic may be governed by rules every bit as fascinating as science.
The story blends mystery, adventure, humour, and imagination while exploring themes of friendship, courage, identity, and choosing who you become.
I hope readers will feel they’re stepping into a place they’ve never visited before, yet somehow always wished existed.
Q. Magic and the Multiverse are ambitious ideas. What inspired them?
Shain Dampney: I’ve always been fascinated by two things.
The first is mythology and magical folklore.
The second is modern science.
Rather than choosing between them, I wondered:
“What if they could exist together?”
That question eventually became the seed for an entirely new world.
Q. When can readers expect your novel?
Shain Dampney: I’m currently working on the first draft.
Fantasy worlds take time because every place, creature, rule, and character has to feel believable—even when they’re impossible.
I’m trying not to rush the process. I’d rather spend more time crafting something readers will remember than publish too quickly.
Hopefully, it won’t keep readers waiting too long.
Q. Who are your biggest influences?
Shain Dampney: I’ve always admired writers who trust the imagination of children.
Authors who build immersive worlds, memorable characters, and stories that grow with their readers have been a tremendous inspiration.
More than any single author, though, I’m inspired by curiosity itself. Every “What if…?” question has the potential to become an adventure.
Q. Finally, what would you like young readers to take away from your books?
Shain Dampney: I’d like them to close the final page believing three things:
That curiosity is a superpower.
That kindness is never ordinary.
And that the greatest magic in any world isn’t found in spells or enchanted objects—
It’s found inside people who refuse to stop imagining.
