About Agneeth Aaron
Agneeth Aaron is an emerging young writer known for his vivid imagination and thoughtful storytelling. Now 13, he returns with his second book, The Adventures of Taboo and the Dagger of Kitsune, following the success of his debut novel, The Adventures of Taboo. His love for storytelling took root in his passion for reading, with favorites like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Young Samurai series shaping his imagination early on.
Beyond writing, Agneeth is a young talent with wide-ranging interests. He plays the keyboard and has completed six grades in Trinity, and his drawing has earned him several awards. On the sports field, he actively plays football and has previously competed in skating, picking up awards there as well. In martial arts, he practices karate and Silambam, a traditional stick-based defense art, earning national and regional recognition. In his downtime, he enjoys cubing — with a personal best of 28 seconds — and playing chess with his father and brother, a challenge he relishes. A true animal lover, Agneeth shares that passion with his mother, with reptiles being the one exception.
LiFT: Why did you choose this title?
Agneeth Aaron: I chose the title “The Adventures of Taboo and the Dagger of Kitsune” because I wanted this book to feel like a natural next step in Taboo’s journey, while introducing something new and mysterious. “Kitsune” comes from Japanese folklore — it means fox spirit, and foxes are often seen as clever, magical, and a little unpredictable, which felt perfect for the kind of adventure I wanted to build this time. Reading books like the Young Samurai series inspired me to explore that world of legend and mystery a bit more.
The “Dagger” in the title represents something powerful and important to the story — an object that drives the whole adventure forward and puts Taboo to the test in new ways. I wanted the title to hint at danger, discovery, and a touch of ancient legend, so readers would know from the very first page that this adventure goes deeper and darker than the first book.
LiFT: When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer, and what was your inspiration behind it?
Agneeth Aaron: I realized I wanted to be a writer when I was about nine years old. I’ve always loved creating stories in my mind — during long car rides, while playing, or just before falling asleep. There was something exciting about imagining worlds that didn’t exist yet and characters who felt real to me.
My biggest inspiration came from the books I read — Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Young Samurai series all made me feel like I was part of their adventures, and I wanted to give other readers that same feeling. My family also played a huge role; they always believed in my creativity and encouraged me to turn my ideas into something real.
Writing my first book, The Adventures of Taboo, confirmed that this is exactly what I want to keep doing. And now, working on this second book, I feel even more sure of it — every story teaches me something new about myself as a writer, and I only want to keep growing from here.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Agneeth Aaron: In ten years, I see myself as a published author with a whole shelf of books behind me — not just continuing Taboo’s world, but exploring new genres, new characters, and maybe even different formats like graphic novels or series-based adventures. Writing my second book has already taught me so much more about pacing, world-building, and staying true to a character across different stories, and I want to keep building on that.
I hope to be known not just as someone who writes for kids, but someone whose stories genuinely inspire young readers to be braver, more curious, and more imaginative — the same way books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Young Samurai series did for me. I’d also love to see Taboo’s world grow beyond books someday, whether that’s through illustrations, adaptations, or collaborations with other young creators like my brother.
Most importantly, I want writing to always stay something I love doing — not just a goal I’ve achieved, but a journey I keep choosing every single day.
LiFT: How important do you think marketing and the quality of a book are in promoting it and increasing its readership?
Agneeth Aaron: I still believe marketing and quality work hand in hand, but writing a second book made me understand this even more deeply. Marketing is what helps a book get discovered — especially now, with so many stories being published every day — but it’s the quality of the writing that decides whether readers stay, finish the book, and look forward to the next one.
With my first book, I learned that a good cover, a catchy title, or a strong description can bring readers in. But with this second book, I realized that returning readers expect even more — they’re not just judging the story, they’re comparing it to what came before. So the pressure to maintain quality actually grows with every book.
In the end, I think marketing opens the door, but it’s the story itself that makes readers want to stay, recommend it to others, and follow an author’s journey from one book to the next.
LiFT: What message do you want to convey to people through your writing?
Agneeth Aaron: With this book, I want to go a step further than just courage and imagination — I want readers to understand that real growth often comes from facing the unknown, even when it feels mysterious or a little frightening. The Dagger of Kitsune is about testing yourself against something ancient and unpredictable, and I think that mirrors real life — we’re all facing challenges that seem bigger than us at times.
My message through this story is that legends and mysteries aren’t just meant to be solved from the outside — they push you to discover something new about yourself along the way. Just like Taboo has to grow braver and wiser to face what’s ahead, I want readers to feel that every challenge they face, no matter how uncertain it seems, is also a chance to become stronger and more sure of who they are.
I hope readers walk away not just entertained, but reminded that curiosity and courage together can help you face even the things you don’t fully understand yet.
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Agneeth Aaron: Apart from writing, I have quite a few things that keep me busy and inspired! I play the keyboard and have completed six grades in Trinity, and I also love drawing — I’ve won a few awards for it too. On the sports side, I actively play football, and I used to skate competitively, where I picked up some awards as well.
In martial arts, I practice karate and Silambam, a traditional stick-based defense art, and I’ve earned national and regional recognition in both. For fun, I enjoy solving the cube — my personal best is 28 seconds — and playing chess with my dad and brother, which is always an exciting challenge since neither of them go easy on me!
I’m also a big animal lover, and my mom and I share that love for pets — though reptiles are where I draw the line. All of these activities keep my mind fresh and give me new ideas and energy to bring back into my writing.
LiFT: What activities do you resort to when you face writer’s block?
Agneeth Aaron: When I face writer’s block, I usually step away from the screen or notebook and do something completely different for a while. Most often, I’ll pick up a book to read — sometimes it’s a new book I haven’t read before, and sometimes I go back to one of my favorites, like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or the Young Samurai series. Reading helps my mind wander in a different way and often sparks new ideas without me even trying. Other times I’ll play a quick game of chess with my dad or brother, or try to beat my own cube-solving time — those little challenges help reset my focus.
I also find that playing football with my friends helps clear my head completely, since I have to focus on the movement instead of the story. By the time I’m done, I usually come back to writing with a clearer mind and fresh energy, and sometimes the break itself gives me the exact idea I was stuck on.
LiFT: What if your story were to be adapted into a movie? Who would you want to work as the director or actors in it?
Agneeth Aaron: If The Adventures of Taboo and the Dagger of Kitsune were made into a movie, I’d want a director who really understands fantasy, adventure, and mythology — someone like Steven Spielberg or Jon Favreau again, but honestly, I’d also love someone who has worked with Japanese folklore or legend-based stories, since the Kitsune element is such a big part of this book. The story needs a director who can make the mysterious and magical parts feel real and exciting, not just fantastical.
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If so, could you tell us something about it?
Agneeth Aaron: No, not yet. I have my exams going on, so I will take a break and start after some time.
LiFT: What are your suggestions for budding writers and poets to help them improve their writing skills?
Agneeth Aaron: Reading widely is one of the best things you can do — whether it’s fantasy, poetry, mythology, or everyday stories, each style teaches you something different about building worlds, emotions, and rhythm. Writing regularly, even just a few lines a day, helps you find your own voice and grow more confident over time.
Writing my second book taught me that improvement isn’t just about writing more — it’s about paying attention to detail, staying consistent with your characters, and not being afraid to rewrite something if it doesn’t feel right the first time. Observing the world around you — people, conversations, nature, even old legends and stories — adds real depth and realism to your imagination.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Every draft teaches you something new, even the ones you end up deleting. Keep writing, stay curious, and enjoy the process of creating your own stories — that’s what makes it worth doing.
Click here to order Agneeth’s Book – The Adventures of Taboo and the Dagger of Kitsune
