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Not many things can replicate the joy a child experiences when they immerse themselves in a world far away from their own, the moment when they get to quench their thirst for curiosity, and when they apply their learnings to the practical world.

Responsible for triggering these emotions, the world has been blessed with film directors, video game developers, and, well, of course, writers.

There are various challenges associated with condensing your story into a digestible piece of literature that readers of all ages can consume.

We had the chance to connect with Dr. Eskandari, an experienced AI scientist who humbly considers herself a learner in the vast realm of artificial intelligence. 

In our conversation, she clearly articulated her distinctive writing approach, seamlessly infused with her AI expertise. Her genuine passion shed light on how she has managed to make complex AI concepts relatable and engaging in her storytelling.

Spotting Needs, Crafting Deeds

A little on Neda! An experienced research scientist in artificial intelligence with a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, she has spent years working in the exciting domain of computer vision. Her understanding of the AI landscape offers valuable insight.

It’s natural to wonder what motivated her to leap into children’s literature. Her journey as an author was an organic extension of her love for content creation. A few years back, she identified a need when her children were younger and acted upon it, establishing a YouTube channel for infants and toddlers. This creative endeavor met a specific need and also partially quenched her thirst for content creation.

As her children grew older, she identified a new need: making AI education accessible for kids and youth. This is where her professional background in AI and her experience as a parent converged. With her expertise in AI, her passion for content creation, and her keen insights into her children’s developmental stages, she found herself uniquely equipped to fill this educational gap. These elements harmoniously combined, giving birth to her debut book, Q5 – The AI Quest. 

With Q5 – The AI Quest, Neda is exploring uncharted territory by introducing AI to children through literature. The success of this endeavor will provide valuable insights for both educators and authors.

Cracking the Writing Algorithm

Neda has described the experience of writing this book as a living embodiment of her concept of a ‘Utopia of Harmony’ where AI capabilities and human creativity unite.

This utopian writing journey started with a bare, high-level concept. She then shaped her narrative, infusing depth and detail with each edit. Her deep connection with her characters and understanding their emotions, motivations, and anxieties fuels this process. There’s a pivotal moment in this creative journey when characters take on a life of their own and, in a way, begin to write themselves. This iterative process resulted in a carefully crafted, nuanced tale that resonates with readers.

The book springs into action from the very first page. Readers are introduced to an intense scenario involving Zinoco, a highly advanced robot from a distant galaxy whose unexpected arrival on Earth kindles a wave of anticipation. However, it’s the five uniquely brilliant and adventurous middle schoolers who truly drive the story. These diverse young explorers navigate various dimensions of AI and robotics, learning, growing, and evolving along the way.

Through their journey, they conquer their fears, cultivate strength and caution, and learn how to make changes. They realize their own importance and power, understanding that they are not only a part of the future but, indeed, they are the future. Neda’s vibrant narrative underscores this enlightening and empowering transformation, making for a truly captivating read.

Crafting literature demands a blend of creative flair and technical mastery. For this intriguing children’s book, Neda drew upon the insights of professional editors, beta reviewers, and her science-enthusiast niece. Every piece of feedback was a learning opportunity, and each one was used to refine and enhance the narrative. On the other hand, her established background in AI allowed Neda to turn AI principles into a captivating adventure for young readers.

Stay Tuned for More from Eskandari!

As for her future projects? It’s just the start of Neda’s journey as an author. She highlights the challenge of finding a work-life balance while investing time toward perfecting her craft in writing. But with her first experience, she is willing to put in the effort and make it work. 

For those who are aspiring to write their own book, Neda vouches for her experience as an author as something beyond words. Her words are the byproduct of the feats that can be achieved when intellect and passion meet with creativity and dedication. 

The result? Q5 – The AI Quest, which will be the first of a series. She currently has ideas for the next two books in the series and has started drafting the second one.

Readers eager to explore the imaginative world of Q5 – The AI Quest can look forward to its release, with pre-orders already underway.