By Lissy Maruthamkuzhy
KOTTAYAM, July 6, 2026: While many 12-year-olds spend their free time playing games or scrolling through social media, Yohan Joseph Biju is busy building fictional worlds, crafting adventures and planning the next installments of a growing novel series.
The young author from Kerala has already published three English novels, released in two books, an achievement that has drawn attention from readers, educators and local media.
His journey from avid reader to published novelist began with a simple gift from his father: books. What started as a love of reading eventually evolved into a passion for storytelling and publication.
Yohan published his first novel, Mission to a Mysterious Village, in 2024 while he was a fifth-grade student.
The story combines fantasy, thriller and time-travel elements, reflecting the imaginative worlds that attracted him as a reader.
Inspired by the Harry Potter series, he began creating stories of his own and soon moved from reader to writer.
His second publication, Adventures of Duo, was released this year and contains two novels, continuing the storyline he began in his debut work.
According to his family, Yohan hopes to publish additional installments in the series, with preparation already underway for future books.
From reader to writer
Behind the young writer stands a family deeply connected to literature. His father, Biju Vinayak Nirmal, is a prolific author who has published 110 books during a writing career spanning decades.
Yet, the elder writer says his son’s success has brought unexpected attention to the family.
“I am in the writing field for more than 35 years,” his father said. “But people began to know me when Yohan’s book was published and released.”
Yohan’s mother, Sheejamol Thomas, describes her son’s accomplishments with pride but also emphasizes that he remains a typical student who balances creativity with academics. The family says he performs well in school while pursuing his literary ambitions.
A crucial influence in Yohan’s development has been his older brother, Francis Leo, a seminarian who recognized and encouraged his younger brother’s creative abilities from an early age.
Francis also designed the covers for both published books, helping transform Yohan’s stories into finished works ready for readers.
Books, guitar and big dreams
Reading remains at the center of Yohan’s creative life.
According to his family, he consumes a wide range of English-language literature. Among his favorite books are Harry Potter, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, Shashi Tharoor’s The Great Indian Novel and Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water.
His literary interests extend beyond fiction writing. Yohan is also an altar server in his parish, plays guitar and enjoys sports. Family members say these activities help shape a well-rounded childhood despite the attention generated by his unusual achievements.
Recognition for his work has continued to grow. One memorable moment came when Yohan visited the office of Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan in Thiruvananthapuram and presented copies of his books.
The occasion was a proud moment not only for the young author but also for his father, veteran writer Biju Vinayak Nirmal.
“I have been in the writing field for more than 35 years, but people began to know me when Yohan’s book was published,” Nirmal said with a smile. “His recognition is an honor for me too.”
Teachers, family members and community leaders have also encouraged his efforts. Yohan credits supportive mentors, including school administrators and parish leaders, for helping him pursue his writing goals.
Despite his early success, Yohan’s ambitions extend beyond publishing novels. He hopes to become a software engineer and dreams of creating animated content for children similar to the popular Japanese franchise Pokémon.
For now, however, his attention remains firmly focused on storytelling. As he works on future installments of his series, Yohan represents a rare example of literary achievement at a remarkably young age.
In a world where children are often consumers of content, he has become a creator, transforming a passion for reading into a growing body of published work.
At 12, Yohan is still at the beginning of his journey. Yet the shelves already holding his books suggest that many more adventures — both on the page and in his own life — are still to come.
(Photo supplied)