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At just 22, author and music journalist Mia Caven has already left an indelible mark on the literary and music scenes, blending her love for storytelling with a passion for amplifying underrepresented voices, and we wonder, how did she make this all happen?
When asked about her beginnings, Mia’s passion for writing shines through. “I've been writing since I was little—literally since I can remember,” she recalls. “Before the days of laptops, I would write full-length books in notepads and notebooks. It was always meant to be.”
For many authors, writing has always been more than just a hobby; it’s a calling, an intrinsic part of who they are. Growing up, Mia's love for reading fueled her creative fire. “I loved A Series of Unfortunate Events and this fantasy series about a Greek girl who could see ghosts—I can’t remember the title, but it was the only book I’d ever read with a Greek protagonist, and it resonated with me deeply.”
It is no surprise that Mia’s Greek heritage plays a pivotal role in her identity as both a writer and an individual. “I think Greek people have this concept that over the years, we kind of disappeared under the radar,” she explains. “No one speaks about Greece or Cyprus unless they're going on holiday there or there's a tragedy.” This invisibility in the cultural narrative motivated Mia to proudly represent her heritage in her work, which her debut novel proves. “It’s heavily inspired by Greece and being Greek,” Mia says, beaming with pride. The cover of her novel, depicting three ancient Greek women dancing, is a visual celebration of her roots. “The original cover had one girl with big curly hair, which is so common among Greek people. But as the story evolved, I changed it to three girls dancing. It represents friendship, companionship, feminism—it all links back to the story’s themes.”
This weaves seamlessly with the plot. Be A Smart Girl is a novel born from political awareness, from the need to speak up about current world issues. The novel itself is a striking blend of historical and political commentary, with a personal touch. “I wrote it when I was 16,” Mia shares. “I was in class, learning about Roe v. Wade, the 1970s U.S. case about abortion, and I was just so taken aback by the politics of America. It inspired me to write about that era.” The story follows a first-generation immigrant from Greece who navigates life in the U.S. during a time of significant social and political upheaval.
Mia’s novel explores not just the politics of the 1970s but also the broader experience of womanhood. “It’s about what it’s like to be a woman, the experiences with men, and the expectations placed on us by society and government. It’s political, but it’s also deeply romantic,” she says. The novel’s relevance has only grown over time, especially in light of recent events. “When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2020, it felt surreal. I was 16, writing about this law from the 70s, and now in present time, I’m watching it be overturned.”
“It’s about what it’s like to be a woman, the experiences with men, and the expectations placed on us by society and government. It’s political, but it’s also deeply romantic,” she says.
Releasing her novel to the world has been an emotional experience for Mia. The book is currently available to a select group of ARC (Advance Reader Copy) readers, and their responses have been overwhelmingly positive. “It was nerve-wracking because you're not giving it out to the public; you're giving it out to select people, and you don't know what their intentions are,” Mia confesses. “But I was actually shocked when people enjoyed it. When they started talking about my characters in a way that I feel like I’ve only known them, it felt surreal.”
For Mia, sharing her fiction is an act of vulnerability. “It feels really vulnerable to put yourself out there, especially with fiction,” she explains. “People think fiction doesn’t have anything of you in it since it’s not real, but that’s not true. It’s your character, your inside world.”
In addition to her literary endeavors, Mia has made a name for herself as a music journalist—a path that began when she was just 14. “At that point in time, I was very determined to go into music instead of writing because I thought the publishing world would be impossible,” she admits. “So I merged writing with music and decided to go into music journalism.”
Her early foray into the industry was met with unexpected success, as Mia recounts: “I was so young and so early on the internet that it was more accessible to reach out to famous people and actually get a response. I had several famous singers and musicians reply to me, and I was like, this is crazy.”
As Mia prepares to release her novel as an e-book this month, she remains committed to her dual passions of writing and music journalism. Recently, she hosted her first author event in London, where she signed books, answered questions, and engaged with readers in a lively discussion about her work. “It was really awesome,” she reflects. “It felt like the culmination of all the years I’ve spent writing and dreaming of this moment.”
Besides that, her projects Coffee Corner and Chapters & Pages both aim to help people navigate the complicated worlds of influencing, literature, and bookstagram.
Pre-order Be A Smart Girl here.
Images: Mia Caven
Words: Reya Casajus
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