Interview with Priya Ardis, GIRL WITH THREE EYES

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Girl With Three Eyes begins a new fantasy/mystery series. Inspired by Hindu lore, it is a tale of school adventure, jousting, and political intrigue. To sum up: Kira would hate her third eye less if it actually gave her special powers. When her secret is threatened, she may be the only one who can save the kingdom.

See the Girl With Three Eyes book trailer at: https://youtu.be/TJbUzyLCWpQ

Do you have a favorite character?

Favorite character? It’s like picking a favorite child. It can’t be done.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?

In a mystery, like Girl with Three Eyes, this can happen very easily. Sometimes the story builds just so that the character turns on you. I challenge you to find the character who surprised me in Girl With Three Eyes. Email me at contact(at)priyaardis.com.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?

One of the perks of putting together a book is to pare down your novel into key elements and then the designer takes your written vision and comes up with a book cover. I love seeing the story world come alive.

To help my designer, besides giving a summary of the novel, was to put together a pinterest board. You can see it here at https://www.pinterest.com/priyaardis/

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I love my critique group! It is very important to get first reads and beta reads on your novel. To be in a successful group, you have to commit to read. You critique should be cognizant of genre expectations. Critique groups can hone-in on your writing weaknesses. But to go the next level, remember to also point out all the writing strengths.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I used to not be able to write without music. But time and scheduling sometimes interfered with this. (Also, my ears couldn’t take headphone for 8 hours a day.) So I’ve learned to live with the silence. Once you’re into a story, it’s easy to keep going. A lot of writing is stop and start. The best thing music can do for you is to get you into the mood/setting/emotional spot where you left off, so you can begin sprinting again.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

Many times, the muse takes you where you need to go. I do like to outline to give myself guideposts. This is especially important in a mystery. Defining the villain takes as much work as defining your hero. But I don’t do detailed outlines. Often, I find keeping a little mystery in the story can help you write faster!

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

Yes, absolutely. A good editor makes your story great! Oftentimes, there are common weaknesses that are easy fixes. An editor can help you catch these little gotchas.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

The ebook of Girl With Three Eyes is on Amazon. Find print books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, etc. Additinally, you can find my other YA contemporary fantasy series, Gods of Merlin, on Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, and Googe Play  

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

I love running! I run every week to keep healthy both physically and mentally. I enjoy yoga and meditation. Of course, curling up with a book or movie and a cuppa tea can’t be beat! Me and tea:

Some fun facts about you.

Star Wars or Star Trek: Resistance is futile

Supernatural’s Sam or Dean: Moose!

Superman or Batman: Smallville

English Breakfast or Earl Grey: English Breakfast. Hot.

What’s next for you?

Currently, I am working on finishing the Gods of Merlin series. I also have a humorous/STEM illustrated early readers about a service dog name Merlin Raj under my psuedenem D. G. Priya. Keep up with all my current releases/giveaways/tours by getting on my newsletter at www.priyaardis.com.

Girl With Three Eyes
Priya Ardis
Publication date: August 11th 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

She would hate her third eye less if it actually gave her special powers. When her secret is threatened, she may be the only one who can save the kingdom.

Sixteen-year-old Kira puts on a show about having empathic abilities, but she miraculously wakes a highborn boy from a coma after a near-fatal accident on mountainous slopes. When his father threatens to expose her “magic” to the queen unless she attends the kingdom’s most elite academy as a bodyguard.

Soon, she’s immersed in a strange new life—one of being a simple student trying out for the school’s skyboarding team. Her fake life becomes the life she’s always wanted, but Kira cannot escape who she truly is. And as a sinister foe lurks closer than she suspects…

Will she risk her freedom to develop the vision to unmask a killer before the crown falls?

Girl with Three Eyes is a young adult fantasy series. If you like strong female protagonists, futuristic fairy tales, and epic tournaments, then you’ll love Priya Ardis’s heart-racing adventure.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:
Priya Ardis writes Blood&Treasure fantasy romances which include coming of age, bad boys, globe-trotting, and a spoonful of sassy banter.

She loves books of all kinds–but especially the ones that ensnare you and let your chai go cold. Her novels come from a childhood of playing too much She-Ra and watching too much Spock. She started her first book at sixteen, writing in notebooks on long train rides during a hot summer vacation. Her favorite Arthurian is the Lady of Shalott by Lord Tennyson.

What does she like to read? Books with fantasy and magic with a cool heroine that’s really just the girl/boy next door. Books with all the feels. And, hello, Mr. Darcy anyone?

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