Priya Ardis - Author - Writes with Feels

Friday, January 20, 2023

Happy New Year 2023!

Dear Readers,

Tee hee! If you've kept up with me, you know that I've been working away on a new YA. This one is a contemporary YA with a lot of my signature hi-jinks. I like to push myself and my writing. So, I hope you'll watch out for it. After all, Shakespeare said it best--

“I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.”

Stay tuned.

XOXO, Priya

Friday, October 9, 2020

A Spooktacular Halloween - Merlin Raj and the Drones of Sleepy Hollow!

Dear Merlin Raj lovers,

Ready for a Spooktacular Halloween? Or maybe not. As we scratch our heads on how to pull this off, DRONES to help with Trick-Treating doesn’t sound too far-fetched. If they can deliver packages, they deliver candy. Intrigued? Merlin Raj was!

In this adventure, drones and the Headless Horseman haunt Merlin’s quiet town of Sleepy Hollow. But the real battle lies closer to home. During the spookiest time of year, can Merlin and Matthew tackle the scariest creature of all--big brother.

Please join Merlin Raj on his most spine-tingling adventure!

Read the Mom's Choice Gold Award Winning series called "…satisfying and emotionally resonant." -- Kirkus Reviews

Get this on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or Google Play

Get Merlin Raj and the Santa Algorithm for only 99cents! Just in time for the holidays!

XO,

Priya

Check out the Merlin Raj book trailer!

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Girl With Three Eyes - My first YA Fantasy Thriller

When a killer threatens the kingdom, will she risk her freedom?

Dear Readers,

I'm excited to announce the #bookbirthday of my first YA fantasy thriller. Fragments of Girl with Three Eyes has been running around my head for over fifteen years. I wanted to write a fantasy that combined school and sports but also a futuristic fairy tale.

The school element came from reading Enid Blyton stories when I was little. The Enid Blyton stories were fun stories about school adventures. The sports element came from two places. I went snowboarding for the first time and loved it. I wondered what it would take to make it a competition. I began watching the X-Games and loved the spins and speed of going downhill on picture perfect slopes. I’d also picked up running and getting healthier at this point. I wanted to add this competitive element to my stories which I felt becomes overlooked in girls. Despite all the advantages in gaining self-confidence and health both physical and mental, 50% of girls drop out of sport by the time they reach high school.

The last dimension of Girl With Three Eyes is one close to the heart. I was thrilled to be able to do a story where I could include elements of Hindu lore. The concept of the Third Eye, empaths, and spirituality appeals to my yoga-inspired side. Finally, immersing into the world of a futuristic India reconnects me to my own culture!

I hope you enjoy Girl With Three Eyes and all the layers I’ve loved building into this story!

XO,

Priya

Read it on

Want a signed copy on Goodreads!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Girl With Three Eyes

by Priya Ardis

Giveaway ends September 21, 2020.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Merlin Raj and the Love Me Not Race - New Release And Giveaway

Dear readers,

Have you ever tried to put together the FAMILY ACTIVITY? Well, then you can relate to the Rajs and all the trials and tribulations which go along with it. I'm excited to announce the new chapter in Merlin Raj. In the Love Me Not Race, service dog Merlin learns Boolean math to help his family run their first 5k race. He'll need every trick to get his family on the same page.

Perfect for younger reader who like dog humor books with illustrations with a side of STEM learning. Merlin Raj and the Love Me Not Race is the answer to inspiring STEM early education.

You can find it on Amazon (if you are Kindle Unlimited, read the ebook for free!) & Barnes & Noble

Thank you for your support!

Have you joined my mailing list at www.priyaardis.com? Get on my announcements list to get the latest information from my desk! This month I had a giveaway and the winner is announced below!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/659ba30d6/?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 30, 2020

New Release and Giveaway! Take the Road Trip with the KINGS OF MERLIN.

Dear Readers of Merlin,

It has been an adventure writing with everything dark going on in the world. But sometimes what you need the most are a few hours of escape to keep you sane! I'm excited to announce a new book release this week. Kings Of Merlin, the second part of the Merlin Returns saga, comes back with Eowlyn, Merlin, and new addition King Arthur. Eowlyn and Merlin slip deep into an otherworld in this story. Their relationship gets deeper and more complicated. I hope you fall in love with them as I have.

Today, I thought I'd share a little more about the characters and the settings.

Everyone asks about SONG inspirations. When it comes to music, I usually have two branches of thoughts. A STORY song gets me into a particular book. A CHARACTER song gets me into the headspace/POV of the character when I'm writing. I hear these songs and I'm immediately in the right mood.

We probably have different musical tastes, but I thought you might try this soundtrack. For GODS of Merlin, I was playing Avril Lavigne's Head Above Water over and over again. For KINGS of Merlin, Lewis Capaldi's Someone You Loved.

Who are the main characters of Gods of Merlin/Kings of Merlin?

Eowlyn Patience -- I love Eowlyn. It's a throwback Lord of the Rings name (because she, you know, time traveled). She appeals to me because she is an antihero/hero and so broken at it. Her song for me matches Gods of Merlin where I introduced her: Avril Lavigne's Head Above Water.

Merlin/Matt Emrys -- Merlin's story has always been one of conflict. Which will it be, the girl or the mission? In Gods of Merlin, he is tested again. Which side will win? Because of his dedication to the mission. His song is Coldplay's the Scientist.

King Arthur -- WHO? Yes, I went there. Arthur is another time travel. He is aged down, because....! This is Arthur before the heartache, but you know that's coming. His song is Halsey's Without Me.

For fans of My Merlin:
Vane -- You can't help but love him. His devotion and loyalty and nerve is just so... *sigh*. But he is a twisted and broken soul. In many ways, he and Eowlyn understand each other well because they are similarily broken. Vane's song is Coldplay's Viva la Vida.

Ryan -- Doesn't fail. She can't. Her strength makes things happen. Her mistake is Ryan's song is One Republic's Secrets.

For all of my ROMANCE fans, this one is especially great if you are looking to curl up with a book and a chai in a lazy hammock -- Pride and Prejudice (Kiera Knightley version/Jean-Yves Thibaudet) soundtrack.

Get Kings of Merlin at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play!

If you'd like to win a SIGNED copy for your book collection, enter here:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Kings Of Merlin

by Priya Ardis

Giveaway ends June 01, 2020.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Monday, March 16, 2020

Meet Merlin Raj: the Service Dog who likes Computer Science

#PassionProject Do you like service dogs, STEM books, and funny early readers? Meet Merlin Raj.

I've spent years in the tech field and one of the things I advocate is Early Education in STEM. To that end, I wrote Merlin Raj and the Santa Algorithm: A Computer Science Dog's Tale. With the help of awesome illustrator, Shelley Hampe, the dream came alive!

So, if you're looking for a fun stimulating read for the youngster in your family (like Magic Tree House or Captain Underpants), Merlin Raj is out today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play.

My name is Merlin Raj. I have a teeny-tiny obsession with socks which makes my life as a service dog a little bit hard. Usually, I only have to worry about helping my boy, Matthew, walk at school. But when my human Mom has to go away for winter break, getting ready for the holiday becomes a mess. I might be a super-smart golden retriever who wears glasses, but could I help my best friend with more than a disability?
Gulp.
Will a class on algorithms get me barking up the right Christmas tree?

Get the latest at www.dgpriya.com. Keep an out for the upcoming Merlin Raj blog tour!

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Six Years In the Making, New Release GODS OF MERLIN

Dear Readers,

I am thrilled to announce my first book release in a few years. Gods of Merlin begins a new series in the world of Merlin! For those of you who have read the My Boyfriend Merlin, I always intended to go back and tell the story of the brother who didn’t get the girl—HERE IT IS.

While I had the characters of Gods of Merlin six years ago, the story didn’t come together until this past year. It’s funny how long these ideas need to fully ferment before they are ready.

Thank you for following Merlin in his adventures! Get it at AMAZON, B&N Nook, Apple Books, Kobo & Google Play.

XO, Priya