Prince in Exile – Anna Bushi

Three Tales of Love, Secrets, and Second Chances

If you’re in the mood for historical romance set in medieval India, don’t miss these heartfelt stories of love blooming under the weight of secrets and duty.

💔 King in Hiding – Princess Lalitha’s world unravels when her father vanishes during battle. Injured and desperate, she accepts help from a mysterious stranger who offers to escort her home. As they travel together, she finds herself drawn to him—unaware that he is King Dushyant, the very man who has imprisoned her father. Can love take root when betrayal lies at its heart?

🎭 Prince in Exile – Prince Giri is living in hiding as a playwright when he discovers two soul-stirring poems that inspire his next play. He doesn’t know the poet is actually Princess Suryavati, who has been mute since childhood and writes under a man’s name. When Suri sees her secret verses come alive on stage, she longs to write more—and to know the man behind the play. But how can love bloom when both lovers wear masks?

👑 Broken King – In this poignant novella, Princess Neela is desperate to escape a marriage arranged by her father. Her only hope is a once-great king, now drowning in grief and drink. As she tries to awaken the hero in him, she finds her own heart unexpectedly entangled. Can two broken souls find the courage to rescue each other?

Each story is rich in emotion, steeped in history, and filled with yearning. Perfect for readers who love romance with depth and soul.

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From My Heart to Yours: A Glimpse into Prince in Exile

Writing a book is one thing. Sharing it with others—that’s something entirely different. Every time I release a new story, no matter how many I’ve written before, I feel a familiar nervous flutter. Publishing a book feels like opening a window into my soul and hoping that what you see resonates with you.

That vulnerability is real. But so is the joy—especially when I get to share characters like these with you.

Here’s a little glimpse into the hearts of my two protagonists, Prince Giri and Princess Suri:

Prince Giri:
He had stumbled upon two of Poet Ravi’s poems and fallen in love with the shattered hearts depicted in them. Their sorrow mirrored his broken self, prompting him to write a play.

Princess Suri:
Her eyes settled on the man standing beside the stage, silently mouthing the words along with the performer—the playwright who had somehow discovered her poem and woven it into his play.

Prince Giri:
He had longed for friendship with a like-minded man. He imagined going back and forth over the merits of a phrase while crafting their next play. Joy, of the kind he had never experienced before, heightened his senses.

Princess Suri:
The playwright had already given her a monumental gift by bringing her poem to life. She should be content with just that. But she wanted more—to write more and see him weave her poems into his tales.

Their words connect them before their names ever do.

Prince in Exile is a story of hidden identities, longing, and the healing power of art. It’s about finding connection when you least expect it and discovering your voice—even when you cannot speak.

Preorder now and be among the first to meet Suri and Giri when their story arrives. I can’t wait to share their journey with you. 💛

✨ Prince in Exile is Now Available for Preorder! ✨

I’m thrilled to announce that Prince in Exile is officially available for preorder!

This historical romance is a little different from my previous stories—it features a protagonist who is mute, unable to voice the depths of her heart. Poetry is her refuge, the only way she can give shape to the emotions swirling inside her. But marriage to the wrong man would take even that away from her, silencing her in the only way that truly matters.

What hope does she have of finding someone who will cherish not just her, but her creativity? Her only choice seems to be the man her mother has chosen—a safe, acceptable match. A gilded cage instead of freedom. But how can she clip her own wings when all she longs for is to fly?

Step into her world and experience her journey—preorder Prince in Exile today! ✨📖

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My Inspiration

In Prince in Exile, my latest historical romance, Princess Suryavati is a mute poet who must hide her verses under a man’s name. Her character was inspired by the rich legacy of female poets in ancient Tamil lands, where women were not denied education and their literary contributions were highly valued. The title Avvaiyar (also spelled Ouvvayar), meaning “the elderly lady,” was bestowed upon multiple renowned female poets whose works have survived to this day.

One of the legends surrounding Avvaiyar tells the story of a young woman who longed to be a poet but feared that marriage would strip her of her freedom as an artist. Determined to live life on her own terms, she prayed to the gods to take away her youth. Her wish was granted, and as a gray-haired poet, she roamed the kingdoms freely, composing poetry to her heart’s content. Her story reflects one of the central themes in Prince in Exile—how marrying the wrong man could become a cage for Suri, silencing not only her voice but also her soul.

During the Sangam period and beyond, women flourished under the patronage of Chola and Pandiya kings, who respected and supported their artistry. These remarkable poets paved the way for me to create Suryavati—bold, brilliant, and determined to be heard, even in silence. Don’t forget to check out an exclusive excerpt from the novel.

கற்றது கை மண்அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு

What you have learned is a mere handful; what you haven’t learned is as vast as the world – Avvaiyar

Cover Reveal

I’m absolutely in love with this cover! It truly captures the essence of Suri and Giri—the poet princess and the hidden prince—bringing them to life just as I imagined. And as you read the novel, you’ll come to understand the significance of the scroll depicted in the middle of the cover. Prince in Exile will be releasing in Spring 2025, and I can’t wait to share this story with you! I’d love to hear what you think of the cover! Let me know your thoughts, and don’t forget to check out an exclusive excerpt from the novel.

First Draft Done

I’m thrilled to share that the first draft of my newest historical romance is complete! This story follows a mute princess with a passion for poetry, who, disguised as a boy, sneaks into a play. To her astonishment, the playwright has used one of her poems as the centerpiece of his work, unaware of her identity. The playwright, a prince in hiding within her kingdom, is captivated by the mysterious poet. When they meet, neither knows the other’s true identity, yet their shared love for words sparks a romance that transcends secrets and circumstance. I can’t wait to share this tale of love, art, and discovery with you! You can read excerpts from this book here.

What is Anna writing?

I am excited to share another sneak peek of my latest Historical Romance novel with you! My protagonists, Suri and Giri, are royalty by birth but a poet and a playwright at heart. I’m currently at 65k words and aiming to complete the first draft soon.

Giri stood alone in the courtyard breathing in the crisp night air. In the moonlight, the raised platform that functioned as the stage glowed yellow. His brother would say he was wasting his life. Giri disagreed. There was no use fighting wars to acquire wealth if one did not enjoy poetry and plays during the peaceful times.

Mooka, a stray dog Giri had befriended, found him then, lumbering over to sniff his hands. Giri bent down to rub Mooka’s neck absently.

Giri had stumbled upon two of Poet Ravi’s poems and fallen in love with the shattered hearts depicted in them. It mirrored his broken self, prompting him to write a play.

Giri would have preferred to simply write a story and put it in the hands of friends. Watching them read his tale and discuss the merits would have filled his heart. There was only one problem with that. As the Crown Prince, his friends would be his subjects one day. They would not be honest with him about their thoughts—not about the merits of a story. And they would see too much of him in his characters, attribute their actions to him. He was not ready for that kind of examination. Most others he encountered were too unlettered to appreciate his tale.

Want another glimpse into Prince in Exile? Read another excerpt from the book here and step deeper into Suri and Giri’s world!

What is Anna writing?

I’m thrilled to share an exclusive sneak peek of my latest Historical Romance novel with you! My protagonists, Suri and Giri, are royalty by birth but a poet and a playwright at heart. Writing the poetry for this novel has been both an absolute joy and a delightful challenge! I’m currently at 55k words and aiming to complete the first draft by the end of this year.

The actor’s voice broke as he crooned the last line, holding the hand of the dead girl on the floor. Since all the performers were male, the actor trying to hold in his breath was also one. Though Suri knew this was a play, the music emanating from the lone flute pushed all her anguish into her throat and tears misted her eyes. The dark act took place in front of a colorful mural of a spring garden, flowers spilling everywhere. The contrast between the bright blooms and the fading lives could not be missed. A sob escaped his throat as the actor plunged a dagger into his chest and dropped on his lover’s chest.

She had dreaded coming here, worried about how the audience would react to the pourings from her mind. The night was dreadfully silent, no chatter from the crowd. She assumed that was a welcome sign.

“Is that your poem?” her cousin, Kanika whispered, breaking her out of her revere.

She nodded slowly, still stunned from hearing her words. Her own words. It felt like being in a rain shower on a hot day.

My protagonist is a poet

So I am writing poetry.

My protagonist, Prince Giridhar, is masquerading as a playwright. He falls in love with the poems of a local poet and uses them in his play.

Here are the opening lines of the draft poem:

She shone like a star in the sky

Sparkling like a diamond from up high

What do you think of this verse penned by our princess?

Princess Suryavati has a secret. She loves to write poems, and until recently, she had no audience for them. Can you imagine her thrill when Giridhar builds a play around her poems? But she lets him think the poet is a man, though her heart races each time he is near.

I enjoy writing their story, except for the poetry. That is kicking my rear. I will share more soon. In the meantime, please read the first romance novel in this series. It is a stand-alone happily ever after tale, featuring a king who has captured an enemy on the battlefield and allows his heart to be captured by the daughter of his prisoner.

What am I writing?

I have started working on book two of my historical romance series.

My protagonist, Prince Giridhar, is masquerading as a playwright. He falls in love with the poems of a local poet and uses them in his play.

Princess Suryavati has a secret. She loves to write poems, and until recently, she had no audience for her work. Can you imagine her thrill when Giridhar builds a play around her poems? But she lets him think the poet is a man.

Their love of words brings them together, each unaware of the other’s true identity. Is there a happily ever after for them? Only after I make them suffer for three-quarters of the book.

Read King of Hiding while waiting for this novel.

Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can borrow this novel as part of their subscription.