Tag: Child of the River

Broken Hearts and Secret Trust: Curse of the River Arrives This April

April has always felt like a bridge to me, a month where the air shifts, much like the lives of my characters in the Prophesied Prince series. Today, I’m writing to you with a heart full of both excitement and a little creative grief.

On April 23rd, Curse of the River, the second book in our journey, will finally be out in the world.

If you haven’t had a chance to preorder your copy yet, you can do so here. For my wonderful listeners who prefer the immersion of an audiobook, I ask for just a little more patience. While it will arrive a little later, I promise the wait will be worth it.

The Prince and the Girl of Mystery

Writing this book was a deeply personal experience. I found myself spending so much time in the quiet, tense spaces between Prince Atul and Sugandha.

Atul is a character who lingers with me. In Curse of the River, he is grappling with the aftermath of the elixir he ingested at the end of Book One. He is filled with a gnawing sense of unworthiness, struggling to master powers that feel more like a burden than a gift. Then there is Sugandha. After being alone for so long, she is slowly, tentatively learning what it means to rely on someone else.

I didn’t make it easy for him; Atul truly has to earn her trust. They are both struggling with their own magic and, often, with each other. Yet in that friction, they find a way to make one another better.

Here is a glimpse of him earning her trust through his words and actions:

“There’s a mystery surrounding Guru Ori’s niece,” Atul said, “and I believe it’s vital we unravel it if we’re to bring any peace to this land.”

My chest constricted. Would he name me as the niece?

“Nanda,” he said instead, gesturing to me, “saved my life after Chief Vikramasinha’s men struck me with an arrow. He’s heading to Sangadhara, the village of Purohit Parivan, and I’m going with him to uncover the truth.”

The knot in my stomach loosened. He’d kept my secret. In that quiet decision, my heart edged a little closer toward trusting him.

Even though I knew exactly where this story was headed, the ending broke my heart. It has been in the making for over seven years, since I wrote the prophecy in Heir to Malla.

Looking Toward the Horizon: The Trilogy’s Conclusion

While Curse of the River is the focus of my April, my mind is already beginning to settle into the final chapter of this trilogy.

I’m happy to share that the outline for Book Three is complete. I even have a working title, one I’m keeping close to my chest for just a little longer. I know the arcs for all my major characters. I know exactly how their stories conclude in this series.

It is a bittersweet feeling. As an author, it’s hard to say goodbye to characters who have lived in my head for so long. They still surprise me, of course. Even with a full outline, they often take a detour that changes the story as I write. That unpredictability is the most joyful part of the process for me.

I’ve already started the actual writing and am currently 1,500 words into the first draft. Given how Curse of the River ends, I don’t want to make you wait too long for the conclusion.

A Virtual Journey to Medieval India

While we wait for the 23rd, my read-along of Child of the River (Book One) continues.

We’ve been diving deep into the world-building details I love most: the legend of the Lord who is Half Woman (Ardhanarisvara), the ritual magic of ghee, and the looming shadows of sandstone fortresses. It’s a virtual journey into a medieval India I’ve spent years researching and imagining, and I’ve been sharing some fun pictures along the way.

If you haven’t joined the read-along yet, you can start here.

April 23rd is just around the corner. I cannot wait for you to hold Curse of the River in your hands.

Charting the River’s Next Course

I’m back to outlining Book Two in The Prophesied Prince series! That means re-reading Child of the River, going through my notes to track the timeline, character ages, and all the minor characters—where they were last and what threads need to be picked up.

Child of the River Cover

Right now, I’m creating a rough outline of what happens in Book Two. Of course, as always, my characters tend to have their own ideas, and the final book often takes an unexpected path—much like a river carving out a new course. But that’s part of the fun! I love getting into my characters’ heads, understanding their motivations, and, most of all, throwing obstacles in their way. After all, a hero’s journey is nothing without persistence, endurance, and sacrifice.

This book will take my characters to new parts of Kashgar that we didn’t explore in Child of the River, so I’m excited to build out more of this medieval world. My goal is to capture enough vivid details so my readers can see it as clearly as I do.

The outlining should be done in about a week—then it’s on to writing! Looking forward to sharing the finished book with you in 2026.

Let Me Share My Story with You!

My name is Sugandha

My grandfather raised me in a modest home filled with love. 

My world shattered on that dark day when my uncle coerced my grandfather into cursing a ship from Malla. With his last breath, my grandfather cast a protective spell around me, shielding me from the clutches of my uncle. 

For the first time in my life, I found myself alone, fleeing from the only home I had ever known, with danger lurking around every corner. My uncle’s relentless pursuit and the deadly intentions of a princess plunged me into a whirlwind of peril. I can’t fathom why they’re after me. 

But the most bewildering discovery comes when I uncover my deep-rooted bond with the whispering river.

PrEORDER to Experience my JOURney

Unveiling my book title

I am excited to share the title of Book 1 in the Prophesied Prince series: Child of the River.

A year ago, a ship arrived on the shores of Magadha. In a declaration of war, the men Magadha had sent as emissaries to Kashgar returned as corpses on that vessel. King Jay sends Prince Atul to route out the rebels and seat Aggabodhi on the throne. Atul is prepared to wage war against men. What he encounters is curses and spells. How does Atul defeat what he does not understand? Especially when he hears voices urging him to protect a girl he has never met. A girl named Sugandha.

Excerpt of the Prologue:

On that dreary day, the sea was choppy and gray. Powerful waves crashed against the rocks, spraying water in a mist. The tall and steep cliffs at the ocean’s edge loomed large and dark. All day, her grandfather had seemed weary and distracted. Sugandha had wondered what troubled him. When he cautioned her to stay home and left hurriedly, Sugandha followed her grandfather to the beach and now stood partially hidden behind a sandstone boulder. She wriggled her toes, wishing she could be home, eating her meal. Her fingers grazed the rough edge of the rock. She shifted to one side to view the bumps on the surface and found a carving of a boat. It had weathered in time, but the image remained clear. With the sails fluttering in the wind, she could almost imagine the raft afloat. Did the sculptor use his imagination, or did a real craft loom in front of him like the one before her eyes? A large ship tossed on the waves, and she could see people moving on its deck. The howling wind sounded like a cry for help from the ship’s passengers.

Continue reading the prologue.