Guest Post & Giveaway: Priya Ardis

Today is my last post with Priya and My Boyfriend Merlin.  It's been a really great week, and I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as I have!  Even though this is the last post, you will be able to enter the giveaway until 5/19 so keep those entries coming! 

Here are the other posts of the week!

My Boyfriend Merlin Blurb Post

My Boyfriend Merlin Book Trailer

My Boyfriend Merlin Excerpt

Interview with Priya Ardis

and now last but not least a Guest Post by Priya Ardis!

Merlin, Gargoyles, and Mermaids

In the world of My Merlin, there are several races running around today’s world. One is, of course, the regulars. Regular human beings. (I happen to like this set!) Our main character, Ryan, is a Regular. It was important for me to show in a world of supernatural creatures that a normal (albeit kinda brainy and a perfectionist) girl could hold her own.

Second, there are the Wizards. The main characters here are our heroic Merlin and his more pain-in-a-girl’s-backside brother, Vane. The wizards (much like in Harry Potter) live in secret, but the twist is that they are somewhat mercenary. For generations, they’ve been selling magic to maintain their wealth and prominence.

Third, there are the baddies—Gargoyles.  They look like anyone else. Except when they turn. You got it fangs, Cro-Magnon forehead, super-strength. They’re a deadly clannish controlled by one gargoyle king. Oh, they’re also super-healers so they’re near impossible to get killed.

Fourth, in My Merlin Awakening, you meet Triton’s children—the mermaids. Gorgeous, green-skinned, and with gills, these are not your average carefree mermaids. They are a little crazy, a little vicious, and a lot blood-thirsty. Dressed more Spartan than Disney, they make life interesting for our heroes.

More than an Arthurian series, the world My Merlin delves into the mixing of the ideas of chivalry and magic (put on your cute bunny slippers here) with more up to date supernatural creatures (wait, your cute bunny slippers has fangs! Bunnicula, anyone?)

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Interview: Priya Ardis

Today I have an interview with Priya Ardis to share with you!  Don't forget to check out the other posts this week and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

My Boyfriend Merlin Blurb Post

My Boyfriend Merlin Book Trailer

My Boyfriend Merlin Excerpt

Can you tell us about My Boyfriend Merlin in just a few words?

My Boyfriend Merlin is a young-adult Arthurian paranormal in which Merlin goes to high school to recruit candidates to pull the sword from the stone. One of the candidates turns out to be the girl he’s been crushing on.

What inspired you to write?

I’ve always loved reading, but stringing together words in a comprehensible story has been a challenge. I love it, of course. From the first moment I dared to say “What I would have done with this story is…” I’m lucky that there are other people out there who replied to my “What I…” with “Oh, I like that!”

Do you have a dream cast for this series?

Ah, the ultimate question. The pic below will illustrate what I picture the “Round Table” so to speak to be!

Did anything particularly surprise you during the writing process? 

Absolutely! The characters like to run all over the place. In mine, Vane was a particular challenge. He just wanted to take over the whole book! And apparently he did because he seems to be quite the favorite among the readers.

Are any of your characters based off people that you know? 

Ha. I’ll never tell…. Well, ok, I’ll spill. The answer is… no, not really. The characters are kind of a medley of people’s particular characteristics. For example, debaters in high school I knew who twirl their pencil a lot. You might see this trait come in somewhere!

Which of your characters would do best in The Hunger Games? And Why?

Vane is very Gale. He’s not the one in the limelight and he understands what needs to be done. Matt is very Peeta. He’s a bit secretive, a bit sweet, and a lot cute. As for Ryan, our heroine, I don’t think she quite fits as Katniss but she thinks she wants to and that’s the journey for her!

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Excerpt: My Boyfriend Merlin

Here is an excerpt from My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis!  Make sure you enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!

“I can’t believe you even let that jerk near you,” Alexa said as she hurried us down the hallway. “After the way he treated you—”

“It was only two dates,” I muttered.

Alexa snorted. “He texted you to break up. How weak is that?”

“I text all the time,” I defended.

The hallways of Acton-Concord High were crowded with kids. Everyone took the few minutes in between class to check their phones that were supposed to be kept in the lockers. It was the one rule I couldn’t make myself follow. I couldn’t bear to be parted from my scheduler and with all the activities and clubs I’d signed up for, on top of taking a full AP course load, a paper scheduler just did not work for me.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. “We’re going to be late.”

Alexa rolled her eyes. “Do you sleep with that thing?”

We ran across a small courtyard, barely glancing at the gloomy sky outside to a side entrance of the gym that led directly to the girl’s locker room. Alexa stopped just at the door.

“Grey and I just want to look out for you, Ry. You’ve had a tough year. Don’t think we don’t know you still have nightmares?”

My jaw dropped open. “You hear me?”

Alexa’s generous lips turned down into a sad smile. “We’re on the same floor and you’re not exactly quiet.” Her perfectly symmetrical eyes narrowed. “And I’m not letting Emrys take advantage of my way too sweet sister.”

I felt my cheeks heat. The white knight routine happened to me a lot. The combination of possessing a petite frame, curly blond hair, and big eyes seemed to land me in the role of the damsel in distress every time. They all thought I needed rescuing.

But it wasn’t like I was a basketcase. Well, not totally. I sighed. “Let me remind you that when your mom adopts me, you’re officially going to be my little sister.”

“Only by age.” Alexa snorted.

I opened the door to the gym. “I can handle Matt—or anyone else for that matter.”

Alexa raised curved eyebrows. “Really? Have you picked the Prom theme yet?”

“It’s a committee decision,” I defended.

“It’s your committee.” 

I chewed my lip. “What if everyone hates what I pick?”

Alexa went into the locker room. “You can’t please everyone.”

“I just want it to be perfect,” I muttered before following her in.

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Book Trailer: My Boyfriend Merlin

It's book trailer day at Indie Revolution!  I have got 2 really awesome trailers to show you that showcase My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis!

An awesome fan of Priya's made a book trailer (Spanish)...I think it's really cool! Check it out.

I was thrilled My Boyfriend Merlin inspired this video by Yosbelin! Give the girl some props & check out her video on you tube. Leave a comment for her! Color me blown away. I also absolutely love the music she put it to (One Republic) and who doesn’t love to watch some CW? ~Priya

The trailer is in Spanish, so here is the translation.

NO ES UN MITO

It's not a myth

MUCHO MENOS CUANDO DESCUBRES

Especially when you discover

QUE TU PROBLEMATICO EX-NOVIO ES

That your enigmatic ex-boyfriend is

MERLIN

Merlin

MUCHO VECES LO QUE CREES

Often what you think

NO ES LO QUE PARECES

Is not what it seems

Also, here is the “If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?” book trailer!

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