Readers know Roshani Chokshi as the author of the Star-Touched Queen series, the Pandava series, and The Gilded Wolves. Recently Nerd Daily contributor Anuska had the opportunity to chat with her about the third book in the Pandava quartet, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes, which released on April 7th. Roshani talks about the inspiration behind her stories, retelling mythology with a twist, her favourite Hindu myth, and a lot more!
Hello Roshani! First of all, I want to thank you for creating stories based on Indian mythology! As an Indian, it’s incredible to see our mythology and culture at the forefront of so many novels! What initially inspired you to start writing stories that draw from Hindu myths?
Thank you so much!!
My initial inspiration was my grandmother. I was fortunate to grow up in a family filled with gifted storytellers. My mom, who is Filipina, told us ghost stories and monstrous tales. My Ba, who is Indian, told us tales about the gods and demigods. I rarely saw books that dealt with those cultures growing up. If I did, they were very heavy issue books based on diasporic struggles, and while those stories are necessary and wonderful, I wanted something that more fully engaged with my heritage’s magic. So I started writing stories where those myths became a lens. I realize that sounds somewhat intelligent, so I’ll be frank: I WROTE A LOT OF FANFICTION WITH HINDU AND FILIPINO ELEMENTS. And then I realized I could tell my own story.
Your newest novel, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes released on April 7th. Could you tell us a bit about what we can expect?
Birds. Lots, and lots, of birds. And more gods of course, and demons…I’m being purposely vague because this is the story where we get a lot more insight and backstory into a character who has completely ensorcelled my imagination.
Why did you choose to write the reincarnated Pandavas as sisters instead of brothers?
Part of me was just sick of boys getting all the adventures, and the other part was deeply annoyed with the treatment of women in Hindu myths. So often, their POV isn’t explored or they’re randomly demonized and punished for the mistakes of the men who came before them. Turning the Pandava brothers into sisters was my way of reclaiming that space and trying to re-engage with the perspectives of female characters who so often got erased. Last, one of my favourite shows growing up was Sailor Moon! I loved the idea of celebrating found family/sisterhood and color-coded powers because who doesn’t love a good aesthetic.
Was there a certain character or a scene you enjoyed writing the most?
My favourite scene in the first book is the girls’ exchange with the Palace of Illusions. When we first moved to Georgia, I missed our old house and wondered if it missed us too.
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes takes place during the Holi celebrations. What is your favourite Hindu festival?
Navratri! My dad’s family is Gujarati, and I love going to garba and dancing late into the night!
One of the things I love most about the Pandava series is the bond the Pandava sisters share, is it inspired by your own relationship with your siblings?
Thank you! Yes, it’s a celebration of both my relationship with my brother and sister, and also the wonderful female friendships I’ve made over the years J
In combat, Aru electrocutes her enemies with the help of Vajra. What would your weapon of choice be if you were to face the Sleeper yourself?
I’ve always loved the idea of wielding water and icing over my enemies with the force of my frigid fury lol.
You chose to portray Shakuni and Surpanakha- both villains from the Indian epics The Mahabharata and The Ramayana– in a rather unconventional way in the two previous Aru Shah books. What made you want to present them in a completely different light?
Truthfully, I felt really bad for them. In some versions of the text, Shakuni went down a path of revenge out of love for his sister and wanting to protect her and avenge her honor. In some tales, he’s the only one left of his family and carrying an immense pressure. I wanted to know what that would look like now, and what are the consequences of that love. It gets even more explored in Book 3, and though it hurt to write, it made sense to me. As for Surpanakha, she had my pity more than my anger. I thought she was treated terribly in the myths and her side never got to be explored. To me, revisiting these myths means playing with the unclaimed spaces, parts of the story where no one explains someone else’s POV.
Your favourite story from the Hindu myths?
Savitri & Satyavan J Girl outwitting death? Yes yes yes.
A while ago, you announced an audio novella you wrote for Audible Originals on your Instagram. Could you tell us a little more about it? What has that experience been like?
Yes! It’s called “ONCE MORE UPON A TIME” and is about a married couple who had to sacrifice their love for each other, but ends up getting forced together on an enchanted road trip which may reawaken or rediscover feelings that were lost. It’s a kinda tragic set up that I wanted to make lighter, and is loosely inspired by the Irish tale of Diarmuid and Grainne. My version has cannibals, a honey badger, a talking cloak and a whole lotta second chance chemistry, and I can’t wait for people to give it a listen!! The experience has been a joy so far. Audible has been really collaborative with me, and it’s taught me so much about a different way of writing.
Speaking of Instagram, your feed is absolutely stunning, and I especially love seeing glimpses of Teddy! How is he doing?
Ah, hooray! I really enjoy obsessing over photos. On the one hand, social media is a place where we present a curated version of our lives, but it also a way to curate an experience for yourself. It lets me recast/refocus on memories and feels like storytelling. Teddy The Bread cat is exceptionally fluffy. So far, in the course of trying to respond to these wonderfully thought out questions, he has tried to eat the laptop not once, not twice, but SEVEN times. The cat is possibly broken. Must check warranty.
Finally, do you have any quarantine book recommendations for us?
Ooooh yes.
For the HOLY WTF DID I JUST READ experience (for readers 18+), I suggest VERITY by Colleen Hoover. For beautiful historical nonfiction, check out FALLEN GLORY by James Crawford. For a lovely feel-good regency romance, BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE by Evie Dunmore. For a delicious sci-fi thriller, RECURSION or DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch. For National Treasure without Nicholas Cage, THE GILDED WOLVES by yours truly, and, for Sailor Moon with an Indian flair…I hope you enjoy Aru Shah and The End of Time!
