The Importance of Stories, Myths, and Dreams, a guest post by Rati Mehrotra

At various points in my life, I have been told that my writing is an unimportant hobby, a waste of time, a selfish indulgence, or a distraction from ‘real’ work. If you are a writer or an artist, you may have heard such soul-destroying, guilt-inducing words as well – from parents, partners, relatives, teachers, or even friends. Or perhaps you were more fortunate! Regardless, I am here to tell you – the hell with that. If you have a passion, pursue it, no matter how unsupportive the people in your life might be.

Easy words to say, difficult to live by. It took me years – no, decades – to feel pride in my vocation. Because that’s what writing is for me. It’s not a hobby, it’s not an indulgence, and it’s definitely not a waste of time. It’s my calling. I am a writer, a storyteller, a world weaver. Oh, I like the sound of that!

And it is something to be proud of. Stories are old as humanity itself. Ever since we could think, we have dreamed. We have told each other stories about the beasts that lurk beyond the fire, the jagged streaks of lightning that split the sky, the stars that remain fixed, the stars that seem to move, the moon that appears to change shape every night, and the seasons that bring such drastic changes in our landscapes. Civilization is founded on myth, not technology.

We are older now and a bit more knowledgeable. We know why the seasons change, the difference between stars and planets, and the various phases of the moon. What has not changed is our need for stories. Stories, perhaps, are what truly distinguish humans from every other creature on our planet. Stories, sometimes, are what save us.

I invite you to visit a world I have woven and step into one such story that saved me: Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove.

Back in the beginning of 2020, I was at a low point in my life. I’d had multiple projects fall through, and I was wondering if I would ever write again. Then the pandemic happened, we went into lockdown, and I was cut off from my family in India. I lost friends, and I fell ill myself. I was in a hellish pit of grief and anxiety. I couldn’t go anywhere; I could only go into my own mind. So that’s what I did. I built an entire world to escape into.

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is my first YA fantasy book. Writing it was the way I managed to climb out of the hellish pit I was in. It’s set in an alternate medieval India, inspired by actual thirteenth century maps, and follows the adventures of a young guardswoman in a monster-infested land. It’s a murder mystery, political intrigue, betrayal, found family, humor and romance/banter all rolled into one. I channeled all my love of Indian mythology, history, culture, and architecture into it. And at the end of it, I looked at it and thought: this is something I want to share with others.

My illness has been long and bewildering. I’m one of the #MillionsMissing – those with chronic illnesses like Long Covid and MECFS – who miss family outings, vacations, dinners, weddings, funerals, travel, and conventions. I’ve barely left my neighborhood in the last couple of years. I lose my voice if I talk too much. Some days, I can’t speak more than a few sentences.

But I still speak through my stories. Listen: let me tell you a tale of the monsters that lurk in the shadows – and those that sit with us by the fire.

Meet the author

Born and raised in India, Rati Mehrotra now lives and writes in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of the science fantasy novels Markswoman (2018) and Mahimata (2019) published by Harper Voyager. Her YA fantasy debut novel Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove will be published in October 2022 by Wednesday Books. Her short fiction has been shortlisted for The Sunburst Award, nominated for The Aurora Award, and has appeared in multiple venues including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Lightspeed Magazine, Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, Podcastle, Cast of Wonders, and AE – The Canadian Science Fiction Review.

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About Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove

Katyani’s role in the kingdom of Chandela has always been clear: becoming an advisor and protector of the crown prince, Ayan, when he ascends to the throne. Bound to the Queen of Chandela through a forbidden soul bond that saved her when she was a child, Katyani has grown up in the royal family and become the best guardswoman the Garuda has ever seen. But when a series of assassination attempts threatens the royals, Katyani is shipped off to the gurukul of the famous Acharya Mahavir as an escort to Ayan and his cousin, Bhairav, to protect them as they hone the skills needed to be the next leaders of the kingdom. Nothing could annoy Katyani more than being stuck in a monastic school in the middle of a forest, except her run-ins with Daksh, the Acharya’s son, who can’t stop going on about the rules and whose gaze makes her feel like he can see into her soul.

But when Katyani and the princes are hurriedly summoned back to Chandela before their training is complete, tragedy strikes and Katyani is torn from the only life she has ever known. Alone and betrayed in a land infested by monsters, Katyani must find answers from her past to save all she loves and forge her own destiny. Bonds can be broken, but debts must be repaid.

ISBN-13: 9781250823687
Publisher: St. Martin’s Publishing Group
Publication date: 10/18/2022
Age Range: 14 – 18 Years

Filed under: Guest Post