Today I have Priya Ardis on the blog talking about her new book MY MERLIN AWAKENING.
A young Merlin has woken and must manipulate a high school girl so he can wield Excalibur to stop a devastating natural disaster, but then falls in love with her.
Take it away, Priya:
Holy Cauldron-bats, is it the caped crusader…Merlin?
You’ve heard the legends. His name pops up everywhere. Merlin. He’s some old dude with a long white beard, pointy hat, and robes. But does the most powerful wizard in the world really have to be a cartoon character? Well, I thought, why not trade in the robe for…tights?
While the Legend of Arthur is a classic story and the underlying themes of brotherhood, nobility, and the infamous love triangle still appeal today, when was the last time you looked at them through a more modern lens? If you think about it, Merlin has always been the Arthurian superhero. In the My Merlin Series, I sharpened the focus on this idea.
So, how to modernize Merlin as a superhero?
First, every superhero needs an alter-ego. Okay, no tights I promise. Actually I prefer jeans and a biker jacket. That’s what Clark Kent wore when he was being badass—under the influence of red kryptonite, of course. The classic struggle for the superhero is his dual identity. Is he really Clark Kent/Peter Parker/BruceWayne? Or is he really the superhero? Which one does he want to be? In My Merlin, Merlin’s alter-ego is Matt. This is a huge struggle in the book for Merlin…does he want to be the “Most Powerful Wizard in the World” or does he want to be plain-old Matt?
Second, every superhero needs an equally powerful super-villain. Yeah, there are minion bad guys but there is only one we truly love to hate. Batman had the Joker. Superman vs. Lex Luthor. When you think about the legends, Merlin didn’t really have one. The legends say that Merlin was tricked into defeat by a witch/nymph/girl called Viviane/Nimue. In My Merlin, Merlin has one very powerful and contentious relationship—his brother Vivane, aka Vane. After all, brothers can make the best friends but as archenemies they can be truly devastating.
Third, every superhero needs a super-power. Well, this was a no brainer. Merlin is the most powerful wizard in the world and all that. But his true super-power lies in being able to tell the future. (Not that he can necessarily stop the visions from happening!)
Fourth, every superhero needs to obsess over—the girl. Calling Lois Lane. In My Merlin, Arriane, aka Ryan, gives our hero a run for his magic. Since the story is told from her point of view, it’s interesting to see what our hero looks like from her perspective. Also she’s the tipping point…leading us into the last superhero modernization of Merlin…
Fifth, every superhero needs a cause in the here and now. Batman saves the city. Superman saves the world. I think Thor saved the galaxy. In My Merlin, the sword and stone crashes out of nowhere into the middle of London. Why is it here? What does it mean? It can’t be good. Turn on the Merlin-signal, commissioner. We need a hero!
Want more Merlin? Watch the “If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?” trailer:
My Boyfriend Merlin, Book 1, is available through most major book retailers. My Merlin Awakening, Book 2, is now available in limited release at Barnes and Noble. It will be out in full release in mid-June 2012. Ever My Merlin, Book 3, will be available in late 2012. Add it to-read on Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13641732-ever-my-merlin)
Read Reviews and Excerpts at: Author Website, Amazon, B&N and Goodreads.
About the Author: I love stories of all kinds–but especially the gooey ones that make your nose leak and let your latte go cold. I started my first novel at sixteen, writing in notebooks on a long train ride in India during a hot summer vacation. My favorite Arthurian piece is the poem The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson and a gorgeous song by Loreena McKennitt. A hopeless romantic, I’m a longtime member of the Romance Writer’s of America.
Connect with Priya Ardis at: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.
Cheers,
Wow. This is very interesting! Thanks Juliana!
Thank you for hosting me today, Juliana!
@Kelley — I’m so glad you like the concept :)
Priya
Thank you, Priya! Awesome story!
I like this idea. I’ve always loved Merlin (it all began with Sword in the Stone where he wore swim trunks and shot off to Bermuda…) and I looove me some magic, so…awesome idea! :)
This sounds so interesting. I’ve always been a fan of Merlin.
Nice, sounds fun!