I recently had the opportunity to give a short talk at Seminary Hill Winery in the Hudson Valley, sponsored by Aaron Hicklin of One Grand Books in Narrowsburg NY and Seminary Hill Winery. I was there with another truly lovely author, Brahna Yassky.
We talked about journeys, the one that Brahna took as she details in her memoir as a burn victim and survivor, and the fictional journey that Jaya takes in my novel, from being a dutiful daughter to a confident and strong woman in her own right.
Along the way, Aaron also coined Finding Warrior Pose as "enjoyable, something you don't expect, dark and disturbing, perhaps the world's first yoga dystopia". The River Reporter did a nice write-up as well, "Don't judge a book by it's cover".
I most enjoyed talking with readers, many of whom are yoga practitioners, after the event!
“In her debut novel, Priya Doty has produced a fun, hugely compelling novel about self-discovery and solving a centuries-old mystery at a yoga retreat in India. Part beach read, mostly thriller, a great-page turner.”
Johnny Diaz, author of Boston Boys Club and Take the Lead
"Recently unemployed and perpetually single and pressured to get married by her pushy Indian family, Jaya Gupta finds herself at a crossroads. The novel sets in motion when Jaya learns about her family’s hometown in India, where they owned a plot of land that’s now an ashram in India. The plot of land was stolen from them many years ago, and, interested to learn more about the town where her family comes from, Jaya makes a bold decision to set off on a six-month trip to the ashram to learn yoga, unaware of the dangers that are lying ahead . . .
Sometimes serious, sometimes funny, Finding Warrior Pose is both a fast-paced novel à la Dan-Brown with its unexpected twists and turns, but weaved throughout you’ll find important themes: courage and self-exploration; family and social issues; redemption. Priya Doty has created a world you wouldn’t want to leave, a world filled with action, lifelike dialogues, and relatable characters. You’ll stay up all night wanting more and more and more."
Jeremy Taylor, author of the Cornerstone of Happiness
This was a gripping and galloping page-turner that had me captivated from beginning to end. I found so many brilliant nuances slyly planted by the author which revealed additional rich textures of the characters, their intertwined relationships, and their harrowing journey sublimely juxtaposed against the splendors of India. I did not want this story to end!
Debbie Chinn, author of Dancing in Their Light
“I feel like a lot of Indian Americans are going to relate to bits and pieces of this book.” Deepti Sahrawat and I discuss the multicultural fiction novel Finding Warrior Pose. Deepti’s Pop Culture Prisoner podcast usually breaks down the drama on Bravo reality shows (Family Karma, Real Housewives) but today, she took a break from that to talk to an Indian writer about the writing process, our experiences of being Indian American, and the one time she went to India to cure an incurable disease.
My colleague and all-around inspiring woman, Daphne Leroy, is building a community called Descendants of Hope. Her aim is to shine a light on the successes of first-generation immigrant americans who have reached heights their ancestors could never have imagined, thereby inspiring all immigrants and their descendants to reach new heights. She was kind enough to feature me on her Friday Follow series.