In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are highlighting stories written by Asian and Pacific Islander authors. Today's interview is with yaris052018, whose story was ONC 2022 Shortlist Qualified & ONC 2022 Longlist Qualified.

About the Author: Vanakkam people! Yaris is from the southernmost part of Asia. A full time dentist dreaming about the fantasy world in the night. An introvert evolving into an ambivert. She loves fine arts, fantasy stories, mythology and anything with coffee!

About 'Amaranthine Odes': Tushant Uday, a psychology student lives a complacent life he wished with his high-school sister Kimaya. His life is complete with her happy chirps and throbbing fights. In his sky of joy, she is his only rainbow. Kimaya, a normal girl who loves her brother, her art and her books. She is a mellifluous rose who entices every heart with just her being. 

Even if things seem blessed, life is never a bed of roses. The prick that poke them is the mysterious episodes of cries she faced every night whenever she is lost in her slumber. She sang skeptical odes to someone she never knew. Nor would she remember what she was bound with, leaving the wound scar Tushant's heart. Was that his prayers or a sudden miracle he knew not, for the past one year it has stopped at once. But when he returns, her cries begin but this time it is not so merciful. Things fall apart.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Vanakkam everyone! I'm Suriya Sudhakar writing as Yaris. Yes, that's an anagram of my name. I'm a full-time dentist dreaming about fantasy worlds at night—an introvert, evolving to be an ambivert. I love fine arts, epics, mythology, rain, and anything with coffee.

2. How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and how has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

I am an Asian residing in the southern part of the Indian Subcontinent. The heritage of India is beyond its religious beliefs.

As a person who seeks things from the other side, I would like to share this. The root of every religion is Sanatana dharma which directly translates as eternal truth regardless of any divisions. Everything the epics hold is for everyone teaching its seekers to live a selfless life to realize the God residing within us. This speaks to why the nation holds the caption of unity in diversity. The ancient stories make me question many things to quench my thirst with new answers, which leads to stronger learning, making me an amoeba rather than a human.

3. Does your family have any traditions that are important to you? Feel free to share at least one experience here!

My family is very much associated with traditions and rituals. In a year, we celebrate many festivals, amongst which Navaratri, Karadaiyan nombu, and Karthigai deepam are my favorites. Let's see them one by one.

Navaratri: Three nights are dedicated to Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi each, making nine nights of ceremonial celebration. We keep Golu worship by arranging dolls on shelves and making offerings daily. Evenings end with puja, music, and sometimes dance.

Karadaiyan Nombu: A homely puja is done when the Tamil month Panguni begins. It is done by women of the household praying for the health and wealth of their married life. It is based on the story wherein a woman named Savithri goes behind Lord Yama, the God of death, to get her husband's life back. With her devotion and intelligence, she will win him, and my story Amaranthine Odes is a modern-day retelling of this story. The show stealer is the karadai, a dish made of kidney beans and rice flour with salt or jaggery topped with butter. It's a delight to sight and a dish to savor at least once in a lifetime.

Karthigai Deepam: A festival in which diyas are lit for 5 days in the Tamil month Karthigai falling in November. On the first day, cleaning the house and disposing of worn-out things is done. On the second day or in the evening of Karthigai, the giant lamp is lit in the Shiva temple (dedicated to the element of fire) at Thiruvannamalai. In the next three days, the number of lamps reduces gradually. It is done to celebrate the concept of enlightenment, prosperity, knowledge, and wisdom and to brighten the long nights of the winter.

4. If you could introduce something from your culture to someone else, what would it be and why? It can be a tradition/custom, food, music, or anything else that comes to mind!

It is the 'Aayakalaigal arupaththi naangu' or the '64 fine arts'. It is believed that every human would have to know these. But in my opinion, it helps us know what we are good at, and I believe everyone possesses some talent. No one is born empty. It is the spice to the blandness of regular life. Once it is identified, we start enjoying the joy of living, and it is believed that knowing the self is the key to knowing the world.

5. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

Every mythology and legendary civilization has got something to offer to mankind. If not for them, evolution would have never happened. The dress we eat, the language we speak, the sophistication we live with, everything has come into existence because of paying heed to someone's needs. And the growth of today is the society of tomorrow. I see this as a month of gratitude to salute all who have improved the world, and I am very happy to be a part of this beautiful celebration.

6. How do your experiences as an AAPI author shape your stories? Do you take inspiration from your culture to tell your story? You may talk about 1-2 stories here.

It is the prime thing that emerges in my head whenever I sit to write a story. I see our epics and historical moments as evidence of ways of life beyond them being just scriptures.

For e.g., take up the Vedas, they speak about worshiping nature as gods and have many mythical creatures and magical weapons described in them. The Ramayana mentions the flying chariot of Ravana, which is today's airplane. The Sudharshana chakra or wheel of Vishnu is the representation of the galaxies. They speak of probabilities and possibilities.

And incorporating certain parts of it in the story is an amazing moment. It's a less-spoken pride that drives you crazy once the story begins to flow. Haven't you lived it yet? Then it's high time to try some new adventures. Beware, it is very dynamic!

7. What is your favorite myth or legend? Why?

I want to give the award of the most toughest question ever to this. I'm moved and hooked to tales. There is not just one myth or legend that I can point my hands at. So many stories have made me cherish them. Some are the grand epics, Ramayan and Mahabharat, also the stories of Shiva and his Nayanmar, the love of Shiva and Sati, the avatar of Vishnu, the story of Satyavan and Savithri, and so on. If you would like me to share a story close to my heart maybe I will answer it with two picks out of the ocean.

Story of Kannappanayanaar:

Kannappanaayanar visits the shiva temple in the forest to worship his idol. To his satisfaction he sees the eye of the lord bleeding. In a moment he tried to stop it with everything he had like mud, leaves, clothes etc but it wouldn't stop. So he would cut his eyes and place it on the idol. To his amazement the bleeding would stop and then the other eye would bleed. So he would take gs other eyes and place it to the God wherein the Lord will bless him with prosperity moved by his selfless devotion.

Story of Vikramaditya:

Vikramaditya is the King who tried to cremate the body of a dead soul, the Vethal. It would narrate him with numerous scenarios asking him to solve them and give its morals. If the moral is right it will fly back to the tree and if it's wrong his head would burst into 1000 pieces. These stories have won many children's hearts by introducing critical thinking to such young minds. My current novel Hush is based on this legend driven in the genre of crime and mythology.

8. If you could have the same powers as a creature and/or deity from mythology or legends, what would it be? Why?

I would like to live the life of the animal Yaazhi, protecting the gods and human beings. It is the creature known for its majestic appearance. It is of many forms Simma Yazhi (Lion headed), Makara Yazhi( headed) Nara Yazhi (human headed) Svana Yazhi ( dog headed) Yaanai Yazhi (elephant headed) etc.. They have a muscular body, tusks of elephant and serpentine tail. They symbolize struggles of humans with elements of nature and how intellectual he should be to lead a majestic life. They roamed in the lands of Kumari Kandam, the ancient land of Tamil scripture and their sculptures are present in every Tamil temple making me think of its vibrancy of those days. The pure interest is why I choose to be the yaazhi for one day.

9. What is your advice for other writers who want to use mythology in their story?

Thanks for asking me this question. To every writer who wishes to do a myth and legend spin off, here is my piece of advice in 6 steps.

Step 1: Outline the genre and idea. When it comes to picking the myth or legend be honest to take what interests and suits your kind.

Step 2: Do a background check on the versions of a particular story or stories and choose which one is the key you wish to hold.

Step 3: Take up the mythological part and quote the interesting key points in it. Now try to find some twists that help you think more about the structured story.

Step 4: After expanding the concept, work out where it can be pushed to add any elements that you really feel would blend well into the theme. Once it is done, you are all set to word it.

Step 5: Begin writing!

Step 6: Get the story going towards its destiny. Never let anyone or anything stop you.

Less reads? Less comments? Less votes? Are you not bothered at all? Worry not. The story in you, believes in you. Prove it right and make the story happen.

I thank the @mythandlegend team for an interesting experience. To the upcoming days of joyous heritage month celebration, let's make a toast!

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about Queen_of_life_Heba. You can check her stories featured in our reading list as well as her other works. If you're interested in learning more about other AAPI authors, check out Myth & Legend's AAPIHM reading list here.