What makes a compelling love triangle? What does on-page representation mean to a reader who rarely sees their identity reflected in their favorite genre? And how did Formula 1 racing inspire a story about dragon riding?
All these questions are answered in our conversation with A.T. Qureshi about her brand new romantasy, Rider of Dragons, out now from Avon Books. As the bestselling author of The Baby Dragon Café, Qureshi is no stranger to soaring tales of dragons, romance and plenty of entertaining characters that readers will be compelled to root for. This book, though, is different — the first of a bold new duology, the vibes are darker, the dragons are deadlier and the stakes are higher than ever.
Come with us as we journey to the world of Rider of Dragons to see what went into crafting this fresh new romantasy read.
The Sterling family dinners are full of Urdu terms, bangles and phuppo traditions set inside a very Western dragon-racing fantasy world. How did you decide where and how to weave your own Pakistani heritage into this genre?
I love my Pakistani roots and so I always try to include cultural details whenever I am able to. It is very natural for me to include my heritage in my writing because it is such a huge part of who I am — to avoid those details would actually take more conscious effort from me. I also feel like that specificity adds a richness to the story. Additionally, as an avid reader, I didn’t always see myself represented in the fantasy stories I loved growing up; now, as an author, I want to take that opportunity to mention Pakistani culture where I can and hopefully readers will resonate or appreciate that, and perhaps they will not feel so alone.
How did you approach writing Genevieve whose arc is motivated by loss without letting the book become defined by grief alone?
A huge part of Genevieve’s character is that she’s trying to find her own footing outside of her family. Of course, loss is a huge part of the members of her family and it influences how they all behave. I always find it interesting to write complicated family relationships because those dynamics truly can be so complex and nuanced. At the end of the day, everyone is doing what they think is best, but it might not always come across that way. Genevieve is a true fighter, and I think the way that she battles against her grief is a major part of her character as well.
Dragon racing here comes with its own institutions (the Dragon Council, the Entrance Stake, championship crowns) that feel almost like a real sports league. Did you design the mechanics and politics of the sport before the characters, or did the world grow out of the story you wanted to tell?
I designed the sport before the characters, actually! I knew I wanted to center this story around dragon races, so I immediately began thinking of what that would look like. I was largely influenced by Formula 1 racing, but as the story continued, I developed the sport further to serve the journey that Genevieve and the other characters were going on.
Zaviyar’s rivalry and Qais’s mentorship pull Genevieve in different emotional directions. How did you keep those two relationships distinct so they didn’t blur into a single “love triangle” formula?
I really enjoy love triangles in media but I only enjoy them when it isn’t obvious who the girl will end up with; I want to feel compelled by both love interests and root for each of them. That was the mind frame I was going in with when I crafted Qais and Zaviyar. It’s actually funny: when I first had the idea for the book, Qais and Zaviyar were one character in that it was Ginny’s rival who would go on to train her. But I felt so intrigued by both of those dynamics that I felt they deserved to be their own characters. Each love interest also has tropes that I love, personally. Qais is the stoic bad boy; Zaviyar is the irritating rich kid. Qais is her trainer, the pair forced to work together; Zaviyar is her rival, the pair in forced proximity. Both love interests actually have a bit of a forbidden element to them. I truly had so much fun developing both romantic relationships, and for a while, I was also switching back and forth with who Genevieve should end up with.
Fang and Crimson have their own personalities and secrets. How much do you plan out a dragon’s individual behavior and backstory before it appears on the page?
I wanted the dragons to feel like fully fleshed out characters rather than props! Their personalities definitely have a lot to do with their riders and their relationship with their riders; in a way, the dragons become an extension of their riders and vice versa, that’s how close the bond is.
A.T. Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American who adores words. She is the author of the Baby Dragon series and the upcoming Dragon Racer series.
Aamna grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion). Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. Through her writing, she wishes to inspire a love for the beautiful country and rich culture that informed much of her identity.
When she’s not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York.
