Which element of your world, Jivavarta, did you develop first—the geography, the society, or something else? 

My first novel is about a low-born prince named Tasvak, so I needed a religious society where people are treated according to their birth. I created the religious social hierarchy first, followed by the geographical regions and their distinct social structures.

How much of Jivavarta’s deep history and lore did you create versus what ended up on the page? Were there any myths or histories y...