The Characters

Kristjan Jorvarsson

This may seem obvious since it’s his name and face on the cover, but who’s Kristjan?

At eighteen, Kristjan has had many different apprenticeships–most of which have been cut short by his father due to the danger involved. Adventuring in the cold wastes of Toppur isn’t safe for the future chief. What about mining? Definitely not! He might get caught in a cave-in. The only safe route is to apprentice for the position of chief.

But…

Kristjan doesn’t want that responsibility. He’s not ready for any responsibility yet–especially not being betrothed!

And betrothals are coming in. Father’s already written four rejection letters, but now an elder is trying to match his daughter with Kristjan.

Geirfinnur Jorvarsson

Geirfinnur has been chief and single-parent to Kristjan for the past eighteen rotations (years). He has a strong sense of community, responsibility, and ethics. He’s watched as his relationship with his son has grown distant and mourns that. After all, he promised his wife on her deathbed that he’d not allow that to happen.

But…

Geirfinnur knows what only the elders know. Soon there’ll be more to worry about than betrothals or family relationships. Soon, the holdt won’t be able to survive.

A merchant left the holdt vowing to never return and to spread the word to others that it’s not worth braving the wastelands to reach them. Without merchants, they’ll have to scrounge for food with hunting parties, live off lichen and maybe, stars forbid, ice rat! It may keep them alive, but what about clothes to keep them warm? Sure they could stay in the holdt and its caverns, but then there’d be food.

Tinna Arnorsdotter

All of Tinna’s seventeen rotations have been lived identified by her father–Friðfinn, respected elder–and her mother’s hysterics. She’d rather fall somewhere in the middle–and not be noticed.

But…

Kristjan’s cousin, Bastian, has watched her as long as she can remember. At first she was flattered. After all, what girl wouldn’t love having the attentions of an attractive young man, and nephew to the chief to boot!

But…

When Bastian’s attention turns more physical, she’s left with guilt and feeling dirty. Now, her only hope is if she can hide what happened and get Kristjan Jorvarsson to agree to the betrothal her father sent.

Bastian Helgisson

At eighteen, Bastian has stayed in the shadows of his cousin, but he’s watched as his cousin has pleased everyone–or tried to. The problem is that pleasing everyone leaves others unhappy, and Bastian sees that. He could be a better chief than Kristjan; he’s even followed Uncle Gierfinnur around learning what it takes to be chief of Storeheltur.

But…

There’s one thing Bastian can do, and that’s please himself. So, every decision is filtered through the grid of what he wants. Whether that’s get a ring for Tinna or help the holdt survive.

Setting

400 rotations ago, Jorvar, Iunn, Arnor, Bergmund, Helgis, and five other scientists were given warning to flee to their shelter. When the shaking stopped and they dared exit, they thought their clocks were off. It was night–the two moons… That’s what was wrong. There were only two moons–Handi and Tsiki. Where was Piku?

As time progressed, they realized there was no day, only moonsteps. The moons told the passage of time. If they were to survive the climatic changes, they’d have to expand their shelter and dig into the rocks and caverns around them. Thus they created the holdt, Storeheltur.

Now…

Outside, it’s a barren, frozen waste inhabited near the caverns by shkatað, large white bears, snow foxes, and other creatures that use the thermal vents to survive and live off each other.

Inside, it’s a warm cavern system lit by minerals called yoma. Lizards and rats skitter through the caverns, and lichen grows abundantly.

But…

Storeheltur is the farthest northern settlement in the frozen wastes. They survive by merchants willing to brave the snow and ice to bring them supplies.

Jump into the Story

Intrigued? Then…

Still not sure? Then…

What is Kickstarter?

You’ve heard of gofundme. Think of Kickstarter as a gofundme with perks! The gaming community has used Kickstarter for years. The indie-published book industry has just recently hopped on board.

This crowdunding option, enables the reader to have direct access to the author. The messsage feature works well, and many times the author has the reader interact with them through polls.

Since Kickstarter has been around for years, they’ve figured out the ins and outs of how to vet projects, provide secure payment options, etc.

How Kickstarter works

The project will be live for 23 days. During that time, you have the opportunity of pledging and encouraging your friends to pledge and back the project. If it funds, and only if it funds, you’ll pay what you pledged and get your rewards.

Reward tiers allow you to choose how much you wish to receive and how much you wish to support a project.

If the project funds early, then stretch goals are implemented–these are things that brings more value to your product and the project. For books, it’s often character art, maps, special art to include in the book, bookmarks, stickers, deleted scenes, extra short stories, etc. The more people who back, the higher the project goes and the more perks everyone gets!

When the project ends, late pledges can be in effect. (I’ve set mine to last until I make a final order of books.) This means there will still be people who can get the perks, even if they were late to the party.

A week after the project ends, Kickstarter uses Stripe to charge your credit card. Then if your card has changed since you pledged, Kickstarter, and often the author, will reach out to get that fixed. I just supported one Kickstarter where those errored cards made the difference in what art we would receive in our books! I was so excited to hear it got figured out and everyone still was able to have that stretch goal.

Kristjan’s Rise as a Kickstarter

I learned a lot from Bonded Crowns as a Kickstarter, and that helps you out.

You’ll be choosing from several options.

The first level is “back because you want to”–you can add some extra change to support it without receiving anything or add more to your pledge because you believe in it.

Then there are ebook options–from Uprooted to Kristjan’s Rise months before it’ll be available on outlets.

Physical product: Every physical product comes with an ebook as well. You’ll have your choice of paperback or hardback or sparkly hardback. Let me explain.

Both paperback and hardback will come with chapter art headings. These look really nice in the proof paperback I’ve received. There are two different images–one for Geirfinnur (the dad) and one for Kristjan’s point of view.

In hardback, you’ll have two choices–regular and shiny sparkly. The regular one has a dust jacket with the cover on it, and on the book, just Kristjan and his thinking spot.

The Sparkly Hardback special edition:

Let’s work our way from the outside in. There is a gold-foiled dust jacket–the title and author name in gold foil. When you turn the book to the side, you’ll see the gold-colored sprayed edges. When you open it, you’ll see leather-look endpages. If you take off the dust jacket, you’ll understand why the endpages are leather-like. This cover is as if you’re opening a leather tome like Kristjan would have in the library. There is gold foil on the metal corner pieces. And then each chapter has the art.

Stretch Goals

Once we reach our goal of $500 pledged, we’ll be working toward art that will be placed in each book. There are a lot of art-worthy scenes in this story, and Moonpix Art is already working on pieces for the game that will go along with Kristjan’s Rise.

This scene is of the original founders of Storeheltur.

Besides art, there are many deleted scenes. My editor was even sad to see these go! So, I’ll be offering those up.

There are also songs in the story and as those who followed Bonded Crowns knows songs can be fun to have digitally, but can also take a long time to produce. This time, I already have the songs composed and written down for musicians to play. I’ve spoken with a harpist and she has access to two different studios and has recorded before.

So as you can see, these books, besides being available months before the rest of the world gets access, have the potential to be unique and an interactive experience.

Now What?

How do you get your own special edition? Hop over to the Kickstarter and click follow (or make a pledge) depending on when you see this. It will only be available from May 13-June 5. A few tiers will be available after that.

Did you hear about the game? I’ll have more information later about that, but think Settlers of Catan meets Ticket to Ride meets Arkham. You’ll become one of the Ancients, the original settlers of Storeheltur, and help them create Storeheltur in under 30 days. Each round is one day, so the clock is ticking.

In the meantime, follow the kickstarter to get in on the special edition. It won’t be availble until November otherwise, and the sparkly hardback won’t be availble until next year sometime! And then only on my website.

These are the points where our heroes think all is lost. There is no hope. You might as well give up and go home. Even Samwise is ready to quit.

When Hope Seems Lost

These moments of dark are what make the light all the more bright!

The same though is true of us in our everyday lives. We see the darkness and give up.

A pinched nerve that never relents.
A tumor that won’t shrink.
A weak heart.
Your child suffering from leukemia–again!
Bills piling up without a job.
No food in the cupboard and no money to buy any.
The things you trusted in for your future fall through.
The love of your life has walked out.
Your friend who promised he’d be there isn’t.
The person who said they’d vouch for you, lies about you.

Darkest Moments Lead to Hope

Yet, it’s these moments that help us see the light all the more.

Without knowing pain, you don’t treasure pain-free days.
Without food and money, you don’t remember that box that showed up to provide your next meal.
Without betrayal, your apreciation for love isn’t complete.

Hope and Story

Think about it.

Narnia

Lucy and Susan walk with Aslan who tells them to wait. They watch as the White Witch drives her knife through Aslan’s heart. The evil horde rushes past their hiding spot, leaving them in darkness. When they dare crawl up to Aslan, he’s dead. They know this, saw it, and yet, they cry on his beloved face. They even are ready to send mice away until they realize the little creatures are trying to gnaw the ropes away.

Cold, mourning, and in despair, Susan and Lucy turn to leave to tell the boys all’s lost.

Against that backdrop of despair, what do we have? One of the most cinematically pleasing moments. The rumble of stone, and they turn to see dawn has come, and stepping into that light is none other than Aslan!

Two Towers

The night of fighting the orcs has left the Rohirrim descimated. Their women and children are huddled in caves, and their old men and young boys have died fighting. Aragorn rallies King Theoden for one final muster of the men of Rohan.

But why does Aragorn know to fight one final time? Because Gandalf told him, “Hold out. Look to the east. At dawn, look to the east.”

And there, reinforcements come riding down the hill, and blocking the main escape are the wild trees.

The Greatest Hope

Today, we remember the greatest story ever told. The one where despair ruled.

The man that they’d walked with, seen provide food to feed thousands, healed the sick, and even raised the dead was handed over to his enemies. Who’d even think that such a one could gain enemies, but he did.

And like in every good story, the enemy was larger than our hero’s party. They rallied men who lied about their friend in a court of law, gaining a conviction. Not only a conviction but a death sentence!

The darkest day of their lives was the day they watched as this man they’d hoped would bring light, healing, and set everything to rights died. They watched–well some of them. Most of them ran and hid. They’d be next! After all, they were friends with now public enemy number one.

They spent three long days and nights wondering, waiting, trying to decide what to do, how to go back to life as normal after three and a half years of following this guy. Oh… and mourning.

Think of his mom! She watched her son be executed! She was there when he was buried, and because it was a holiday, there wasn’t a funeral and the burrial was quick and efficient.

And so, on the morning before dawn, the women went to finish the burrial procedures. To say a final farewell.

But…

When they got there, the body was gone! The tomb empty! And besides that, there were men in white who reminded them of their hero’s words.

He’s not here for he has risen as he said.

Hope Beyond Story

Without the greatest story every told, we wouldn’t have hope in our darkest moments. There’d be no reassurances. It’d be as some claim: a wives tale, good for sissies and no more.

But you see, every good (western-minded) story ends with a happy ending. We expect that.

That’s probably why when hard times come, we expect them to end quickly. But often, they drag on, making us wonder if it’ll ever turn for good.

The problem is that the greatest story every told is book one of a series–a long series. So far it’s gone on for over two thousand years! But like a good series, we know that the middle of the series is always bad. But… if book one ended on a good note, we know the series will end happily.

Think of it. The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars (okay I’ll be biased and say 4-6), Harry Potter, Star Wars: Heir of the Empire, and more all end on good. The hero wins, as do his friends. Not all may make it to the final pages, but their deaths are for a greater good.

This is the same with us. Book one was the greatest story ever told. We’re the characters of the rest of the series, and the final book won’t be written until our Hero returns to claim the throne. But when he does, you can be assured that all the dark moments will be the backdrop that will display his light in all its glory!

As you face your week, may you remember the hope at the end of the series. May you trust the author of life to see you through, and if need be, put on the armor to fight.

The year was 2017 or ’18, and my famiily had the privilege of doing what they do–be dragons. Oh, wait, perform fire shows. (Doesn’t be dragons sound better. They blow fire after all.) Anyway, we went up the mountain to church camp.

We left early to catch the evening chapel and meet up with our boys who were volunteering that week. As I rounded the corner to the chapel, I saw the two young men who were leading worship and was struck with awe. 

You see, the one had lost his older brother to death by suicide and the other’s older sister’s best friend had died by suicide in his house! Yet, these two were still remaining strong despite the adversity. 

The still small voice said, “Write a story for the Davids and Christinas.”

I replied, “No! I can’t do that!”

What ensued was a 30-45 minute argument with the still small voice, lots of tears, and finally, surrender with a compromise. Together, we could do it.

Once I had the world of Ardatz–the one where the north is always in darkness and the south always in light–I knew this story had to be set in the far north. But I still didn’t know what it would be about. A parent and a child. That much I knew. 

At Realm Makers 2018, I purchased a tree in a snowy night scene. It was Eelarga. No doubt about it. For two years, I stared at the tree wondering what more would come. 

In April of 2020, an Italian photographer took a photo of his brother and shared it in a facebook group. I couldn’t get those eyes out of my mind. In fact, I spent a week drawing the portrait in colored pencils (with permission, of course). But while I was drawing, I knew this was the son!

A year later, I began writing.

With the story written, it came time for the cover. I reached out to both artists–the photographer and the one who painted the tree–and received permission to use their work. Without futher ado, I present Kristjan’s Rise.

Instead of doing a normal pre-order, I’ll be offering the book in ebook, paperback, hardback, and special edition hardback via Kickstarter as an early release. The goal is by mid-May to have it go live, but that will depend on another wedding. 

What does that mean? That means you can get the ebook with any special digital goodies we earn before the book releases in November. You can get the paperback and hardback with any extra goodies (think extra map, extra art, etc) again before the official release in November and that specific offering of items won’t be available until after the duology is released next year or later).

Or you can get the special edition hardback. I’m going all out on this one–foil dust jacket, different foil cover, sprayed edges, end pages–and any extras in color in your book. If there’s art awarded, it’ll go into the book in color at the spot where the scene took place.

At this moment, you can click follow on Kickstarter to help build the momentum, and you can share it with your friends. If you’ve never been a part of Kickstarter, you can just follow along and see what it’s all about.

What’s all the hype about?

Four sovereigns.
Two dragons.
One kingdom.

Peace evades them, but through it all, they’ll fight for family and their place in the history of Muintir—or die trying.

The first six books follow an 18-year-old stablehand who’s better with horses than he is with people. When a magnificent stallion walks through the barn doors, he’s in love, but when the soldier who owns the horse gives money to the innkeeper the next morning, Hest thinks he’s been sold as a slave. As he manuevers the ins and outs of court intrigue and tries not to anger a princess, he discovers the family he’s longed for and a place to call home, but when he rescues a baby dragon, suddenly, he’s destined to be the next king of Muintir!

As Hest learns what it’s like to be dragon rider, king, husband, and father, his own insecurities come to the fore, and his decisions are often made from emotions not what he truly values. Follow his story, his wife’s story, and their daughter’s in the first six books.

Books 7 and 8 are the story of the original dragon king of Muintir–Shawnahur. Shawn’s a simple herder who longs to be more–to do more. When he helps a wounded dragon, he gains the popularity he’s after, but it comes at a price. Soon he’s running for his life from the enemy on the battlefield but also from his own king and faither-in-law!

Reviews

I’m going to step into trouble, and immediately admit that the cover is not my thing, which made me hesitant to pick this one up (Yep, I’m superficial like that). Gosh, I’m glad I took a peek anyway because this is really an amazing read. ~Tonja from Goodreads

The world is well-developed and rich, and even the supporting characters have quite a bit of depth. ~Lily The Fairie Review

It is easy to get pulled into the world. ~Kimberly from Goodreads

It had what I was looking for in the genre. ~Kat M from Goodreads

There is no doubt that this author is a master of world building. ~Sandra Stiles from Goodreads

Every character is masterfully developed, so much you could think you’d see one of them any day walking down the street… if you lived in Medieval times with dragons, that is. ~Priscila Gilbert from Goodreads

I loved this book and how the characters developed over time. It is full of action with a bit of romance. ~Jaimie The Fantasy Princess

WOW, this story deserves more than the 5 stars that I gave it.  I LOVED it and I thought it was the best one of the series! ~Jamie The Fantasy Princess about book 8.

Learn more

You can read chapters from each book, check out info, etc on the series page.

Where to find it?

The best place is to purchase directly from the author. This supports a small business and takes out the middle-man. It also benefits you! That’s right. If you purchase from me, you get autographed books, and this series comes as a bundled boxed set–complete with box–and the spines will create an image when they’re all collected and put in order. But I understand that retailers have their place as well, so you have that option as well.

Ever wonder what it’d be like to be bonded to a dragon?

Shawnahur hadn’t even thought it was possible, but then it happened! Suddenly he’s gaining attention.

First the chief’s mage shows up declaring Shawnahur dragon king of a nonexistent kingdom. Then he receives a summons from the chief’s household to be the chief’s personal musician, which shows him a side of the warrior he’d never expected.

With the clans united against a common enemy, Shawnahur’s brothers march to war. When Shawn takes supplies to his brothers, he unwittingly walks into a battlefield, and with his dragon’s help, defeats the champion.

As Shawnahur’s successes mount, the chief’s approval turns to jealousy. Shawn soon finds himself on the wrong end of a glaive more times than he can count. Now he only longs to stay alive; pleasing his brothers and herding would be a life of ease.

If this sounds up your alley or you know someone who’d like it, please share it. The ebook is on pre-order for 99-cents this week only. Then it’ll be back up to normal price.

Resolutions only make a difference if you know you can keep them. A word for the year is only as good as the person with insight into the new year. And really, will your circumstances change just because the year on our date changes?

I’ve been there and done that, but this year, I’m instead looking to the one who holds time in his hands. The one who filters every heartache, hardship, and happiness through his fingers. And like in 2021, I’m reaching my hand up to Daddy’s and asking him to hold me through this new year.

A song that has been dear to my hear this week is this one. I woke up yesterday morning instead of singing “He will hold me fast” I had the words, “He will hold my hand” going through my mind.

Not sure what I meant by 2021 and holding Daddy’s hand? You can check out my piece “Daddy’s Girl” in Finding God in Anime: vol 2. (Just click the image).

And as my Christmas gift for you, a free ebook of your choice from my website. Use code: Christmas2024.

So, here’s an excerpt from the early section of the book.

A frosty morning

When Ruskya and Kyn exited the abode the next morning, a heavy fog hung in the air so that the top of the canyon could not be seen. A thick layer of frost crunched under their feet. Each blade of grass seemed to be enlarged three times or more with tiny hairlike particles; it was as if each flake of ice built on the next to create miniature castles.

The riders went about their normal morning chores and training, but over it all hung an air of anticipation for the time when Ruskya would go to Caravan Canyon to meet with Kyle and the woman who wanted to be a dragon rider. Duskya had a bad feeling about the whole thing and tried to talk her brother out of going, but Ruskya was adamant. She opted to follow him with their mental link. Glendyn had decided that he and Kyn would wait at Meredyth’s abode. Her place was the closest to Caravan Canyon they could get without freezing or drawing unnecessary attention. They arrived just before the midday meal.

Meredyth greeted them with hugs. When she heard that Ruskya couldn’t stay but needed to go to Caravan Canyon to meet up with Kyle, she quickly set about making a snack and fixing tea that she poured into a container wrapped with skins to keep it warm. Ruskya thanked her and headed back out into the cold.

The fog had lifted, but still hung from the sky as low clouds. The frost clung to the sagebrush and grass, but the slightest wind would create a small blizzard. The cold sucked the breath away from the young rider, and he drew his furs tighter. He was glad his ma had fixed him some of her tea. He had tucked it and the snack she had given him away under his cloak where they would stay out of the cold.

Ruskya made it to Caravan Canyon in good time. He looked around for the others, but didn’t see them. He wasn’t sure if he was early or not. He waited a few minutes and then heard some voices coming up the canyon toward him. He walked toward them and found Kyle and the woman just arriving from Woolpren.

“You made it here. Good,” Kyle remarked. “I wasn’t sure if you would when I didn’t see you in Woolpren.”

“You said to meet here at the canyon,” Ruskya replied, “so that is what I did. I haven’t been here long.”

“So, where is this dragon rider of yours?” the woman inquired.

“I don’t know,” Kyle said, pulling the hood of his cloak closer around his face, while looking around as if the rider would materialize out of thin air. “He said to be here. He should be here.”

A Dragon Rider Appears

Ruskya decided to watch his companions for signs of anything amiss. Neither of them seemed to have picked up on the presence further out of the canyon. He figured that if he watched Carryl and took his cues from her, he would appear normal. A few minutes later, he noticed a sparkling frost fall upon the edge of the canyon behind them. Ruskya repositioned himself so that he could watch that side of the canyon without appearing to do so. Carryl noticed the shift and looked around. Her sharp eyes picked out the frost shift, also.

“Is someone coming?” she asked.

“Where?” Kyle asked, looking back the way he had come into the canyon.

“I don’t know,” Ruskya answered truthfully. He didn’t know if there was someone with the dragon.

An uneasy silence hung over the group as they watched around the canyon. Ruskya’s dragon senses saw the person first and flared away immediately; this was someone who would recognize dragon senses being used on him. Ruskya knew it was a man and that he was strong. He seemed different from Glendyn or any other rider Ruskya had met or felt. He immediately moved to guard his thoughts and his dragon senses.

“What was that?” Glendyn asked.

“It’s the rider,” Ruskya carefully called. “Do you think he can hear this?”

“No, Ruskya,” Wyeth answered. “No matter how strong, another rider cannot hear a dragon’s communications with his rider. Talk only to me. Glendyn can still watch through your thoughts.”

“Okay,” Ruskya answered shakily.

“Courage, young one,” Wyeth called. With his dragon’s words, Ruskya felt strength return to him as if he had just received dragon courage breathed on him.

“There,” Carryl whispered, “there’s a person coming down the ridge.”

“Where?” Kyle demanded, sounding loud compared to Carryl’s whisper.

Ruskya noticed the look of offense that Carryl sent toward the other man. She almost held him in contempt.

Before she could say anything, Ruskya replied, “She’s right. He blends in with his brown and white outfit, but there is a man coming down.”

The look Carryl sent Ruskya was the exact opposite of what she had thought of Kyle, her green eyes searched him, looking for what he was made of.

“How can you tell it is a male?” she questioned.

Ruskya thought quickly; he had known it from the first contact he had. “I thought I saw his figure as he came around that small bend,” he said truthfully. The glimpse had been enough to confirm what he had known all along. Carryl nodded, satisfied, her hair bouncing like little springs.

They waited in anticipation for the next couple of minutes as the rider made his way down the canyon wall toward them. When he arrived, the rider paused before greeting his perspective riders. Even Kyle had the presence of mind to wait until he was addressed before talking.

Summary

The rider tests them and then when the sun’s all but set they await his decision.

Shocking Ending

The rider waited again. This time no one moved. The fog seemed to creep into their bones. Ruskya felt the touch on his mind again. His mind felt unclean after the rider moved on to the others. He wondered what the rider was searching for.

“I admit, there is only one more test,” the rider said, as the sound of large wings beat in the air.

“You did bring dragons with you,” Carryl said with awe in her voice. No sooner were the words out of her mouth, then an enormous turquoise dragon landed at the rider’s right side.

The dragon’s wings were larger than any Ruskya had ever seen, and the light of the torch made them glow in their iridescence. The dragon folded his wings, and Ruskya noticed the dark veins of blue streaking through the dragon. It reminded him of a large turquoise gemstone set into a cloak clasp or on a belt hook. There was something unnerving about this dragon. The dragon landed and Ruskya had barely taken in all of him, when Ruskya felt Wyeth’s scream of agony.

“Wyeth, are you okay?” he called urgently.

Before Wyeth could respond, Duskya called to him, “Ruskya, is everything okay?”

Ruskya had no time to reply to his twin, for the rider had stepped up to Kyle and with a roar, brought his hand back and slapped Kyle across the face.

“What were you thinking, you imbecile?”

Kyle went down onto his knees at the force and unexpectedness of it.

The rider drew back his hand and smote again. “How dare you bring a rider here!”

Get Dragon’s Future for free

Did you like what you read? You can download your own copy for free or purchase the paperback for a gift for someone who loves dragon books.

Dragon Egg Ornament

This one may end up as a plain dragon egg in my office, but I’m sure I’ll be making it with my almost four-year-old granddaughter. It looks easy and fun.

What you’ll need:

• string, yarn, or ribbon to make it an ornament
• foil
• air dry clay or cornstarch and white glue
• straw or other object to make indents
• paint
• glitter or gem stickers (I have both from my dragon outfit for Realm Makers this year!)

Instructions:

Make a loop with the string, yarn, or ribbon and tie it off. Then using your foil, shape an egg around the end of the string. Mold your air dry clay around the foil, make indents or designs with a straw or paperclip. Let it dry. Paint and then add your glitter or stickers.

Dragon Ornaments

This is a salt dough recipe that you use to create dragons. Unfortunately, to do so, you’ll need a template or be able to draw dragons on dough really well. However, I can link to some templates to use.

You’ll need:

• paper template
• 3 cups of flour
• 1 cup cinnamon or cocoa powder
• 1 cup salt
• 1 -1 1/2 cups hot water

Instructions:

Mix it all together and then roll it out. Some websites said to use parchment paper. I like that idea because I don’t like messes! To help with not burning make sure that it’s all one thickness. Once it’s rolled out, cut out your dragons and use a pencil or some other round object to poke a hole for the string to hang it up with. Then bake. Wait until it’s cooled and paint and string to hang up.

Baking:

There were various instructions. If you like them to puff up, then bake at 325 F for about an hour–keeping watch that it doesn’t get too dark. If you want them flat, then poke the bottom of them with a fork and bake at 250 F for about two hours. You want them hard but not burnt.

Let me know if you create something fun. I’d love to see your art.