Ayphae: a land of mushrooms

Imagine a world where mushrooms think using your brain. Some of them spin like spinning tops. Some of them fly. Some of them tower over you and stomp in a beat. Others feed off your emotions as you live in them—massive mushrooms called obosas.

Three siblings wake up in this world with no memory of their past. Everything is new to them—they have no idea what’s going on, and no one knows who they are. Moreover, they discover that because of a mysterious barrier around this land, no one can enter or leave. They’re here to stay.

The land is Ayphae. The siblings try to forge their way…and for a while, everything is fine.

Trouble in Aphae: Seven Years later

Seven years later, everything starts withering. Mushrooms are turning to ash, trees to mush…it’s all falling apart. Signs point to a suspicious new fungus known as the aiethepa spore.

This is how the book Ayphae opens. I’m pleased to invite you into this vast world I’ve created—with mushrooms that fulfill just about every function you can imagine, and a main protagonist who enjoys cooking over fighting. He and his amnesia-stricken siblings are about to discover a few interesting things about themselves—and their past might be more relevant than they realize.

Why mushrooms?

So what could possibly compel me to write a world full of mushrooms?

Well, I love mushrooms. That’s a start.

Purpose and meaning

Then there’s the concept of purpose. Purpose is a big deal in life—it brings meaning and identity to us. It has to be supplied by external factors (like a deity), or it’s just a meaningless invention of our heads.

It’s kind of my thing, and I like to talk about it in every book that I write. It’s the unifying factor in all of my works. As an author, you could say it’s my “theme.”

Purpose for the siblings:

Ayphae fits that theme perfectly. In it, every character struggles with fulfilling their purpose. Reisor, who can’t even remember his past, lacks both a purpose and an identity. He struggles with the only purpose he’s been given—to take care of his siblings—while being given a new purpose. But as the book goes on, he wonders if his new purpose is really what he should be doing.

The siblings, meanwhile are even more directionless. Feselea has taken it upon herself to learn everything she can—and while knowledge and its pursuit is definitely a purpose, it may not be all she is meant to do. Dane has no idea what his purpose is—but he wants to be treated like an adult, even when he acts like a kid. It brings him joy to entertain people…so maybe that’s it? He just doesn’t know.

Purpose for the Ayphaeans

Finally, we have the three Ayphaeans: Joe, May and Nick. Joe rules Ayphae—his motto is to never let people down. His purpose is pretty clear-cut…but unfortunately, he has absolutely no idea how to fulfill it. He’s been doing the best he can over the past seven years. But now everything is falling apart. If he just knew why, he could see a clear road to fulfilling his purpose. He’d like to blame the aiethepa spore for everything, but part of him wonders what’s really going on.

Nick used to be a pathfinder (a type of ranger). He saw problems in the people’s hearts and realized he should be a speaker. That greater purpose led him away from his first purpose—a difficult but worthy replacement. Now he speaks full-time, as his oratory career has taken off.

And of course, there’s May the scientist. She wants to maintain respectability as a scientist while exploring Ayphae’s wonders. Right now, her immediate purpose is to eradicate the aiethepa spore. Nothing will disrupt her focus.

It’s interesting that Nick and May have the same ultimate purpose: to save Ayphae. But they’re going about it in completely different ways. Nick is targeting the people’s hearts, while May is targeting the parasitic fungus invading the land. One is more conceptual, the other more concrete. And Joe is trying to find a happy medium. But all their paths will cross in time.

Purpose for the author

So what’s the biggest reason? To tell a story. To inspire people to think. To bring glory to God by creating an amazing world and characters to inhabit it. When we create beautiful stories, we bring glory to the Creator.

And that is my purpose.

About the author: Ian Vroon

By the way, I’m Ian. I’m married to an amazing woman named Nicole who loves and supports me (I don’t deserve her!). I live in Colorado, and I love science and theology. One of my philosophies of plot working is to make sure each of my main characters disagree with me in at least one major way. That way, none of them can serve as mouthpieces for an agenda. I want to inspire critical thinking, not dictate it.

Special thanks to Kandi Wyatt for letting me guest blog here. You’re fantastic! I hope your readers enjoy exploring the realm of Ayphae as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Where to Find the book

You can learn more about Ayphae or purchase it on Amazon.

David as Kirito for Fellowship of Fantasy’s Cosplay

Two years ago, my youngest son participated in Fellowship of Fantasy’s cosplay contest and won with his representation of Kirito from Sword Art Online. His prize was multiple audiobooks by Fellowship of Fantasy authors. One night at the dinner table, he looked at me and said, “Mom, have you read any of H. L. Burke’s books? You should read Beggar Magic.” I followed his advice and have never been happier. I’ve added several of her books to my book lists over the course of the years. You can find my input on Nyssa Glass on this blog about books for children’s book week. The top three recommendations in this post of five books for March are H. L. Burke’s. Finally, her Spellsmith & Carver trilogy can be found on this post for four fall reads.

With that said, you can imagine how excited I am to present a new book by H. L. Burke. Spicebringer sounds very intriguing.

The Blurb:

Let me share with you what I’ve learned:

A deadly disease. A vanishing remedy. A breathless journey.

All her life, Niya’s known she will die young from the fatal rasp. She survives only with the aid of vitrisar spice and a magical, curmudgeonly fire salamander named Alk. Then an ambitious princess burns down the vitrisar grove in an effort to steal Alk so she can claim her rightful throne. Joined by Jayesh, a disgraced monk, Niya and Alk must flee to the faraway Hidden Temple with the last vitrisar plant, or all who suffer from the rasp will perish.

But even as Niya’s frustration and banter with Jayesh deepen to affection, the rasp is stealing away her breath and life.

For a girl with limited time and a crippling quest, love may be more painful than death.

Doesn’t that sound good? I love a good love story, and this sounds like it’s going to deliver that.

The Cover:

About H. L. Burke:

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

Where to find her:

Facebook page

Facebook Reader Group

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Where to pre-order Spicebringer:

Where can you get your copy? I’m glad you asked. Just read away–or click for your favorite retailer. Ooh, and there’s a special autographed paperback copy offer!

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Nook

Kobo

Apple iBooks

And the Paperback offer: Regularly 17.99, autographed paperback preorders are 14.99 with free shipping discount (free shipping to US locations only)

Uncommon Universes Press – autographed paperback preorder: https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/spicebringer-autographed-paperback-preorder/

With fantasy being such a broad scope, I thought I’d narrow it down to highlight a writing activity and a reading activity.

Writing Fantasy

In my first years of teaching Spanish, I decided I wanted to have something unique for Spanish 2. The result was my year of Fantasy Fridays. Each Friday, or Thursday depending on the week, I focused on a specific section of fantasy–castles, knights, unicorns, dragons, kings, fairies, etc. Students learned about those items in both English and Spanish. Then by the end of the first semester, we started a fantasy writing unit. Students began creating their own fantasy stories following the hero’s round and the fantasy elements. Their stories are as diverse as the students. I’ve had legends come to life, stories about everyday life, and even a dinasaur/elephant confrontation.

Feel free to check out the lesson plans or just look at the supplemental materials to write your own fantasy story.

Explore the Fantasy Writing Unit

Summer Reading Program

This summer the authors of Fellowship of Fantasy have teamed up to create a Summer Reading Quest for you and your children. The books are all clean middle grade and young adult books by indie authors. Readers sign up at the lists (registration) and then read from the book lists from June 1 through September 1. Young readers can add up the points of their books to enter for biweekly tourney prizes (things like paperback books, legos, stuffed dragon, hand-painted horse, and gift cards) and for end of the summer tourney prizes such as a large lego set and a Kindle Fire. Adults just enter for one final tourney prize at the end of the summer for a $25 amazon gift card. When it asks for a paperback, that’s from the books that have astrisks. We may be able to send you one.

Adult Registration

Youth Registration

Without further ado, let’s welcome author Kendra E. Ardnek.

When doing something, it’s always good to know why you’re doing it. And the more it affects your life, the bigger a why you need.

Writing is a huge part of my life, so, of course, I have a pretty big, “why.” Multiple “why’s,” in fact. Shall we begin?

To explore What-if’s.

Almost every one of my books begins with that question. What if a princess were to have been accidentally gifted with swordplay by her Fairy Godmother? What if a piece of jewelry could make imagination real? What if I were to climb into the shower, close my eyes, and open them to find myself standing under a waterfall in a fantasy world? My latest project has been “What if I mashed up every Austen novel with a fairy tale in a high fantasy world” and I’ve been loving every step of it.

To explore relationships and the human psyche.

I’m all about the people. A great concept is all well and good, but if it isn’t driven by a cast of complicated characters and the dynamic relationships between them, well … what’s the point? Whether I’m exploring sibling relationships, friendships, romantic interests, or even marriages, I’m all here for it. My personal favorite are twins. And I also have a small obsession with exploring what womanhood means, which is one reason that I’m constantly giving my girls swords. And NOT giving my girls swords. Just depends on whether or not I think they need one.

To make people laugh and forget their troubles.

Life is droll. Sometimes, you just need fiction to make you forget your troubles. So I write escapist fiction. Let you plunge into an exciting new world with plenty of humor.

To make people think.

Escapist fiction isn’t worth it unless you come out of it with tools to face life again. So I always make sure that there is meaning in the story. I tackle many subjects of varying depths, and while some of my short stories are popcorn, I can assure you that you’re going to come out of my books having felt a new point of view and equipped with new tools for life.

Because, apparently, it’s the socially acceptable thing to do with the stories in your head. You know, as opposed to kidnapping people and making them act it out. I have stories to share, and share them I will.

Kendra E. Ardnek is the coordinator of this indie e-con. She has put the whole thing together. You can find more about her on her blog.

As for the indie e-con, follow the scavenger hunt (see the end of this post for more info) and go to the facebook author meet-n-greet later today.

You also can win a prize for participating! Yep, that’s right. So, what can you win?

Ace Carroway 2-Book Set
3 random ebooks from Indie e-Con authors
Cover Design by Alea Harper
Bookshelf Necklace donated by Rachel Rossano
(Please note that the Ace Carroway Paperbacks and the Bookshelf necklace are US only.)

To search for the rest of the clues and enter to win, you can go to GiraffeCrafts’ blog for the complete list. Then you can find the other clues to add to this one. Remember you’re trying to piece together the phrase. When you figure it out, you can fill in our entry form.

Enter the Giveaway

Basic Ingredients for a Fairy Tale

There are six main ingredients to create a fairy tale or high fantasy. In order to write a fairy tale, you’ll need to know these six ingredients and use them. When I created my fairy tale, I went through these six items and the story began to tell itself.

6 main traits of a fairy tale or fantasy. #amwriting #amwritingfantasy #teacher

Tweet This

Magic

The first item is magic. Magic will explain all the things that go against the normal world’s laws. Things such as a person flying, a cloak causing the heroine to disappear, or bringing someone back from the dead are all acceptable in fairy tales because magic allows these to happen. Although it is the key, it is so well known and accepted, there’s not much to say.

Other Worlds

Fairy tales take place in worlds that aren’t necessarily the everyday world. To create my world for the fairy tale, I used Hannah Heath’s blog on fantasy lands other than forests. I wrote each one down and then rolled a twenty-sided die. I gave an Irish castle for the main setting and then rolled salt flats and mesas and buttes. Other settings may include forests, castles, gardens, pirate ship, England, bogs, and canyons.

Good vs Evil

This is another motif that almost goes without saying. In fairy tales, the protagonist is the hero or heroine and is always good. She may or may not do everything right, but for the most part wants to do what is right. Think Snow White. The antagonist is always evil. Not just mean and bad, but evil. Think Sauron.

Heroism

In all fairy tales, there is a hero. The hero goes on a journey, either in reality or figuratively. When the journey begins, a call to adventure forces the hero to leave her comfort zone. Then she passes through several trials, while a protective companion helps her. Between the trials and her experiences she grows up and matures before returning home. The Lord of the Rings illustrates this beautifully.

Bilbo gives Frodo the ring which is his  call to adventure. As he leaves the comfort of the Shire, he endures multiple trials from orcs, to Ents, to the council. Gandalf and Aragorn are his protective companions as well as Samwise–can’t forget about Samwise Gamgee. Throughout the journey, Frodo grew and matured until he understood Bilbo. Finally, he returned to the Shire and was ready to finish Bilbo’s writings.

This hero’s round is the basis for the plot in both fantasy and fairy tales. It’s an easy way to create a story line. However, I found I couldn’t create a plot before having characters.

Special Character Types

Fairy tales and fantasy usually have some type of special race that isn’t human. Things like unicorns, dragons (don’t forget the dragons!), pegasus, dwarves, elves, fairies, goblins, centaurs, and griffins all these fit into fairy tales.

For my story, I wrote all these out on a piece of paper and gave them numbers. Then I did a random drawing for my guardian and for the antagonist.

Fantasy Objects

Finally, fairy tales have some sort of magical or fantasical object that enables the hero or heroine to accomplish his or her goals. Harry Potter had his wand, the sorting hat, the sword, and of course there was Hermione’s purse that was bigger on the inside than the out. Sleeping Beauty had a spindle while Hansel and Gretle had the house made of sugar.

Again, I created a list of objects: wand, sword, cloak, shoes, cauldron, spyglass, staff, mirror, shield and pouch. I then randomly chose two of them. By now, I had a plot, characters and this just helped line out what was going to happen.

A fairy tale beginning

Once upon a time in a land where kings ruled with ironed fists from castles overlooking their lands there lived a young princess who loved her home. Whenever she wandered out into the market with her mother, she returned thankful for the home she had. She never wanted to be one of the lowly peasant girls she noticed carrying water from the well or caring for younger siblings. Instead, she was content where she was and with who she was, except for one small thing.

Her father believed all rules applied equally to everyone, whether they were high or lowly born. This irked her to no end. How could the same rules fit both classes? She couldn’t figure it out.

“Princess Steren, your father wishes to see you.” The guard bowed low.

Steren ran her fingers through her strawberry-blonde hair to make sure it was in place, then gathered her needlepoint together and stood.

“Thank you, Lykos.” She waited for the guard to move, but he didn’t. “Is there more?”

“Yes, your highness.” Lykos averted his eyes from her golden-yellow ones. “He says I must escort you.”

Steren felt like rolling her eyes, but her training kept her from showing her emotions. “Very well. Lead the way.”

Lykos led her down several hallways, past the main hall, and through two large sitting areas. A frown crossed Steren’s brow.

After two more turns, Steren moved closer to the guard. “Lykos, where are we going?”

“To your father.”

With a resigned sigh, she stepped back and continued to follow Lykos. After several more twists and turns, he stopped at a small door. Steren had never noticed this one. Yet with the size of the castle, there were many doors she had not seen. Lykos knocked twice, waited and knocked twice more. The door swung open and a curly head peeked out. The head nodded, and the door inched open enough for Lykos to enter. He motioned instead for Steren. She shrugged and slid through to a dimly lit room.

A meeting with Father

A candle flickering at the desk shown on a parchment. A man sat pouring over the pieces, a reddish light highlighting his brown hair. The curly headed guard cleared his throat, and the man sitting at the desk looked up. Shock ran through Steren as she realized the man was her father. She had never seen him alone and in such casual attire.

A smile lit up King Weland’s face upon seeing her. “Steren, thank you for coming. Lykos, thank you for bringing her.”

Lykos bowed. “It was a pleasure, my lord.”

“You are free to go. I will see to her from here on out. Orestes you are also free to leave.”

“My lord, I cannot leave you unattended.” Curly hair fell into the guard’s eyes, and he pushed it away.

“Then wait outside until I call you.”

The two guards bowed and left, leaving Steren alone with her father. Thoughts swirled around in her head. She wondered what the commotion was all about. Why the secrecy?

King Weland sat back and smiled at her. “I see the curiosity in your eyes, Steren. Has it been that long since I called you to my study?”

Steren shrugged, but didn’t say a word. The king let out a soft sigh and stood, his hand still on the parchment. His other hand motioned to his daughter.

“Come see.”

Steren moved forward, letting her feet take her where she needed to go. Despite her reluctance to let her father know, her curiosity soon got the better of her. She leaned over an ancient map. Faded ink marked the castle and lands around it. Further out, blots indicated the mesas of Boyne. Beyond that even fainter ink indicated Bergh— The rest of the name faded away.

She pointed to the spot. “What’s this father?”

He gazed into her eyes, his face as serious as she had ever seen it. “That, my dear child, is the land of the Bergholden, a race of elves that have turned away from the realm and gone their own way.”

“Why have I never heard of them before?” She leaned in trying to make out the writing but the glow of the candle did not reveal it.

Her father’s hand rested on her shoulder causing her to look into his serious dark eyes. “My dear, the Bergholden have existed in our world for ages. They wander into Cashel from time to time but the guards escort them back across the boundary.”

A wrinkle marred Steren’s face. “If Cashel is a free land and open to all, why would your guards send the Bergholden away?”

“Cashel is free to her own citizens and those who agree to abide by the law of the land, Steren. The Bergholden rose up against my great-great-grandfather. They refused to obey the laws that enable us to have peace. Therefore, they were pushed out of Cashel.”

“One act has banned them all?” Steren’s voice rose. “That’s not fair, Father!”

She turned away from the desk, her dress swishing, and her father’s hand fell back to the desk. He caressed the map.

“It may seem that way to you, daughter, but I have seen how they still refuse to listen to reason. I cannot have them in Cashel stirring up the citizens to rebel against the laws that are for their own good.”

“And how is it for the good of all, if one people group cannot even come into the realm?” Steren stood with her hands on her hips, a very unlady-like stance.

King Weland shook his head, his feet apart like hers, but his hands held in front of him. “Steren listen to reason. The laws protect the people. When the Bergholden enter the realm, they seek out young people who are dissatisfied with life. The Bergholden prey on our young people’s dissatisfaction and tell them lies to lure them away.” He shifted, and before Steren could speak again, continued. “That is not why I brought you here. I have something else for you.”

A special gift

He walked with ease across the room away from the light of the candle. At the wall, his hand found what it was seeking, and a door slid outward toward him. Steren felt her mouth drop open. She knew of secret passages in the castle and often used them herself, but that a small room she had never noticed had need of a secret surprised her.

Her father stepped into the entry, but then returned for the candle. He motioned for her to follow. The candle lit a stone hallway and stairs leading down. King Weland took the stairs confidently. Steren followed a little less assuredly.

Before long, the stairs ended, opening onto another room much like the one up above. A small desk sat in one corner, while a large wardrobe filled another. Her father walked to the wardrobe and opened the wooden door. He handed the candle to Steren. She stood taking in the greens, reds, and browns that reflected back at her. Glimpses of lace, satin, and furs met her gaze, but her father passed all of them and moved to the back of the wardrobe. He pulled out a long black cloak lined with a brownish fur along the hood. The way it draped indicated its warmth and weight; yet her father carried it as if it was made of silk. A smile played along his lips, and his eyes softened in the candle light.

“Princess Steren.” He paused until she met his gaze. “I present to you, the right of your birth. As Princess of Cashel, you have the keeping of the vault. From your mother’s family’s jewels to the cloak of Branwen, the treasures are now your responsibility to keep safe. Only people of noble birth or whom you can trust absolutely shall know of these items. There are people who would use them for their own good and not for the good of the people.”

He stepped behind her and dropped the cloak across her shoulders. Then he returned to the front and secured the clasp. “The cloak of Branwen is now yours. You may wear it at all ceremonial events. It will distinguish you as princess. However, you must also be aware, that any time you raise the hood, you will blend into your surroundings so none may see you.” He chuckled. “Your grandmother found that useful when any young suitor other than grandfather came around.”

Steren ran her fingers over the soft material. “My grandmother owned this?”

“It was her pride and joy. She didn’t have a daughter of her own to pass it on to. So, I am able to pass it on to my daughter.” He watched as she softly pulled the hood up over her head.

Steren looked out from the brim of the fur. Warmth filled her, but she barely could tell the cloak sat on her shoulders. From the look her father gave her, she knew he had spoken truth. His eyes squinted trying to find her. With a smile, she moved toward the door. Her father’s eyes stayed fixed where she had been.

“Steren, remember, you can’t just walk off. You are a princess with responsibilities.”

Steren sighed and removed the hood. Her father turned toward the sound of her sigh and smiled.

“I know you don’t like those responsibilities, but one day you will be queen of Cashel. You will have the whole kingdom to think of, and with your fifteenth birthday, you have passed into a new position. You will follow your mother around and learn from her and me over the next few years. Then you will be ready to transition into queen when the time is right.” Her father stopped in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I am so very proud of you, Steren. You will be a wonderful queen.”

To Steren’s surprise tears formed around his eyes. Impulsively, she hugged him, and for a brief moment she was a little girl without cares.

“Now, let’s go back upstairs. Even princesses have to learn the laws of the land and why they are there.” He started up, but paused with one foot on the stair. He turned to face her. “Steren, be wise about when you use the cloak’s ability, and never use it in the castle.” When she didn’t respond, he pressed for an answer. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

Resentment built up in her. Couldn’t he have kept the rules out of it? Why did he always have to list the rules and regulations?

Back upstairs, her father set the candle on the desk, drawing Steren’s eyes back to the map. She wondered about the Bergholden. Could they be as awful as her father said? Doubt crept into her mind. If her father had made as much of an emphasis on her not wearing the hood in the castle, which was hardly an offense if her grandmother did it, as he had the Bergholden, could the elves really be all that bad? Her reasoning told her they couldn’t.

Do you want to know how the story ends? So do I. Feel free to share your own story ideas as well. Sign up to receive the rest of the fairy tale. I may send it out in segments as I write it.

The Beginning:

By July, 2010, the last word in Dragon’s Cure had been written. At that point, I sat back amazed. In August, I printed out each one of the stories on an ink jet printer, flipping the pages over to print double sided, and then put them into report folios. I created a cover page and read them to the kids. Then I handed them to a friend. She read through them, handed them to her husband who handed them off to their voracious twelve-year-old son. He in turn gave them back to his parents asking, “Where’s book five?”

Book Five:

Somewhere in the mix of printing, reading, and giving the books to my friends, an idea had formed, and I began writing again. The story-line had moved along where all the new characters had been introduced and all the old characters had been visited at least once, when writer’s block set in. No matter what I tried–re-reading all four previous stories, re-reading what I had written, drawing pictures from the stories–nothing worked. The story sat on my computer until Spring of 2015.

A Turning Point:

At the end of March, 2015, I signed a publishing contract! I sat amazed that Dragon’s Future had managed to make the cut. My friends who read them back in 2010 weren’t surprised. They encouraged me. So, when editing came about, and we discussed how to market multiple books, I asked about putting the first chapter of Dragon’s Heir at the end of Dragon’s Future. When my publisher discovered there were more in the series, they eagerly accepted them. That meant I needed to finish writing book 5. So, back to the computer I went. This time not only was there a boy interested in my books, but a publisher and a deadline of sorts!

With enthusiasm, I jumped back into the world of Dragon Courage. I enjoyed getting to meet my characters again. I asked questions about new characters, took notes about where things needed to go, and then hit that horrid spot–the place where I had always stopped. It got me again. I stopped. Nothing would connect what I knew had to happen with that point in the story. So, I backed up. I hit delete and took out a scene. Another idea came to me, and suddenly, the story flowed again. I had a purpose with the storyline.

The Purpose:

Writing Dragon’s Posterity held challenges. I live in a household of two women and four men. Asking forgiveness and granting forgiveness generally comes easy to me, but I’ve seen my boys struggle with it. To be able to say the words “would you forgive me” is like pulling teeth! I wanted that to be the theme of the book, but I couldn’t understand the struggle of saying those words. I had to get into the mind of my characters and figure out why would it be hard. As the time came at the end of the book, the words flowed. I understood the pride they had to set aside to accept they had done wrong. And so, the book wound down. The last scenes played out.

Next Step:

I sat back surprised and nervous. Would the story flow or would everyone be able to tell where I had stumbled? Did I still have the same story-telling ability that my publisher had enjoyed in book one? I didn’t know. This summer as Dragon’s Cure went live, I sent Dragon’s Posterity out to beta readers. The first had never read the series before. She came in strictly new. Her input was invaluable! I will ever be indebted to her wisdom. After adjusting the story, I sent it to a another beta reader. This one was a fan of the series. However, she’s honest. Up until that point, Dragon’s Revenge was her favorite book. She returned Dragon’s Posterity with the words of encouragement that it was her favorite of the series!

Today, I have the privilege of presenting to you, Dragon’s Posterity, book 5 in the Dragon Courage series. It is now live on Amazon in kindle format. Nook and iTunes will go live on Friday. May you enjoy it as much as my beta readers, and may your dragon fly true!

What is Dark Fantasy?

It appears my definition of dark fantasy and dark fantasy as a genre are two separate things. According to Alan Baxter, author of RealmShift and MageSign, “a work is dark fantasy if it deals with any elements of fantasy and/or the paranormal in a way that studies the dark and frightening side of our nature, psychology and the weird, sublime and uncanny.” Whereas, I would describe any fantasy that deals with dark magic in a positive light, gives an oppressive feeling, or where evil is uplifted and good is put down as dark fantasy. In both definitions, there may be a supernatural or paranormal subject, but in mine the story follows the traditional tropes of fantasy.

In my definition of dark fantasy, Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series falls into dark fantasy because it elevates dark magic and left me feeling oppressed. To a degree D J MacHale’s Pendragon series and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series slid toward darker themes by the final books. In both of these the main character flirted with joining the evil antagonist or at least using his strategies.

Is all dark fantasy bad?

An occassional bag of potato chips won’t hurt a person, but a steady diet of them will lead to obesity. For someone with high cholesterol, a bag of potato chips could be a threat to his or her health. The same is true of dark fantasy. An occasional book of dark fantasy won’t hurt, but a steady diet could lead to problems. For others, even one book could be quite detrimental.

What are the dangers?

Paranormal

One of the main dangers I see in dark fantasy is the element of the paranormal. Dark fantasy, whether as the genre specific definition or my definition, deals with dark magic or spirits. If these were confined to a book, that may be one thing and not such a bad thing, but these are real dangers in the real world.

In my freshman and sophomore year of high school, our youth group accepted a young lady into its midst. She had made a profession of faith, and none of us had reason to doubt her decision. However, her background came back to haunt us. Quite literally! She had been part of a coven or some organization that dealt with Satan worship. I can remember vividly being at summer camp and watching as another smaller but much stronger friend stood beside this young lady and held her hand. Suddenly, our weak girl was capable of overpowering the stronger one. Palpable fear filled the room. It wasn’t until the stronger girl began singing a song about the power of Jesus that the young lady calmed down. I will never forget how I felt at that moment.

I learned that there is a very real supernatural realm of angels and demons.

Tweet This

When we elevate and talk about the demon realm in a way that exalts it and gives them more power than God, then we are bringing glory to them and not to the One who is all powerful. We refocus our perspective, and in so doing we forget that God is bigger than anyone or anything.

Fear

Another thing that dark fantasy feeds off is fear. It instills fear into even the strongest of us. We see that we are smaller than what we think which in and of itself sometimes isn’t bad. However, when we focus on fear, we allow it to control us.

For years, I couldn’t look in a mirror in the dark due to fear. Where did that come from? A silly ghost story at a sleepover as a teenager. We began talking about the supernatural. We shared stories we had experienced. One person shared that if you turn around three times in a dark room and look in a mirror you’ll see a demon. Whether or not it is true, I believed it. Fear held me in bondage. When I was 36 we moved into a new home where large mirrors covered the walls of the master bathroom. I wondered if I would even be able to use the restroom at night because of my unreasonable fear of mirrors. Thankfully, God freed me from that fear.

Many times as a teen and on into my adult years, I experienced heartstopping fear. My favorite weapon against fear was to quote a Bible verse. 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (KJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear

Tweet This

Depression

The focus on fear can be detrimental to someone struggling with depression. The dark and psychological side of things can be just what a depressed person would need to tip him or her over the edge. Some may argue with me, but I know what you feed your mind is what you will eventually believe. Living in fear, breeds depression. I’ve been there. I lived in fear–fear of narrow hallways and restrooms, fear of being alone at night, and fear of the supernatural. These fears finally built up to create a depression that lasted for several months before the truth of God’s Word set me free.

The focus of dark fantasy to glorify dark magic and the evil antagonist over the light and the good antagonist can feed depression as well. In depression, you don’t reason correctly. You are believing the lies that nothing can ever get better and there is no way out. If you read dark fantasy in a state like this, it will only confirm those lies. There may be a thrill of life and excitement while reading it, but afterward, you fall back into the shadows of fear and depression as you come back to the real world.

How does Halloween fit into the picture?

Halloween as most people know it, is just a time to dress up, eat candy, and have fun. However, for others it’s a time to focus on the paranormal and fear aspects. Unlike most holidays, this one has an underlying history of glorifying the paranormal. Whether we wish to believe it or not, there is a segment of society that still celebrate Halloween in the way it originally was intended in a ritualistic way.

Even the group of people who have fun at Halloween and want nothing to do with it’s darker side often enjoys the scary side of the celebration. Our local library advertised its ability to supply Halloween merry-makers with scary stories and movies. Just like in dark fantasy’s glorification of fear, this focus on fear can cause problems. Even in safe environments and alternatives, young children can be shocked. I remember my four-year-old talking about the harvest carnival for weeks on end before the 31st of October. He was so excited to go around to the various games and get candy. However, when the night arrived, he spent the majority of the time with me hiding in a well-lit room until my mom could take him home. Why? Because a teenager wore a mask that totally freaked my son out. My mom understood his feelings all to well. As a young child she was scared when someone looked in their living room window on Halloween night wearing a mask. It wasn’t until she was in her sixties that she could be in a room with the curtains open at night.

How do we deal with dark fantasy and Halloween?

So, do we throw out dark fantasy and Halloween? Should we never read or celebrate either of them? Not necessarily. As I hinted at earlier, there are good series that wind toward the darker side of humanity. As parents we can use these to help our kids see the reality of the struggle to do what is right. We can also guide our children in seeing even good people make bad decisions. Does it mean they were right? No. Does it mean they will always do bad? No.
As for Halloween, we participate in our church’s Halloween alternative. Only recently have we allowed our kids to dress up for that event. We still have them dress in a way that does not focus on the paranormal or the scary. I have used the heightened awareness of fear, death, and dying during this time, to ask people if they know where they will spend eternity. I’ve also used the example of the jack-o-lantern. On the outside it looks good, but when we open up the pumpkin, we see the goo inside. The pumpkin can’t take the goo out, only the person can. Then once it’s cleaned out, we cut holes in it and put in a light. This is the same with our lives. We may look all put together on the outside, but inwardly, we have all gone against God’s law of perfection. We can’t live up to it. We can’t clean up our lives on our own. It takes asking God to forgive us and clean us up. Then he comes and changes our heart’s desire. He also will carve out the imperfections. It’s not fun and it
hurts, but in the end, it enables His light–the love of Jesus–to shine through us.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a week since I roamed Yellowstone Park with my 19-year-old son, Robin. Our trip was so much fun. We explored the country, had the opportunity to meet people I’d only met online, and see family. You can read about it in my last post. On that 6,496 mile trek, I learned a lot about my own writing and the Dragon Courage series.

Getting Ready

First off, as I began the process of packing and getting ready for the trip, I began to understand Duskya in Dragon’s Cure. She realizes that she needs to go on a trip without Cerulean. At first she’s ready to fight for the right to go, but Cerulean, just like my husband, readily agrees that she can go. Then she the night before she leaves, she begins to doubt herself.

Duskya did not sleep well. It wasn’t that her bed was uncomfortable, but the fact that she realized it would be the last time she would be in it for at least two moons. She curled up next to Cerulean, trying not to keep him awake. She sighed, wondering what this trip would bring. She knew she had to find Serena; she hoped that in the process Carryn would learn to truly forgive. Just before dawn, she drifted off to sleep.

I could so relate to the mixed up emotions of my character. I wanted to go. I was excited about going, but at the same time, I was nervous. I had never traveled so far completely on my own before. I always had someone else who was responsible with me–either my parents, grandparents, or even my husband. This was the first for me to drive across the US on my own.

Dragon’s Future in Eastern Oregon

Photo by Eric Wyatt Photography

As we passed through Eastern Oregon along I-84, I listened to Robin chat about his world. He has a very intricate fantasy world that he’s written about. I expect at some point in time he’ll get them published. A sign pulled me out of his world and into the realm of Dragon Courage. I saw the turn off for Wyeth, Oregon. As those who’ve read Dragon’s Future will know, Wyeth is Ruskya’s dragon. He had his start from this very sign six and a half years ago. About an hour later, we passed Philippi and Blalock Canyons and then Woelpern Rd. All of which triggered memories of places in Dragon’s Future. Twenty miles further on Robin’s story telling was interrupted as he noticed Three Mile Canyon and asked if that was where Three Spans Canyon came from. I smiled as I thought of the dragon riders from the north. The next day, we drove along US Highway 395. As we wove our way through the canyons of Eastern Oregon, I wanted to go back to Three Spans Canyon and Woelpren and tell another story. Who knows, maybe a story will surface from that area. For now, I had to focus back on the road as my son took on his first mountain pass as a newly permitted driver.

Pushing to Make It Home

Several times along the way, my leg and foot cramped up as I drove not wanting to waste time in stopping. In so doing, I was reminded of Kyn, in Dragon’s Revenge. After his trip to the El’Shad’n and then to the Carr, he finally returns home. As I stumbled out of a vehicle to be greeted by Heather Huffman Bodendieck, her son, and four dogs, I felt much like Kyn. When I finally made it to my birthtown, my sister’s home, and finally my own house, I understood Kyn’s eagerness to make it home.

The day was uneventful, and by the time his legs were cramping, they were almost within hailing range of Three Spans Canyon.

“You really should take a break,” Wylen scolded Kyn. “You will not be able to walk when we get there.”

“Then you can land outside the door, and I will crawl inside. We are too close to stop now.”

Wylen huffed a puff of smoke. “You are stubborn today, little one. Why is that?”

“Because, I see those clouds. They are ready to spit snow. If they do, we will be caught out here. I don’t want that.”

Wylen nodded. “Fine. We’ll get home.”

Awhile later, Ruskya was mentally calling him. “Youngling, it is good to have you home. Why not come here for a meal?”

“What if this storm turns into a bad one? Do you really want me there for a day or so?”

“Youngling, you know nothing of the love of a family if you have to ask that. Of course we want you. We’ve missed you like crazy since Braidyn’s wedding. Besides, we’ll probably stay up all night talking anyway. It’d be like it was when you were a newly chosen youngling.”

Kyn smiled. He was home. Ruskya wanted him; Ma and Da needed him. He belonged.

“All right, then, but I’ll warn you, you may have to help carry me inside. I haven’t had a break all day. I flew straight here once I saw the clouds.”

“Younglings!” Ruskya said with exasperation and yet affection in his voice. “I’ll have Carryl make you a tea. Just land in one piece.”

Kyn laughed. “Make it a large pot. I ran out of tea several days ago. I had to actually drink that brew they make where Braidyn lives. It was disgusting!”

When Kyn landed, the wind had picked up and snow was spitting at them. Ruskya met him and helped him off of Wylen.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you wouldn’t be able to walk, youngling.”

Kyn grinned. “What can I say? I just wanted to get home.”

“Well, you are home,” Ruskya agreed.

Where Dragons Live

As our journey took us across fifteen states, Robin and I discussed the possibilities of our dragons living in the various areas. In the hills east of Grand Teton National Park, his dragons could hide as a whole hill. Whereas the dragons of the world of Dragon Courage would rather live in the rugged peaks of Colorado Springs or the Grand Tetons themselves. I wondered if there was room for these kinds of mountains on my map of the Dragon Courage lands.

I, also, realized that even though I had a specific set of canyons and hills in mind when I wrote Dragon’s Future, there are a number of states that have similar places. I added Kansas, Wyoming, and Missouri to the list of places that would understand what I had in mind when I created Philippi and Three Spans Canyons.

Through Wyoming, I saw numerous horse ranches. The wide open plains call out to be riden. As I drove, my mind began to wander. We have tales of cowboys and horse tamers. What about a world where dragons are a nusance and steal livestock and harrass ranchers. Wouldn’t a dragon whisperer come in handy? What would it look like? Who would be the hero or heroine? Any ideas? I’d love to hear them. It’s the side comments of “What if?” or “Hey, you should write a story about…” that often tickle my imagination and then end up growing into a story.

Where do I get my ideas?

I can get an idea from a sign, from someone else, or from watching television. This most recent one came because of anime. Over the last year, my husband and I have been introduced to anime. Sword Art Online, Ano Hana, RWBY, Angel Beats, and now Your Lie in April have all been played across our TV thanks to our almost nineteen-year-old. As I’ve watched, I’ve realized that all good writing has similar components. I began to wonder what a short story would look like.

The process

An Item

Once I had an idea of a short story with some form of the hero’s round–hero has his world fall apart in some way, tries to put it back together through multiple trials, world comes back together but the hero has grown and changed–then I needed my hero. I began to think of swords. The sword slowly took shape in my mind. A large hand and a half sword. One that would look unwieldy but once it touched your hands it fit.

This came from the many hours I’ve stood at the sword merchant with my son and my husband. After hours upon hours and years of saving, my husband finally purchased an Irish long sword. Sitting on display was the matching dagger. This dagger was huge! It could be a perfect hobbit sword! However, the moment I placed it in my hand, I gasped. It fit perfectly! It wasn’t too big or too clumsy. The pommel seemed made for my hand. The joy of holding it still resonates with me. Therefore, I know what I am saying when I described the sword for my new story.

My sword needed a name as did my character who would wield the weapon. I described my sword to my husband and son. The two of them began to think. Then my husband suggested Kingdom Defender as a name. I loved it. There were so many possibilities now. I could write about a paladin or a father defending his home.

A character

Now that I had a sword, I needed a person who would use it. I began to think through the possibilities. Again, they were endless. At the same time, I found a blog post about anime characters and the sixteen personality traits. I had been introduced to the personalities by my fourteen-year-old son. The website he used gave descriptors to the initials. I didn’t remember I was an INFP, but I could keep “Mediator” in my brain. I looked up the personalities and found “Defender” as a personality type! So, my character will be a Defender in title and in personality.

As I thought of the character, I thought of a man, but yesterday afternoon as I drove home and mulled over my story so far, I wondered why I was limiting myself. I could have a girl defender just as easily as a man. It caused me to ponder.

A reason for defending

Who or what is Defender protecting? If it’s a guy, is he defending his home or his kingdom? Is he fighting for a king or is he protecting his family? If it’s a girl, is she protecting a kingdom or is she fighting for her child? All are good questions, but I don’t have an answer to them yet.

Other characters

After I answer these questions, I also have to think of other players in the story. Who will they be? Since I had pulled up the personalities, I thought it could be fun to just throw some different personalities together and see what they did. I began to think of the many plot lines that did this–Star Wars, The Hobbit, Serenity, and The Lord of the Rings to name a few. So, to go with my defender who is quiet, shy, humble, practical and loyal, but who is reluctant to change, and can take things too personally, I decided an “Entrepreneur” would work. What’s an Entrepeneur? It’s someone who is smart, energetic and very perceptive, but who enjoys living on the edge and doesn’t think about what others feel all the time.

Who is this character going to be? I have no clue. I don’t even know if it is a male or female. I’m open to suggestions.

My mind

Many people think the life of an introvert is quiet and nothing much happens. However, in my daily life, even when I’m on my own, or better still, especially when I’m on my own, my mind is full of activity. I may be writing a blog post in my head or trying to figure out Bennu’s next move in my Ancient Egypt story, or now I might have a Defender banging on the inside of my skull with his sword saying, “Let me out! Tell my story!” If it’s none of these, I’m carrying on conversations on Facebook or Twitter. My life is anything but dull!

As for this Defender, what do you think? Is it a girl or a boy? How old is he or she? What or who are they defending? Why? I’m open to suggestions. You never know, maybe your idea will be used in the story. Leave your comments and share. Add to the Defender’s voice so I can hear the story and tell it.

As a proud mother, I watched my son. The changes in this introverted young man brought tears to my eyes. What would his future be? I didn’t know, but I knew whatever God had in store for him would be just right. The day held hope and joy.

Later, the family crowded around my parents and their friends from seminary days years ago as both sets of grandparents celebrated their grandsons’ commencement. Memories, laughter, and smiles filled our table. Over at the other table, the graduates marveled that even though they had a college diploma they had been demoted to the kids’ table. Again joy filled the day.

My mother’s heart beamed while I watched my middle son say good-bye to his friends. A mad dash around a porch led to a giant bear hug, then both sets of parents standing and chatting. After pictures and final good-byes, we became tourists. A trip to a treasure store held many wonders. I loved seeing the jewelry made from Egyptian seals around 1500 BC. The kids looked over stone agates, while my parents loved the coins from by-gone eras.

Finally, it was time to say good-bye and head to our hotel room. The day could have ended right there and I would have been satisfied. However, it didn’t. We had another five hours left. What awaited me in my in box determined another future. It was a very unwelcome one. Opening the email from my publisher, I sat in stunned silence. No words came. As of May 31, Booktrope would no longer exist. I tried to process what all this would mean. The news slowly sunk in. If I wished to keep all four of my books on Amazon, I would have to self-publish them on June 1!

Through this news, the fact that God knew this was coming and it didn’t surprise Him, helped comfort. I saw how God had been preparing me all along. Last year this time, I was just starting out in the author business. I didn’t feel comfortable even calling myself an author. I needed every bit of guidance and help I could get from my book manager. This year, however, I have found confidence. I have joined two different groups of fantasy authors, encouraged new authors, and made a decision to stick it out and put in the hard effort necessary to make it in the writing world. So, even though the rug had been pulled out from underneath my feet, I knew what I would do. I didn’t know how, but I would figure out a way to self-publish the Dragon Courage series and The One Who Sees Me.

As I go forward, I am trusting God to guide me in this next phase of the author life just as He has done in the past year. I’m uncertain of the timetable for the rest of the Dragon Courage series, but I am confident that it will be finished. Up until yesterday, I had planned on an August release date for Dragon’s Cure. Today, I have no clue on a date. I will strive to get it done by August, but I know the editing process won’t begin until June. In the meantime, I will work on getting the ins and outs of self-publishing under my belt.

At the same time, I feel that God was preparing me for this news. Just Wednesday this week, I had several different incidents that encouraged me to keep going. First off, the local elementary school library asked for book two for a specific student. When the librarian heard there was a third book, she was excited for that child. A high school student gave me the idea for the third book in the Myrtle Beach Mythical Creatures series. I have finished the rough draft of the first book and have an idea for the second, but didn’t have anything for a third. After the lunch conversation, I had a direction for the last book of the trilogy. Later in the day, another student came in. As she was talking with me, she suggested another idea. I smiled as she related the exact idea I had already come up with for book two of the Myrtle Beach Mythical Creatures series! My excitement ran high that day, as I saw the reason for why I am writing—children ages ten to sixteen.

Even though I don’t know the logistics for this week or the next several weeks, I know who holds the plans. I will trust Him to take care of me, my books, and my family. What about you? Is there some area that you need to trust? Let me know, and I’ll be praying for you this week.

A few of the reasons why I write and how I was able to focus on something besides Booktrope’s closing this weekend. (At Fort Stevens near Astoria, Oregon)

]]> https://kandijwyatt.com/a-unique-perspective-on-juxtaposed-futures/feed/ 1 1603