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!

Characters of Dragon Courage

Ruskya was first introduced in book 1. He’s the blond, skinny, shy guy that gains the courage to fight the Turquoise dragon rider, Kyanos. Wyeth is his small dragon. Both Ruskya and Wyeth are often taken for granted due to their size. People underestimate them. They both have learned how to take advantage of their stature and find ways to make up for their disadvantages.

Ardyn was born in the epilogue of Dragon’s Future. He’s the little boy in book two that pesters Braidyn to let him go visit Cerulean and Duskya. In book three, he insists in understanding the ways of the El’shad’n. Now, he’s grown up. He’s not out on his own, but he’s discovered he loves braiding leather and making art. Unfortunately, his dad doesn’t see it as art but as defying tradition. Ardyn and Ruskya fight over the littlest things. Ruskya says it best:

“The areas I find the hardest to accept in me are the areas that I pick at Ardyn the most.”

Kyn, once Ruskya’s youngling, has grown up in Three Spans Canyon. He has kept his ties with his own family, the merchant in Woolpren. Aislin’s blessing continues to make Kyn the frithwyn, or peace friend. He seeks peace wherever he goes. Seeing his former trainer at odds with his oldest son hurts. Can a strange dream be the way to mend the rift between father and son?

Blurb for Dragon’s Posterity

Is there really a right way to braid leather? Ruskya doesn’t know anymore. Is it worth fighting over? Twenty-one winters ago, he was ready to take on the turquoise dragon rider, but now he fears facing his oldest son.

Kyn, Ruskya’s youngling, wonders if he’s going crazy when an image begins haunting his dreams. Soon, he realizes it may be the key to helping not only Ruskya and his son Ardyn, but all younglings and their trainers as they adjust to growing up.

Will Kyn be able to help Ruskya, Ardyn, and the other young riders? Follow your favorite characters from the exciting Dragon Courage series as they empower the next generation and give dragons to their posterity.

Giveaway for cover reveal

With this cover reveal, I’m giving away a complete eBook set of the Dragons Courage series, a purple dragon pin, and another dragon rider book, Elodia’s Dragon. All you have to do is enter here. You can enter at least once a day until Sunday, December 4. I’ll notify the winner a week from today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dragon’s Posterity Cover

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.

Family is something dear to my heart. It always has been. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that at age four my family moved three hours away from my grandparents and aunts and uncles. Then four years later, we moved two thousand miles away from them all. Every two years or so, we’d meander back across country to visit. The cousins would pick up where we’d left off, best of friends. With this long-distant relationship with family, my parents did something that was very helpful for my siblings and me. They created new family. There were three or four families that became like aunts and uncles and cousins.

When I married my husband, family became an important part of our identity. It was easy to decide where to spend Christmas. We’d have two celebrations, one with my family and one with his. After college when we settled down to live in one location, we still did many things with my siblings and parents and my husband’s family. Our kids grew up with cousins around them. As the cousins matured and became young adults of their own, it was fun to watch as they became friends as well. When my in-laws celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, the cousins all got together. As we cleaned up the party, the adults sat back and laughed as the kids danced and played with helium left over from balloons. Several incriminating videos of obnoxiously high voices were taken and shared among the cousins.

Today, though, I think of my family left back in the Mid-West who have never met my kids. What would grandma have thought of them? Would she have enjoyed sitting and chatting with them? She was able to meet my oldest when he was one-year-old. What about the second cousins that my kids have never known. Would they get along as well as they do with their West Coast cousins? Who knows. Maybe one day, the kids will take it upon themselves to journey back to see where my roots lay.

Until then, I’ll cherish family–even emotionally adopted–cause that’s what family does. Tweet

Dragon’s Revenge excerpt:

Awhile later, Ruskya was mentally calling Kyn. “Youngling, it is good to have you home. It looks like you made it just in time. The storm is ready to settle in.”

“I see that. Part of me wonders why I left the warmth of the south,” Kyn joked.

Ruskya’s hearty laugh reached his ears. “I hear you, youngling. I wondered that myself, but there’s family here. We’re complete now that you are back.”

“Thanks, Ruskya. I needed that.”

“No problem. 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.

So, what’s all the fuss about? Book one followed Ruskya and Duskya as they fought for their dragons’ future. We met a young villager by the name of Braidyn. He heads south to Boskay and finds a home. However, he never quite feels at home. His sense of justice is great and he wields it without mercy. Two dragon eggs are stolen from his dragon colony. He recruits Ruskya and Darryl to help him find the culprit. Their journey takes them to a new land and another dragon colony with different traditions. Braidyn must learn to temper his justice or he will lose everything that is important to him.

Follow along ad see if Braidyn can find his home. Will the sandhills call to you as they do to me?

In celebration of the release, we will have a Facebook party on Saturday. We will have prizes, giveaways, books, authors, and lots of fun,and yes, dragons. One of the authors who will be present is Brian Rathbone, number one international seller of the Godsland series. Facebook parties are amazing. You can participate from the comfort of your own home. Just log in and chat. The party will be Saturday, December 12 from 3:30-7:30 Eastern. Come join us. I will be giving away a signed copy of Dragon’s Heir and mugs, magnets, and other wonderful Dragon Courage things.

I’ll leave you with this trailer of Dragon’s Heir. Enjoy. And may your dragon fly true!

As I’ve grown, family and friends have stayed the mainstay for the holidays. Last year, I wanted to have a relaxing Thanksgiving. So I talked with each of my kids as to what made Thanksgiving for them. We came up with a list of foods and I fixed them. When we went to sit down, the boys were upset. I tried to figure out the frustration and found that it wasn’t food that made the holiday but people coming over. Fortunately for us, my parents and our oldest son and his girlfriend showed up early for dessert and were there while we had our meal.

The first of the series will be on sale Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

It was this strong basis of family and friends that I drew from when I wrote the Dragon Courage series. I wanted to give my kids a taste of normalcy and put it in a different place. The interactions of the characters throughout the series come from interactions I’ve had with my own kids and my own family. The scenes around the dinner table are straight from my own dinner table. The toddler complaining while mom fixes a meal is exactly what happened with my young ones. Only at meal time did they need mom. They were fine until I walked into the kitchen. Then they were clinging to my legs. It’s rather difficult to fix a meal with a two and a three year old attached to either leg.

So, as you go about your holiday season this year. Remember your family and friends. Spend time with them. Make memories that will last. Play a game together, read them a book, watch a fun movie together. Whatever you do, enjoy them. If you were like me growing up and your family is miles away, find friends or others who need family and be their family. There is always someone who needs some family.

Crackling, sparkling, safe and secure
A comfort in the night
A welcome warmth after a winter excursion
A place to dry off after the rain
Warms frozen hands
Where you cuddle up to read your favorite book on an autumn evening
Perfect backdrop for telling stories
Contemplation is encouraged by staring at the sparks drifting upward
Roasts marshmallows to perfection–either golden brown or crispy black
Heats food and water for tea, coffee, or hot cocoa
Provides entertainment when expertly handled on the end of a staff, poi, or torch
Smell of its smoke brings back childhood memories of camping seasons gone by

Raging, burning, destroying
Licks up wood, grass, and home indiscriminately
Races faster than the eye can see
Creates tornadoes of flame that leap into the air
Leaps roads
Leaps burn lines
Dry tinder and rainless days are its friend
Sends fear into the hearts of firefighter families
Turns the sun a strange burnt umber
Started by just a small spark
Its smoke stings the eyes, burns the lungs, and causes death

Fire

If this one thing can have such drastic sides to it, why shouldn’t the noble creatures who wield its power not have both sides to them. If fire can help, why can’t dragons provide comfort, healing, and heat as well? If fire destroys, why can’t dragons also have a fierce side that destroys, rages, and creates havoc? Enter the world of the Dragon Courage series, where dragons provide courage, friendship, and comfort or on the other hand destroy, kill, and cast judgment. Fire can be both good and bad; therefore, dragons can be both benevolent and malevolent. They are the creatures who co-inhabit the world of humans.

“The best way to convince, persuade, teach and inspire is with a story.”

In my sixth grade class, I had girls in tears because of words said. I finally settled the students into their desks and I told a story of a shy, insecure sixth grade girl and how words hurt her. You could hear a pin drop in the classroom, a rarity with that group of kids. My seventh grade students were ready to start a family tree project. They could present their own family or the ‘perfect’ family, and they needed to use photos of some sort. The requirement for using clip art and other pictures from online was to site their sources. There were groans and questions of why. I told them a story, this time with pictures. I opened my file on my computer with my art. I showed them the drawings I had done, and asked how I would feel if someone else claimed those photos as their own. The story stuck; not a single person who used clip art failed to site their sources.

As I look through history, it is the storytellers who wove the morals into the fabric of society. People don’t like rules, but they love a story. So, the storyteller would create a story to give evidence to the rules. Aesop and his fables is one of the famous ones. Others line archaeology hallways. What child would listen to their parents saying, “Avoid the sneaker waves”? And yet, every one would sit and listen enthralled to the story of the beautiful Native American princess Ewanua who was warned of Seatka, the evil ocean spirit, and yet at night she wandered to play on the beach with her dog, Komax, and her cat with kittens. She did not head the warnings of her elders and was lured into the ocean. Parents then would point offshore to the princess, immortalized in stone, staring out to sea with her cat and the kittens in a basket and Komax, on low tide, sitting on shore howling to get everyone’s attention.

Legend of Face Rock

In modern times, stories still resonate with our hearts. As authors, our values, morals, and intents come across in what we write. Authors may say they have no intention of sharing any moral story or that their story isn’t an allegory; however, their beliefs color their writings. Take the two most well-known for the modern day high fantasy, Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien did not want to create a Christian book; yet, his beliefs shone through his writing. Lewis, on the other hand, wanted to share in a story his beliefs. He succeeded to the point where many now just see the story and not the morals behind the story.

As I wrote the Dragon Courage series, I had my own children in mind. I wanted them to learn some lessons, but knew that the best way to do it was as author Antonia Felix said, in a story. So, I began writing. Each book has different themes that resonate with the reader. It was with great pleasure that I read the review from Sandra Stiles stating, “There are subtle lessons and themes throughout the story about friendship, trust, courage, and abuse of power.” I had fulfilled my desires. It was even more satisfying to hear that I had done it in such a way that she “read this book much slower than [she] usually read[s] because [she] wanted to savor every word and didn’t want it to end”. That was exactly what I had wanted to do.

As you finish up this summer, take some time out to curl up in your favorite reading place, whether that is under a tree, at the creek or lake, on the beach, sitting around the dinner table, or cuddled up on the couch or in your favorite reading chair, and read a new book. Dive into a different world and see if your eyes are opened to new truths.