(2001-04-15)Q: Can you tell us a bit about Reign Of The Dragon?A: The story is basically a quest. Drodan, a scribe, is searching for the Stone Of The Zarians. This magical talisman has the ability to negate all other magic. Drodan needs the stone in order to defeat, Illdred, an evil wizard that has murdered Drodan's father. Drodan is accompanied by his best friend, Trelar, the city of Zale's finest thief. Vestia, a young noblewoman flees Zale to escape marriage to Illdred. Vestia is the king's niece and Illdred plans on making a "royal" marriage and taking over the throne. Natia, the king's wife, helps Drodan in his search for the stone. She also wants to see Illdred dead and the son she bore in secret on the throne. Lyka, a shape-shifter, gets involved with the group when Drodan and Trelar save her from Zale's dungeons. Xur, a warrior and disciple of the war god, Afre, is hired by Vestia's father to bring the girl home. All the characters end up at Wizard's Hall, a school for mages, searching for answers. Grang, the eldest of all dragons has been hiding the Stone Of The Zarians. In an encounter with Vestia he gives her the talisman in exchange for her first born daughter. The dragon intends to bring back the days when dragons ruled the world and were worshipped by men. Q: Who are some of your favorite authors? What are you reading right now? A: I love Mercedes Lackey, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, and Terry Goodkind. Right now I am reading The Blackgod, by J. Gregory Keyes. I read his first book, The Waterborn, and was very impressed. I just hope that one day I will have the skill level of these other writers. Q: When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? A: Since I can remember. When I was nine years old I wrote a thirty-five page book about a girl and her horse. My teacher allowed me to skip class for the day and read the book to students in the school library. I was hooked at that moment. Q: Can you tell us a bit about your experience with a Print on Demand Press? A: Well, I was thrilled that any press was willing to publish the book. AmErica House charges no author fees and books are first read by a "book reader", then approved by the editors, then go on for final approval by the publisher. Not every book sent in is accepted for publication so they do maintain some standard of quality unlike vanity presses that will print any book sent as long as someone writes a check. However, the publisher does nothing to help the writer market the book. The editing job done on Reign Of The Dragon was poor to say the least. Though the book is availabe on Amazon.Com and the publisher's website, you are not guaranteed "shelf space" in bookstores. A few local bookstores have stocked the novel but I have provided the books to the stores, they have purchased them from me, not a bookseller. Q: What areas or challenges lie ahead for you in writing? A: I need to get an agent, I don't have one yet. I am working on the second novel and hopefully it will be better written, the characters more developed, and the plot more interesting than Reign Of The Dragon. I need to read the "Elements of Style" about a hundred times. Q: What are your plans for the future? A: Every writer dreams of the day they can stay home, turn on the coffee pot, and work at the computer for the day. I am no exception. But for now, I just want to get the second novel, Child Of The Dragon, completed. I want to work on getting an agent and getting the second book published. I also plan to do more marketing for Reign Of The Dragon. Basically, take it one book at a time and hope for the best. Q: What has the Internet meant for you as an author? A: The internet has been an invaluable tool. Writer's chats offer support and understanding and there are some great classes offered online. Also, I have found most of the reviewers doing pieces on my novel via the internet. Many fantasy sites are eager to run a press release or blurb about the book. Of course, you can't forget about Amazon.com, a great place to sell books.
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