Sunday, November 4, 2018

So, where are all those dragons?

That's actually a pretty good question. 😉 It's been over a year since I posted here and so we're overdue for an update on what's going on in the Companion Dragon Tales series.



Unfortunately, we haven't had a release since COPPER'S CHOICE back in 2016, but since that decision is made by the publisher, I can't say why or why not. They have their struggles too. I can reassure you that on this end, the writing goes on.



The LAZLO AT HOME anthology was scheduled for earlier this year, and there is some hope we might still see it in the not too distant future, though its release may be pushed back until sometime early next year (2019). This collection of 4 short pieces features the little blue dragon with the big feet and impaired speech as he fumbles his way through learning his duties as a familiar of the witch Nancy Bittergreen in her magical household. Lazlo is still young and inexperienced, and when unsupervised, he doesn't always make wise choices. Meeting the neighbors and not making enemies of them can sometimes be fraught with dangers that come along unexpectedly when you're a small, fire-breathing dragon roaming in a rural area filled with little beings of various fairy tales. Not everyone is friendly! Let's hope poor Lazlo can find a way to win them over.



After that comes MYSTICAL, MAGICAL WAXY, another anthology of short pieces, which I will assume is slated for a 2020 release. This one has 3 stories featuring everyone's favorite rainbow dragon Waxy, and her adventures with her erstwhile mage companion, Roger 'Rusty' Rustman—AKA 'Bubblehead'. Waxy is irrepressibly curious and bold, as well as rather contrary and stubborn. She refuses to be left out of any adventures and manages to get herself into a boatload of trouble, whether sneaking off in the other magical realms or safely at home. Fortunately, she's often able to get herself out of some very tough situations. Fun to write, even more fun to read, this book is a collaboration with co-author and Waxy Dragon creator, Roger Stegman.



Back in early August of this year (2018), co-author Lee Houston Jr. and I submitted the manuscript for KIRI'S QUEST, which introduces yet another little dragon to our pantheon of familiar companions. Ruby-scaled Kiri has an entire book-length adventure of her own. She is a well established dragon familiar who is sent on a covert mission by her current companion, to retrieve a powerful magical artifact that was stolen by an evil (and very egotistical) wizard who calls himself Grewsum The Great. That he lives on a remote and foreboding island in a fortress guarded by all sorts of monsters as well as spells of detection doesn't make Kiri's quest any easier. How can one small but brave little red dragon manage to get through all those perils and then break into the fortress without being discovered? Well with some luck you should hopefully find out with a potential 2021 release.



None of these release dates are definite because things in the small publishing world can change rather rapidly. I am far from the only author with books waiting to be released and so I have learned to be patient. It's a privilege to be published at all because there are so many writers out there clamoring for a chance to reach an audience. But I will let you know as soon as I have any further announcements on the above books, and any other news involving the Companion Dragon Tales series. One way or another, the writing goes on.



We appreciate your patience and loyalty!
~Nancy