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Title of book and/or
series: The Dragon Courage series—book 1 Dragon’s Future, book 2 Dragon’s
Heir, book 3 Dragon’s Revenge,
book 4 Dragon’s Cure (releasing
August, 2016), book 5 Dragon’s Posterity,
Prequel Dragon’s Past
Brief summary of the
story:
In a world where dragons and humans live in peace with each other,
it is a privilege to be a dragon rider, but riders, like everyone else, must
find their purpose. In this series, twins Ruskya and Duskya fight for their
dragons' futures and their lives! Braidyn struggles with balancing justice and
mercy as he searches for a stolen nestling. Kyn and a new friend, Ben’hyamene,
discover a breed of wild dragons which have been at war with humans for four
hundred years, and the two learn that peace is better than revenge. Kyn helps
Duskya and her daughter, Carryn, search for a young rider who stumbles upon a
slave trade. Carryn learns that bitterness leaves a person in bondage as much
as being a slave. Follow along the riders’ quest in this exciting middle grade fantasy
series by author Kandi J Wyatt.
Brief description of
the world or location you created for this story:
The world itself has many
of the same things our world has: lakes, deserts, mountains, swamplands, oceans,
and mines. The center of the world is the inland lake. From there, we tell
directions. North of the inland lake is the canyon country of Woolpren and
Three Spans Canyon. Here the people are steeped in tradition. To the south of
the inland lake is Boeskay. It is situated just south of the lake on the River
Sur. The land is fruitful and many people farm here. To the east of the inland
sea rolling sandhills spread out as far as the eye can see. The people here
herd livestock and roam from oasis to oasis. Heading south and west of the
inland sea will bring a traveler to the land of The Carr. A river overflows its
banks creating a massive swamp. People live in sod houses on rocky outcroppings
or in wooden cabins up on stilts. Their livelihood is dependent on the land
whether in logging, farming, or ranching. To the south and west of Boeskay the
city of San Valencia sits at the base of tall, rocky mountains. The mountains
hold mines for ebony. To the west of The Carr sits the ocean. Its rolling surf
crashes against rocks and plays a hide-n-seek game with the grasslands as they
ebb and flow between the surf and the mountains.
If we were to visit the
Lands of Dragon Courage as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do
there?
First and foremost, ride a dragon! You’d have to ask a dragon rider
and the dragon for permission, but it would be the best thing ever. Secondly,
I’d recommend that you visit the El’shad’n in the sandhills and experience one
of their feasts. The heat will have dissipated by the evening feast and their
pavilions will be open to guests. Drums will provide a beat for dancing, and
after dark, the fire dancers will grace the grounds with their intricate work
of twirling fire and blowing it in great balls into the air. Roasted lamb never
tastes as good as it does at an El’shad’n feast. There’s just something about
the way they grill it over the fire that brings all the favor to the front and
gets rid of the grease lamb is known for. While on your visit, you must swing
by and say ‘hi’ to Duskya or Ruskya and have a cup of tea. Listen to them tell
the stories of the lands. Finally, if you’ve never been to an ocean before, go
explore the coast. Listen to the roar of the surf. I’d suggest going in the
summer during the Youngling Challenge.
What dangers should
we avoid in the Lands of Dragon Courage?
You’ll want to be cautious of the
wild drakes in The Carr. They’ve been at peace with humans now for a few
winters, but they are still wild. You don’t want to disturb their lands. They
can be territorial. As long as you aren’t caught out in the open in the winter
in Three Spans Canyon or Woolpren you’ll be okay, but winter storms have been
known to lock people in their homes for days on end. In the summer time,
Boeskay can have tornados. If you’re there in the summer months, you’ll want to
keep an eye on the sky.
Is there a distinct
or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the Lands of Dragon
Courage?
Depending on where in the land you are, your food will vary. The
northern lands of Woolpren and Three Spans Canyon serve meats from their
livestock along with corn and wheat. Boeskay is known for the farms. All kinds
of fresh produce comes through the market and fish is caught in the river. Tea
is a prominent drink in the north; while coffee is served in the sandhills, and
lemonade on the western coast of the inland sea.
What types of
weaponry or fighting styles are common in the Lands of Dragon Courage?
Swords, knives, arrows, and basic hand-to-hand combat are practiced among all
the peoples of the land.
What types of
vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the Lands of
Dragon Courage?
Wagons and horses are the most common means of
transportation. A few people are fortunate enough to be dragon riders. They
have the wonderful opportunity to travel by way of dragon. Those living in the
sandhills can travel using animals bred for the heat.
What types of plants,
animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the Lands of Dragon Courage that
we don’t see on Earth?
There is a plant that encourages dragons to have
twins. It has a similar effect on humans as well. Dragons are another species
that are specific to the Lands of Dragon Courage. Other than that, the world is
very similar to ours.
What role, if any,
does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the Lands of
Dragon Courage? If there is magic,
please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Magic
exists mainly in the form of dragons and their abilities. However, there are
some items that are magical—an herb that produces twins, an amulet that binds
dragons to people and enables the person to hear others’ thoughts, ebony
crystals that can hold the essence of a person so that their presence is felt in
an area, creating mental cages of memories to keep a person from knowing who
she is. These are all magical happenings. The abilities of telepathy and
telekinesis are explained by way of magic.
Tell us about any
sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in the Lands
of Dragon Courage.
The main entertainment happens in the summer along the
coast. The Youngling Challenge is held where all the young dragon riders who
are ready to graduate to full-fledged riders come to prove their abilities as
riders. There are competitions for them to show how well they work together as
a group, individually, and in team sports as well. They have hand-to-hand
tournaments, races, and show their prowess with their abilities to wield their
minds as weapons.
Are the days of the
week and months of the year the same in the Lands of Dragon Courage as on
Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The
days and months are the same. However they rate the passing of time by winters.
The seasons are the same in the land but the severity of the weather depends on
where you are visiting. The Carr has rain, fog, and sun all year long, while
Woolpren and Three Spans Canyon have distinctive seasons with extremes. The
special event for the north is the Youngling Procession where the dragons and
prospective dragon riders meet every winter. The dragon rider colony then
celebrates the arrival of new riders. In Boeskay, each winter they celebrate
when their younglings are old enough to become full-fledged riders.
What is the political
or government structure in the Lands of Dragon Courage? Who is in charge there at the moment, and
what kind of leader is he/she?
The Carr has two different sets of
government. There is the leader of the humans and the leader of the dragon
riders. In recent years, the two have become one. The leader is a young girl by
the name of Calum. She is guided by her father, the former human leader, and
the former dragon rider leader, Shaylah. The El’shad’n look to Braidyn as their
Ah’doneye or leader. The other areas have no political struggles. The riders
are helpers who keep peace. In Boeskay, the riders help by fertilizing the
farmlands with dragon fire.
Are there any other
unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit the Lands of
Dragon Courage?
In the north, people bow in reverence and greeting to each
other. The traditional greeting is “May your dragon fly true.” Among the men of
The Carr, they shake hands instead of bowing. They are less formal. The El’shad’n
had been ruled by a man who abused power. He required everyone to bow down to
him as a king. He also kept the women separate from the men. This is changing,
but there is still a cultural reticence for the two to mix in public without a
family member around.
Has anything in your
actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Woolpren and Three Spans Canyon are
based on two canyons I have visited personally. When I was between my junior
and senior years in high school I went to Northern Arizona and saw Canyon de
Chelly. I loved the idea of a town built into the canyon wall. The canyons of
the high desert of Eastern Oregon are where my in-laws live. When I blended the
Northern Arizona landscape with the foothills of the Blue Mountains of Oregon,
I created Woolpren and Three Spans Canyon.
Boeskay comes from my childhood in
the Mississippi River area of Southern Iowa. The farmlands surrounding the
river and the bluffs fill the land. Even the tornados and thunderstorms come
from my childhood. However, the market place comes from my time in Ecuador. I
loved the way the vendors would set up their wares in colorful displays. The
sing-song calling out of what they had to sell also comes into the Boeskay
market.
The Carr probably is my favorite
because it is what I have known for the past twenty-one years. It is based on
the Coquille River valley in Oregon. In the winter time, the fertile fields
fill with runoff and the river itself takes on a life of its own as it spills
into the plains. The mountains around the valley used to supply many log mills
with lumber. They aren’t conducive for dragons, but the valley floor works well
for the flying creatures.
What, if any, “hot-button”
or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
For the most part the
series avoids anything controversial and focuses instead on family, friendship,
courage, justice balanced with mercy, and revenge versus peace. However, in
book four, the topics of survivors of childhood abuse and human trafficking come
into play. When I wrote it, I wrote out of my own experience of overcoming the
abuse coping mechanisms. At the time, human trafficking wasn’t even spoken
about. Yet, somehow, I was able to put together a very believable experience of
how young girls can fall into the clutches of this despicable system. As one
character says, “I’d like to take down the whole system! Wing, tail, and horns.
From the sellers to the traders to the buyers.”
Author Autobiography: Kandi J Wyatt is a
wife, mother of five, teacher, artist, and author. In her free time, she enjoys
writing fantasy stories and Christmas programs, and drawing with graphite and
colored pencils. Portraits are her specialty. Kandi also enjoys photography,
thanks to her photographer husband who has let her join his journey as both his
model and apprentice, and she occasionally serves as his assistant when he
needs a “light stand with feet.”
Where, and in what
formats, can we purchase your book(s)?
Please include links.
Where can readers
connect with you online?
Feel free to connect with me on my website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads,
Google Plus, and Pinterest. I blog every week about
things not necessarily book related but what I think would help my readers or
about what’s happening in my own life. On Facebook, I share not only my blog
posts, but any videos or pictures that pique an interest for my readers or
would follow with themes in my books. I participate in Twitter games,
#MondayBlogs, #TuesdayTitles (where I suggest books that are great reads),
#1lineWed (snippets of either works in progress or from my books), and
#momlife. My Pinterest boards are divided by things that fit with my books as
well as a favorite quote and a favorite book board.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Lands of Dragon Courage. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Bjergen, in Realm Explorers Part XCXVI!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the fantasy world of Bjergen, in Realm Explorers Part XCXVI!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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