A Dragonologist's Journal

Dragonologist: June 14, 2014 (First publication of this dragonologist's search for a live dragon and the revealing of the red dragon, Keensight.)


I did not see a dragon at all today even though I am in an area where there was a reported sighting.  I did find some burn marks that might indicate this is a hunting area of a dragon with a breath of flame. However, I am unable to verify at this time.  This area is rife with mosquitoes and other irritating pests.  While this would not deter a dragon, I am finding myself quite uncomfortable and smelling of a great deal of bug spray.  Fortunately I thought to pack my mosquito net and will be able to sleep without such irritations.

Dragonologist:  June 16, 2014

I have entered more dangerous terrain. There is more evidence of flaming here even among the rocks. I think I am getting close and will proceed with caution.  A soot test revealed that some of the marks were as recent as within the month.

Anxiety of Readers Waiting for Fallen Tiers

Hi all,
So... where is Fallen Tiers?  I know it is my most asked question.  It has been a hard year in my cancer fight.  However, it will be going out July 1, major edits have been required do to chemo brain and the length before it is going to be available.  Chemo and creativity don’t mix.  While I know the story’s frame, those intricate details are what makes the story really flow.  It will be up for presale as soon as I get the cover.

More after the jump...

Ups and Downs in the Life of a Writer

So... five hours of travel.... two hours of set up and awesomeness by Theresa Snyder ... to have it pour.  It rained on the 2015 NW Book Festival.  It hasn't rained in weeks and it chooses this day to break that trend.  The upside was that the set up was beautiful.  Theresa did an amazing job with the visuals for our booth.  We even had a board where you could take a picture with her dragon, Farloft.  But due to the rain, as you can see, there was little traffic.

Another upside for me was getting to spend a wonderful two days with my author friend.  We make a good pair as we are similiar enough to work together, but different enough to appeal to different readers.  But to be honest, the best is that Theresa Snyder and her entourage are genuinely delightful people to spend time with.

So thank you to all those that set up this fair, who stopped by our booth, and specifically to Theresa's team!

Since.. I ordered so many books.  I will be running an ebay sale of signed copies if anyone is interested.  I hope to have them all listed by 7/27/15.  Need to move this inventory before I go in for that kidney removal.  Thanks for all your support.  You are the reason I can keep smiling in the face of this year of continued challenge.

I Hope to Meet You in Portland This Weekend!

Hey all,

I put off surgery so I could attend the NW Book Festival in Portland this weekend.  If you are anywhere close, bring your copy and I will sign it for you.  Theresa and I will be in space 21.  We will have a line of sight view of Starbucks.  So I will have plenty of energy!!

If you have an electronic copy, there is a link on the side here to have me e-sign it.  Not as fun or personal, so stop by and at least say hi!

We will have bookmarks, drawings for free books and audios, and a dragon cut out of Farloft.  You can get your picture with him as a dragon, or well... the kids can.  *winks*

I really hope to see you all between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

                            Cheryl Matthynssens

Farloft Gives His Input on the Enlightened Dragonologist.

As many of you know, my good friend and co-president of the Society of Enlightened Dragonologists, as done much of her research with her dragon companion, Farloft.

While Farloft is off on a new adventure showing his mate all the wondrous places he has been, he did manage to leave his thoughts on the society before he went.  You can find these on Farloft's Rhetoric. 


At this point, we are gathering all the information our web designer has required and will soon be able to announce the launch of the Society's formal portal.  Our URL will be dragonologists.com but it is still under contruction.  Stay tuned for more updates.

Declaration of Dragon Sentiments

Keensight

Farloft

This is the Declaration of Dragon Sentiments for the newly formed Society of Enlightened Dragonologists. We will soon be opening this up for membership, which of course.. will be free.  No self-respecting dragonologist would take money to advance the knowledge of our craft.

When in the course of universal dragon events, it becomes necessary to point out the arrogance and audacity of belief that man of earth is the only species of sentient beings; an organization must be formed to correct this deficiency in humility and knowledge. A decent respect to the natures of dragons throughout the universe requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all dragons are not created equally; Some breathe fire, have magic and are endowed with differing magical abilitiess. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of undomesticated prey. Whenever any form of government or knightly band becomes destructive of these rights, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it and to defend themselves be it by magic or fire.

Let these facts be submitted to the world:

Ancient dragons can fold time and space if they choose.

Dragons are scattered throughout the universe and due to this planetary division may differ in size, weapons and magical skills.

Dragons are as different in look and personality as man is in color of hair and language.

Dragons are intelligent and self aware.

The Society of Enlightened Dragonologists Now Forming!

After a very long and tense meeting with Farloft and Keensight, Theresa Snyder and I have agreed to be co-founders of the Society of Enlightened Dragonologists.  This is to differentiate from the Society of Secret and Ancient Dragonologists in some very important matters.  

Having read many novels written by those who have promoted themselves as dragonologists, muses and authors of dragon stories, both dragons were highly agitated  The promotion of dragons as fire breathing greedy beasts without a single intelligent thought in their head has offended both ancient dragons.  While they take an entirely different stance on  how to deal with those that have affronted them the greatest, they did agree that a society needed to be established that supported dragons as wise and noble creatures.

I did bring up the fact to Keensight that his constant threats to eat people might support these various and negative opinions. But he very arrogantly reminded me that he has the brains to know who to eat and who not eat as well as when to eat and not eat.  Taking a barrage of sword wielding and bow shooting fighters head on was just a sign of beastial rage and not intelligent strategy.  It led to metal in the back of one's throat.  I will let Theresa explain, on her blog, Farloft's more soft spoken and logical viewpoints.

Keensight was adamant that Theresa and I work with authors that promote the intelligence of dragons whether they are medieval, modern or intergalactic.  In that spirit, keep your ears tuned, we will soon have a formal site, motto and other important components of a true and powerful not so secret... secret society.

Updates and Fun!

Okay, so much is happening so fast that I feel almost overwhelmed.  One year ago, no one knew my name.  As of today, over 1200 people have purchased some format of my writing this month alone and I am beginning to get messages in email, twitter and facebook.  For those that are coming here from the information in the back of my book, here is the easiest ways to reach me.

dragonsgeas.com
@balanceguide for twitter
dragonsgeas@gmail.com

Outcast is doing phenomenal as an audio book. Paul Woodson did an awesome job and I am begging him to take on The Blackguard.

You can hear his work at: Paul Woodson
There are samples for everything he has done.  Help me convince him to do book two.

Keensight's Reply to Farloft!

Please welcome Keensight. I finally managed to set up dragon speak for him... ironic that...since his talons are too big for my keyboard. I am allowing him to post on my blog in his first internet appearance.

Hello and Good Day Fine Humans and Fellow Dragons.

I have chosen to personally respond to my fellow dragon, Farloft, in his recent musings. 

Find his post at Farloft's Rhetoric.

As Cheri recently learned and placed into her novel, I first made a human friend when I had moved to eat him and he began to tell me the reasons I should not.  This swift thinking fellow started with how he would stick in my throat and went on to all manner of digestive issues that I might encounter. It was so amusing that I did not eat him and in his short life span, we were fast friends.     But I would challenge that humans are faithful.  It is an inclusive statement. Some humans are faithful such as Theresa or Cheri.  However, I have had others attempt to garner my friendship just to see my treasure bed and then I have found them stealing from it.  Not all humans are faithful. One must be discerning.

I would agree with the concept of formidable.  Cheri came to my cave at least forty times demanding my stories and tales and would not stop her caterwauling outside my cave until I gave in.  I will point out I did not eat her at first because I have never forgotten Henrick's complete description of what would befall me should I ingest a human.  I may bite but I never swallow. 

I would also agree with fleeting and fun.  Other than the fact she does not supply me goats as I have requested for my visits and continues to make me these weird dishes of leaves and plants, I have found having Cheri a great deal of fun.  But each time I blink, she moves on in her short life.  She was with child, then children and now she has grandchildren.  I do not threaten to eat them however.  I am fairly certain if I did, Cheri would EAT me! I do let them crawl upon me and tug my nostrils to see where the smoke comes from.

Let me make very clear my new friend, I will NEVER let her put a bonnet on me.  She may sit upon my back.  She may paint my wings with dots while I am sleeping, (she did this and called me her giant lady bug) but I will never wear a bonnet for her. Speaking of painting my wings.... that took weeks to get rid of. I had to hide for what self respecting dragon wears dots??

I challenge you to consider, that maybe fun is unique to the human and dragon.  And should you ever bring a bonnet... to tea or dinner... I assure you our words will not be this playful banter.  Our humans, though, they move through life so swift and frantic. I fear I will miss it.  Let us both keep them close lest we miss a moment of their wondrous creative lives. 

My Interview With an Author and a Dragon. Meet Theresa and Farloft.

  

I met Theresa and her dragon friend, Farloft, on Twitter. Theresa is a writer with a backlog of novellas. Farloft lives with Theresa part-time and steals her Twitter account on the last day of every month in order to tweet to ‘his’ followers.

I thought you all would enjoy meeting Theresa and Farloft. My friend and visiting dragon, Keensight, decided to sit in on this interview with me...
More after the jump!

Farloft's Rhetoric: My 1st Interview with Katherine Logan

I want to share this writer with all my own fans.  She is truly amazing but more amazing is her friend, Farloft.  He is a dragon with exceptional human tolerance.  I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.  This interview made me smile.
Cheryl

Farloft's Rhetoric: My 1st Interview with Katherine Logan: Greeting Everyone, Yesterday Theresa and I sat down with Kathy to chat for a bit. This is the resulting interview. Thank you, Kathy ::gri...