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.

Wisdom of the Elder Dragon

Tyranastrasz by DragonCid on DeviantArt




 “Alador, never say that you can't do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can't be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing it may be; mortals are limited only by what by their minds. We are each the masters of our own reality; when we become self-aware to this: absolutely anything in the world is possible.”

Keensight

Red Dragon Flight Leader

Keensight Travels the Human World Safely

As many know, I am working on the final book of this series.  I may republish them as a trilogy in the future, combining Outcast and the Blackguard as well as Bloodmines and Pseudo-dragon.  To go over this possibility and the final book, I traveled to Minneapolis to meet with my editor and one of the illustrators I work with for children's books. So that many of you know what is delaying, I have been battling stage four cancer.  The chemo has worked to remove all but one tumor on my liver.  I will be having surgery on August 4th.  The upside is that I will not be able to travel and so will have time to write.  The downside, it will probably be a week or so before I feel well enough to be creative.

While I was in Minnapolois, Becky Hunt, the illustrator, went to a great deal of work to create an avatar that Keensight could occupy so that he could travel with me around the country without concerns of getting shot or mobbed.  She gave it to me when I arrived.

Rebecca Hunt and Cheryl Matthynssens with Keensight

Transitions of a Writer

When I started writing, I really just wanted to see if I could publish.  I wanted to see my name on a book.  I hadn't written much since I had graduated College some 20 years earlier.  It is horrible how such drilled in skills slowly deplete over time.  I didn't think I needed an editor.  I didn't think I needed a proof reader.  After all, I was an English Major.  The twenty years or the fact that once you have read a work over and over to the point your brain sees what should be there were totally lost on me.

I was happy with the two or three sales a day.  People were reading me.  Then suddenly, my book took off in the UK.  People willing to forgive the lack of a proof reader were giving it high ratings and even those pointing out the need of editing were still liking the story.  Amazon gave a stipend to quickly get it into audio.  Unfortunately, by the time that it sunk in and I had read enough other blogs from writers that I needed an editor, Amazon had whisper-synced the audio.   So over time I am finding errors that won't take it off whispersync like homophone errors.  

Readers and Fans - Vote for Book Four's Title

Well book three is out and I am already plotting out the chapters in book 4.  Loosely plotting - Alador and Keensight sometimes take off into a right field.  There has been great debate amongst my beta readers and my editors on the title for the next book.  One of my editors suggested I put it to reader vote.  I love this idea.  So, I am calling on all my Blue Dragon's Geas fans to help me vote on the book title for the fourth novel.

What should the title of the next Dragon's Geas book be?

Dragonish Deception

Perfidy - (deliberate breach of faith or trust)

Pseudo-Dragon

Treachery

Deception

poll creator

My only problem with the last two is there are numerous books out there with these two names.   I will give no other input.  Once you have read the first three books, please cast your vote.  I will go with the majority.  Voting closes on February 15th, 2015.
Thank you for all your support!

Cheryl Matthynssens
Author of the Blue Dragon's Geas series

Contest and Story Behind Keensight

I get asked a lot about Keensight so I decided to post an excerpt about him from The Blackguard. Keensight will be playing an active role in Bloodmines.  He also has a very large secret that he is keeping.  I will give a signed copy to the first fan that figures it out.  There have been clues in both Outcast and The Blackguard.   Please message me privately at dragonsgeas@gmail.com or at @balanceguide on Twitter.

Keensight Receives Fan Art!

I got this lovely picture off of Twitter from a follower that posted that it was inspired by Keensight.  With permission of course, I have posted it here for your enjoyment.  Stop by and let Deviant Dragons know what you think of his art. Personally, I love it!

Art with a story. Characters with a purpose. Awesome just because.

deviantdragons.com

More about the artist -

M A Gilchrist is a high concept artist and illustrator living in Southwest Florida. Over the years he has taken his creative gift to the food and wine industry, the cycling world, online retailers like Medieval Collectibles, and many more. Inspired by an early love of comic books and cartoons, M A Gilchrist stretches the boundaries of creativity and believability, while maintaining the integrity and sanctity of the objects of the art.

Visit the artist’s site: M A Gilchrist

My Post on Red Dragons

You can also find this post and one on Green Dragons at the Society of Enlightened Dragonologists.

Keensight

Red Dragon

 

Known Length– up to 88 feet

Known Weight – up to 165,000 pounds

Known Wing Span – up to 100 feet

Most Common Breath Weapon – Fire

Favorite Treasure – Anything of monetary value.  Unlike some dragons that are entranced by sparkling items, red dragons have a keen eye for things of worth.  Everything in their horde is their favorite, if a red dragon gifts from his horde, you have been extremely honored.

Habitat – Prefers caves in and around volcanoes but any mountain cave will do.

Favorite Food – Absolutely anything edible, though there have been rumor of a preference for young maidens, this has not been substantiated.  They are greedy and often consume more than they require.

Enemies – Known to be aggressive with all other dragons except white which they consider not worth their time or effort. This of course, depends upon the personality of the red dragon itself.  They are most often arrogant and see all others as inferior to themselves.  They have a distinct dislike for Silver Dragons.

Magical Skill – Proficient at magic

Parenting – The younger of the pair will stay close to the eggs and keep the nest burning.

Aggressiveness – Highly territorial in all regards. Red Dragons are fast in flight but somewhat clumsy so prefer to battle on the ground as other dragons can often out-maneuver them.   Their preferred order of attack is breath weapon first, which usually ends most conflicts before they start.  If this fails, they use their massive bodies and then and only then magic.   While proficient, there are other flights with better magical skills.  If the enemy has treasure they want, they will start with an on ground physical attack in hopes of not damaging items they are attempting to acquire.  Due to their arrogance, a red dragon will fight to the death more than any other flight once first blood is drawn;  even when they have the option of escape.  To be defeated and run is not acceptable to a red dragon.

Intelligence – Highly intelligent, calculating and patient.  Due to this extraordinary patience, red dragons often strike when their foes are completely complacent and believe all danger is past.  They often make up situations and plan attacks which they can grab in sudden conflict.  This makes them appear highly battle efficient when in truth they have probably played their tactic through many times in imaginary situations.   They are exceptional liars often believing their own fabrications of their greatness.

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.

Book Two is Complete and Publishing. Book Three Already in Planning.

Book Two is coming out next week!

The Blackguard

And now Book Three is in planning!

Excerpt from

The Bloodmine

Book Three

Exciting Updates at Dragons' Geas Books!

All right, where to start.  Well as many of you know, Keensight found out that Farloft was being allowed on social meeting and refused to be outdone. It took some doing to create a headset for a large dragon but as many of you saw, he has now entered the scene.

All three books, that are out right now, are in production for audio books. They will be available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes. I am very excited.  So let me introduce two of the newest working with us at Dragons' Geas.


For the Children's books, may I introduce Valerie Gilbert.

Valerie is a native New Yorker.  In addition to narrating works for others, she has also written and produced her own works.  These include: Raving Violet and Memories, Dreams & Deflections: My Odyssey Through Emotional Indigestion (Raving Violet).  She has a great blog at: http://ravingvioletvalerie.blogspot.com/

As an audible approved producer, Valerie comes highly recommended.  She has recorded 24 ACX titles, done character work for stage and voiceovers for TV and film.  She also placed in the Moth storytelling competition.  We are looking forward to working with her.



For our adult work, Outcast, I would like to introduce Paul Woodson also from New York. Also an Actor , he has a penchant for travel, history, science fiction, and the outdoors.

Classically trained in Acting at Boston University, Paul has been a New York City actor, singer, musician, and self-taught audio technician for nearly 20 years, performing in everything from Shakespeare to Musical Theatre to Opera. He has always been a fan of classical literature, science fiction, travelogues, and many other styles of writing, perhaps rooted in his upbringing (his father Dennis Woodson was a Fulbright Scholar in English Lit. at Cambridge).

A personal achievement for Paul was the conception and performance of a staged version of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's MAUD as a 2-person drama using the full text of Tennyson's epic poem, in which Paul performed 95% of the text. 

We look forward to adding both of these wonderful narrators to our team and look forward to future endeavors with both of them. 

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. 

Advanced Studies in Dragonology: The Five Important F's.

As an avid student of Dr. Earnest Drake, I have decided to continue his delightful studies with the help of Keensight.  Having been fortunate enough to make friends with two dragons, Farloft and Keensight, as well as increasing slowly my contact with several others, I hope that my findings will be helpful to other dragonologists and writers.  Today I wish to expound on the five F's of dragonology, originally postulated by Dr. Drake.

Foresight - It is very important for a student of dragonology to have proper equipment and a genuine good sense of instinct.  For example, in the kit of required equipment should be fire retardant clothing.  This will not help with the heat of the breath weapon, this is enough to cook you without the flame, but it does show proper respect for the dragon's abilities.  Balms and solvents for burns are a must in any good kit.  In addition, carrying a proper array of gifts to offer is a must for all dragonologist field equipment.

Fieldwork - Most of us are not going to be lucky enough to have a dragon come calling.  Theresa and I have been fortunate to have this access to a dragon but let us be honest, if you live in the city it is just not going to occur. A dragon sighting in a large city such as Seattle would cause a great deal of panic and a calling of the military.  No proper dragon is going to expose his kin to such a search of militant persecution and should he decide to reveal himself, he will be select in his location. No, you must venture out into the dark places, the rocky places and the deep sea to find a dragon in his own environment.  I am fortunate to have 80 rocky acres shielded from public view.  Keensight can fly in from the north with none the wiser. I am not sure how Farloft and friends visit Theresa without a panic.

Forwardness -  A dragon does not respect fear or threats.  He does respect a healthy dose of humor and bravery, however.  Keensight tells me that the only reason he did not eat Alador's father is that the man was quite hilarious in his forward approach.  Keensight stated that when he asked Henrick why he should not just eat him, the man went on to explain how to eat a Lerdenian would be quite deadly for him.  The bony nature of a Lerdenian was bound to stick in Keensight's throat and then he shared that Henrick went on to tell a multitude of digestive issues that could ensue if Keensight would have eaten him.

Frankness - Do not lie to a dragon.  They seem to pick up on lies quickly. Perhaps it is their own mastery of the skill but it does not do to get caught lying to one.  If you are going to lie to one, please refer to the first F, as you will need to pack a good deal of gear to get away if discovered. Also be frank with other dragonologists.  It does not do well for our profession if lies are continued to be propagated.  Keensight gets most upset when he reads some of the tales about dragons.  He wonders how the writer would ever put a self respecting dragon in such a position. He then often threatens to find said writer and eat him regardless of the digestive issues.

Fatalities - This should be avoided at all costs. Your field notes and such will be quite lost if you die in the dragon's presence.  In addition, one can hardly declare to be an expert in the field if you died in your studies.

I hope this helps others as they move forward in the studies of dragons.  Dragons exist for when so many tales abound in the histories of men, if they did not exist before, we have brought them forth from the imagination into the realities of history.

     If a beginning student, please reference Dragonology by Dr. Earnest Drake, edited by Dugald A. Steer. 

Update on The Blackguard

I am getting a lot of questions now on the release of The Blackguard, second in the series for The Blue Dragon's Geas.  My editor and I have chosen May 1, 2014 as our release date.  The illustrator is working to achieve this date as well so if all goes well, this will be the true release.

Some things I have been asked:

Where does The Blackguard take place?  

The home capital of Lerdenia - Silverport?

Is this the end of the story?

No, this is the next chapter in Alador's journey to becoming a full mage.

Are there still dragons in the story?

Alador continues to have dreams so yes, the dragon cameos are still occurring.

Does he go back and get Mesiande?  

That is a spoiler, you are going to have to read to find out?

Who is your favorite character in The Blackguard?

Hands down, it is Jon.  I love his matter of fact answers and the way he thinks.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

There were a lot of threads put out in the beginning, the hard part was making sure that all the threads were tied up other than those that were designed to carry on into book three.


Those are the questions I have so far.  Feel free to to post more if you have them. I will answer those that are not spoilers.  I also just got my business cards so thank you to Becky Hunt who drew Keensight for them.  I will soon have two views of Keensight as Heather Scoggins is working on her rendition of him as well in a redesign of Outcast's cover.  Feel free to email me or write. I look forward to corresponding with all my fans.

Keensight Finally Poses for a Picture!

A major play in future stories, Keensight is introduced in Outcast and also is discussed and has a cameo in The Blackguard. He is beginning to brave the world for interviews and sneak peaks.  His own book is down the road. There are still stories he will not share with me, his only living mortal friend!

This picture is not to be used except by express permission of Rebecca Hunt! 2/19/13

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!

Outcast Questions - Answers with Fun!

I have started getting questions from my novel, Outcast.  Rather than answer them individually, I decided on a more fun route that will also allow me to promote the book.   I will from time to time, use Twitter feed to give a running dialog that will both answer the question and share more of the world of best.    The first question that I have answered this way was, "Why did Keensight attack Smallbrook?"

To find that answer, look for today's date, January 15, 2014 under my profile for Twitter.  Dragons' Geas - @balanceguide.   You can also find it on the Dragons' Geas facebook page at: Dragons' Geas .

I have also been asked to share a picture of Keensight.  My illustrator's have not yet submitted me a rendering so that will have to wait.  However, for a general idea, I found this picture on deviant art. Awesome artist and is close to Keensight as envisioned.  Elder Serpent