BOOK NOOK SPOTLIGHT: A Character Interview With Serena, heroine of "DRAGON'S CURE" by Kandi J. Wyatt

When the blog tour for "The Dragon's of Alsace Farm" was running, the most intriguing stop was a character interview author Kandi J. Wyatt arranged with Noah. It provided an intimate glimpse into my book's hero, and his relationships with the other characters in the book. 

I enjoyed that interview so much that I offered to return the favor, and Kandi arranged for her heroine, Serena, to answer a few questions in return. 

Kandi and I realized we each dealt with similar themes in our books, but for different audiences. "Dragon's Cure," is book 4 of the DRAGON COURAGE series of middle-grade fantasies. So unlike the interpersonal dragons in "The Dragons of Alsace Farm," there are real dragons in this book.

First, here's the blurb from "Dragon's Cure."

When Serena heads out on her own, escaping an abusive relationship, the last thing she expected was to hear voices...from a dragon.

Serena’s been hurt before, but not like this. He had gone too far this time, and she knew it. When she sets out on her own, she’s unsettled by the ominous noises that seem to follow her. Scratches and huffs that couldn’t have been made by any animal she had ever heard of. With wonder, she discovers that the noises are not the stuff of nightmares, but a baby dragon. And along with it, an intriguing dragon rider named Carryn. 

While Serena begins training as a dragon rider, she struggles to trust her trainer and her new friends, including her dragon. When her future is put in jeopardy by dark forces, Serena must fight her greatest enemy: herself. Can she fight through the past to form a true friendship and avoid being enslaved again, or will her distrust cause her to lose the security she so desperately longs for? Will bitterness be set aside and broken hearts be healed?

Follow the tale of friendship, courage, and hardships of Serena and Carryn in this powerful middle grade novel by Kandi J Wyatt.

Anyone’s world can seem alien at times, but your world really is. Please describe it for us, and tell us how life is there for a young woman.

            My world is no more alien than what yours would seem to me. I purchase my food at a street market. I usually go to the same vendors. Carvall is great because he’s so kind and gentle. He has great produce as well. His fruits and vegetables are so bright and juicy. I cook over a wood stove and have a hand pump for water. Cooking and cleaning up meals takes extra time because everything is made from scratch and I have to heat the water for washing dishes. The biggest difference between my world and yours are the animals. You see, I always was told as a child that dragons existed. I saw dragon riders in the marketplace, but I never thought of the creatures themselves until I met one. She changed my life.

My character, Tayte, sounds a lot like you, Serena. She tries to cope with the abusive neglect she faced in her childhood by controlling everything she can in her world. What elements of your world do you try to control, and how has having control helped you deal with your past?

            I can relate to Tayte. Controlling things is common among adult survivors of childhood abuse. I vowed to never be hurt again. The way I could do that was by taking control of my circumstances. I knew if I could make my own decisions of where to live and who to trust, I’d be just fine. It worked to begin with. I was able to gain confidence and forget about my father, but in the long run I failed miserably.

Someone you trusted lured you away from a safe situation into a trap. I can only imagine how betrayed you must have felt. How did you survive that betrayal, and what did you learn about yourself and your instincts from that situation?

            Fff, wow, you ask some hard questions. I fed my bitterness on thoughts of revenge. I figured if I could get even, then I would be able to survive anything. I’m not proud of myself. I would have killed Tyrell if I would have had the chance. I learned how tenacious I am. I harbored bitterness for at least four months. I lost track of time when I was enslaved by my mistress. Even then, when I had no memory of who I was, I still clung to Tyrell’s name and revenge. The other thing I learned was that I had friends I didn’t deserve. Carryn, Duskya, and Kyn stuck with me even when I was unbearable to be around. The thought of revenge consumed me to the point where I pushed all my friends aside.

Serena, what was the catalyst for change that turned your bitterness into peace?

            It really was a slow change. If I have to choose one thing that made me change, I couldn’t, but I could choose two. First off, my friend Carryn said something that began to chip away at my soul. She said she didn’t want bitterness to bind and control her. As I heard her words echo through my mind, I also heard my friend and healer Kyn tell me that my unforgiving heart bound me and enslaved me just as much as my mistress had. I realized that if I gave in to revenge, it controlled me. If I tried to block everyone away from me so I wouldn’t be hurt, then I hurt myself anyway. I couldn’t win. When I gave in to those thoughts, I finally came to peace.

What is the greatest form of bondage, Serena, and why? Enslavement of the body? The mind? The spirit?

            Oh, wow! You know how to get to the heart of the matter. I’ve been enslaved in all three of those ways. I was sold off as a slave to the highest bidder. I couldn’t do as I wanted but was forced to do the will of my mistress. If I rebelled, I was given a shock treatment that burned through my body to my mind. My memories were locked away in a cage where my heart fed the power to the lock, and my own lust for revenge enslaved my spirit. I don’t know which is worse. Hm, no I do. A friend that I made on the trail to the mines where we were sold to our different masters had her body enslaved but her mind and spirit were free. She focused on helping her son. Those slave runners could have killed her body, but her spirit was free. Even though I had been freed from my mistress, I was enslaved in my spirit. That was worse than having my body enslaved.

How did bitterness affect you?

            Bitterness consumed me. I was bitter toward all men for the abuse, physical and verbal, my father hurled at me and my mother every day of our lives. I chose to not trust anyone. Then when someone I eventually trusted betrayed me, bitterness consumed me.

Who did you hold more accountable for the hurt you suffered? The friend who betrayed you? The mistress who bought you? You, for leaving your safe place?

            Well, put that way, I should have blamed myself, but I was too stuck up to do that. I considered myself blameless. The mistress also was just that, my mistress. I didn’t know her personally. I hadn’t entrusted to her all of my secrets. No, I held my friend responsible. I blamed him for all my hurts. It sounds unreasonable, but sometimes we don’t think rationally when we’ve been hurt so deeply.

 My character Noah’s mistakes led him to believe he was unworthy of being loved. How did your mistakes change you? What have you learned about yourself through this trial?

            I used to think I wasn’t worthy of love. We learn these things from those who are close to us as children and how they treat us. We then begin to form habits at an early age to protect ourselves. I guess, I learned through this that I couldn’t stay in control. I didn’t want to be hurt and had thought by being in control I could keep from being hurt. However, I had done a horrible job of keeping myself from pain. I couldn’t keep on pushing people away. Their love began to work its way under my reserve. My dragon was the best one. She came after me even if no one else would have come. My trainer, Duskya, was kind no matter what I did. And then there’s Kyn, my healer and friend. He spoke to me openly about how my attitude changed once I received my memories back. He didn’t let my cold shoulder affect how he dealt with me. He stayed as a true friend. These things broke through the wall I had built from the time I was little. Once the wall broke, I became the person I was meant to be.

Author Kandi J Wyatt is a wife, mother of five, teacher, artist, and author. In her free time, she enjoys writing fantasy stories, 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.” To learn more, visit kandijwyatt.com.

Currently books 1-3 are on sale for 99 cents on Kindle and Dragon's Cure is available for $1.99. All four books will soon return to $2.99 next Sunda

Where to find me:
Website: http://kandijwyatt.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kandijwyatt/
Google: http://plus.google.com/u/0/+KandiWyatt/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kandijwyatt
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kandijwyatt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13817774.Kandi_J_Wyatt
Other websites:
http://worldfamouslanglois.com/content/dragons-langlois-local-author-kandi-wyatt
http://www.fellowshipoffantasy.com/author-kandi-j-wyatt.html


Buy links:
Dragon's Future:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Future-Dragon-Courage-Book-ebook/dp/B01GAH7CWK
Short link: https://goo.gl/AtKGCD
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-future-kandi-j-wyatt/1123915805
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1123797497
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-s-future
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/315931240/Dragon-s-Future-Dragon-Courage-1

Dragon's Heir:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Heir-Dragon-Courage-Book-ebook/dp/B01GAGU9SU
Short link: https://goo.gl/Fb1XPO
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-heir-kandi-j-wyatt/1123919908?
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1124213330
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-s-heir
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/315731291/Dragon-s-Heir-Dragon-Courage-2

Dragon's Revenge:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Revenge-Dragon-Courage-Book-ebook/dp/B01GLXUFPE
Short link: https://goo.gl/ExHxL5
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-revenge-kandi-j-wyatt/1123919900
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-s-revenge-1
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/315731261/Dragon-s-Revenge-Dragon-Courage-3

Dragon’s Cure:
Amazon:
Short link:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1144309610
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragons-cure-kandi-j-wyatt/1124368175
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-s-cure
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/321295126/Dragon-s-Cure-Dragon-Courage-4

The One Who Sees Me:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/One-Who-Sees-Me-ebook/dp/B01GLYCTG6/
Short link: https://goo.gl/Gfi6TR
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1124215203
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-one-who-sees-me-kandi-j-wyatt/1123919939
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-one-who-sees-me
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/315731225/The-One-Who-Sees-Me

BOOK NOOK REVIEW: "THE KINDLING" by Braden Bell

MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGIC: THE KINDLING

By

Braden Bell

(After this review was written I received word that The Kindling received enough nominations in its launch week to be considered for a Whitney Award--an impressive statement about readers' impressions of this MG fantasy.)

Homework? Of course. Crushes? Sure. But who knew seventh grade included superpowers?

Author Braden Bell’s long awaited, and highly heralded Middle-Grade fantasy The Kindling launched this week, and it was worth the wait . . . and all the hype. This is family entertainment at its best, a smartly-written, fast-paced, gripping spot-on, tour-de-middle school, with one exception—some of these tweens are developing special powers.

Twins Conner and Lexa Dell, and their best friend, Melanie Stephens are living the sweet life. Family life is good, and all three are privileged to attend The Marion Academy, a prestigious private school. The perks are great. Connor enjoys a sweet spot on the Lacrosse team, Melanie is the smartest girl in school, and Lexa is . . . well . . . Lexa.

But everything changes one day. Suddenly, whatever Connor thinks or feels begins occurring. Oddly, it’s also the day the sky splits with thunder, the hooded stalker appears on these seventh-graders’ street, and the day terrible things begin happening to the local pets and children. Soon Lexa and Melanie develop some previously unheard of talents as well, and worse yet, they all feel the same sense of dread. Something is about to happen, and they know that not even their parents can stop it.

All alone, they notice an increase in their teachers’ scrutiny. They seem to always be watching and sabotaging the friends at every turn. The three question whom they can trust, and more importantly, how to protect the ones they love. And then they realize that seventh-grade will never be the same again.

Bell’s delivery of seventh-grade life and language is pitch perfect, and why not? Bell, a beloved, doctorate-wielding, middle school drama professor works amid his subjects and target audience. When he’s not at his computer deciding what new dangers and mayhem to inflict upon his characters, he’s doing what he loves best, teaching and conducting research amongst his adoring middle-school students. And clearly, one of the beauties of this book is that Bell loves and understands this age group.

He has deftly created a rich cadre of vulnerable, multi-layered characters youth will find it easy to cheer for, empathize, and identify with. The school setting is drawn so clearly you can practically smell the gym socks, and the action is described in such crisp detail one can easily “see” each battle play out like a movie. I hope someone actually makes The Kindling into a movie.

One of the challenges facing a fantasy writer is the need to create a unique world with rules and consequences within which the characters must function. The Kindling’s world is chock-full of rules, conflicts, and consequences that build tension and suspense. At first glance, readers may see similarities between The Kindling and the “Harry Potter” books, but while both benefit from proven literary devices common to this genre—namely powerful, older teacher/mentor figures like Dumbledore, Gandalf, or Obi-Wan Kenobi; and the idea of magical or mystical powers—the seemingly subtle differences are important ones that become increasingly evident the more one examines the story. 

The Kindling’s appeal deepens with contemplation and analysis, and that’s not by accident. Like Bell’s first novel, The Roadshow, aimed for an older audience, Bell always digs deep and writes what he knows and cares about—faith, family, and youth. In the case of The Kindling, Bell is in his wheelhouse delivering a book that satisfies on many levels.

On the most basic level, The Kindling is great whole-family entertainment with no agenda but to delight its readers, but Bell’s tale of good versus evil, and the temptation, destruction, and redemption of souls, lends itself to deeper interpretation for spiritually-minded people. LDS readers will find even deeper symbolism within its pages.

Personally, I love that Conner, Lexa, and Melanie come from imperfect but solid, loving families, a near anomaly in today’s youth fiction. I appreciate that further support comes to these youth not from a gaggle of smarter-than-any-adult friends, but from other caring adults, another increasingly rare occurrence in current national literature.

Finally, I love this book because without ever becoming preachy or overtly didactic, Bell presents a fun read whose values are strong, clear, and unapologetic. The Kindling is a book parents will enjoy with their kids, tweens, and teens. It offers a host of opportunities to launch great discussions on a wide variety of topics such as loyalty, trust, courage, temptation, sacrifice, gratitude, revenge, faith, and many more.

When The Kindling ended, all my major questions were answered, but Bell left enough breadcrumbs to make me want to continue the journey. Readers will be relieved to know that sequels are planned for this series, and Braden Bell’s Kindling web site is stocked with additional information, trailers, and background material.

This gem is published by Cedar Fort Publishing and can be purchased on Amazon, or at your local LDS bookstores. Autographed copies are also available through the author’s web site.

Here's the blurb from the back cover of the book:

Loud shrieks sliced the air, followed by the smell of burning cloth. Conner looked over in time to see Geoffrey jumping up and down, yelling and shrieking. Smoke poured from the seat of his shorts while blue and yellow sparks snap-crackle-and-popped all around the heater.

All thirteen-year-old Connor Dell wants to do is pass pre-algebra, play lacrosse, and possibly kiss Melanie Stephens. He didn’t mean to set anyone’s gym shorts on fire or make school lunches explode. But now that the strange powers inside him have been ignited, Connor’s normal teenage life is about to go up in flames!

This fast-paced novel is non-stop fun for kids and parents alike. With characters you can’t help but root for, a plot that keeps you guessing, and plenty of humor, it’s a guaranteed thrill ride from cover to cover!

*******