The Dragon's Egg Blog Tour is stopping by today with a fun guest post by author Resa Nelson. Resa is the author of the Dragonslayer Series...
(Book 1)
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover--the dragonslayer--disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning.
Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child.
Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?
The
Iron Maiden
(Book 2)
Astrid
is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even
though it's her duty. She'd rather stay home in her village,
surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition,
she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her
blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage
to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native
Northlands?
Everything
changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first
dragonslayer's sword Astrid forged and her last link to her
sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid
races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as
her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads
her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a
harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new
god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All
the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter
route.
In
Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding
who she is isn't a decision she can make just once. It's a decision
she must make every day.
(Book 3)
In Book 3 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid accepts her duty and follows the winter route--until she's bitten by a dragon. Everyone knows dragon bites are poisonous and deadly, so she reluctantly accepts her impending death. In a twist of fate, she survives. Desperate for an explanation, Astrid believes she has somehow been protected by the black stone she keeps with her at all times, a stone that emerged from the sole of her foot a year ago.
Determined to find out what the stone is and what kind of powers it possesses, Astrid begins a journey that leads her to alchemists and an army of men under the rule of the powerful warrior, Mandulane, the acting lord of the Krystr army. Mandulane's mission is to spread the word of the new god Krystr, which preaches the evil intent of women and the danger they pose to all men, who are entitled to dominate the world. Rumors about this new god and army have spread, but Astrid is the first Northlander to encounter them.
Soon, she stumbles upon a secret of a far-reaching and mind-numbing plot that will impact the entire world. Astrid must find a way to spread the news of this threat and protect her people and everyone else at risk. She's convinced the answer lies inside the Stone of Darkness, and she must find a way to understand the stone and the powers she's convinced it must hold before it's too late.
The
Dragon's Egg
(Book 4)
In the
fourth and final book of the Dragonslayer series, Mandulane's army is
poised to attack the Northlands in the name of a powerful god, but in
truth Mandulane is using the act of spreading this new faith as a way
to disguise his own personal greed and hunger for power.
Astrid
has succeeded in warning her beloved country of imminent danger, and
the Northlanders scramble to set up a clever defense, never realizing
a spy in their midst is poised to take critical information directly
to Mandulane.
After
sacrificing herself in order to set her brother Drageen free for the
sake of protecting the Northlands, Astrid finds herself controlled by
the stone of light. Although it forces her path of destiny,
Astrid learns she must make one final choice about who she wants to
be.
Most
important of all, her new sweetheart Trep encounters a dragon that
entrusts him with the care of a dragon's egg. Trep embraces a
dangerous journey and accepts the duty of protecting the unhatched
dragon, knowing that its safety could impact the fate of the entire
world.
My Top
Ten Favorite Dragon Books,
Movies, and TV Shows
by Resa
Nelson
1. Dragonslayer
(1981) - This movie portrays dragons as realistic animals, which I
find far more terrifying than purely imaginary fantasy creatures.
This movie had a huge influence on my Dragonslayer series with regard
to the approach I took to creating my own dragons.
2. Sleeping
Beauty (1959) - OK, Maleficent doesn't turn into a dragon until late
in the story, but holy cow! She's terrifying! 3. Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series- The Pern books are lovely, especially the bond between dragon and rider.
4. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) - I think it's no coincidence this very successful movie is based on a children's book. And, hey - it has a girl named Astrid, just like the main character in my Dragonslayer series!
5. Puff the Magic Dragon - Yes, I know the song is a metaphor for something else. But it still gets to me.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2002) - I love the way the dragons are introduced and all the different varieties of dragons and their temperaments. Hagrid's pure, unadulterated love for them is irresistible.
7. Beowulf - I think Grendel is a dragon. This epic poem also had a huge impact on my Dragonslayer series.
8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) - I know this is a stretch, but I'm including it because I think the tattoo on Lisbeth Salander's back represents who she is. She one of the strongest female characters I've ever encountered, and I'm in awe. Lisbeth has the spirit of a dragon.
9. Beanie and Cecil (TV cartoon series) - Technically, Cecil was a sea serpent, more like a Loch Ness monster it than an actual dragon. I used to have a Beanie and Cecil board game that came with a talking hand puppet of Cecil. When you pulled the strain, Cecil would say things like “loves to hunt!” Bonus: the board game was a puzzle that you put together. Awesome.
10. Dragon Soup (2008) - This collection of poems about dragons by Nebula Award winner Mary Turzillo is emotionally rich and ranges from light-hearted to heartbreaking to laugh-out-loud funny.
Find Resa Nelson and the Dragonslayer Series
Email: ContactResa@aol.com
Ebooks ($4.99 each) are available directly from Mundania Press
(get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)
Paperbacks are available from Mundania Press, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble:
(get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)
Resa Nelson
Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."
She has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Resa lives in Massachusetts. Visit her website at http://www.resanelson.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment