My Readers Rock! Thank you for Cool Fantasy Characters in Master Mage!

Your Cool Fantasy Characters!

You rock! I love my readers! I ask and you deliver, time and time again! Together we’ve created some cool fantasy characters for Master Mage. Since I wrote Dragon Strike, I’ve asked for character’s names. Sometimes, dragons, sometimes, pirates, sometimes shady characters in dark alleys! For Dragon War, you suggested 601 names! That’s a LOT of characters! And a LOT of readers who’ve suggested names for cool fantasy characters over the years!

Master Mage clocked in at 177,000+ words! Yes, that 672 printed pages, the size of three short novels!! A lot of scope for characters to come and go.

Master Mage has been an incredible journey. When I wrote Dragon Mage (Riders of Fire Dragon Masters, book 2) I realized Giddi’s story was a lot longer than I’d anticipated. Dragon Mage tells of his young teenage years. I created Master Mage for his journey from teenage hood to adulthood (and falling in love with Mazyka).

If you’d like to start the Riders of Fire Dragon Master series, the first book is Anakisha’s Dragon.

Anakisha's Dragon fantasy

With many more after…

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters Series - book5 cover reveal Dragon Captain

Master Mage Cool Fantasy Characters

So, who are our cool fantasy characters in Master Mage? And who did you name this time? let’s look at our cool fantasy characters…. Please keep in mind that some of the characters that appear were named by my readers in previous books!

Master Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 4

Mazyka

Mazyka was always going to be ambitious and headstrong. I didn’t realize she and her mother, Maryssa, would actively campaign for women’s rights through their attitudes and actions. I’ve enjoyed slipping this aspect into a medieval world. I named Mazyka in 2009 in my very first draft of Ezaara, although her name has changed since then. She was originally Magyka, because of her strong magical powers. I like Mazyka a lot better!

Maryssa

Maryssa popped up, out of the blue, sneaking out of the house to visit Balovar in his cottage one night as I was writing. I loved this scene full of passion, pain and regret, and it provided a great backdrop for Maryssa to repress Mazyka’s powers. Maryssa is a wonderful character who’s living a life of regret, but vows to teach her daughter to be wiser.

Giddi

I know many of my readers love Giddi. In Riders of Fire, he’s wise and funny, and a little cynical and jaded. He’s been through a bit already when we start Master Mage, and I’m sorry to inform you, that he hasn’t yet been fully shaped in the forge. He has plenty of fiery trials to come yet in future books. Sorry, Giddi, but hey, it’ll make for grueling, heartbreaking, exciting adventures we’ll all love!

I named him after Giddi, a nickname for friend I used to know in Switzerland years ago, whose actual name is Giddeon.

My Readers Rock! Have I told you how much I LOVE my readers? Let me tell you again!

Our little online community is thriving, and people are building friendships as they hang out online having dragonly, fantasy fun. Join us in my Facebook group or pop over to TikTok, where I’m sharing fun videos. Or grab my free books when you sign up here.

Who did you name in Master Mage? Check out your huge cast!

Dragon’s Lair

Jackie T. named Myron, the beefy man in the Dragons’ Lair who leers at girls. Indora, the flirtatious Naobian in the tavern was named by Jeremiah Crouch.

Who named our mages?

Trisha Budhai named Lumeley, a young nerdy Spanglewood mage. This poor guys suffers during the mage trails, but luckily he’s rescued.  His friend Diza, a friendly mage at the trials with the blonde braids, was named by Ann Abdelzaher. We have two more mages from Spanglewood named by readers. Both are Giddi’s friends from childhood. Vanus was named by Barbara Laing. Liz Tolland named Lief.

The notorious twins, Chuckle Head and Knuckle Head, were named by David Kuraria on two fun Facebook posts that had over a hundred entries! Those posts are well worth reading – there are some brilliant suggestions for derogatory names that rhyme!

I told you my readers are cool. Such amazing imaginations!

Melikor, the young Naobian mage who teases Giddi when they arrive at Dragons’ Hold was named by Charles Hoge.

Healers

Thanks to an anonymous reader, we have a name for Master Healer Catarina at Dragons’ Hold. Catarina will play a bigger role as the series goes on, so I’m excited to finally have a name for her! Crystal Rowley named Thalia, a Naobian healer who accuses Giddi of indecent behavior. The last thing he needs in a crisis! Poor Giddi!

Ship

Thanks to Charles Hoge for naming the Chipped Fang!

 Family Names

We swept our way through Anakisha’s Dragon and Dragon Mage without naming the main characters’ family members. A sneaky move on my part! We were naming so many characters at the time, that I didn’t want everyone to have name overwhelm. We’ve now remedied that.

Thanks to the following readers for naming:

  • Giddi’s mother: Peluma — Kelle Shaw
  • Mazyka’s father: Jorem — Trisha Budhai
  • Yanir’s mother: Fenella — Sara Downs
  • Yanir’s father: Petey — Susanne Galley
  • Yanir’s eldest sister: Tori — Jan Cantle
  • Yanir’s second sister: Keesha — Scotty Bhoy
  • Yanir’s third sister: Noelani — Sara Downs
  • Yanir’s youngest sister: Sky — Carolyn Helm

 Animals

Let’s not forget our furry, feathered, scaled and four-footed friends!

Nicola Wilkinson named Topaz, Giddi’s valiant horse who takes Mazyka on a wild dash. Andrew Agnew named the ice ravens in Great Spanglewood Forest at night, and Barbara Laing named the snowy kestrel. Vancil Clayton Thomas suggested a barred owl, and me and my readers looked into night birds and decided upon the nightingale and the common loon!

Shadow Stalker & Dragon Rider

Tiriaston, is a Shadow Stalker in Naobia, prowling the streets and creating trouble. He was named in a Facebook post, but I haven’t been able to track down who named him! If it’s you, please let me know and I’ll amend this list!

Darian, the young dragon rider who shackles Giddi and Mazyka, is named after Darian Smith, a New Zealand author and dear friend of mine. Yeah, he’s awesome. You can check out his books, here.

Dragon Captain

Rusty, the heroine in Dragon Pirate, is getting her own book!

Rusty was named by AJ Ponder, my buddy and co-author. She has a new series out, Into Faerland, with dark Fae, sword sand demons… and a new audio book of Omens, too … check out her books here.

I hope you like the stunning cover for Dragon Captain! Rusty and Ustoria, her sea dragon, will be hunting down the Scarlet Hand, joined by an all-female crew! Look out, Scarlet Hand! They’re coming for you!

Dragon Captain, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 5 by Eileen Mueller Cover reveal

You’ll have lots of chances to name cool fantasy characters again soon as we crew Rusty’s ship… By the way, her ship has no name yet, so there will be  more chances to have fun coming up soon!

Thank you to my readers and reviewers. I LOVE my readers and the indie community, so come and hang out! Drop by my Facebook reader’s group Riders of Fire: Eileen Mueller’s Fan Zone for lots of fantasy fun. For free books, join my newsletter at www.EileenMuellerAuthor.com and come and hear my weird kiwi accent on TikTok!

Dragon Captain Cover Reveal

Dragon Captain, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 5 by Eileen Mueller

Dragon Captain

With more books added to the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series, it’s time to reveal the cover of the fifth book in the series, Dragon Captain!

If you’ve read Dragon Pirate, you’ll be familiar with Rusty and the adventures she had when the Scarlet Hand stole her uncle’s ship and captured her to be his cabin boy! Now, it’s ten years later and Rusty is looking for revenge, but she has another crew member with a different agenda on board her ship.

Dragon Captain, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 5 by Eileen Mueller Cover reveal

Dragon Captain Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 5,

Two desperate women and a sea dragon scour the sea looking for vengeance.

 Rusty loved once. She won’t make that mistake again.

Now she, her crew, and her sea dragon seek vengeance on the pirate captain who killed her family.

 Star is orphaned, penniless, and alone in the world.

She joins Captain Rusty’s crew of bloodthirsty women sailing the Naobian Sea and seeking revenge.  Star’s scouring the sea for her brother—who was kidnapped by pirates ten years ago.

With only one tenuous clue to guide her, and no idea if he’s alive or dead, Star is prepared to face death to find him.

 Join Captain Rusty, her sea dragon, and Star as they fight the Scarlet Hand and his notorious pirates on the Naobian Sea.

If you love epic dragons, swashbuckling pirates & danger, set sail with Dragon Captain, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 5,  today!

To find out more about the series, pop over here. To find out about Master Mage, and the epic launch party click here.

Fans of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Sarah K Wilson’s Dragon School, Jada Fishers’ many dragon series, Michael Miller, and Naomi Novik, enjoy Riders of Fire and my Dragons’ Realm adrenaline-fueled dragon adventures.

Pre-order Dragon Captain to make sure you don’t miss out!

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters – series expanded to 9 books

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters – 9 books

The Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series is being expanded to 9 books!

Yes, more adventure, fun, magic, danger, romance, and dragons are coming your way with a slew of new books planned in the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series!

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters books by Eileen MuellerOriginally, when I envisaged Riders of Fire Dragon Masters, the series was only four books deep. (Anakisha’s Dragon, Dragon Mage, Dragon Spy and Dragon Healer). Those covers were revealed long ago. But as I’ve been writing, more characters appeared on the horizon and demanded their stories be told!

I now have 9 planned books in the series, and the covers are complete for all but one, which is coming soon. Not all of them have been revealed yet!

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters – YA epic fantasy adventure, prequels to Riders of Fire:

      1. Anakisha’s Dragon
      2. Dragon Mage
      3. Dragon Pirate
      4. Master Mage
      5. Dragon Captain
      6. Dragon Spy
      7. Dragon Healer
      8. Dragon Rider
      9. Dragon Master

How did the series grow?

Originally all of my Riders of Fire books were planned in one series.

However, I realized it would be confusing to have the prequels at the end of the Riders of Fire series. (Yes, I wrote a series, and my readers were so intrigued, they wanted the backstory!) I split the planned books into 2 series, Riders of Fire and Riders of Fire Dragon Masters.

Last year, I announced I was expanding the series from 4 to 6 books. Master Giddi’s story had grown, so I split Dragon Mage into two books, and then added an extra book:

    • Dragon Mage — Giddi’s adventures, at 12-13 summers old, in the Robandi Desert and Metropoli with his murderous trainer, while searching for his missing father.
    • Master Mage — Giddi discovering the most dangerous lover in Dragons’ Realm and the secret that nearly destroys Dragons’ Realm (in subsequent books and in the Riders of Fire series).
    • Dragon Pirate — The Scarlet Hand’s adventures on the Naobian Sea.

As I was writing Dragon Mage, Captain Scarlet Hand appeared on the horizon of the Naobian Sea and insisted he wasn’t content to be a side character in someone else’s drama. He got his own book, and Dragon Pirate was born!

But, alas, a cabin boy (who isn’t a boy) and was captured by the Scarlet Hand in Dragon Pirate, now has her own story in Dragon Captain. Yes, another book!

The original series plan was to have an eighteen-year  gap between the dragon riding adventures of Marlies and Hans, until their twins Ezaara and Tomaaz are seventeen.  (The family’s adventures and battles are covered in my Riders of Fire series, which is complete at 6 books.) However, I realized that two more books would complete those missing years!

Enter stage: Dragon Rider and Dragon Master, the final two books planned in the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series.

Who do you think will star in these two books? I ordered the cover for Dragon Rider a year ago, and it’s stunning. But I won’t be revealing it until Dragon Healer is ready! Yes, it’s shocking secret to keep! Especially for so long!

 

Other Riders of Fire Adventures

Riders of Fire – YA epic fantasy adventure:

      1. Ezaara
      2. Dragon Hero
      3. Dragon Rift
      4. Dragon Strike
      5. Dragon War
      6. Sea Dragon

Riders of Fire Dragons – Prequels
1. Bronze Dragon – free novelette
2. Ruby Dragon – short story
3. Silver Dragon – free novelette here

 

Master Mage Riders of Fire Dragon Masters 4 is live!

Master Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters 4

Master Mage is live today!!!!!!

Master Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book4, has officially launched! This action-packed adventure full of romance, intrigue, danger and magic — and dragons — is officially live. Readers around the globe have already started downloading copies and eagerly devouring the story.

Master Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters 4

Master Mage

Three mages: A powerful dragon mage. Another plotting to kill him. And a temptress, hungry for power.

Giddi is the only dragon mage in the realm. Able to mind-meld with dragons at will, he quickly rises through the mage ranks. Starrus, a bitter senior mage, resents Giddi’s magical abilities and wants him dead.

Giddi falls in love with Mazyka, his breathtaking, young protégé. The mage council and the dragon riders warn him not to get entangled. That she’s too ambitious. That the consequences are too dangerous…

Brash and impulsive, he ignores them all.

The cost of Giddi’s actions could be the world he loves.

Embark on an epic adventure with danger, dragons and magic, and read  Master Mage!

What are my readers saying about Master Mage?

Master Mage is 177000 words long, the size of two regular novels or three short novels! You get more adventure, more intrigue, more emotional roller-coasters and more adrenaline, and yes, more dragonback adventures!

Lets see what our early reviewers thought!

★★★★★ “A long read, but super captivating”

★★★★★ “A truly fascinating read.”

★★★★★ “How wonderful it was to rekindle my love for these amazing characters in this book.”

★★★★★ “This book has long been waited for and anticipated, and it has proven to be very well worth the wait.”

★★★★★“There were some beautiful tender scenes and some events that shattered me. I cried, I laughed, I despaired, I ranted, I shook my head, I yelled. I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down. I certainly couldn’t!”

★★★★★ “By the end of the book, I wanted more! More of Giddi, more of Mazyka, more of this incredible world and I even wanted more of Starrus and Zens! I honestly will be gnawing on my nails until the final book in this majestic series is out.”

★★★★★ ”A masterpiece which kept me reading all through the night.”

Launch Party! 20 Oct,  4pm-11pm ET

Master Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters 4, Launch Party

We’re throwing a Master Mage launch party! Join us for fun, games and laughter in my Facebook group: Riders of Fire – Eileen Mueller’s Fan Zone.

We’re having an epic launch party to celebrate Master Giddi’s journey as he grapples with sabotage, love and danger.

Join us for fun, giveaways and to hang out in my little community of fun fantasy-book lovers! We have fun there all year long.

Facebook group: Riders of Fire – Eileen Mueller’s Fan Zone.

Eastern Time: 4pm-11pm

Pacific Time: 1pm-9pm

London: 9pm-4am

New Zealand: 9am-3pm

Due to time zones, prize draws will be open for a few days and the big contest will run for longer! So even after the official party, we’ll still be partying for days!

Grab Master Mage in the Amazon Kindle Store!

If you haven’t started the series, read Anakisha’s Dragon, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 1

Excerpt from Master Mage!

Tryst

 Maryssa quietly closed the door, her husband’s snores echoing through the cottage as she slipped down the hallway into the kitchen. Her feet were lighter than a butterfly’s as she stole across the polished wooden floorboards and took her cloak from its hook by the back door. Better to use the back door because the front one had a squeaky hinge.

She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, reveling in the soft warm wool, remembering another cloak—still warm from the wearer’s body and tinged with male musk and mage smoke—on a similar winter’s night, many years ago. Back then, she’d stolen out of her father’s home to meet her clandestine lover for the first time.

She opened the door. Outside, there was a clatter and a thump. Cats yowled. She froze on the stoop, heart pounding. The fighting felines scampered across the yard, and Maryssa let out her pent-up breath in a thin hiss.

She tilted her head. Her husband was still snoring his slow even rumble. Most nights, she lay beside him, listening to that rumble while dreaming of far-off places and younger days. Days when life was full of promise, when she’d felt alive and bursting with passion.

She’d thought she’d never feel that way again.

Until today. In town.

Maryssa eased the door shut and rushed out of the yard, her boots squeaking in the snow, leaving a trail of footprints as she flitted along the street. She almost hadn’t dared slip out tonight—until she’d seen the heavy clouds and known fresh snowfall would obscure her trail.

The dancing flakes fell onto her hood, landing on the escaping tendrils of fiery-red hair that usually hung to her waist. Hopefully, the snow would fall all night and hide her tracks on the journey home. She didn’t have long. She’d need to be back well before dawn.

Along the boulevard, the homes were dark, a solitary lantern sputtering at the end of the road. Maryssa hurried down a side street. There was a swish of wings above her. She ducked under the eaves of a building, hiding in the shadows as a blue dragon and rider passed overhead. The blue guards could report her to her husband or father. She nipped down a passageway, keeping to the alleys and slipping through the shadows so no one would see her.

When she reached the outskirts of town, Maryssa broke into a run, pelting down a lane through the snowy meadows until she reached the edge of the forest. Only when she was deep inside the woods did her breathing ease.

Not too far now.

An excited tremor ran through her.

It was pitch black, but she knew the way well. She’d never forgotten it, often walking here in summer, making her way through the woods to the abandoned cottage. Many said she was crazy to venture out into the forest so often, but the creatures didn’t scare her. They reminded her of who she’d been in the carefree days she’d spent in the meadows with her lover—a lover her father had forbidden her to see.

Up ahead, light twinkled through the trees, beckoning her as if a thousand lanterns were blazing in a giant mansion. But it wasn’t a thousand lanterns. Just one familiar lantern burning outside amid the flurry of snow that drifted through the strongwoods and oaks. Remembering their tradition, he’d lit a lantern for her. There was no other reason to leave a light burning outside this late at night. She hoped he’d kept his love burning just as brightly.

Or had he?

Who knew what the years had done… Perhaps, the lantern was burning for another…

Maryssa’s feet faltered. She stumbled. Her hand shot out and landed on the familiar bark of a giant strongwood tree. For a moment, she leaned into the tree, breathing in the sharp night air until she calmed her nerves.

No, a love like theirs was once-in-a-lifetime. Never to be found again. Not even between the sheets of her marriage bed.

Surely he’d not found another love? She hesitated, her will wavering.

She could flee back to her husband, who tried as hard as he could. They both did and said all the right things, even though the feeling wasn’t really there.

Or she could venture into the unknown—a familiar past—and see whether it could be the same again. Whether it could be her future.

Maryssa pressed on through the trees. At last, she came to the clearing. Through the dancing snowflakes, the lantern flickered. She pushed back her shoulders, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and pulled her hood forward, then strode through the snow to the cottage door. Her heart leaped at the light within, at the life the cottage had suddenly gained after so many years of being barren.

Like her. She was unable to conceive, a fact her husband stoically never mentioned. But it was always there—lying between them.

Her stomach was like a swarm of swirling snowflakes as she raised her hand and knocked on the wooden door. Three sharp knocks, a long one, then a short one again—their old signal.

Light footsteps ran to the door, and it was flung open. There he was, his face in shadow and his lithe figure limned in light from the lantern inside.

A hoarse cry broke from his throat, “Maryssa, you came!” He tugged her inside, shut the door, and turned to her.

He’d aged—hadn’t they both? Smile lines bracketed his mouth and crinkles radiated from the corner of his pecan-brown eyes, eyes that danced with that same vital energy she’d always loved. His features softened as he gazed down at her.

“Maryssa.” He pushed back the hood of her cloak and cupped her cold cheek with his warm hand, his eyes alight with wonder. “Maryssa.” His gentle words ghosted across her face. He pulled her close, nestling his face in her hair. “Just as beautiful as ever,” he murmured. His hands ran up and down her sleeves, drying her cloak as she stood there, the tingle of mage power flickering across her skin.

Maryssa arched into his touch. Gods, it had been so long. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you in town today,” she whispered.

He smiled, his pecan eyes lighting with an inner fire. “And I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you—and on my first day back. But you gave no sign that you’d even noticed me.” He held her at arm’s length and looked at her, his eyes roving over her forehead, his finger tracing her eyebrow. He stroked her cheek, touched a forefinger to her lips.

She moved in, and caressed his stubbly cheek, rejoicing in the coarseness, and ran a fingertip down his long nose. She let her hands play across his lips, and he laughed, his breath fanning her fingers.

“Oh, you’re cold.” He spun and shot a blast of mage fire at the hearth. Flames crackled to life, devouring the wood with their luminous-green tongues.

He turned back to her and took her hand. He frowned, a finger grazing her ring. “What’s this?” He sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re married?”

“Yes. My father arranged it.”

He spun from her, cursing, and stalked to the blazing fire. Placing a hand on the wall above the hearth, he bowed his head, staring into the flames. “What did I expect?” he spat bitterly. “It’s been ten years, but I thought you’d stay true to me.” His back was rigid with tension.

“I have,” she said. “You’re my only true love.” Maryssa ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his shoulder blade through his jerkin. “I’ve never loved another the way I love you, my heart burning with passion and my life reflected in your eyes. When my father drove you away, I was desolate.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping and turned again, the fire in his eyes dimming. “So, now I must look upon you as another man’s wife, never to hold or cherish you again.”

His gaze traveled over her.

Instead of feeling duty-bound as she did when her husband eyed her, or unclean like she did when the men in town stared at her, she felt cherished, loved and protected—she always had with him.

“Even though you’re now married, you still came here.” He stroked her cheek. “I guess you know what you want?”

She nodded. “Yes, I do.” The words she’d hoped to say years ago in her hand-fasting vows to him. Never to another. Bitterness coursed through her veins.

“Curse your father,” he muttered. “Curse the entire town. By the dragon gods, since I first saw you, I’ve loved you, and never even looked upon another.”

“And I love you too.”

The fire in his eyes flared back to life.

Gods! Her belly dropped and twisted as his gaze turned feral. Her voice trembled, coming out deep and throaty. “All these years, I swore if I had the chance with you again, I would not waste it.”

His eyes blazed and his fingers twitched, proffering a bouquet of flowers made of flickering green flame. She took them, surprised they were cool in her hands. He snapped his fingers, and the flowers disappeared. “I’ll give you anything you want. Just ask.”

“Please,” she begged, the coil in her belly dipping deeper. “If you love me, give me tonight.”

His eyes slid to her ring, and he shook his head. “No.” He bit his lip, agony rippling over his face. “I’m sorry, Maryssa, I couldn’t possibly do that.”

Her hair crackled with the static from his mage power. She thrust her fists on her hips. “I had no choice. After my father ran you off, he threatened to throw me out in the snow unless I was hand-fasted within a week. My husband tries hard enough and treats me well, but there is no love between us.” Her hands fell to her sides. She shook her head, whispering, “I wish I had gone with you.”

Maryssa pulled her hood up, fastened her cloak tight around her, and turned to go. “Good bye.”

As she reached the door, a cry broke from him. He dashed across the room and grasped her waist. Spinning her, he pulled her against the firm planes of his chest. “And I wish you had come with me, too. Oh, our lives would have been different with each other. I’m sorry I heeded your father and left without you.”

She raised herself on tiptoes and met his lips with hers. His were as warm and familiar and soft as she’d remembered. Maryssa’s heart soared as his arms tightened around her and he kissed her with the same ferocious passion she’d known when she was young and they’d first fallen in love.

Tonight, she vowed, she would give him everything—everything she’d never before been able to give.

Invitation—Two Years Later

 Master Jaedak chuckled at the molten mess of crystal Giddi had left on the stone plinth in his backyard. “You’re going to have to do better than that, my lad.”

“I know.” They’d been at this for weeks and Giddi still hadn’t mastered the art of shaping a simple crystal. He gathered sathir from his surroundings, pulling the life force from the trees, the grass, the bushes upon the hilltop and even the fish out in the bay below—just enough to harness their excess energy and give him the power he needed to do this job.

The familiar surge of sathir coursed through him, making him feel alive. It rippled down the veins in his arms and gathered in his hands until his fingertips were buzzing. He let the energy coil within his fists like a bucking beast, and then opened his hands, flinging his fingers outward.

Green mage flame coursed from Giddi’s fingertips, blasting into the piece of crystal on the plinth in Master Jaedak’s backyard. The fire hit the crystal and shattered it into molten shards that flew across the grass.

Giddi ducked, narrowly avoiding a flying piece of hot crystal. He’d failed—again.

“Flame is your natural medium, young man, but you need to learn to harness sathir in every medium, not just as flame,” Master Mage Jaedak lectured, shaking his head. “You have raw power, and lots of it. But shaping that power into a useful tool that you can do anything with will be the key to your success. When you can shape the waves in the ocean, bend the very trees to your will, cause a sandstorm in the Robandi Desert, and completely control the elements, you’ll be ready as a mage—and not a moment before.” Master Jaedak scratched his ruddy face. “Why, turning you lose upon the realm would be a dangerous thing with that much raw power. Until you master this and many other skills, you won’t be going back to Great Spanglewood Forest. Now, use your power to shape that crystal.”

Master Mage Jaedak held out a hand.

Giddi ducked again as the cooling shards of crystal flew through the air and hovered gently above Master Mage Jaedak’s palm. The shards swirled, coalescing into a mass that shot toward the plinth and gently landed upon it.

“Your turn, Giddi.” Master Mage Jaedak smiled, as if he believed Giddi was capable of taming the crystal and forming it into whatever shape he wanted.

Giddi sighed and tugged more sathir inside him. The rough lump of melted crystal stared at Giddi defiantly.

Jaedak coughed. “Let’s make this a little more challenging, shall we?”

“Why?” Giddi asked. “How would that help, if I didn’t even manage the last task you set me?”

“Instead of trying to form an oval crystal, form that molten lump of rock into a fish. Just tug one end outward to form a mouth and the other upward like a tail. It doesn’t need scales or fins at this stage.”

Scales or fins? His master was mad. Giddi groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Come on, you may find it easier than forming an orb.”

In the few moons Master Mage Jaedak had been training him, Giddi had barely managed much at all. The master mage seemed to think he was improving, but he didn’t see how. Every task Master Mage Jaedak gave him was beyond his capabilities. And before he mastered one, Master Jaedak moved onto the next task, and then the next. There must be a reason, because his master was fair, and even-tempered, so Giddi kept at it—even though he couldn’t see much point.

He held out his hands to try again.

“Giddi,” Master Mage Jaedak said softly, “you’re a dragon mage who can mind-meld with any dragon. You’re one of a kind. I have to push you harder than anyone else. But imagine what it would be like to also mind-meld with people, with animals, with any living thing.”

Giddi gaped. “What?”

He’d accidentally mind-melded with Anakisha a couple of times and also once with Starrus when he’d been enraged, but to intentionally mind-meld with anyone? He’d never dreamed of that.

“You heard me. Now stop staring at me with your jaw hanging open or you’ll soon be swallowing flies. There’s work to be done.” Jaedak gestured at the crystal lump smirking at Giddi on the plinth.

This time, when Giddi’s plume of green flame smacked into it, the crystal bubbled and oozed into a river of flowing glass.

Giddi flung his hands in the air. “It’s no use. I’m just not cut out for this. I’ve been blasting crystals for moons now, and all I do is destroy them.”

Master Mage Jaedak grinned. “It takes many, many moons for a lesser mage to melt a crystal. You’ve been melting them since your first attempt, so you’re on the right track. Don’t forget, I trained your father and many other mages after him. I know what I’m doing, even if you don’t. Fetch another crystal from that pail and try again.”

Giddi stooped and picked up a chunk of crystal from the wooden pail near his feet.

A caw rent the air. A dark speck zipped over the distant trees, then arrowed toward Master Mage Jaedak’s garden. Wings wide, a raven swooped down and landed on the plinth, carefully stepping over the rivulets of congealing crystal.

Master Jaedak held up his arm, and the raven flew over and leaped onto his forearm, a tube tied to its leg. Master Jaedak broke the wax seal off the tube and shook out a strip of parchment.

“Well, well, lad, I guess there’s an advantage to having you as my trainee. Your friends Yanir, the King’s Rider and Anakisha, the Queen’s Rider, are being hand-fasted. You and I are invited to the ceremony, along with a few other Naobian mages.” Master Mage Jaedak slapped Giddi on the shoulder and grinned. “We’re heading for Dragons’ Hold.”

A shiver snaked down Giddi’s spine. Returning to Dragons’ Hold meant facing Starrus, the mage who’d killed his father and dumped Giddi in the Wastelands at the feet of the Robandi Silent Assassins. He swallowed. “Anakisha and Yanir are being hand-fasted? So quickly?”

Master Mage Jaedak frowned. “The tone of your voice could lead me to believe that you admire the Queen’s Rider yourself.”

Giddi burst out laughing. “I do, as a good friend. It’s just that they only met each other a few moons ago, and now they’re being hand-fasted. It seems too quick.”

Master Mage Jaedak chuckled. “My wife and I were hand-fasted after only a few weeks of knowing each other. May her soul fly with departed dragons.”

“A few weeks? That’s madness.”

“No, it was good luck. I actually asked her a lot sooner.” Jaedak’s grin lit his eyes.

“Ma told me to always know someone through four seasons,” Giddi said.

“Once you’re hand-fasted, you’ll know them through every season for the rest of your life, anyway. I say, once you meet the love of your life, it’s best to get on with it.”

Giddi was silent as Master Mage Jaedak clapped him on the back. “It looks like this bird has been delayed, possibly by a storm up north. If we’re going to make the hand-fasting ceremony of a lifetime, we’ll have to leave tonight.”

“Kevin?” Giddi mind-melded with the green dragon he often flew with. He and Kevin had gotten into their fair share of trouble since Giddi had been in Naobia, but it’d been a few days since Giddi had seen him.

“Yes, Giddi?” the green dragon mind-melded, sounding distant.

“Where are you?”

“Fishing off the coast.”

“Make sure you feed well. I have a feeling we’ll be heading north together tonight.”

“Where to?” The young dragon replied. The image of a struggling shark flapping from the end of a green snout accompanied his words.

“Dragons’ Hold.”

“I’ll be there soon, and I’ll let Goren and Rengar know, too.” Kevin’s excitement rippled through Giddi’s mind.

“Thank you, Kevin. Mind your dinner doesn’t bite you.”

Kevin snorted and shared his sight. With a toss of his emerald snout, the shark flipped through the air, writhing as it turned head over fin. The dragon’s jaws widened and snapped the thrashing shark down. “Now,” mind-melded Kevin, “who’s biting who?”

“Remind me never to accept any of your invitations to dinner.” Giddi chuckled.

Master Mage Jaedak flipped the parchment over and smoothed it out on a rock. “Please get me a quill and ink pot so I can send a message to the green guards and let them know we’re all going.”

“I’ve already sent one via Kevin,” said Giddi.

Jaedak guffawed. “I should have known. By the First Egg, you’re so quick I can never keep up with you.”

Giddi nodded, but without much enthusiasm. He’d been hoping not to return to Dragons’ Hold for quite a while longer. Time enough for the animosity between him and his ex-trainer to die down. Not that he’d ever forgive Starrus for killing his father.

Jaedak placed an arm across Giddi’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about Starrus.”

By the Dragon Gods, it was as if his master could mind-meld with him. No, that was impossible. Jaedak must’ve made a clever guess.

Master Mage Jaedak strode off into the cottage.

Oh well, Giddi didn’t want to ruin his trip. He’d deal with Starrus when he saw him. An icy prickle ran down Giddi’s spine. Or perhaps Starrus would deal with him.

Enjoy Master Mage here.

Enjoy the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series here (USA store)  or here in the UK store.

See this blog post about the expanded Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series.

See this page for the cover reveal of the next book!

Snow and Red Dragon Shifters’ Hoard book 1 – Sneak Preview

Dragon Shifters Hoard - Snow and Red

Snow and Red Dragon Shifters’ Hoard book 1 – Sneak Preview

It’s so exciting to finally launch Snow and Red in 5 days! I remember the walk A. J. Ponder and I took through Central Park, here in New Zealand (very different to the Central Park in New York), when we first plotted this story. Now it has come to life with a sequel, Zephyr and Snow, releasing soon!

Snow and Red is based on a little known fairy tale of Snow White and Rose Red, two sisters who befriended a bear (who is a secretly an enchanted prince). Three times, they unwittingly help the dwarf who enchanted him, then accidentally break the spell, freeing the prince to be himself.

We’re often asked how closely Snow and Red fits the original fairy tale. Our story has twin dragon shifters who are enchanted, two sisters who befriend them and accidentally help the being who enchanted the twins three times, and yes, the spell does get broken. However, our story takes place in our time and not in a forest… but the underworld of a city… you can ENJOY A SNEAK PREVIEW HERE

But first, download Draki Twins, the free prequel.

Free Prequel - Dragon Shifters' Hoard - Draki twins.

Your Sneak Preview – Snow and Red

Dragon Shifters Hoard - Snow and Red Eileen Mueller A J Ponder

Night Out

Red shimmied into her green velvet top and tugged it down over her dark skinny jeans. “Snow, what do you think?” she called.

Her sister sauntered though Red’s doorway in her silver sequined tank, black miniskirt and sparkly stiletto sandals. Snow raised an eyebrow. Her cool gaze roamed the room. “A mess as usual.”

Red rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean my room, Ice Queen.” She jabbed her thumbs at her top. “This.”

“I know, just teasing.” Snow grinned. “What should I say? Hot. With you dressed like that, no wonder none of the boys look at me.”

Red laughed. “I doubt that.” Snow was pretty, but so shy she fled when most boys smiled.

Snow shrugged a slim pale shoulder, her white-blonde hair cascading around her. “I’m starving. Let’s eat. You can clean up your room later.”

As if. No one cleaned any room in this house except the icy neatness freak. As much as Red loved her, Snow was a little over the top. Red shoved a mountain of clothes to one side of her bed so she could sit, and pulled on her boots, then followed Snow into the kitchen.

Red opened the fridge and slapped some slices of cold pizza onto two plates. Holding the plates in her hands, she let heat flow from her core, singing through her veins like liquid fire until it ran along her forearms and into her fingers. The sizzle of magic made her bones thrum and her adrenaline kick in. How could anyone live without magic? Life would be so boring. In moments, the plates were hot and the pizza was steaming. Red plonked the plates onto the kitchen counter. “Food’s up. Let’s eat. I don’t want to be late tonight.”

Snow pulled a carton of orange juice and two glasses from the cupboard. “Ice?” She gave Red another one of her infamous eyebrow arches.

“Sure.” Red laughed.

Snow held the glass until it was slick with condensation.

“Hey, whoa. I want a drink, not an ice block.”

Snow passed her the chilly glass.

Red took a slug. “Ah, perfect. I hope you keep my drinks cool tonight.”

Snow frowned. “You know what Mom said. We can’t do anything like this in public, Red.”

“’Course not.” Despite Red never intending to use her talents in public, sometimes stuff happened.

Snow glared at her. “I mean it, Red. You can’t use your powers tonight. Not on purpose. We can’t risk being found out as freaks.”

Pizza suddenly clogged Red’s throat. She swallowed. Freaks—yeah, that was about right.

Gingerly avoiding the hot plate, Snow picked up a piece of pizza, and took a dainty bite. “Oh, this is the fuel I’ve needed. I’ve been running on empty all afternoon.”

“Fuel!” Red gasped. “Oops.”

Snow grinned. “I knew you’d forget, so I ducked out and filled the tank while you were in the shower.”

“Thanks, you saved my sorry butt.” Where would she be without her sister?

“Mom will be home in a couple of hours. We’d better skate so she doesn’t catch us.”

“She’s on night shift,” Red said. “We still have a few hours.” Things had been the same for as long as Red remembered: Mom working night shifts in the emergency room at the hospital; them taking care of each other. It wasn’t that Mom didn’t care—she was barely earning enough to pay the crazy rent—one of the many reasons they always ate at home and only bought a drink or two if they went out. “I’ll grab my things.”

Of course, Snow already had her stuff in a tiny silver purse, slung across her shoulder.

Red dashed to her room and rummaged through her piles, throwing pieces into a black leather backpack trimmed with silver studs: wallet, mascara, and… She ducked back out of her room. “Have you seen my lipstick?”

“You’ve probably lost it in that pigsty you call a bedroom.” Snow was perched on the edge of her immaculately-made bed, reading on her phone. Probably the latest thriller—Detective Hardcastle and the Impossible Murder, or whatever. On the other side of the room, her pristine-white desk was empty except for a closed laptop and a neat line of pens. The room was cool, the way Snow liked it. Who needed air-con with her sister around? Without looking up, Snow fished into her purse and held up a lipstick. “Use mine.”

Red rolled her eyes. “Frosty pink hardly goes with my outfit. I was going for cherry-red.”

Snow looked up from her phone. “You could always try Mom’s spare one…” She bit her lip.

“The Revlon Red she keeps in—”

“—her bedside drawer,” Snow finished.

Their eyes met. Neither of them laughed.

Red’s heart banged against her ribcage. “Sure, why not?” She kept her hands clenched to stop them from trembling as she strode into Mom’s room. They’d been little last time they’d forced the lock on Mom’s secret drawer, but neither of them had ever forgotten their mother’s white-lipped fury.

Nor quenched their curiosity about why she’d been so mad.

Snow dashed after her. “No, Red…”

“It’s not as if Mom’s hiding state secrets.” Red tried the drawer. It was locked. She held out her hand. “Hairpin, Snow. Come on, we can’t let our childhood fears rule us.”

“You’ve been watching too many movies. A Swiss army knife is more effective for picking locks.” Snow whipped a pocket knife out of her purse and pulled out the toothpick attachment and a tiny hex key. “Move over.”

What the—?

Snow knelt in front of Mom’s bedside cabinet, hands shaking, and stuck the hex key into the lock. She bit her lip, pushed the toothpick in and jiggled it. The lock sprang open.

“Where’d you learn that?”

Snow put her phone on the bedside table. “YouTube.”

“And where’d you get that?” Red waved her hand at the knife.

Snow shrugged evasively. “Online.” She pulled the drawer open.

“I figured that. Where’d you get the money to buy it?”

Snow ignored Red’s question. “Her lipstick should be in here, somewhere.”

Red’s gaze fell to Snow’s phone. Her phone’s wallpaper was a picture of a tanned guy who looked like he belonged on a surfboard. She groaned. “Oh, man, have you been ogling that I.T. guy again?”

Snow blushed. “Krispin’s cute.”

“Yeah, and good with computers. But you snapping a shot like that is almost stalker-ish.”

“I think of it as art. Anyway, I’m hoping the school Internet goes out again.”

“Isn’t every girl?” When drop-dead-gorgeous Krispin—with his sun-bleached hair, caramel skin and warm brown eyes—had swaggered into the school library last week to fix the broken Internet connection, whispers had washed through the room like a tide hissing on sand.

Snow glanced up. “Shall we?”

Mom would kill them if she found out. Red let warmth seep through her to combat the prickle down her spine. She couldn’t let fear rule her. “Might as well… After all, we’re only looking for lipstick. Harmless, right?”

“Um yeah, harmless.”

She wished Snow wouldn’t gnaw her lip like that. Red eased the drawer open.

The lipstick was lying on top of a few old papers and a small leather-bound book with a lock on it. Red took out the lipstick and applied the tiniest bit to her lips, so Mom wouldn’t notice it’d been used. She snorted, gesturing at Mom’s drawer. “Looks pretty normal to me. Don’t see why Mom gets her knickers in a twist.”

Snow, still holding the Swiss army knife, stared at the book and papers. She licked her lips and gazed up at Red, eyes full of daring. “Let’s look.”

“It’s Mom’s private stuff, we really shouldn’t.” Red traced a finger over the soft black leather book cover. “Probably love letters from dad.”

“Yeah, but why would she keep love letters from a man she refuses to talk about? And why would she lock them up?”

Since their father had died, Mom had barely acknowledged they even had a dad. The only thing Red remembered about him dying was the weird skin disease he’d developed on his deathbed.

“What was he like?” Snow murmured. “Tell me what you remember.”

Red sighed. “He was fun, larger than life, always picking us up and spinning us around, taking us for horsey rides in the lounge. You know…”

“Yeah, I do know—that I don’t remember a thing. It sucks to be two years old when you lose a parent. A year older, like you were, and I might’ve held onto some shred of Dad.”

Every time Snow spoke of Dad, pain and longing filled her voice. Red squeezed Snow’s hand. “One quick look, then we’ll put everything back and get out of here.”

Snow laid the two envelopes and the leather book on Mom’s duvet. “Letters first,” she said, sliding a document with yellowed edges from an official-looking envelope.

Red held her breath as Snow held it under the light.

“It’s their marriage certificate,” Snow said. “But it’s weird.”

Red leaned in. The certificate featured an ornate gold seal of dragons with intertwined necks in the shape of a heart. There was fancy gold writing beneath the dragons. Mom’s familiar signature was signed in red ink. Their Dad’s was three crooked diagonal lines. No words. No name.

“Like werewolf claws in a bad horror movie,” Snow whispered. She traced the gold lettering: Semper iuncti in Draconia. “That’s Latin for Together forever in Draconia.”

Trust Snow to recognize Latin. At least one of them had paid attention in class. “What or where in the heck is Draconia?”

Snow shrugged and went to slide the marriage certificate back into the envelope.

“Wait,” Red held up her phone and snapped a shot. “I’ll hide it somewhere on my hard drive and delete it from my phone in case Mom checks it—I promise.”

Snow raised an eyebrow—something Red had never mastered. “Really? Your hard drive is almost as messy as your room. And your brain is messier than both.”

“True.” Red grinned.

The next envelope was smaller, with Mom’s name on it. Inside was a short note from Dad.

My dearest Hazel,

My heart burns for you. I’ll always be yours.

I know I’m sick, but no matter what shape I’m in, I’ll always love you.

Ash

Red picked up the worn, dark leather diary from Mom’s duvet, and examined the tiny brass lock. “Snow, can you open this?”

“Hmm, my hex key won’t work on that.” Snow pried the lock open with a hair pin. Two pretty luminescent discs shaped like petals and about the size of quarters fell out of the diary. Red held them up. They shimmered gold in the light.

Snow scrunched up her nose. “What are those?”

“Some sort of shell, I think. Like mother of pearl slivers.”

“Look, the book’s hollow.” Snow held it out. There weren’t any pages, only an empty compartment inside the covers. An old piece of paper was tucked into the liner with Kodak Premium Photography stamped on it.

So much for it being a diary. “What’s this photo of?” Red flipped it over. Mom was grinning, her arms around a handsome man dressed in a dragon costume. Red’s heart thrummed and heat shot through her like quicksilver. “That’s him! That’s Dad. I’d know that sandy-blond hair anywhere.” She passed the photo to Snow.

“Man, that’s some face-painting job,” Snow breathed, holding the photo with her fingertips as if it would shatter.

Red examined the shells again. “Look, these match his costume.”

Snow squinted at the photo. “It looks more like a bodysuit than something with shells stitched on, but yeah, they do. They’re the same color.” She snapped a photo with her phone, murmuring, “Mom actually looks happy. I can’t remember the last time I saw her like that. She’s usually so stressed.”

Red took a photo of the snapshot too. “We’d better get out of here, or we’ll have no chance to go dancing before she shows.” She put the photo and shells back in the fake book and clicked the lock shut. Then she tossed the book, letters and lipstick back into the drawer.

Snow took them out and rearranged them. “They were like that.”

“Thanks. How are we going to lock the drawer again?”

“Like this.” Snow thrust the hex key back into the lock and wiggled it. The lock clicked shut. She stashed her tools in her purse and stood.

How had her sister learned so much about lock picking? Red doubted it was from YouTube. And where had she got the money for those tools? All of their clothes were from thrift shops. It wasn’t as if they had spare cash lying around.

Smoothing her silver sequined tank top with her hands, Snow asked, “Is this too low cut?”

“No, it leaves a lot to the imagination.” Barely anything, but if Red said something, her sister would want to get changed again and they’d never get out of here.

“Yeah, but whose imagination?” Snow pouted. “It’s not as if I ever get a date.”

Red threw her head back and laughed. “I don’t care about a date. I just want to dance.

Dragon Shifters Hoard - Snow and Red Eileen Mueller A J Ponder Sneak Preview of opening chapters

Shifting Sands

The glass doors to the Shifting Sands were rattling on their hinges as Red pushed them open and pulled Snow inside. Rock music blasted Snow, the bass thrumming through her skin and rattling her bones. This place sure was a change from doing homework or sitting around reading Detective Hardcastle thrillers. They nudged their way through the throng toward the bar. Men kept giving her and Red the once over. Snow was sure Red barely noticed—her sister was in such a rush to hit the dance floor. Orange, blue and yellow lights pulsed in time to the beat. A strobe flashed across the crowd. The scent of beer and spirits hung in the air. They could probably get drunk off the fumes. That reminded her…

Snow pulled Red close, and cupped her hand over Red’s ear, yelling above the blaring music. “Please don’t drink booze tonight,” Snow said. “Not after what happened last time.” That night had ended with more than one thing in flames.

“I may be crazy, but I’m not deluded.” Red squeezed past two brunettes in miniskirts and knee-high boots. “Alcohol and I don’t mix.”

Yes, Red had sworn off the stuff, saying it made her veins turn to liquid fire, but Red was impetuous, and it made Snow nervous. And Mom nervous, too. Even though they’d grown up with Mom warning them they’d be in grave danger if anyone discovered their powers, sometimes Red let loose. Accidentally.

But not tonight. Snow would make sure of it. For the hundredth time, she wondered what life would be like if Dad was still alive.

“Anyway,” Red continued, “the way I dance, most people assume I’m drunk already.”

Well, yeah. Red was a little less inhibited than most. Okay, maybe a lot. But she always had a good time. Snow sighed. If only she could loosen up.

A bunch of underage guys from school were crowded around a table, sharing drinks and pretzels. “Want to join us?” a brown-haired guy from math class called, his eyes running over them both.

“Sure,” Red answered, tossing her hair.

Snow gripped her elbow hard. “Maybe later.” She flashed them a smile and Red a warning eyebrow as they pushed their way through the throng to the bar.

A plaid-shirted man grinned as they approached. “Want a drink, darlings?”

“No thank you,” Snow said, sidling away.

Her back hit something solid. A glass crashed to the floor and smashed, scattering shards.

A geek with a buzz cut, black-framed glasses and a Dungeons and Dragons T-shirt glared at her. “Now look what you made me do,” he snarled. “I’ve lost my drink and smashed a glass.”

“I’m sorry, it was an accident. I—”

“Hey, don’t talk to her like that,” Red snarled back, already in the geek’s face. “You heard her. She didn’t do it on purpose.”

People were turning and staring. The man in the plaid shirt sniggered. Snow wanted to melt into the floor. She bent down and picked up the shards. At least no one could see her down here. Maybe.

“Are you all right?” a guy asked Red, his tight surfer tee showing off the muscles in his broad back.

Typical. Guys always came waltzing in to help her sister.

“Sure, I’m fine.” Red flung a hand between Geek and Snow. “But she bumped him, and now he’s being a jerk.”

“Don’t I know you?” the guy in the surfer tee asked Red.

Red tilted her head. “Maybe.” She shrugged.

“Maybe I’d like to get to know you,” Geek purred.

What a loser.

“You’ll get to know my fist if you keep talking like that,” Red snapped.

Geek glowered, but the other guy just laughed and crouched down. Warm, tanned fingers touched Snow’s wrist. “Hey, let me help you.”

Cheeks burning, she glanced up. Gorgeous chocolate-brown eyes met hers. The guy took the shards from her hands. Oh gods, it was Krispin. His dazzling smile melted her bones.

“We’ll have this cleaned up in no time.” His rich deep voice made her melt even further.

Red crouched down to help. Krispin’s eyes widened as he glanced between her and Red. The strobe flickered over Krispin’s sun-bleached hair and lit up his even white teeth. “Don’t I know you both?”

Snow had no chance. All the boys liked Red. They were attracted to her like moths to a flame—and just as easily burned.

“I’m sure I remember you,” he yelled over the bass. “Where did we meet?”

Not a brilliant one-liner. “School,” Snow said, unable to force out a full sentence. She picked up more shards.

“You were fixing the school internet connection,” Red yelled back.

“Yeah, I’m good at connections.” He arched an eyebrow.

Oh freaking gods, his eyebrow arch was just like hers. Snow’s heart ratcheted up a notch.

“I’m Red and this is Snow.” Red glanced meaningfully at Snow. “Anyway, I’m off to dance.”

Krispin’s eyes followed Red as she sashayed into the crowd, then his gaze flicked back to Snow. “Would you honor me with a dance?”

Snow opened her mouth. She had to say something clever. Something witty. But her words died. She nodded, a lump the size of an iceberg in her throat, and stood there with the shards in her hands.

The broken glass in Krispin’s cupped hands glittered in the strobe light. “Here, give me that,” he said, “I’ll get rid of it.”

As Snow dropped the shards into his waiting hands, their fingers bumped, sending an electric jolt through her. Her ice power surged, shooting cold though her fingers.

He yanked his hand back. His eyes shot to hers, a tendril of wariness in them. “I’ll be back soon.” He strode over to a trash can.

She shook her tingling hands and wiped them on her skirt. Had he noticed her powers? She had to get a grip on herself.

“Hey,” someone bellowed. “My drink.” Geek thrust his sweaty face near hers, waving a hand at the beer seeping across the shiny black floor.

“I told you it was an accident. I didn’t mean to—”

Suddenly Krispin was there between them. He put a hand on Geek’s chest. “Be a gentleman, and back off.” He flipped out his phone and pulled ten bucks out of the flap, throwing it onto Geek’s table. “There. Get yourself another beer and leave my lady alone.”

My lady. A cool tidal wave crested inside Snow. She smiled at Krispin. “Thank you, that was kind.”

“No problem.” He placed his hand on her back and guided her toward the bar. “After you having to put up with that rotter, the least I can do is get you a drink.”

Her skin beneath his fingers tingled, all warm and fuzzy. She was seriously in trouble. She’d never felt her power radiating out of her back. This guy did something crazy to her. She really had to get a grip. Snow slid a glance at his attractive, smiling face. Had he noticed anything?

“What would you like?”

There was that bone-melting smile again. Snow slid onto a bar stool. “A lemon lime and bitters, thanks.”

He ordered their drinks and leaned on the counter, his bronzed bicep bulging as he raked a hand through his hair. She tried to keep her eyes off his body-tight tee. He totally rocked the surfer look. It hadn’t been her imagination. He was even more drool-worthy than in her photo.

Krispin turned to her. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

Another one-liner nearly as lame as What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? Snow didn’t care. This was Krispin. And he was finally talking. To her.

He passed her drink and asked her something, but his words were drowned out by the music.

He placed his hand on her back, making her skin do that yummy thing again, and gestured past the dance floor. Krispin steered her past dingy tables, enormous throbbing speakers and a mass of writhing bodies. A flash of red hair whirled at the center of the crowd. Red looked like she was having a good time. And she hadn’t drunk anything, so she’d be fine on her own for a few minutes, wouldn’t she? Snow gnawed her lip.

“Are you okay?” Krispin asked, leading her to a door that Snow hadn’t noticed.

“Fine, thanks.”

He opened the door and held it, motioning her onto a stone patio surrounded by shrubbery on three sides. Wrought iron candles flickered in stained-glass jars on tiny tables. In the far corner of the patio, two couples sat at tables. One pair laughed, hands intertwined. The other couple clinked glasses, speaking in hushed voices then leaned in to kiss each other. Snow glanced back through the panes in the door at the flashing lights and dancing crowd. A few minutes outside wouldn’t hurt. Then she’d check on Red.

“It’s not as loud out here. Much easier to talk.” Krispin ushered her to a table far from the other couples.

Hang on, other couples. They weren’t a couple. She’d only just met him. Not that she’d mind… They sat down, facing each other. Snow took a gulp of her lemon lime and bitters. The bubbles went straight up her nose. She spluttered, spraying her drink all over the table and Krispin’s T-shirt. How mortifying. “Ah, sorry.” Her cheeks burned. “I seem to be having a bad night.”

He burst out laughing. “You can say that again. We’re lucky I wasn’t drowned. Still, just in case, I’ll fetch a life jacket. There must be one around here, somewhere.”

His laugh was so genuine that for the first time that night, Snow relaxed and grinned back. “Great first impression, huh?”

“Oh no, it’s a terrible second impression.”

Her heart fell.

Krispin continued, “Luckily, my first impression when you were studying in the library was a knockout. What were you reading? Wasn’t it something deep about mind anatomy, or something?”

Snow frowned. “What day were you there?” She knew exactly what she’d been reading the moment he walked in the door. Exactly how many hours it had been since she’d first laid eyes on him. One hundred and seventy-nine hours and 30 minutes approximately. Or nearly seven and a half days.

“Wednesday last week.”

“What time?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Hey, you can arch one brow too.” He smiled and took a chug of his beer, before finally answering her question. “About ten.”

“Then it was Anatomy of the Troubled Mind. I had a psych assignment due. That must’ve been it.” She’d had no such assignment. And, anyway, all of her assignments for the next three weeks were already done. She’d been researching how to control their powers. Not that she was about to tell that to him—or anyone else. Not even Red.

“Mental health in high school? That’s advanced.” He eyed her over the rim as he sipped from his glass. “Yes, I remember you being engrossed in that book. You looked cute. Pink shirt, cut-off jeans. Do you play any sport? You look like an athlete.”

He’d remembered what she was wearing? He’d noticed her. A good sign. “Nah.” She couldn’t really call her and Red’s magic practice sessions out in the woods sport, although they were physical enough. “What about you? What do you play?”

“Power sports.”

“What’s that?” She felt like a complete idiot.

He leaned in, as if he were sharing a secret. “Where I cast a spell on you with my powers and you fall for me.”

A delicious shiver ran down Snow’s back. A magic spell. Yeah, right. However, if there were such a thing as magic spells, he was well on the way to succeeding. Her heart skipped a beat. Was he toying with her, because he’d sensed her powers? She froze, not literally—no ice crept from her hands across the table and over her glass making it freeze and shatter. But she stilled, and sat staring at him without a twitch.

He laughed. “Are you all right? I was teasing. It’s not every day I get to chat with someone so beautiful.” His cheeks pinked and he busied himself with his beer.

Cute. He was blushing, actually blushing. And he thought she was beautiful.

He cleared his throat. “I would be honored if you’d dance with me.”

What quaint speech. “That’d be great.” It was time she checked on Red anyway.

They drained their glasses, and Krispin whipped Snow back through the door, past the crowd, to the dance floor. Red had kicked off her shoes, her flaming hair swirling as she spun and threw her legs out like she was doing karate. Around her, everyone from school was gyrating and waving their arms.

Typical. They were all having a good time, while she stood here, frozen. People always said she should loosen up. But she’d never want to lose control of her powers—like Red sometimes did.

Krispin glanced at the crowd, then turned to Snow, grinning, the dimple in his cheek working its magic on her. He gently took Snow’s hand and enticed her onto the dance floor.

A shot of nervous cold leaked from her fingers. Had he noticed? She smiled, the way social media said you were supposed to, coyly looking up at him.

He smiled back. “You like dancing?” It wasn’t the most romantic of lines. Nor was it the worst, especially as her tongue was stuck, unable to say anything.

She nodded. Time to focus on him and the music, and have fun. And ignore Red, who had jumped on table and was gyrating to the beat, a crowd of yelling guys around her. Puhleese.

Krispin’s eyes roved over Red. “Your sister has an, ah, unusual dance style.”

Snow grinned. “I call that move the egg-beater.”

He grinned back. “Egg-beater. I’m not sure I’ve seen one of those before.”

Snow flashed a grin. She was here, with a guy she’d drooled over for a week. She had to get a grip and relax. As the music pulsed though her and they started to dance, she let herself go, just a little. Krispin was a good old-fashioned dancer, twirling Snow in his arms and flashing her smiles that could melt the iceberg that’d sunk the Titanic.

The guys around Red were now tossing peanuts at her and cheering. She flicked her long red mane over a shoulder and threw pouty kisses at them, swaying her hips like she was trying to dislocate them.

Even though everyone was still dancing, they were all staring now. Even Krispin. Snow didn’t blame him. She was staring too, waiting to see if Red lost it. So much for them keeping a low profile.

Snow’s phone alarm buzzed. It was time to get home—before Mom got in, discovered them gone, and had kittens. “Sorry, gotta run,” she yelled to Krispin over the music—a heavy number that had Red bouncing her head up and down like a pigeon on fire.

“Just five minutes more?” Krispin asked, giving her another winning smile. “Or could I buy you another drink?”

“Sorry, we have to be somewhere.” Snow pushed through the crowd, Krispin trailing her to the table Red was dancing on. She shoved through the throng of guys, and grabbed Red’s leg, yelling, “Come on Red. We have to go.”

“I’ve got to find my shoes,” Red yelled back. She slugged back a juice and clambered off the table to guys cheering and others groaning that she’d finished.

While Red was scrabbling under the table, Krispin pulled out his phone. “Before you go, we should friend each other.”

Well, it couldn’t hurt, could it? He’d been so nice to her tonight. Until he’d been distracted by Red. And, with a show like that, who’d blame him? She slipped out her phone, opened social media and friended him on the spot. What a cute profile image. Even drenched in rain, he looked good.

Red jammed her shoes on and joined them, making serious googly eyes at Krispin. What was she doing? Trying to edge in on Snow’s action? Not that calling dibs on guys was a thing, but it would be nice if Red backed off from this one.

Krispin’s eyes flicked over Red, then he met Snow’s gaze. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Thanks for the, um, drink. Sorry you had to wear it.”

He laughed. “It was my pleasure.” His chocolate eyes met hers, making her pulse pound.

This guy’s smiles were addictive.

“I’ll see you soon, too,” Red purred, tossing her wild mane over her shoulder again.

Not if Snow had anything to do with it. “Gotta run,” Snow said. She practically dragged her sister away from Krispin.

“Hurry up.” Snow strode through the busy tables toward the door. “If Mom realizes we’ve been out, she’s going to be so mad.”

“Come on then,” Red put on a show of speed, racing past the bouncers, out the doors of the Shifting Sands, and into the street.

Snow had to hurry to keep up with her. “Don’t be like that, Red. It’s me who should be mad. After all, you were making moony eyes at Krispin.”

Red yawned. “Krispin? You can have him. He’s not my type.”

As if Red had a type. She flirted with everyone with a Y chromosome.

Snow tugged her jacket tighter around her and glanced along the street. Traffic was sparse. A group of guys were hanging around one of the two alleys across the street; otherwise, hardly anyone was around. It was later than she’d thought. “If we want to beat Mom home, we’d better take the shortcut to the car.”

Red checked her phone and grimaced. “Oops, yeah. This is gonna be tight.”

They cut across the road and marched straight to the furthest alley. Snow peered between the brick buildings into the gloom. Nobody was loitering down this shortcut. “Come on, let’s go.” They dashed along the narrow lane, their footfalls snapping on the concrete sidewalk and bouncing off the walls.

Boots thudded along the alley. Snow cast a glance over her shoulder. Murky figures appeared—four guys in leather coats were stalking down the alley behind them.

“Hurry,” she hissed to Red.

“On it,” Red answered a spark flitting from a finger as they increased their pace.

Despite their burst of speed, the guys were quicker. Snow and Red edged to one side, walking in single file to let them past.

Just as the guys had passed them and Snow was breathing a sigh of relief, one turned and grabbed the strap of her purse, yanking it tight across her body.

She spun. Her hand shot out and grasped his wrist. Goosebumps skittered along her forearms as tendrils of power flowed from her fingertips.

“Ow!” He let go and shook his arm.

Shoot. She’d given him an ice burn.

But that wasn’t the worst of it. One of his friends grinned, his teeth a flash of white in the dark, as his blade slashed toward her.

Snow and Red is available on Amazon on a 99c special introductory offer or free in Kindle Unlimited.

If you like dragons, romance and danger, enter the simmering underworld of Pinevale in the Dragon Shifters’ Hoard today!

 

New Riders of Fire Dragon Masters Books

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters

New Riders of Fire Dragon Masters Books

Did you see the recent cover reveal of Dragon Mage? And the sneak preview of the first chapters?

Master Giddi’s dangerous adventures have grown so rich and deep that they needed to be split into two books!  Dragon Mage, book 2 and Master Mage book 4. Dragon Mage covers some of his teenage escapades, while Master Mage takes us on his dangerous rise to power and the tragic mistakes he makes. If only Giddi wasn’t so impulsive. Or so powerful.

#nospoilers

So, id Dragon Mage has been split into books 2 & 4, what’s book 3 about? And what is the title?

It’s time to update the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series.

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters:

Dragon Pirate is born

Dragon Pirate Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 3

 

A vengeful dragon.

A lucrative trade in a damnable cargo.

And a pirate captain with nothing left to lose.

Follow the Scarlet Hand in his rise to power.

Yes, Dragon Pirate is book 3. The Scarlet Hand is up to no good. He’s building a fleet of pirate ships to scour the Naobian Sea. He’s also made a shifty deal with Emperor Haakin of Metropoli, but by the First Egg, he’d better watch it, because the Emperor and his adviser General Vizza don’t play nice!

 

 

 

Riders of Fire

It’s been a challenge writing the prequels when I already know what will happen to many of these characters during Dragon War & Sea Dragon. However, it has also been a pleasure to dive deeper into their pasts and find out what makes each one tick.

I hope you enjoy Riders of Fire and the additions to the Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series and the rich backstory that unfolds.

Adrenaline-fueled adventure on dragonback awaits you! So, saddle up and ride!

Riders of Fire Complete Box Set #483 on Amazon

Riders of Fire Complete Box Set hits

#483 in the ENTIRE AMAZON KINDLE STORE!!!

#483!!! Who worked this magic while my back was turned?

This has never happened to one of my books before!!! My Riders of Fire Complete Box Set is smashing through the ceiling! Can you hear me yelling and squealing all the way from New Zealand?

If not, take out your earbuds!!!Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

 

 

 

I’m happy to be rubbing shoulders with the Darkblade overlord Andy Peloquin in classic fantasy books, and with Tolkien, Cordelia Castel , JK Rowling, Elise Kova, The Witcher and all the other cool fantasy authors and characters out there!

If you haven’t seen the video, here it is! Turn up your sound!! It’s worth every tone!

Do something crazy to celebrate. And if you haven’t grabbed this beauty of a box set yet, go for it. All downloads and reads in Kindle Unlimited would be treasured! (I get paid for every page you read!!) Thank you for being awesome. Thank you for supporting me and my little family. It’s a tough world out there, but thanks to you, we have food on our table.

I am so thrilled. A huge shout out to very author who has shared my book in their newsletters, on their social media pages, in their Facebook groups or via book promotions. I thank everyone in the indie fantasy community for working together to celebrate each other’s cool books.

Rankings are fickle. ‘Tis but for a fleeting moment, so lets’ enjoy it!

Here are stacks of cool pictures to celebrate:

Bestseller Rankings:

  • #1 Teen Young Adult Mythical Creatures ebooks
  • #1 Teen Young Adult Myth & Legend ebooks
  • #1 Teen Interactive Fiction ebooks
  • #1 Classic Fantasy ebooks (with Andy’s Darkblade as #2)
  • #2 Fantasy Anthologies and Short Stories
  • #3 Metaphysical Fantasy ebooks
  • #5 Sword and Fantasy ebooks
  • #7 Coming of Age Fantasy ebooks
  • #1 Teen Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy ebooks
  • #13 Epic Fantasy
  • #17 Teen Young Adult Fantasy ebooks
  • #59 Fantasy ebooks

What are readers saying about Riders of Fire?

★★★★★ “The best Dragon Rider series I have ever read!”

★★★★★ “The details are so vivid, I feel I’m in the stories. I can’t get enough.”

★★★★★ “I felt like I was there, soaring the skies on dragonback with the other riders as my best friends!”

★★★★★ “I couldn’t put it down, unless it fell out of my hands when I got too tired to see straight anymore.”

★★★★★ “I was enthralled the whole way through.”

★★★★★ “A complete tour de force! Dragons, magic, adventures, what more could one want – except more!”

★★★★★ “The best books I have read in many years.”

★★★★★ “You’ll find yourself immersed in the dragonverse of Eileen Mueller and her wonderful characters. What a wonderful place to be.”

Now, for the heartwarming screen shots. Hear me grin!

#1 Teen Young Adult Mythical Creatures ebooks:

#1 Teen Young Adult Myth & Legend ebooks:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#1 Teen Interactive Fiction ebooks:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#1 Classic Fantasy ebooks (with Andy’s Darkblade as #2):Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#2 Fantasy Anthologies and Short Stories:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#3 Metaphysical Fantasy ebooks:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#5 Sword and Fantasy ebooks:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#7 Teen Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy ebooks:

#7 Coming of Age Fantasy ebooks:

#13 Epic Fantasy:Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#17 Teen Young Adult Fantasy ebooks: Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

#59 Fantasy ebooks: Riders of Fire Complete Box Set

Ezaara, Riders of Fire book 1 – excerpt

Stepping into the sunlight, Ezaara stooped to pick arnica flowers. The ancient piaua, half as thick as a cottage, rose before her at the edge of the clearing, its bark pitted and gnarly. Blue berries peeked from its dark foliage. As a tree speaker, her mother often talked to the piaua whenever she collected its sacred healing juice. Placing her palm against the bark, Ezaara strained to feel a whisper. Nothing—again. She sighed. Not a tree speaker, then. What would her vocation be? Ma was happy as a healer and herbalist, and Ezaara didn’t mind helping her, but she wanted something more. Excitement. Adventure. Maybe love.

The owl-wort vines grew among the knobby piaua roots. She parted the undergrowth and plucked a handful of leaves. Rising from a crouch, she opened her pouch.

A strange tingle ran through Ezaara, then a shadow fell over her. Something swished, a sudden breeze stirring her hair. She jerked her head up.

A dragon was circling the treetops. Ezaara recoiled in fear. With a snap of fangs or a swipe of talons, it could kill her. The owl-wort fell from her shaking hands. She tensed to flee.

But hesitated.

Sunlight played across the dragon’s iridescent scales, making them shimmer. Its graceful wings swished ever closer, rippling with color. This beast was beautiful—beautiful, but deadly. She had to escape. But the tingling grew stronger. The amazing creature circled down toward her. Foliage rustled in the downdraught from the dragon’s wingbeats.

A voice hummed in her mind. “Ezaara,” it crooned.

This creature could talk to her?

“We’re mind-melding, sensing each other’s thoughts and emotions.”

She held her breath, drawn to the dragon. Rich colors cascaded through her mind. Sunshine poured into her soul. Ezaara wanted to soar. She glimpsed a vision—her riding the dragon, flying above the forest, over the Grande Alps and into the blue.

“This is your destiny, to ride with me.”

Warning cries reached her—villagers. If only they knew this dragon, they wouldn’t be afraid.

The dragon’s hum built to a roar inside her. It dived.

Familiar faces shot into her mind. Her family! She couldn’t leave them.

Ezaara’s love for her family was swept aside as energy rushed through her. She was enveloped in a prism of rainbow-colored light, like reflections in a dewdrop. Music from the purest flute filled her heart. For the first time in her life, she felt whole. The energy coiled inside her and she sprang, lifted by the wind, hair streaming out behind her. In a flash of color, the dragon’s scales were beneath her. Ezaara landed on a saddle in a hollow between its wings. She wrapped her arms around the dragon’s spinal ridge, hugging it tight.

It felt so right.

The dragon regarded her with yellow eyes. Ezaara could’ve sworn it was smiling. “I am Zaarusha. You were born to be my rider,” it thrummed. The beast turned. Its belly rumbled and flames shot from its maw.

They flew off, leaving her home and loved ones behind.

Thank you!

If you read this far, thanks for celebrating with me.

Enjoy my adrenaline-fueled dragon rider adventures. Take to the skies and soar with Riders of Fire!

Riders of Fire series Order

Riders of Fire Books 1-6: Ezaara, Dragon Hero, Dragon Rift, Dragon Strike, Dragon War and Sea Dragon.

Change in Riders of Fire Series Order

Riders of Fire has been keeping me busy for years! And there’s more to come… I’ve recently made changes to the series order, so the Riders of Fire stories stay within their own timelines and don’t jump back and forth too much.

Books 1-5 follow Ezaara, Roberto and the whole team of riders of fire, the brave young dragon riders who fight against Commander Zens and his cloned tharuk monsters intent on enslaving people and destroying Dragons’ Realm.

Book 6, Sea Dragon, is Ithsar’s story. Ithsar is  the Robandi assassin we met in Ezaara, book 1. I’d originally planned to put Sea Dragon at the end of the series, but, because it ties in with Ezaara’s story, it’s better to have Sea Dragon straight after the conclusion of Dragon War.

Bronze Riders of Fire series

I’ve had many fans and readers asking for prequels about their favorite characters, so:

Book 7 is now Dragon Healer, a prequel to Ezaara, which shows us how Ezaara’s parents, Marlies and Hans, met and the struggles and battles they went through that culminated in them fleeing Dragons’ Hold to have Ezaara and her twin brother Tomaaz.

Book 8, Dragon Mage, also a prequel, shows us how Master Giddi, by following his heart, broke Dragons’ Realm and unleashed devastation upon the land. I’ve had many fans asking for more about Giddi.

Book 9… is a surprise prequel I have tucked up my sleeve. I’m hoping it will also see the light of day, but I need to plot it fully before I announce the title!

Book 7-9 are especially challenging because they don’t occur sequentially. There are timeline overlaps and common events in these books. In order to ensure these books are seamless, I’ll need to plot all of them at once — a monumental task.

The Riders of Fire New Series Order:

Book 1: Ezaara
Book 2: Dragon Hero
Book 3: Dragon Rift
Book 4: Dragon Strike
Book 5: Dragon War
Book 6: Sea Dragon
Book 7: Dragon Healer
Book 8: Dragon Mage

Book 9: tbc – surprise!!!

My free Riders of Fire prequel novelettes are available here.
Bronze Dragon – Hans & Handel
Silver Dragon – Marlies & Liesar

Adventures in Dragon’s Realm for younger readers:

Attack on Dragons’ Realm (same world as Riders of Fire, a prequel for 10-12 yea olds)
Dragons’ Realm, A You Say Which Way Adventure – Winner 2016 Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Youth Novel (interactive fiction with humor, for all ages)

Sea Dragon Cover Reveal

Sea Dragon

I’ve been so flat out, with the launch of Dragon War and starting my new Facebook Group: Riders of Fire Fan Zone, that I haven’t had a chance to catch my breath and update my blog.

So, what is Sea Dragon about?

If you’ve read Ezaara, Riders of Fire 1, you’ll remember Ithsar, the Robandi Assassin who meets Ezaara when she’s in captivity and aids her escape. Sea Dragon is Ithsar’s book. It’s a side story in Riders of Fire, a lovely tale of someone downtrodden who gets the recognition she deserves.

Sea Dragon Riders of Fire 6 by Eileen Mueller

When Ithsar helps Ezaara and Roberto escape from the Robandi silent assassins, she’s charged with treason. And sentenced to death by her own mother, the Chief Prophetess. Ithsar will be thrown into of the Naobian Sea, to be devoured by the fanged monsters that prowl its depths.

But Ithsar, born with deformed fingers, has been scorned and maltreated all her life. She’s secretly learned to fight back. And Ithsar’s seen visions of her future. Visions that mean she must fight to survive—or hundreds of dragons and riders will die.

Riders of Fire

Sea Dragon, Riders of Fire 5, by Eileen Mueller

Fans are raving about Riders of Fire: “Each book gets better and better.”

If you haven’t read Riders of Fire, yet, saddle up your dragon and leap into the skies for an adrenaline-fueled adventure.

When Ezaara imprints with the dragon queen, she’s swept into a world she’d never dreamed of. A world of dragons, treachery, intrigue and danger. Now the new Queen’s Rider, Ezaara must lead her people as Commander Zens and his army of monsters rampage across Dragons’ Realm, killing and enslaving innocents. She must stop them.

But who can she trust when political intrigue puts her own life in danger?

And when Zens is growing terrible new creatures faster than she and her dragon riders can defeat them…

Series – Awards

Winner – Storylines Notable Book Awards (Ezaara & Dragon Hero, 2019)

Quarter Finalist –  2019 Epic Fantasy Fanatics Reader’s Choice Awards (Ezaara & Dragon Hero)

Reviewers are raving about Riders of Fire!

Eileen has managed to wow the socks off me once again in this powerful, action-filled page turner!”

Dragon lovers, this book is for you!”

This series is fantastic! It has kept me riveted!”

If you like dragons with lots of adventure, this series is for you.”

Skillful, incisive writing.”

It almost brought me to tears more than once, yet had me laughing out loud at others.”

A whirlwind of emotions. This series is easily one of my favorites. I can’t wait to figure out what will happen next.”

The ending came together brilliantly.”

The suspense is killing me!”

Praise for Ezaara, Riders of Fire, book 1.
★★★★★ “A great fantasy read.”

—Dean OGorman, actor, Fili the dwarf in The Hobbit

Riders of Fire Audio Books on Audible

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that Audible Studios  have produced Riders of Fire audio books for Ezaara, Dragon Hero and Dragon Rift, the first three books in the series. They’re up on pre-order now and will available to listen to on November 5th (subject to time zones) on Audible .com – USA, Audible .au – Australia, Audible.can – Canada and Audible.uk – United Kingdom.

We’re lucky to have the fabulous Caitlin Davies onboard as narrator.  Caitlin, an award-wining narrator and actress, has narrated many books in various genres.  I discovered her when listening to Lindsay Buroker’s Dragon Blood series and Alisha Klapheke’s Fate of Dragons. She has a great voice and excellent narration. I hope you enjoy her rendition of the first three Riders of Fire books.

As you can imagine, Caitlin and I have had fun with my pronunciation guide. I created MP3 files, using my fantastic New Zealand accent to pronounce all the fantasy names in the series. It’s been great emailing each other and gaining insight into the narration process. Seeing Caitlin discover Dragons’ Realm and our courageous dragon riders and dragons was fun. It was quite an adventure, especially my rendition of growly, snarly tharuks, some of whom only speak broken English. Despite my weird kiwi accent, I know she’s done justice to the characters. I hope you enjoy listening to Riders of Fire. Now you can enjoy your favorite series out walking, doing housework or working, anywhere at any time.

Get Riders of Fire on Audible here.