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 Pirate – Epic Dragon Fantasy readers are Awesome

Dragon Pirate - epic dragon fantasy

DRAGON PIRATE – Epic Dragon Fantasy

Dragon Pirate, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book launches today!

9 June 2022

Dragon Pirate Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 3

What can one lone woman, disguised as a cabin boy, do against a notorious pirate captain with a fierce sea dragon and a bloodthirsty crew?

When Rusty’s uncle is killed by the Scarlet Hand, she’s taken aboard the Fiery Dragon as the new cabin boy.

She vows revenge.

But never suspects she’ll fall into the Scarlet Hand’s snare.

If you like swashbuckling pirates, sea dragons and danger on the high seas, set sail with Dragon Pirate.

Available on Amazon

Launch Party!

9 June 2022 2pm-10:30pm Eastern Time  

(10 June 2022 6am-2:30pm  in NZ)

ragon Pirate launch party Eileen Mueller

We’re having a launch party in my Facebook group: Riders of Fire: Eileen Mueller’s Fan Zone, so please join us. There’ll be fantasy games, prizes and  fun! It should be a blast!

Angel Haze is hosting the party with me, to celebrate her recent release of Reign of Shadows, Battleborn Mage book 1. I know her fans have been waiting a lifetime for  this exciting adventure! Angel is the  founder of the Indie Fantasy Addicts facebook group of 7000 members, where we hang out and have loads of fanatsy fun.

So, join us in my Riders of Fire Facebook group for our epic party full of fantasy fun, games and prizes!

Reign of Shadows Battleborn Mage book 1 by Angel Haze

My Readers are Awesome! So Many Names!

What an adventure it’s been writing this book. It’s been wonderful, largely due to my fabulous readers! Here’s why…

I asked for pirate characters and you created many. I asked for tavern names and was flooded with great suggestions. I asked you to create islands, name them, and name ships. You’ve given me animal companions, pirate cusses, named a scorpion, and given me fleet-building tactics (many of which I’ll use in another book). You’ve even created a Naobian deep-fried delicacy!

You’ve named a dragon! And yes, some one made up a terrible joke! Tony Slater’s a hilarious guy! I Integrated that joke into a tavern scene—his is the joke Rusty tells about pies. Thank you.

The Challenge

It’s been challenging to incorporate as many of your suggestions as possible into Dragon Pirate, and it’s been so much fun. I have the BEST readers! I LOVE hanging out with my readers in my Facebook group. I LOVE writing for you. I LOVE your feedback on my books. I LOVE your enthusiasm for Riders of Fire, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters, the Dragon Shifters’ Hoard and my Riders of Fire Dragons series. We have so much fun together in my Facebook group.

What did you create in Dragon Pirate? This is a huge cast!

Treat

Kelly Erickson created a Naobian deep-fried delicacy: snakelings in spicy dipping sauce. Yummy! I hope she sends us the recipe!

Water Scorpion

Water scorpoin

The scorpion that the Scarlet Hand  discovered crawling over his feet was a joint collaboration. From 27 entries, James McGinnis suggested aquascorpio. Paula Schaefer and Tiffany Shand both came up with deathstinger! So, deathstinger aquascorpio it is. A truly terrifying little creature. Rusty had great nerve handling it.

One day, I’ll tell you the story of the water scorpion I showered with in Indonesia. I stayed very calm, which was not at all the reaction of the staff running the $2-a-night backpaker’s hostel I was staying at! Their shrieks could probably be heard throughout the Pacific Ocean. Highly deadly indeed. (The shrieks or the scorpion? Maybe both).

Taverns

Dragon Pirate, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 3 by USA Today bestselling author Eileen Mueller
Seafight: Pirate Tavern – by Grzegorz Rutkowski.

Oh, what fun there is to be had in fantasy taverns! There’s nothing like a decent pirate brawl! The Leaky Keg on Pirate Island was named by Jens D RacherBaümer and Paul Mouchet was responsible for naming the Drunken Parrot in Metropoli.

The real question is, shall we also make these two readers responsible for cleaning up the chaos that the Bloody Cutlasses leave in their wake every time they visit a tavern?

Pirate Island

The inspiration for the difficult passage into a lovely inlet came from Craig Harder. I created the chasm as a result. Mandie Sagen suggested an island where retired pirates live. Of course, I had to make them broken-down, retired pirates with eccentric habits, keen for a brawl … Let the fun begin!

The Isles

The isles in the Naobian Sea: Karen Hoke named Firewing Isle; Tracey Harden named Scaleclaw Isle; and I named Talon Isle and Dragon’s Maw Isle. There will be more isles to sail to in Dragon Captain. You gave me so many brilliant names! Thanks.

Cusses

Cheryl Allsup came up with, “fire-riddled dragon bum,” which I shaped into “fire-riddled backside of a dragon with belly gripe.” Kelly Erickson suggested, “wingless surface lubbers.” Lorie Kuzma suggested, “worm-riddled bilge rat.” Mandie Sagen suggested, “slimy, rat-infested land worms,” much to Spider’s delight. Barbara Laing suggested, “bottom feeder,” which became “scum-sucking, bottom feeder.” Sandy Fosdick’s “leech-riddled water horse,” became: “That flaming leech-riddled water horse and stinking rider!”

It was so much fun to see what people created. I’m sure I could have incorporated more bilge rats! They also seemed to be a favorite.

Ship Names

Pirate shipSome of the ships docked at Metropoli were named by my readers, including The Golden Mermaid by Anne Caprani-Langkilde, and Star of Glory by Jan Cantle. The Crimson Fin was named by Nicole DragonBeck. Great names—thanks everyone.

What About Your Pirates?

Female pirate

One of the difficulties with having readers create pirates is that my readers created pirates worthy of being the captains of their own ships! They had great characteristics, talents, intriguing back stories and larger-than-life personalities. Not to mention, striking looks. With so many stars running around on deck, there would’ve been constant fights to hog the limelight. I had no choice but to splice pirates together out of your genetic pool and my own ideas!

So, here we go. The basis, and usually the name, for each pirate was suggested by a reader, however these pirates have grown to be a different to their initial DNA!!

 A huge thank you to Martha D Johnson for creating Larkspur with his violet eyes, willowy figure and long dark hair. I couldn’t include him having wings and fangs, however, I did keep his skills with a dagger.

Lefty was Nicole DragonBeck’s idea, including his cat! John Grasso suggested Volto. Unfortunately he couldn’t be an elf, as elves haven’t found their way through a world gate to Dragons’ Realm (yet), however, I did keep the rapier, leather trench coat, and his double-tipped ear due to a sword slice.

Gunthar and his pet gecko were Jackie Tansey’s idea. I couldn’t resist giving Gunthar a wooden leg when Jackie suggested that he hops. Please forgive me for getting his gecko drunk on rum! It was so much fun. I used GG’s name for Talvor, however the character was Will’s dad, not the cool one GG suggested. Honestly, there were just too many pirates running around aboard the Fiery Dragon. I did use GG’s suggestion for Grins Cabeya, including those wicked poisoned darts.

Jan Cantle suggested Hairy Stu with his Santa Claus snowy halo of hair. Mo was from Barbara Laing. I’m sorry he had a bitter end. Joffa the Crow was suggested by Mandie Sagen, charcoal and all! Andrew Agnew gave me Tiny. I’m so glad Andrew’s created him with no tongue—not me! I’m glad I can do more than honk! Johnny Blue came from Lorie Kuzma. I dyed his hair strawberry blond, but made sure he hung onto those sapphire-hilted daggers that matched his eyes. Swan, the handsome rouge, charmed his way onto the Fiery Dragon with the help of Patrick Goodwin.

If there are any crew I’ve missed, please let me know. I had many more great characters that readers gave me, including a plethora of female pirates—enough to crew an entire ship of their own.

Hmm… roll on Dragon Captain! You may see some of your characters turn up yet! I have special announcement to make about the series expanding… ooops, I’m getting ahead of myself. Not yet! All in due time.

First, let’s grab our copies of Dragon Pirate and Reign of Shadows and head to the party!

Thanks again to everyone for being awesome!

Riders of Fire Dragon Masters – Dragon Mage Cover Reveal – New Books in Series

Dragon Mage

Dragon Mage – New Cover Reveal

Sometimes my stories grow…

… and grow.

Master Giddi’s exciting adventures have developed into a deep, rich story that spans more than one book! Yes, Dragon Mage, Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 2,  has grown in to Dragon Mage and Master Mage.

However, Master Mage is book 4!

We have a mysterious book 3 lurking in the wings, waiting to be revealed. I’ll announce the new title  and reveal the beautiful cover art for book 3 soon.

My cover artist, Christian Bentulan, has done a wonderful job of depicting Giddi riding Aquaria, queen of the sea dragons.

Thank you to all my kind readers who have already pre-ordered Dragon Mage. The original cover will now be used for Master Mage, the story of how Giddi fell in love with Mazyka, a tempestuous ambitious mage, and broke the world.

Read on to find out more!

 an epic fantasy YA adventure set in Dragons' Realm.

Dragon Mage Riders of Fire Dragon Masters book 2

 

 

A young mage with raw, untamed power struggles for control while searching for his missing father. His vindictive trainer taunts him with the secret of his father’s disappearance. And secretly plots to kill him.

Giddi, a powerful young mage, can mind-meld with dragons at will, making him the only dragon mage in Dragons’ Realm. If he wasn’t so brash and impulsive, he might amount to something. It would help if his missing father, a Master Mage, could train him.

Instead, he’s stuck with Starrus, his arrogant and jealous trainer—the sole person who knows his father’s whereabouts.

If Giddi ever wants to see his father again, he must ensure his father’s secrets do not die with his trainer. But Starrus ruthlessly tests Giddi, repeatedly putting them in danger. Giddi’s rash actions cause an honored dragon rider’s death and a feud that will last generations, so he and Starrus are sent on a quest.

As if fighting fearless pirates, freeing a sea dragon and battling a kraken aren’t enough, Starrus abandons Giddi in the hot desert sands of the Wastelands, leaving him as carrion for the Robandi assassins…

How can Giddi convince Starrus to tell him the truth? Or will he die trying?

If you love epic coming-of-age fantasy, heart-pounding adventure and dragons, Dragon Mage is for you.

Dragon Mage, the second book in the exciting Riders of Fire Dragon Masters series, is the part of a new young adult epic fantasy series, a prequel to the award-winning, best-selling series, Riders of Fire.

Fans of Dragon School, Brindle Dragon, Dragon Riders of Pern and Eragon enjoy Riders of Fire.

Feel a dragon roaring beneath you and magic crackling under your skin. Unleash your power with Dragon Mage!

Indie Fantasy Fanatics Summer Reading Challenge – 1 June -21 September

#IFASummerChallenge20

Indie Fantasy Fanatics Summer Reading Challenge – 1 June -21 September – #IFASummerChallenge20

If you’d like to join a great group of readers and read lots of new  books from June – September 2020, then please

  1. Sign up for Indie Fantasy Fanatics Facebook group here
  2. Then join my team in their summer reading challenge in the  IFA BookWyrms Facebook group here.
  3. Post a comment in the IFA BookWyrms group tagging Angel Haze and Christine Marie, telling them you’ve joined our challenge.
  4. Start reading indie books and logging your reads.

Last year I co-lead the winning team, IFA BookWyrms, with Katie Cherry, who also writes dragon adventures. This year Cully Mac is joining is as team head. Hop aboard for fun, games and lots of prizes.

If you like to include my books in the challenge, click on one of the images  below!

 Riders of Fire Box Set
Riders of Fire Box Set
Riders of Fire complete 6 book series by Eileen Mueller – Ezaara, Dragon Hero, Dragon Rift, Dragon Strike, Dragon War & Sea Dragon – award-winning and best-selling epic fantasy adventures for young adults.
FREE Riders of Fire prequels – Bronze Dragon & Silver Dragon
Eileen’s Books on Amazon

My books are on Amazon here.