The SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS column on Mondays and Wednesdays is a place at Shannon Muir’s author website open to interviews and guest posts from other authors. One thing Shannon firmly believes in for readers not only to learn about new books available, but about those who craft the tales behind them. As its name implies, SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS weekly column features writers from all genres of fiction who want their potential audience to get to know them, and their works, better – and occasionally may offer features from Shannon herself that support readers to discover words.
Today, find out more about DRAGONIA: RISE OF THE WYVERNS .
What initially got you interested in writing?
I wanted to be an author since the first grade when my teacher made us blank books out of construction paper and three-lined paper. We drew pictures on every page above the three lines, and wrote a story on the lines. I still remember it clearly to this day. It was since then that I knew I wanted to be an author.
How did you decide to make the move into being a published author?
I’ve always wanted to be a published author, and after sending hundreds of query letters and submissions, all to be rejected, I posted my first novel on Wattpad. It was loved so much on Wattpad, that they featured the novel, The Crimson Claymore, and while they were promoting it, it received over 2.5 Million reads, 18,000 votes, and more than 1,300 reviews. However, I still couldn’t get an agent to read it. That’s when I started learning about Indie Publishing, and deciding to take matters into my own hands for now.
What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?
I give all my characters flaws like real people, and I always have my characters overcome their flaws to become a better person. I hope readers will take away love, compassion, and friendship from my stories.
What do you find most rewarding about writing?
I love the fan interaction. When a reader gets in touch with me about how much they enjoyed my books, and how much one of my books made a difference in their life, it is the most rewarding thing ever.
What do you find most challenging about writing?
Find the time and the inspiration to write at times can be difficult. Right now, I work a full time job, have a wife and two kids. Sometimes, it can be hard to find all the time I need to write. But I don’t give up.
What advice would you give to people want to enter the field?
Never give up, and finish your first book. Even if you don’t feel your book is that great, or if you get stuck, just keep writing. Find a way to finish the book, even if you have chapters that make no sense to the plot, just so you can move forward and finish it. Your writing will circle back to the plot as long as you continue it. After you complete a full novel, it gets much easier.
What ways can readers connect with you?
Readers can join my newsletter. I offer two free novellas when you join my newsletter: Heart of Ikchani and Victoria’s Grave. Whenever readers respond to any of my emails, I always respond back. I also have a facebook page and twitter as well as a Facebook Group for my readers.
his neck as he studied the inside of the wyvern’s throat. It was hard for him to
see clearly, but he was curious about the anatomy of the wyverns. Both suns
were in the sky that morning, the orange one barely larger than a moon now, but
the inside of the wyvern’s throat was still dark. He wished he could use a
torch, but if what he suspected was true, using a torch inside of a possible
fire wyvern’s mouth would be suicide.
Aquila whispered through clenched teeth.
his head out of the wyvern’s outstretched jaw and smiled at Aquila as she ran
toward him. “Good morning.”
name of the Creator are you doing?”
said.
shrugged and stuck his head back into the wyvern’s mouth.
your head out of that creature’s mouth.”
head around. “I assure you, Aquila, I’m safe.”
that?”
the small wyvern, who nodded enthusiastically. Aquila clenched her eyes shut,
her hands shaking as she watched Devarius turn back to inspect the inside of
the wyvern’s throat.
looking for?”
interesting. This creature has a uvula like we do, but there’s a small hole at
the bottom of it. At the tip of the hole, I see a dab of fluid … like it’s
about to fall down onto its tongue.”
Aquila asked through clenched teeth.
around and grabbed a small wooden bowl. “Ayla, can you ask the wyvern if it’ll
let me touch and … possibly squeeze its uvula gently?”
what?” Aquila demanded.
head to the side, then looked from the wyvern to Devarius. Her mouth opened and
a vibration came out, but no sound. After a moment, Ayla glanced back to
Devarius, paused, then nodded.
Devarius said.
help me, if you stick your head back in that wyvern’s mouth and squeeze its
uvula, I’ll … I’ll …”
much,” he said. “I’ll be fine.”
before reaching his hand inside the wyvern’s mouth and squeezing its uvula
gently. A thick translucent orange liquid dripped. Devarius wrinkled his nose
as he watched small droplets of the liquid fall into the wooden bowl. He
squeezed a little harder. The wyvern grunted, and its jaw shivered. Devarius
watched as the drips turned into a small stream. He let go of the uvula and
carefully exited the mouth of the wyvern.
him wide-eyed. She exhaled a long breath like she’d been holding it since he
began.
at her as he showed her the small bowl of translucent orange liquid.
mouth now,” Devarius said.
for him, and the wyvern shut its mouth. It looked down at Devarius and sniffed
the bowl in his hand. Ayla bounced over and sniffed the liquid as well. Her
head fell to the side, as if questioning what it was.
but I hope to find out,” Devarius whispered to Ayla.
ground and grabbed a few glass vials from his sash to study the liquid inside
them. Aquila sat next to him.
she asked.
He used a small metal scalpel to scrape a line of the liquid onto the ground.
doing?” Aquila asked.
turn away from the ground as he withdrew his flint and steel from his bag. With
one swipe, sparks flew onto the ground. When the sparks hit the liquid, it
burst into flame immediately. Unlike a natural fire, these flames rose over ten
feet high. Devarius leapt back, diving over Aquila and pinning her to the
ground. He placed his body over her, shielding her from the fire.
her down, he turned around to stare at the flames. After a few seconds, they
died down, but were still at least three feet tall. He got to his feet and
helped Aquila up.
where he’d poured the liquid burned furiously. The two of them stared in awe.
Even the wyvern watched the flames curiously, its head to the side. Ayla
nuzzled against him.
happened?” Aquila asked.
discovered how a red wyvern breathes fire.”
with my fingers. It’s oily. Whatever it is, it’s extremely flammable.”
catch the oil on fire? Can it create a spark?”
so,” Devarius said. “Remember how hot its breath is?”
enough, it’ll instantly ignite the oil.”
incredible.”
other wyverns have similar oil. I wonder if it’s different.”
Devarius’s shoulder. “Don’t you put your head in any more wyverns, Devarius. I
mean it.”
her. “I won’t … today.”
funny.”
forehead creased.
to raise your eyebrows?” she asked.
his forehead changed. “Yeah … why?”
him. “Because you no longer have eyebrows.”
as he reached up and touched the soft, hairless skin above his eyes.
