Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

The Story Behind the Story When an author writes a novel, they make up the characters and the story, but the character, setting, story arc doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. There is usually a story behind the story. Often several little stories, which an author tweaks and cobbles together to mold into the main character or the supporting characters. Sometimes they will set their story in a real place. Other times they will create a fictional place that has aspects of places they’ve visited or lived. In my series, The Story Behind the Story , I want to share with you some of the stories behind my stories. Though I have never outright written a person I know into a book, I have definitely been influenced by those who have crossed my path, as well as places I’ve visited or even simply passed through throughout the many years I’ve been on this earth. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments. I love, love, love to talk books or hear moments of your own life it mig

An author friend recently had a book in a cover contest and reached out asking for honest votes. I eagerly clicked on the link (because I like her cover) and it turned into such an intriguing exercise. The contest had several categories to vote for, though all the books were romance books. Which I think it the first wrong step authors/publishers make in covering a book. No book is simply romance. You can’t tell a story about love without something else surrounding it. Maybe it’s in a contemporary setting. Or futuristic. Or Historical. Now, read those choices again: contemporary, futuristic, historical. What did you picture? A naked man chest in every single one of them? Probably not. Let’s say the cover does have a naked man chest, but the guy is wearing a pair of worn (and probably tight) jeans, a cowboy hat and tossing a bail of hay – what kind of story do you expect to read? Because of the elements portrayed, you will probably expect a western. Back to the c

Excerpt from Chapter One when Terra is escorted to the Underworld to  learn about her destiny as a Natures Spirit and she meets another crazy Underworld critter: With the trapdoor settled into place, Terra blinked to adjust her eyes to the inky black before continuing down the stairs. Twinkling lights along the earthen ceiling helped her to see the steps. The further she descended the more the lights resembled the stars in the night sky. “Are those fireflies?” she asked. Hermie admired the sparkling ceiling as he spoke. “They are akin to the firefly and the main source of light in this section. Watch your step; we are almost to the first level.” The way Hermie stressed “first” gave Terra the impression there were many more levels. The weight of the earth above her seemed to press on her shoulders, and she remembered her mom saying, “Do not be afraid.” She rubbed her bracelet, gulped, and continued down the stairs. At the bottom, Terra found herself in a