The Dragon's Son
Behind the Scenes
Author's Note
Reentering the world of Liang, Shiin, and Xu with a male protagonist was not something I thought I would ever do. Yet, here we are. Ewen represents a new direction in the series which has placed young females in positions of power. I wanted Ewen to be Jia's opposite--young, naïve, arrogant, unskilled. He hadn't trained in an art for years like her, nor had he been raised in a world of politics like Reila. He was simply a young man from a backwoods village who had no real sense of identity. Only when he entered the real world and was presented with conflict did he slowly begin to unfold and develop into a protagonist we could get behind.
As Ewen began his journey, I realized that both Jia and Reila still had much to tell. Jia, in particular, requested a protégé of sorts to help her continue to cope with Dasiel's death. Thus, Kostana (Kost) came onto the scene. Because I didn't want Kost's background to be similar to Jia's--as Jia's upbringing was quite rare--Kost was placed in the predominantly male field of couriers. Couriers from the Guild made numerous appearances throughout the series but readers didn't learn much about them as they were not the center of attention. I wanted Kost to bring life to a relatively thankless and forgotten but strategically necessary job that was utilized throughout all of history. Her eagerness and desire to make something of herself garnered Jia's attention.
Throughout the book, I worked to keep Ewen in the middle of the drama without dunking him in geopolitics. I wanted Ewen to feel out of sorts among the star-studded list of nobles with which he interacted. Upon becoming Draxa, however, he is tipped headfirst into kingdom affairs.
I intended for The Dragon's Son to be the end of The Aurora Chronicles. But, of course, nothing is ever certain. Ewen's disappearance at the end of the book, the possibility of Jia taking on the position of Rajan of the Clan of Blades, and Reila's "death" all culminate in the standalone book Breach Effect.
As Ewen began his journey, I realized that both Jia and Reila still had much to tell. Jia, in particular, requested a protégé of sorts to help her continue to cope with Dasiel's death. Thus, Kostana (Kost) came onto the scene. Because I didn't want Kost's background to be similar to Jia's--as Jia's upbringing was quite rare--Kost was placed in the predominantly male field of couriers. Couriers from the Guild made numerous appearances throughout the series but readers didn't learn much about them as they were not the center of attention. I wanted Kost to bring life to a relatively thankless and forgotten but strategically necessary job that was utilized throughout all of history. Her eagerness and desire to make something of herself garnered Jia's attention.
Throughout the book, I worked to keep Ewen in the middle of the drama without dunking him in geopolitics. I wanted Ewen to feel out of sorts among the star-studded list of nobles with which he interacted. Upon becoming Draxa, however, he is tipped headfirst into kingdom affairs.
I intended for The Dragon's Son to be the end of The Aurora Chronicles. But, of course, nothing is ever certain. Ewen's disappearance at the end of the book, the possibility of Jia taking on the position of Rajan of the Clan of Blades, and Reila's "death" all culminate in the standalone book Breach Effect.
Spacetime & the Effects of Magnetism
Interstellar "Tesseract" - What transcends time?
Writing Chapter 36 of The Dragon's Son was a challenge. How do you explain an advanced scientific concept regarding time travel and the effects of gravity and magnetism on the universe when your characters live in what we would essentially consider the early tenth century? How do you present such a complex topic and keep it within their realm of understanding?
Enter, Suga Ueno--lead geologist at the cast in Liang, Keeper of Records, and Lord of Jakis.
Suga's demeanor and general "style" are based loosely off a dear friend of mine. From his eclectic passion to his frumpy style and genuinely good heart, he takes after my longtime friend in a number of ways.
I was always knew Ewen's Power was going to be a problem, one that he didn't--and couldn't--fully understand. I needed someone to be his companion, not a teacher! He was lucky enough to find a number of teachers. No, I needed someone who was academically inclined and intellectual enough to be able to sense and explain in a simplistic manner the dangers Ewen's gift posed.
Suga came onto the scene and immediately began telling me how it was his responsibility to see to it that Ewen didn't destroy everything.
A more technical issue I had to overcome while writing The Dragon's Son was Ewen's inevitable departure from the world I had built. I knew from the beginning he was going to make a grand sacrifice, that by the end of the book he was no longer going to be some kid who was intimidated by everyone. He was going to shoulder a burden that would take him beyond Liang, Xu, and Shiin. So, I began looking into magnetism.
Magnetism and gravity are the only two forces *cue Interstellar theme* in the universe that can transcend time. Often when Ewen teleports, he creates an EMP (an electromagnetic pulse), thus altering the magnetic fields around him. Presumably, an EMP with a high amount of concentrated energy could alter the very course of time itself. Of course, this also supposes the existence of parallel worlds.
Enter, Suga Ueno--lead geologist at the cast in Liang, Keeper of Records, and Lord of Jakis.
Suga's demeanor and general "style" are based loosely off a dear friend of mine. From his eclectic passion to his frumpy style and genuinely good heart, he takes after my longtime friend in a number of ways.
I was always knew Ewen's Power was going to be a problem, one that he didn't--and couldn't--fully understand. I needed someone to be his companion, not a teacher! He was lucky enough to find a number of teachers. No, I needed someone who was academically inclined and intellectual enough to be able to sense and explain in a simplistic manner the dangers Ewen's gift posed.
Suga came onto the scene and immediately began telling me how it was his responsibility to see to it that Ewen didn't destroy everything.
A more technical issue I had to overcome while writing The Dragon's Son was Ewen's inevitable departure from the world I had built. I knew from the beginning he was going to make a grand sacrifice, that by the end of the book he was no longer going to be some kid who was intimidated by everyone. He was going to shoulder a burden that would take him beyond Liang, Xu, and Shiin. So, I began looking into magnetism.
Magnetism and gravity are the only two forces *cue Interstellar theme* in the universe that can transcend time. Often when Ewen teleports, he creates an EMP (an electromagnetic pulse), thus altering the magnetic fields around him. Presumably, an EMP with a high amount of concentrated energy could alter the very course of time itself. Of course, this also supposes the existence of parallel worlds.
Jia's Fan Club
You love Jia; I love Jia. Tehyo loves Jia. Apparently, everyone loves her.
In addition to the two wayward students she is charged with in The Dragon's Son, it is revealed that Jia has also garnered the attention of other high-level individuals. Not only is she the wife of Lord Tehyo Hara, right-hand advisor to the emperor of Xu, but she is the consort of the emperor himself. She has also intertwined herself with Captain Saito Kang of the Shiin army.
In addition to the two wayward students she is charged with in The Dragon's Son, it is revealed that Jia has also garnered the attention of other high-level individuals. Not only is she the wife of Lord Tehyo Hara, right-hand advisor to the emperor of Xu, but she is the consort of the emperor himself. She has also intertwined herself with Captain Saito Kang of the Shiin army.
Kost gazed at him from the corner of her eye. “Are you allies, combat partners? Lovers?”
There was a long moment of silence between them before Saito admitted, “All of them. Sparring and combat partners, friends, lovers. Yeah, all of them.”
“She’s married to Lord Hara.”
Saito sighed and rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably. “I’m aware.”
“She’s got ties to royalty and nobility in every kingdom.”
The officer chuckled. “And she’s the emperor of Xu’s consort.”
Kost’s mouth fell agape. “What?”
Saito grimaced. “Oh, she… hadn’t broke that to you yet.”
Somewhat disgusted, Kost muttered, “Why would she allow herself to be used—”
“Hold up, hold up. Jia’s the one using us,” interrupted Saito, amused. “We fell for her. That includes the emperor of Xu. She retains her title for appearance’s sake.”
“And you’re fine… with sharing her? With knowing that she’s sleeping with men of higher status than you?” asked Kost incredulously. “What happens if she comes with child?”
Saito shrugged. “She can’t have children. Look, I don’t want this news to alter how you view her. She chose us.”
While some might perceive Jia's constant headhunting as promiscuous, Jia told me that she had found what she had been looking for in Captain Kang's company. Tehyo, Izaki, and Saito each offered something different, yet it was only Saito who was able to fill that void which had formed inside her after Dasiel's death.
Ewen the Midwife |
It's All Tied Together |
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Ewen comes from humble roots, even if his father was personal aid to the queen of Liang. As a young man from a village in the mountains, Ewen grew up with a mother who was employed as a midwife--someone who assists in childbirth. Ewen was moderately educated by his parents and literate, so it comes as no surprise that his mother would have passed down her skills, especially since the village was so remote.
The majority of The Dragon's Son focuses on Ewen discovering his own Power, something he inherited from his father. Ewen told me early on that, although he had never taken the helm of a birth, that he would feel obligated to do his best should the opportunity arise. And... arise it did. Intent on saving not one, but two lives, Ewen takes it upon himself to spearhead the birthing efforts of a refugee who has managed to escape Iksu. Of course, the endeavor is almost thwarted when Jia interrupts him with a desperate plea. As a mother--and new adult author--I wanted to find a healthy balance between conveying the intensity of childbirth and graphicness. Millions of women throughout human history have died in childbirth--and rightfully so. That's why midwives were so crucial to the process. Ewen's presence altered the course of the young mother and her child. |
I knew from the beginning that Ewen was going to make a life-altering sacrifice and that he was going to essentially teleport himself out of his realm of existence.
Once gone though, where would he end up? Ewen is the enigmatic being who ties together the worlds of The Aurora Chronicles, Cardinal Zero, and The Falkrow Narratives. Interested? Read Breach Effect to learn more. |