Kahnilla the Dragon: A Tale of Darkness and Light follows an enigmatic dragon who, while searching for her kin, meets an extraordinary human. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

There was a dragon in my backyard. Really. Here’s a picture of her (she’s about 5 ft long):

Anyway, She gave me the idea to write about a smart dragon who knows what’s what (she knows, for example, not to dig in my garden).

And she cheered me up after I had seen yet another a race riot on the news. I wanted to address hate. But I wanted to do it with a light-hearted approach.

What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters of Kahnilla and Rory?

Rory needed a real shake-up. I thought, he’s so stiff-minded, the only way this might happen would be via a fantastical event. Maybe this is what many people need. Kahnilla wanted a friend, even though humanity had done so much damage to her kind.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Why people hate, and why they shouldn’t.
The need to think things through.
The need to be aware of users and abusers.
The need for respect —for self, others, and the natural world.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

A novel dealing with assumptions about ancient writings. I hope to publish it near the end of 2023, or early 2024

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