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A Person Can Choose to be Good or Bad
Stone Dragons Kingdom follows a city of people that are dragon riders as they try and protect their city and world from destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this story was to create a situation where a villain can have a change of heart. It shows, I think in a dramatic way, how allowing other people to help you can lead down a wrong path, as indicated by the Stone Dragons Kingdom, but also on a human level, we have Belinda who focuses on all she doesn’t have, rather than what she does have. If she could only reach that light inside her, what would change?
Learning she has strong and deep powers changes Belinda. What were some driving ideals behind Belinda’s character’s development?
Belinda is a very interesting character. She stems from a person consumed with being the best, but when she isn’t, she’ll go to the extreme to show that she is the best. In her development, I wanted to show, no matter what, a person has a choice of what they want to be, either for bad or good. With Belinda, I chose to show that she was only one choice away from changing her life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Yes, but as always, they only come to light after I’ve written a story. I think the main theme of this one is redemption. The story starts out harshly for Belinda, even though others believed her to have changed, it took her a long time before she could shake her demons to find the person she wanted so much to become.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Thank you for asking! Well, The Stone Dragons Kingdom was supposed to be the last for this series, but… one of my characters had something else in mind! I’m currently writing The Spires of Dasny: 5 ~ The Northern Kingdom. It’s on pre-order now and will be released by Fall 2022.
It may not be the last of the series, either ~ the same character has been given knowledge of how their current kingdom will undergo change, and he’ll be instrumental to this change.
Author Links: GoodReads
It’s only after Seyra hears from the Truth Speaker, that she learns the truth behind Belinda. What she learns could not only destroy the Spires, but every other kingdom in their world. Belinda holds a magic so powerful, so destructive, there may be no way of stopping her.
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Belinda
Returning to Sezalor’s lair, I pause to connect to the Rocks. Splaying my hand open, I lay my palm flat against the wall immediately feeling the surge of power enter me.
“Time is short. As promised, you will have your own kingdom as long as you carry the Rock and Water energy for us to expand. We have been locked in one place for too long. Agola grew old and set in his ways, this is why you have this opportunity to expand with us. Use the energy we absorbed by the stone-encased Xi to bring our Stone dragons under control.”
A blinding flash cracks through the wall. I feel like I’m hit by lightning, my head screams in pain with an ache like it’s being crushed by an enormous hand. Behind me, the roar of Sezalor adds to the unbearable pain. Clasping both hands over my head, I beg for it to stop. Anything, please take this pain from me! Briefly, I smell burning. In my horror I look down to find myself being burnt alive before I’m hit by a wall of Water. Darkness.
Rebirth. I suck in First Breath. Expelled from the womb of Rock and Water, I stand on shaky legs and return to my chamber to dry. As my hands move the drying cloth over my body, I discover more scales covering me from my shoulders to the biceps. I grin. Large, stone scales. Who needs armor when I have these?
Stone Dragons Kingdom
With the stone dragons as its new allies, peace returns to the Spires, but not for long. An enemy seeking the Spires’ destruction rises from within under the influence of the Xi’s mind-controlling magic and the Rock and Water gods. Seyra, Queen of the Spires, finds herself in mortal danger due to the actions of this enemy but escapes in a dramatic turn of events. The Spires Kingdom makes it out of this sticky situation only to face old enemies in the form of the Xi people again, but the brave dragon riders and their beasts secure victory for the kingdom. Elated by the destruction of the persistent Xi sorcerers, the Spires make a startling discovery that would pit them against their most brutal opponents yet in their battle for survival.
Author Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait (C.R.C.) returns with her captivating tale of dragons, humans, and magic in this fourth book in the Spires of Dasny series, Stone Dragons Kingdom. With just enough backstory and new challenges, you don’t have to worry about not having enough context to understand what’s going on. The book starts with a bang. There’s a high-tension and high-stakes scenario threatening to unravel right from the get-go. But Cowperthwait is also proficient in building anticipation as she thrusts readers right into the thick of things. She knows how to set the stage and slowly dial up the tension in anticipation for what happens next.
Cowperthwait also shows impressive control over her story as she swings from one story gap to the next but keeps things cohesive and engaging. The storytelling is also compelling as Cowperthwait expertly humanizes her characters, thus making them relatable and memorable. With a simple yet beautiful and expressive writing style, the Stone Dragons Kingdom makes for a breezy and entertaining read from start to finish.
The Spires of Dasny: 4 Stone Dragons Kingdom is a riveting young adult fantasy novel. With plenty of action and thrilling suspense, readers will be drawn into the battles and feel connected to the characters while following their saga.
Pages: 211 | ASIN : B09BTG9DLR
A Fan of Dragons
The Spires of Dasny: 3 finds a new and unexpected enemy threatening the alliance. What inspired the conflict driving book three in your series?
The antagonist, Belinda, has shone her dislike of Seyra throughout the books and given the right opportunity, has the ability to get rid of her competition, even if the competition is only in Belinda’s mind.
I enjoyed the characters in this story. What aspect of character development do you find the most satisfying as a writer?
I like to make the characters distinct, complete with their own and varied personalities. When their emotions begin to show it gives the reader a fuller value of the character.
Are you a fan of the sword and sorcery genre? What books do you think most influenced your work?
I’m mostly a fan of dragons, and along with them, sword and sorcery often comes into play. Believe it or not, I can’t say any particular dragon books influenced my writing. The book that stands out in my mind because I was completely immersed in it was The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. I couldn’t get the books of this series quick enough. She had a wonderful way of writing a prehistoric earth and the characters leapt from the pages. The greatest compliment I have ever received is when a reader compared my writing to hers in my Legend of the Dragon Child series.
What can readers expect in book four of The Spires of Dasny series?
Book 4 will give the reader a deeper understanding of what really drives the antagonist to behave the way she does. It will come with a huge twist in the story which, I hope, will have the readers gobbling up the pages. I expect this book will give us a new hero to root for, and clutch at our hearts over what occurs.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
The Spires hold onto a tenuous alliance with another kingdom. Fresh trials await when Belinda flees from home prior to a planned visit as an ambassador to the Kingdom of Stone Dragons. She jeopardizes not only herself and her dragon, but those searching for her.
What would you do to save one that you love? Belinda risks it all and her life is forever changed in ways no one could have guessed. Will this spell disaster for the Spires?
The Spires of Dasny: 3
![The Spires of Dasny: 3: Three Kingdoms - The Kingdom of the Spires by [Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510z2+HpC3S.jpg)
Fresh from the battle with the Xi and stone dragons, the Kingdom of the Spires is enjoying a deserved period of peace. The stone dragons have become allies, the dragon school has tripled in size and the land is flourishing. All seems well till a piece of alarming news spurs the Spires to send ambassadors to the stone dragons. Little do they know that one of their ambassadors wants to do more than strengthen the kingdom’s ties with its new allies. The actions of this devious dragon rider threaten the newfound alliance between the Spires and the stone dragons. From diplomacy to help from the gods, Seyra, Queen of the Spires and her loyal companions must use all they have to save the kingdom from an onslaught led by one of its own.
Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait returns with her charming brilliance in this third sequel in the Spires of Dasny series. The tale of dragons, magic, and humans is entertaining and deeply compelling.
It’s never easy to craft an engaging plot, but Cheryl makes light work of this task. Using writing that teases, she gives you hints that something is up without revealing so many details too soon. This, coupled with genuine characters bubbling with personality, will definitely keep anyone invested in the story.
With expert pacing, the tale draws you in and gradually tightens its hold as it races to the anticipated climax. What you find is Cheryl speeding things up at just the right time.
It also helps that the story is easy to read and devoid of fluff which can get tedious to handle. So, it’s perfect for anyone looking to get lost in a book and lose track of time.
Also, writing fiction requires you to think in pictures. But it’s one thing to have a vivid imagination, and it’s another to find the right words to transport people into the lucid world in your head. Cheryl is brilliant at both.
And as if to say, “now you have no choice but to come back for more,” Cheryl ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger she promises to resolve in book four. That’s one book I’ll definitely be reading.
The Spires of Dasny: 3 continues the deep and intriguing story that fans have come to expect and adds a unique and unexpected enemy to the story that takes the suspense to the next level in this action packed sword and sorcery adventure.
Pages: 180 | ASIN: B098YYQSBP
A Land the Dragons Would Inhabit
Queen of Dragons finds an uneasy peace shattered when Elky and Ustice are taken and the Spires are spurred into action. What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that were different from book one?
Thank you, Thomas. In this book I wanted to show how even one life is missed from a community. The beginning of the story expresses, I think, the feeling of loss each individual of a community feels and the joy at the recovery of that person. This part of the story leads to the ‘why’ behind the crime which is the focus of the book.
I really enjoyed the world your building in this series. What were some sources that informed this world’s development?
I lived in California for many years, close to the mountains. Hiking trails along those mountains gave me a keen sense of a land the dragons would inhabit–the outcropping of mountains close to the ocean with the scent of sea spray that hangs in the air is much like The Spires of Dasny.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I don’t prethink themes, they occur naturally through the writing process. The sense of loss was one theme, a joyful return another, redemption yet another. Mainly in this book I wanted to show the growth of the characters and the challenges each of them face with that growth. It’s not necessarily a ‘coming of age’ book, but it does touch on some of those emotions and the growth each character experiences.
This is book two in The Spires of Dasny series. What can readers expect in book three?
In book three of The Spires of Dasny, the readers will be propelled into a much larger world. They begin to learn of other kingdoms and how they can benefit them or destroy them. Along with this discovery is an ancient lore that plays out with the main characters of Seyra, Grifton and Elky. What is the meaning behind it and will it help them or come at a cost? It is my hope to expand this series by focusing on these different kingdoms and the impact each plays with The Spires of Dasny.
I am aiming for the release of book three, The Kingdom of the Spires, by fall 2021, and with any luck, much sooner!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
An uneasy feeling of peace fills the kingdom of the Spires that splinters when it’s discovered Elky, the shining light of the people and dragons alike, vanishes along with her fated dragon, Ustice.
Why would these mysterious people take Elky and her dragon? What do they want? The answers to those questions spurs the Spires into fast-paced action as they battle to save their kingdom and world from complete annihilation.
The Spires of Dasny: 2: Queen of Dragons
![The Spires of Dasny: 2: Queen of Dragons by [Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jXyKy72EL.jpg)
The Spires and the surrounding regions bask in the peace that has lasted five years since the bloody battle of Garneth. But a new conflict looms as strange people abduct Elky and Ustice, her dragon. The king of the Dragons and Spires, Dreyth and Seyra, his fated human rider, must now team up with other Spires warriors to rescue Elky and her beast. Their quest spirals into a new adventure that sees the Spires faced with a full-blown war against sorcerers wielding hypnotic magic and a strange breed of dragons. Amidst all this, the people and Dragons of the Spires also try to come to terms with the Dragon king’s decision to choose Seyra, a human, as his queen. Faced with internal and external conflicts, the fate of the Spires hangs in a delicate balance.
Queen of Dragons is the second book in Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait’s epic fantasy series, Spires of Dasny. A riveting fairy tale fantasy with a story featuring dragons, magic, and enchanting folktales. All of these elements are effortlessly woven together to create a rich and thrilling story.
The authors fantastic use of descriptive writing pulls you into a unique fantasy world that is filled with emotionally-charged moments that surprise at every turn.
At this point I fell like C.R.C is an expert at creating compelling and grounded characters that are easy to empathize with, if not relate to. Initially, I felt some distance, but I soon connected with Seyra and her dragon’s relationship. As the story unfolded and both revealed their hearts, their relationship became more meaningful and reflected something more familiar.
C.R.C holds keeps the tension high right up until the end. Even after what you’d call the final battle, the author introduces a gripping twist that threatens to ruin the happy ending, but keeps you completely engrossed in the story and desperate for another book.
As a bonus, you get to enjoy a teaser of the next part of the series. A great way to get a glimpse of what to expect in the next book. And from the little I’ve seen, it will be just as entertaining.
Pages: 194 | ASIN: B08SL8RHBW
Being a Dragon Rider
The Spires of Dasny follows a young woman who attends the Dragon Rider School, but faces more challenges than she expected. What was the inspiration for the setup to this riveting story?
The inspiration came from a few different directions. A few months before starting this story, I saw a picture of a dragon gliding over a rocky terrain. Such things also kick my daydreaming mind into gear. I have also been participating in a writing group where each month we write to a prompt with a given word count limit. It is amazing what stories are spurred on by such things. The book developed from writing from three or four prompts and I fell for the characters and decided to develop it into a book.
Seyra and Dreyth are intriguing and well developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind their character development?
What happens most of the time, when I begin writing something fresh and new, I see a mini movie of a scene in my head and begin writing. All I knew of Seyra is she had always dreamed of being a dragon rider. She held the dream so tight that the stories that enriched her life drove her up the Spires in her greatest time of need. Dreyth developed as a protector and best friend, often seeing things in Seyra she couldn’t see, both bad and good.
I appreciated how well defined the dragon lore was in your book. What kind of research and development went into developing them in this novel?
I refused to read many books about dragons when I wrote my first series, The Legend of the Dragon Child, for fear of my dragons appearing a carbon copy of other dragons. After getting that series out, I learned something. I think most fantasy writers have the same concepts of things we haven’t seen. I was amazed at how many things my books had in common with other books, such as dragon and human being able to communicated through their minds.
I became ravenous to read more books of dragon stories, so I’m sure a part of them resonates in my current writing. I am a panster by design. The thought of outlining a book is cringe-worthy and shoots up a brick wall in my mind. I simply sit each day, write the day’s date and when my fingers hit the keyboard, we’re off for a new adventure.
Will this book be part of a series? If so, what can readers expect in book two?
Oh yes! It is a series in the making! I just finished book two, handed it off to the editor and making the final decisions on the cover as I write.
Book 2 is a wild ride. There will be twists and turns and surprises around ever corner. I get goosebumps thinking of it. It takes place five years after Book 1 and the main characters have grown. The Dragon School is in full operation and is enjoying a peace in their kingdom–until something dreadful happens to shatter their world.
Book 3 is now in the works. Will there be more? It depends on what is accomplished in Book 3. In my mind I see it as a four to five book series but I’ll have to wait to see what happens.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
I awoke in a deep, dark cavern. Staring at me through one opened eye lay a huge black dragon. I had been taught the stories of the dragons, of the days long ago when they ruled the sky and searched for their riders, but this wasn’t at all what I had been taught. Why was I there? Suddenly, pressure built up in my head. My eyes sprung wide in fear and… I heard him.
What happens when three dragon riders come together as told in the prophecy? The Blind, the Healer and the Magician…
There are secrets to be uncovered, but only if Seyra is brave enough. Discover the intriguing lives of the brash young Seyra and Dreyth, the one who rescues her–or is it she who rescues him?
The Spires of Dasny: Dragon Riders School
![The Spires of Dasny: Dragon Riders School by [Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jbv79Ld3L.jpg)
The Spires of Dasny by Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait, is one of those books that will make you fall in love with a fantastical world with a deep backstory. Seyra’s family was tortured and killed leaving her alone in a dangerous world. Abandoned by the world, she tries to find refuge in the Dragon Riders School. Along the way she meets a captivating companion, and together they face dangerous obstacles through a beautifully detailed world.
Author Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait has meticulously constructed an epic fantasy story with stunning landscapes, dragons, legendary battles and intriguing characters battling between good and evil. The Spires of Dasny is an epic fantasy adventure novel that will guide you easily through a dense world. The good news is that this book is part of a trilogy, so fans of C.R.C’s work will be able to dive deeper into a world that is begging to be explored. I enjoyed getting to know the different dragons and their personalities. Seyra is a strong female protagonist that captivates readers with a captivating personality. Seyra is relatable, and felt authentic. While I did enjoy Dreyth’s character, it took a while to grow on me, but when it did I was just as absorbed with the character as I was with Seyra.
The Spires of Dasny is a book that spins the story of eternal friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, and love with just enough of a unique twist that it felt like I was reading a new story in a well defined genre. C.R.C’s talent and experience is on fully display as she masterfully pens an exciting adventure novel that will appeal to sword and sorcery fans seeking a dragon story that never forgets to entertain its readers.
Pages: 202 | ASIN: B08BT6W6TK
LITERARY TITAN 