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Aldewin Hadn’t Slit a Throat in Two Days
Spring Dragon follows a former assassin seeking redemption who goes on a quest that challenges his identity when his path collides with a dragon carrying the soul of his lost beloved. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Though the events of book one (somewhat) dictated the direction book two would take, several options remained.
Delving into the “minds” of the significant characters after the events of book one, Aldewin emerged as a character whose story was begging to be told.
The first line of the book, “Aldewin hadn’t slit a throat in two days,” just came to me. It hooked me and I wanted to know why Aldewin was killing people again!
To prepare for writing a novel, I “interview” the significant characters. Through this process, I learned that Aldewin was a man of faith.
As a youth, pledged to an assassins and spy league known as Fen Menir, Aldewin was raised to worship a goddess known as Sicara, the “Dread Sister,” reaper of souls. He had been devout—until circumstances severed his relationship with Fen Menir.
Then, finding his way to Val’Enara Pillar, he pledged himself to Val’Enara and its Archon. At Val’Enara, Aldewin lived a monastic life studying the “Way of Water.”
But the events of book one shattered Aldewin’s faith in the Pillar.
So here sits a guy in a bar, trying to drink away the sorrow of having lost someone he cared about deeply, and also having lost anything to believe in. He feels like a dog turd of a person. He not only broke his vows, but couldn’t prevent the terrible events at the end of book one. AND he has a lifetime of guilt for causing so much death.
And I wondered: What will get this guy to put the mug of ale down and get up off that stool?!
So I guess you could say that the inspiration is the curiosity of trying to understand this character and seeing what will happen next!
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
I do not plan my twists and turns before writing. They happen organically.
My pre-writing planning revolves mainly around character development and creating powerful character arcs. I see where I want the character to “land,” but I don’t know how they’ll get there.
I had spent six months researching and developing the lore, etc. for the city-state of Partha. I had expected Aldewin to go there at the beginning of book two.
But, within the first day of writing, the story showed me that it was NOT going to take place in Partha! So, six months of world building out the door!
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I probably had the best time writing The Spring Dragon than any prior novel I’ve written (and it’s my eighth). Overall, I relaxed into this one more than most, and allowed the story to flow without as much judgement about it as I have in the past.
The last Aldewin chapter in the book is one that stands out as particularly enjoyable to write. At least it was after I got into the flow.
It’s the culminating scene, and very important to not only wrap up the arc for this book, but to set the stage for the next book as well.
And I didn’t want to f*** it up! It had rise to the occasion.
It took me about two days of working at it to finally get in the zone. Once I got into the zone, this scene flowed like the whisky I was sipping at the time! And in revision I barely changed a thing. I think it’s one of the best scenes I’ve ever penned.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The next book in the series will be titled The Summer Dragon. You may see a pattern emerging…
The Spring Dragon, The Summer Dragon…
In The Spring Dragon, the element is Wood, and the themes revolve around redemption and rebirth/regeneration.
Book three, The Summer Dragon, will involve the Fire element. When we consider the fire element, we think of heat and conflict. The dual themes of conflict and passion will predominate.
In books one and two, I’ve set the stage for readers to understand that there are larger geo-political conflicts looming in this world. And readers now see that dragons and humans have a longstanding beef with each other.
The Summer Dragon will delve more directly into the conflicts among the powerful city-states of Bardivia, Partha, and Qülla, as well as conflict within the dragon culture, AND the uptick in confrontations between humans and dragons.
Phew! It’s going to be a tense one!
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His youth was a tapestry of vows and oaths to gods he no longer believes in. But in Quen, Aldewin found once again someone in which to place his faith.
But then, a dragon took her soul and flew off to gods know where. Bested and feeling broken, the only thing that keeps Aldewin from giving up is his last promise—to protect Nivi, the snow tiger Quen befriended.
When old friends arrive with fresh news, Aldewin’s mandate becomes clear: To restore the love he lost, Aldewin must find the legendary Heart of Menaris.
And, Aldewin must secure its power before the Dynasty, or he’ll lose all hope of ever seeing his lover again.
Spring Dragon
Spring Dragon delivers a tale of magic, politics, and transformation, where the destinies of humans and dragons entwine in a world on the precipice of upheaval. At its heart is Aldewin, a former assassin seeking redemption and love, drawn into an extraordinary quest that challenges his very identity. His path collides with Ishna, a dragon carrying the soul of Quen, his lost beloved. As Aldewin struggles to restore Quen, Ishna navigates the turmoil of her kind, battling external threats while Quen’s human spirit fights for dominance within her.
Wright’s prose is both immersive and evocative, conjuring vivid landscapes and nuanced characters. Aldewin’s evolution from a harbinger of death to a seeker of life is particularly compelling. His confrontation with the shadows of his past in the Dreaming, as well as the haunting memories of his childhood at Fen Menir, add rich layers to his character. These moments ground the fantastical elements in raw emotion, making his journey all the more gripping.
Themes of identity, transformation, and the tension between nature and ambition resonate throughout the novel. Quen’s fragmented existence within Ishna poses questions about humanity, free will, and the blending of souls. As Quen’s memories seep into Ishna’s consciousness, their duality takes center stage, challenging the boundaries between dragon and human, self and other.
Emotionally, Spring Dragon is as devastating as it is exhilarating. The scene in which Aldewin briefly reunites with Quen in the Dreaming, only to lose her again, is heartbreakingly poignant, a testament to Wright’s ability to craft moments of profound loss and enduring love. Ishna and Quen’s evolving dynamic adds further depth, creating a narrative rich with empathy and tension. The climax, a ritual of restoration fraught with uncertainty, leaves a lasting impact. As one journey concludes, another begins, with Pelagia’s ominous influence casting a long shadow over Ishna’s fate.
A mesmerizing fusion of fantasy and psychological depth, Spring Dragon offers a captivating exploration of morality, power, and the fluidity of identity. Fans of epic fantasy, particularly those who appreciate intricate world-building and moral complexity, will find much to admire here.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B0DR472JL7
If I Reveal My Truth
Season of the Dragon follows a cursed girl who is grappling with two souls when her father is killed by a dragon which sends her on a quest for vengeance where she becomes the hunted. What got you excited about starting this Dragos Primeri series?
The original inspiration for this story began back in 2016! Initially, I was inspired by the idea of a story with a elemental magic loosely based on my Feng Shui practice. I began talking with readers at comic-cons and book festivals about dragons and elemental magic. The world of Menauld grew out of those conversations. The main character, Quen, took a while to develop. But once I “got” her, I became excited for the possibility of the story I could tell about her—and the mysterious shadow soul within her.
Quen Santu was a character that faces a lot of obstacles. What were some sources that informed her character development?
While I don’t outline every scene for my books, I know where I want my characters to wind up at the end. For Quen, I had a premise that guided her character arc, and thus informed the conflict. The idea was this: To become our most powerful selves, we must accept the truth of what—and who—we are. That’s the “why” for writing the book, and the idea for the Quen character came from that. But an additional, and very important, idea soon developed: the bonds of family. Quen, for good reasons, questions whether she is lovable if people learn the truth about her. So that first idea—embracing the truth of who/what you are—butts up against the second story question—will people love me if I reveal my truth? That emotional question forms the spine of the story. All the fun with dragons, mages, and rogues flows from these essential questions for the main character.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The romantic scenes are all fun to write, but the scene I enjoyed writing most is the drinking scene in the Juinar Inn. Quen’s found family is kicking back with a few drinks after a difficult day, and it was fun to imagine this group of rogue-type characters getting “pished.” I wrote a drinking song called “Song of Niyadi” that kicks off the book at the beginning. It was a blast to re-work that song into bawdy lyrics—and hella difficult as I had to stay within the rhythm of the song with the same number of syllables! But hey, that’s fun for a word nerd such as myself.
What can readers expect in book two in the Dragos Primeri series?
It’s difficult to answer without giving away the end of Season of the Dragon… I can say that book two will focus mainly on Aldewin, and readers will learn much more about this mysterious man from the north, and learn his secrets that remained at the end of book one. And as with book one, readers can expect that book two will immerse them once again in the world of Menauld—and the northern continent, Tinox. Oooh, I have such fun things planned! SotD truly is just the beginning.
Author’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nataliewrightauthor
“A dazzling epic fantasy kickoff that rewards and upends reader expectations.”—Editor’s Pick, BookLife Reviews
Quen wasn’t born to save the world. She was created to destroy it.
Quen Santu works for her father tanning hides, waiting for her tides to turn. Everyone she grew up with has already committed to a herdclan. But Quen was born cursed with a second, shadow soul. Sensing the oddity within, animals run from her—an untenable trait in a herding culture. On the cusp of her twentieth year, Quen is at risk of becoming pesha—no one.
Then, a dragon kills her father. The murder turns Quen’s life upside down and dashes her hope for an honorable life. As her anger grows, so does her untapped power. Fueled by a quest for vengeance, she joins a vigilante group of rogues hunting the beast. But her journey soon reveals a terrible truth: beyond the safety of her desert village, she has caught the attention of dangerous eyes. And now, she has become the hunted.
At the end of her journey, Quen’s fate will be sealed. Can Quen overcome her curse and unite her warring souls? Or will her shadow soul consume her—and everyone she loves?
The fate of her homeland—and all she loves—hangs in the balance.
Season of the Dragon
Season of the Dragon by Natalie Wright, Book 1 of the fantasy series Dragos Primeri, follows Quen, a young woman plagued by a curse that makes her a pariah in her homeland and the world of Menauld. After a mysterious woman visits Quen’s small desert town claiming Quen to be part of a dark cult, Quen’s life is forever changed. In hopes of discovering the origin and meaning of her curse, Quen joins a vigilante group of warriors to travel throughout the country, searching for answers. While on her journey Quen is faced with those who fear her, those who wish to control her fate, and those who might just know the origin of her powers.
A book for fantasy lovers! With dragons, magical creatures, magic, corrupt kingdoms, and forbidden love, Natalie Wright has created an enthralling world. The reader journeys with Quen as she searches for answers to a dark secret she holds inside herself – her second soul. Quen, unsure of the meaning of her second soul, seeks to understand its origin for fear that she might belong to the shadow of Vay’Nada rather than the calming waters of Val’Enara.
Wright spends much of the book world-building and familiarizing the reader with the world of Menauld, and there is much to learn. Despite this, Wright successfully educates the reader without overwhelming them as she continues the introduction of the world throughout the entire book. Wright excels in immersive world-building, while her second act moves at a slower pace as readers follow along on Quen’s journey.
Quen is an amazing female protagonist. She is bold and strong yet kind, loving, and intuitive. What may seem to be naivete in some situations shows her earnestness and comes off as genuine and relatable. The secondary characters are also well-written. I recommend Season of the Dragon by Natalie Wright to fantasy readers who enjoy a gripping coming-of-age story that takes them on an exciting adventure. I am already looking forward to the sequels.
Pages: 444 | ASIN : B0BRNW6715
Trying to Devour the Population
Natalie Wright Author Interview
H.A.L.F. Origins follows Tex and Erika while they’re running for their lives against a deadly alien virus that is spawning an epidemic around the globe. What was the inspiration behind this idea and how did it develop as you were writing?
The idea of an alien virus was part of the H.A.L.F. storyline from the very beginning of my planning back in 2010/2011. But I planned that the Conexus (the “aliens” behind the virus) wanted to wipe out humans so they could take over the planet. That idea changed a bit when I had the later idea of introducing the M’Uktah, predator aliens from across the galaxy. The addition of the M’Uktah altered how the virus would be used. In general, as I developed the story, I kept looking for ways to make life more and more difficult for my characters! So in book three they are beset with the obstacle of both a virulent virus and alien predators trying to devour the population.
The story is fast paced and throws readers into the deep end of the action. How do you balance action with storytelling to create such a captivating novel?
Novels have lots of “moving parts” and finding balance between the elements is perhaps the greatest challenge. Action, character development, setting, plot, pacing, theme, dialogue, character arc–these and more are all part of the process. Having a fabulous content development editor helps a lot. Alyssa at Red Adept Editing has provided early feedback on all of the H.A.L.F. novels. She is great at helping me see ways to improve pacing, etc. Some of it though is intuitive, but intuition seems to improve with more writing experience. 😉
I enjoyed watching Tex and Erika’s relationship grow throughout the story. Was there story organic or did you plan it in advance?
I did not originally plan for Tex and Erika to end up together. When I wrote book one, I assumed that Erika would end up with Jack and that Tex as their relationship “complication.” But that’s now how it ended up and so yes, what transpires between Erika and Tex was organic. Writing their relationship was the most satisfying part of the writing process of this series.
This is book 3 in the H.A.L.F. series. Are you moving on to other stories or are you going to continue to develop this universe you’ve created?
I am finished with the H.A.L.F. stories and do not intend to write more about Tex or Erika (or Jack and Anna). I’m currently focused on development of an entirely new project that will be epic fantasy.
I may, however, write some shorts or perhaps a serialized story set on the planet of Uktah, the world of the alien predators from the H.A.L.F. series. There has also been interest by screen writers and producers in developing H.A.L.F. for television, so I’ll be working on that as well in the coming months. H.A.L.F. may show up on the small screen some day. 🙂
And I’m introducing a new writing challenge for the writing community called PENuary that will debut January, 2018. Inspired by Inktober, I’ll be writing a minimum of 20 minutes per day from a one-word writing prompt for each of the 31 days of January. I’m inviting other writers of all skill levels to join in this endeavor. You can read more about it here. I’m hoping that I end up with 2-3 cool ideas out of the 31 day challenge.
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![H.A.L.F.: ORIGINS by [Wright, Natalie]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sM8IGPA5L.jpg)
A deadly alien virus spawns an epidemic. Predators attack Europe. And a clandestine organization conspires to profit from chaos and forge a New World Order.
In this heart-pounding finale of the award-winning H.A.L.F. series, Tex, Erika and the rest are in a race against time. They fought for their lives. Now they battle to save our species.
Tex and Erika are fugitives and running for their lives. But when Tex falls gravely ill, a Navajo healer is his only hope for survival. Tex emerges from the ordeal changed in body and mind and with vital information: how to stop the predatory M’Uktah from overtaking the human population and destroying those he has come to love.
Erika Holt seeks a respite from the constant threats to her life but she’s not about to give up. As she and Tex launch a mission to shut down the intra-galactic highway used by invaders who prey on humans, she grows closer to her troubled half-human companion. But what about her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Jack?
Jack Wilson, with his friend Anna Sturgis, is on a mission of his own. He’s determined to destroy The Makers, an illuminati-like organization behind the H.A.L.F. program. It’s time to put an end to their schemes for world domination. Complicating matters, an anti-viral that could save millions from an alien virus has been stolen. As both alien and human forces line up against them, the destiny of all mankind is hand the hands of these young warriors. And time is running out.
H.A.L.F. Origins
H.A.L.F Origins written by Natalie Wright is the third book in the H.A.L.F series. This book will please fans of the series, which is aimed at young adults. It takes a look at the characters that fans know and love, Tex, Erika and Jack Wilson. Tex and Erika are on their own adventures, running for their lives against the deadly alien virus that is spawning an epidemic around the globe. As well as predators attacking Europe and an organization whose conspiring to profit from chaos and forge a New World Order. It seems like these two have their hands full.
Tex and Erika need help from a Navajo healer when Tex falls gravely ill The healer is their only chance at helping Tex live. Thankfully, Tex emerges from the experience with vital information which will help stop the predatory M’Uktah from overtaking the human population. Sounds crazy, hey! Very intense.
I really enjoyed that this book had a pronunciation and definition guide at the start of the book otherwise I would’ve had trouble keeping up with whose who.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the sweet acknowledgment at the start of the book, as many acknowledgments are at the back and I didn’t realize that she had written so many words (300,000 to be exact).
The story is really fast paced and throws you immediately into the deep end of the action. The writing is really clever and immerses the reader immediately into the world of the characters. You can really tell that the author has crafted these characters with care, as they’re all very different and have a different tone. I’ve noticed with some of the other books that I’ve read, authors tend to just reuse personality traits, but that was not the case with this book at all.
With The Makers and predatory creatures who want to enslave the human race, I found this book to be very enjoyable and action-packed. It was very sweet to read Erika and Tex’s budding romance, as he’s half-human and she’s into someone else. That was relatable as hell, I mean, apart from the fact he’s half human. These two broke my heart again and again. Why did they make everything so complicated!?
The complexity of the characters within this story is what kept me on the edge of my seat. Although I generally like it when characters are undoubtedly good or bad, it’s refreshing for me to read characters that aren’t always like this. This was the case with the main characters within this book, as you learn more and more about them as time goes on.
I really enjoyed this book. Is it the last one in the series? I hope not.
Pages: 377 | ASIN: B07263P84J
Alien Mythology
Natalie Wright Author Interview
H.A.L.F.: The Makers follows two groups of protagonists under the threat of an alien race. What direction did you want to take this novel that was different from the first book in the series?
The first book deals mainly with the idea that the aliens known as the Roswell Greys (those ubiquitous big-eyed, bulbous-headed aliens) are the alien threat. Book one brings the reader in with familiar imagery and ideas such as the Roswell crash, the Greys and government conspiracy reminiscent of the X-Files.
In The Makers (book two), my goal was to expand on the familiar alien mythology. I introduced my own alien species as well as my own ideas about the Roswell Greys. This expanded the story significantly. Books two (The Makers) and three (ORIGINS) are more epic in scope than in book one (The Deep Beneath).
The characters in this novel are once again intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
Thank you for that compliment! 🙂 I enjoy writing all of the characters and especially had fun creating the sexual tension between Jack and Anna and also between Erika and Tex (though their tension really amps up in book three ;-).
But overall, I most enjoy writing in Tex’s perspective. Given that he’s only half-human, it’s fun spending time in his head! I like seeing our world through his eyes. Tex has strange, other-worldly experiences with the Regina and the Conexus in The Makers. Those scenes were creepy and fun to write! And his story grows and gets even better, I think, in book 3 (ORIGINS – releasing 8/24/17).
I thoroughly enjoyed the well crafted mystery and the detailed characters. What is your writing process like?
Thank you, again, for your kind words. My writing process is messy! When I first began writing fiction, I outlined extensively. I was an attorney for 20 years, so planning was in my nature!
But after writing two or three novels, I found that I no longer followed outlines I created. The more experience I get as a writer, the more I focus on character development in my pre-write planning. I write back story, flesh out motivation and details about the characters. For both The Makers (H.A.L.F. #2) and ORIGINS (H.A.L.F. #3), I did not outline the plot. I have a general idea—beginning point, middle point and end point. I focus, for each POV character, on what needs to happen for this character for the story to end.
For The Makers, because there are two separate plot lines, I wrote the Tex and Erika portions all at once, then the Jack and Anna portions, then the U’Vol chapters. I then had to thread them together. Phew!
Writing in this way takes quite a bit more time than following a detailed outline. I generally cut anywhere from 20,000-50,000 words and have to rewrite and revise for months. But I think that because I don’t pre-plan, the story has more surprises than if I planned it all out. When I’m in the flow, the story goes in unpredicted ways. I hope that readers enjoy the unpredictability and surprises in the plot.
What are some writers or books that you felt inspired you and this series?
I was inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. I know that may sound odd given that the H.A.L.F. series is young adult Sci-Fi—no dragons! But I read all five of the GoT series while writing book one (The Deep Beneath) and I was inspired to make the H.A.L.F. series into a more complex story. Most young adult books follow a single protagonist, often told in first person, and generally in a fairly linear fashion. I wanted to push the boundaries a bit and write a YA book with multiple storylines and point-of-view characters. This idea was in direction reaction to my love of G.R.R.M’s writing style.
I was also heavily inspired by Chris Carter’s work in the X-Files. I tried to emulate the creepy vibe of the X-Files as well as drawing out the mystery the way the X-Files did. You think the “bad guy” is one person, but it may turn out to be someone else—or something else—entirely. Readers of the H.A.L.F. series won’t know all of the answers to the many questions raised until the very end of the series! And I think they’ll be surprised by how it all turns out!
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“The Makers” is the follow-up to Natalie Wright’s multiple award-winning debut science fiction novel “H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath.” “We’ve seen grey aliens on T.V. and in movies. We may think we know all about them. But what if everything we think we know is wrong?” Erika Holt dodged death and departed Earth in an alien ship. It wasn’t how she’d planned to spend her senior year. Is Erika on her way to paradise? Or to a hell worse than the underground lab she escaped? The greys rescued Tex from A.H.D.N.A. and promised him a life he could never have imagined. But what will he have to give up to become one with The Conexus? Jack Wilson is still Commander Sturgis’ prisoner, but a promise of freedom comes from an unlikely source. Will his liberation cost more than he’s willing to pay? Caught up in their personal battles and focused on our war with the grey aliens, will any of them realize the true threat that looms over us all before it’s too late?
H.A.L.F.: The Makers
H.A.L.F.: The Makers written by the fantastic, and award winning author, Natalie Wright starts off strong and striking with amazingly descriptive writing. The story follows two groups of protagonists, Erika, Ian, Dr. Randell and Tex taken via the Grays, an alien race who hosted a massive aura of mystery. Tex is being held separate from the others. The group believes themselves to be on an alien ship. However, Tex has information that could show otherwise. The aliens rejected Jack and left him on earth to the group’s confusion, while Commander Sturgis, starting off with a messy confrontation with her superior, holds knowledge of what’s to come.
Every character has a defined purpose and is finely crafted; each plays their role, with unique perspectives and interesting points of view. The writing is incredibly descriptive and sets the scene for each character. However, there is a lot of switching back and forth between different characters that made the story hard to keep in perspective at times.
On the other hand, the way the author meticulously develops the mystery throughout the story, and how carefully crafted each character is, kept be glued to the pages. They were like finely ticking cogs working towards the bigger picture. The opening segment was one of the most captivating pieces I’ve read in a long time, the detailed description of Erika inside the alien ship was fascinating and had me hooked from the very first page. Most characters are written in a very personal way that make them feel real and make it easy to understand their fears, pride, and personality.
The pacing of the story helped drive the mystery and allowed time for characters to fully develop.
H.A.L.F The Makers has a fantastic story, filled to cover to cover with excellent description and brilliant creative freedom. Personally, I knew I was going to finish the book from cover to cover the moment I read the first chapter. A short prologue would have been a welcome addition for new readers. But none the less, pure passion and creativity eased me into the story, and before I knew it, I was heavily invested.
Pages: 362 | ASIN: B01BLRM2HO
LITERARY TITAN 