Herewith goes a touchy topic. Could the makings of legends and myths be real? Some people insist vehemently and unequivocally yes. Others shake their heads and look down upon the believers. Considering no one in living memory has seen a dragon, why do the questions still persist?
Questions can always be brought to new light as history is dug up from archaeology. Even I was left questioning today as I came across an article from National Geographic. Ten new, very rare stone reliefs were dug up in Iraq depicting the Assyrian King Sargon II that date back from the eighth century BC. The last time such stone reliefs were found in their original locations was 1845. Along with their false deities, the depictions include horned lions and, hence the nature of this article, a dragon.
Could they exist?
The interesting part is that these reliefs are by no means in a category of their own when it comes to dragons themselves. In all ancient cultures, from the Americas to Europe, to India and China, all the cultures seemed to agree that dragons existed. Even the bible refers to dragons as a symbol of Satan. Some of the earliest known evidence of the creature is the Epic of Gilgamesh, in the 18th century BC. Mentions themselves in myths can be traced back as far as 4000 BC. The ancient Greeks and Sumerians included lore of such creatures as well.
One could argue that the discovery of dinosaur bones by ancient cultures could’ve given rise to such rumors, but then why did legends abound across all borders of the globe? That being, why not make the tales of the creatures reflect them as extinct and from a past age if all that aroused the stories were the remains found?
All in all, it is worth mentioning that they could be living amongst us, hidden in the far corners of the earth. While humans have spread out, we still haven’t explored everywhere. As much as 95% of the ocean and 99% of the ocean floor haven’t been explored. That leaves approximately 65% of the earth unknown. The Loch Ness monster could theoretically have deep sea cousins that we know nothing about. The words of Leviathan from ancient Jewish texts certainly come to mind.
It is in all actuality quite possible. For example, over the last few years several species which had been assumed extinct for over a hundred years were found alive and well in various corners of the globe. That being said, new species are being discovered every day. Despite our vast knowledge and tools of documentation, we still have much to learn about our world.
Either way, it seems that the mystical creatures (evil or otherwise), are here to stay. Much like the stories of Big Foot, Moth Man, the Giant of Kandahar, Atlantis, and the discoveries of Nephilim bones, people still continue to talk about their existence. It seems into the future, the legends will continue, even if it is only from the booms of pop culture.
If you enjoyed this article, I’ll bet you’d love a free copy of my best selling prequel STILL DEATH. Click here to nab your copy before they’re gone!
New Year, new task. 2020 looks like it’s going to be a renewed period of time where we all can get in touch with our inner selves… Or to be quite frank, let’s hope it’s a lot better than 2019! Yes, you can hear my sarcasm. Nobody I have talked to said it was a good year.
Now that I’ve got all the contaminated manuscripts squared away so I can start to actually touch them again (you can read part one of this story here), I can start the fun process of bringing them into your hands: transcribing them. So to start the process, I’ve been tallying up all the notebooks to see what I’ve got. Turns out I’d written a lot more than I remembered. Out of the sixty or so notebooks, I’ve tallied up what notebooks belong to what series.
Note to self: Tell my brain to calm down. We’re good on content… that is, until it invariably comes up with yet another idea... usually are one AM when I’m trying to get to sleep. Tell me I’m not the only author who has become more bat-like than human when it comes to hours…
Hence forth, here are all the series and books coming your way in the not so distant future. Ie., this is my list of WIPs (works in progress) plus a quick summary of what they are. (Anyone who requested a twisted fairy tale, you can now check out to see if your request made the cut!):
Destiny in the Shadows: 17 Notebooks (mind you, all 70 pages each and written on front to back). They include the story lines for BLOOD WAR, the as of yet untitled untitled book to sum up the series, and three of the spinoff series books from Cain McRattin’s POV. (Yes, dear readers. I’ve been listening to your pleas!) This makes up about 30% of my notebooks. Clearly I enjoy writing from Sierrenna’s & Cain’s POVs.
The Delunian Kingdom Saga: 6 Notebooks (not including the current manuscript of the first book in the series which is close to completion). As for those who aren’t acquainted with the concept yet, it’s a dystopian medi-punk sci-fi retelling of the Robin Hood story from Maid Marien’s POV. Yes, considering there’s all sorts of otherworldly creatures including reptilians and awesome sword fights, it’s definitely for my sci-fi readers. Maid Marriene is definitely not your typical lady in waiting.
Note: These books have been one of the hardest to write out of all of them. I started the story when I was ten and have continued to rip the story to shreds periodically to build it back up from the bare bones. And let me tell you, my ten year old self had no interest in evil reptilians, so it’s been quite the rewrite! This series has been over a decade in the making.
Del Muerta Trilogy: 5 Notebooks. Based loosely on the state of Venezuela, it’s a dystopian series with a slightly Latin American spin. It involves vigilantes, a revolution, a pack of former police dogs, and is one of my more high octane action series with a slightly Hunger Games feel. If you enjoyed the newer Zorro movies, I venture to say you’ll likely enjoy this series.
Riding Hood: 2 Notebooks. Red is a man and granny is an alpha wolf shifters. Need I say more? Fantasy fodder with a romantic twist.
Jack Frost Chronology: 7 Notebooks. Yes, I’ve got an upcoming science fantasy series where Jack Frost is actually Jaqueline Frost (Jackie Frost), an ice elf able to control ice and fire. Includes genetic cloning, the Louisiana French Quarter, a pet fox / Yeti, a skunk, and all sort of fun subjects. Three books planned and two largely in complete in the notebooks.
It was one of my first series that I wrote next to Vaktare and Destiny in the Shadows. The male protagonist, David, is one of my favorites because it’s been such a challenge writing from his POV since he’s blind!
Sleeping Beau-T: 2 Notebooks. A sci-fi retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty story.
Guardians of the GrailSeries: 1 Notebook so far since the Vampire’s Handmaiden was released in October. But it’s in the works! The ‘catnip sniffing idiot’ as one of my readers coined Rafe will return with Yasmina, as will Dune!
Vaktare of All Realms Series: 5 Notebooks, not including books 2 & 3 of the series. Those, plus one more notebook that is the beginning of the Rex spin-off that was requested by one of my Beta-Readers. Most of you haven’t met Rex yet because he doesn’t come into the picture until book two (Black Hart which is out on Valentine’s Day!) Those who read the ARC of it are still fascinated by him! Needless to say, he plays a huge role in Shira Hart’s story.
Legends of Arestina Series: Six notebooks, which span two books from Kenzie and Dare’s son’s POVs. You see? I do listen to my readers. Wings of Caligo was originally a stand-alone, but enough people demanded that I do a sequel that I listened. I even have a fourth book rattling around in my brain that hasn’t been put on paper yet.
The books extensively cover the subject of hybrids and chimeras that result from genetic engineering. Much like the first book, the subject of bullying will also be a large theme. Needless to say, old enemies resurface from the dead and create all sorts of mayhem on Arestina!
Cicario (Still untitled): 1 Notebook. Still largely in development, but is inspired by the situation in Mexico with the drug cartels and assassins in the cities. Yes, I do take pokes at sensitive topics. I’m no coward.
Watergate: 1 notebook. No, it’s not a Clinton investigation book (I value my life too highly for that! I may not be a coward, but I’m no idiot!). An underwater high-tech civilization under attack by marine spirits and mermaids. It takes place in this current day in time, so it will be an urban fantasy.
Blood of Innocents: 1 Notebook. Epic Fantasy in a different time. Still too new to talk about, but there will be sword fights, different realms to explore, and an epic love story.
Star Catcher Series: 3 notebooks (so far) and two books in total. A hypochondriacal dragon*, a knight, and two princess go on an epic quest. What could go wrong? Sabrina is another favorite of mine as is Channidy.
*The series was originally supposed to be a serious, epic fantasy. That is until I made the stupid decision to mention it to my mother and she came up with the idea of turning Reggie into a hypochondriac. Needless to say, it disrupted all of my plans for the story but was too good to let go!
The Sword in the Stones: A modern retelling of the Sword in the Stone story. Two men from the medieval era get transported to the future. Again, what could go wrong?
Faith Vs. Magic / Deliverance: 4 Notebooks. A fictionalized version of deliverance Ministry within the Christian faith. Basically us Vs demons. My first officially Christian novel that will likely piss a number of people off because it tackles the subject of demons in the faith.
The Gunslinger: 1 Notebook. A dystopian novel that follows the adventures of Jairal (Yes! For those who have spoken to me, she’s quite the character!) a gunslinger in the ruins of an American city. My first foray into cyber-punk fiction.
And finally…
The Wolf Keeper’s Daughter: A stylized retelling of the Cinderella story that includes a fantasy world, giant wolves, an icy fantasy world, Snow Alclaws (basically giant snow leopards that are an advanced civilization), and a war for power between their kingdoms. Clearly I don’t stick within normal fairytale bounds!
PS., none of these include the books I have noted but not yet written down. This is just a short list of what’s physically in the notebooks!
So that basically sums it up. While these stories won’t be immediately released, they will be coming your way very soon. If there’s a particular one you want sooner rather than later, make sure to comment and let me know what you’re looking forward to. I aim to please my readers and sometimes your requests make my to-do list get re-prioritized!
If you really want to do me a favor, make sure to fill out his survey for me before you go! I’m trying to see just exactly who my readers are and it gives options about you preferences about future books. Ex: are you into fantasy, scifi, or straight up action? It’s anonymous, so there’s no strings attached. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWHJMLJ
In this next month, I have two releases coming up, so you definitely won’t be without new content to keep your reading list full. BLACK HART and OUTFOXED will be coming to a bookshelf near you. Outfoxed will be a charity release for the Australian bushfires, so make sure to stay tuned for the details. You’ll get to support a great cause and get a book out of it, too!
In the meantime, if you want a free copy of my now BEST SELLING ebook Still Death, make sure to click here. Wishing you all the best this new year! May God bless you and may the winds of adventure always be at your back!
The Rocketbook Everlast is a reusable not book that creates digital scans with the app, uploads your work to the digital clouds Google Drive, Onedrive, Box, and many others, plus can transcribe your handwriting into type. Overall, I like the product.
A very special Christmas gift to all my readers. I wrote this as a present especially for you and is free to read for Christmas. It’s a continuation of the Wings of Caligo story. My only request is that if you enjoy it, leave a review of it at the link at the back of the novella 🥰 Merry Christmas everyone and may God bless you! Thank you for all your lovely support through the years!
Screams of agony shattered the
stillness of the night air. There was nothing I could do for the victims, as I
sat on the front porch of the mansion. Nor anything I would do to block the
sound out. I listened, refusing to let them suffer alone; bearing the brunt of
the evil’s wrath. I would suffer with them as I suffered with so many others before,
bearing witness to their destruction. While I wasn’t the reason these people were
meeting their deaths, I was certainly the reason they wouldn’t live through the
night.
This family didn’t deserve this any
more than any of the other victims. My power could have saved them. Furthermore,
I was sorely tempted to shield them from this fate. But I couldn’t. Someone had
to die. Someone must distract the evil one from the three beings escaping out
the back door of the mansion. No, it was far too important that the others live;
that she, the herald Väktare, survive.
Then all was still.
The front door opened slowly as the
other male stepped out. Hatred flared through me, but I hid it well. I would
wait until the time was right for my revenge. For now I would play the loyal
servant, even as I longed to rip his entrails out for all the darkness he
spread across the planet.
“The girl is missing,” the figure in
the doorway hissed, blood from the victims inside still dripping off of his
fingers. “Her cradle was empty.”
“Oh?” I asked, feigning surprise. “The Hart
child?”
“Yes, that child!” the dark figure
snapped furiously. “Find her. Bring her to me!”
“Of course. Anything else I need accomplish?”
“Just get her!” he thundered, setting
the mansion on fire with a spell. “The family is dealt with. The Fidem must
have taken her! They have her. I know it!“
“I understand your consternation, Master,
but I find it very unlikely that the Fidem would leave the family here and take
the child instead. It’s highly illogical for the family to hide the child but
not themselves-”
“Families are illogical. The attachment
to each other impairs their judgment to the point of stupidity,” the dark
figure in the cloak replied coldly. “Hence the ease of their murders! I didn’t
even exert myself to drain them of their life forces! Just bring the child to-“
“You. I heard you the first time,
Master,” I added hastily, rising from the stoop.
“She is mine,” the other said, eyes
gleaming like the demon he was. “Her power will be mine! Do not fail this time.
This is the Väktare I have waited for. Even now, she still will not escape.”
A thrill of foreboding ran through me upon
hearing his glee. “What have you done?”
“She will be cursed,” he crowed over my
quiet question, flames spiraling higher around him. “All of her power will bend
to my will and anyone who helps her remain free shall be routed where they
stand! Death and pain will follow her every step until she is mine!”
No more was said as the figure in the
dark cloak vanished. The only signs that he had even been here were the bloody
footprints leading back into the house. Those prints told me not to bother to
check inside for survivors. The cloying feel of death was still floating around
in the air.
But even with that in mind, I couldn’t
help but grimly smile. This made worthwhile the sacrifice of all the countless
beings before that had been murdered. The Väktare’s family would rest well in
their graves if they knew how much rested on her life. As for my beloved… well,
I couldn’t think about her now.
I had succeeded. The dark one failed, even with his cursing her life. The girl had survived.
Cursed Hart available Now at amazon.com/author/maggielynnheronheidel
A very special Christmas gift to all my readers. I wrote this as a present especially for you and is free to read for Christmas. It’s a continuation of the Wings of Caligo story.
Best Selling Author Maggie Lynn Heron-Heidel 