Rhys writes dreams and dragons

RHYS: I always find it fun to read the other 'what we are writing' posts. Mine could be about any number of things: I sent off my latest Royal Spyness book to my editor at Berkley a couple of weeks ago. it's called MALICE AT THE PALACE and is focused on a real royal scandal in the 1930s.

I'm currently working on a Molly Murphy Christmas book, due out next Christmas. It's about two street children in New York, and my working title is NO CRIB FOR A BED.  My editor isn't so sure she loves the title. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

But I'm not going to share that with you today, because I have yet another project that is about to come to fruition. I have written a children's book with my daughter Clare and it's about to make its debut on Amazon, every other e-format, and also as a paperback. It's called DREAMWALKER, and is the first book in the Red Dragon Academy mini-series.

It's a middle-grade fantasy in which California girl Addy finds herself enrolled at a strange boarding school in an old castle in the mountains of Wales where one corridor leads not to another wing of the school but to a mirror world with an evil ruler who can control minds. Addy has always had vivid dreams but now this power makes her a target for the ruler who calls himself The One.

Here is the opening scene:

            I’ve never been so cold in my life! It's freezing up in this tower. The cold from the massive stone walls bites into my back as I sit here hugging my knees to myself. The turret room is pitch black except for a sliver of moonlight coming in through the slits in the wall. Raj would probably tell me their name and that that they are where archers shoot their arrows, but Raj isn’t here. I wish he was. The windows are overgrown with vines and they cast creepy shadows like long tentacles on the round tower wall. I can make out the shape of other kids sleeping on the floor. They are lying as far away as possible from Pippa and me because they’re afraid of us.

A bone-chilling howl comes from the forest. I know what animal made that howl and wish I didn’t. So a Rancur is close by and that must mean that the Fallon Gywn are with it. They’ve come for us. I huddle closer to Pippa. She seems to be sleeping, in spite of the cold. I prod her and whisper, “Are you asleep?” and she only grunts. A boy is whimpering and moaning in his sleep. How can they sleep at a time like this? There is no way I’d allow myself to fall asleep tonight, even if I wasn’t afraid of dreaming. I can’t stop thinking about tomorrow and what horrible thing is going to happen to us. No one will say exactly what it is, but I can tell it’s pretty bad. For once I wish this was a dream, but I know it’s very real.

Was it really only a month ago that I was an ordinary seventh grader in California, surfing and going to the mall with friends? I had nothing more to worry about than getting my homework done. Then my mom died. That messed me up so badly I don't know if I'll ever be OK again, but that wasn't when the danger started. The danger started when I first walked down that dark hallway and found myself in this world that I don't understand. Or maybe earlier. Maybe it started when I arrived at crazy Red Dragon Academy. No -- even that wasn't right. The danger started in my own living room when I saw the two old ladies. The danger started when I climbed onto the back of the red dragon.

So if you have a child who loved Harry Potter, this might make a good holiday gift. (Or if you loved Harry Potter and want to read something with the same feel). Anyway, it should be up and available on Amazon and other sites both as an e-book and a paperback by November 15. Let me know how you like it!

Breaking News:  Since I posted this my design guru has given me the links. You can read a bigger sample and decide if you want to buy the e-book right now. The paperback is available right now on Createspace but will be up in 3 drays on Amazon. Go forth and buy, my children!
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dreamwalker-14

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreamwalker-rhys-bowen/1120727006?ean=2940150558113

http://www.amazon.com/Dreamwalker-Red-Dragon-Academy-Book-ebook/dp/B00PHEBLDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415805799&sr=8-1&keywords=dreamwalker+rhys+bowen

Confession: I have always adored fantasy and still re-read Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings and even the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. How about you? Do you read children's books?