Page 4B
D R A G O N S A M O N G U S
First in the series:
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Last in the series:
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Second in the series:
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T h e R E V I E W S
". . . beyond anything imaginable."
-- Readers' Favorite
Readers' Favorite
Five-star award. |
|
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DRAGONS AMONG US
Part One
The Ghosts Of Walker Pines
Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
To the rest of the world, 15-year-old Kate Baxter looked like a typical teenage girl, living life and eagerly waiting to make 16. Only she and those close to her knew the agonizing struggles she was going through with nightmares that were threatening her sanity. Moving to Walker Pines, on her therapist's recommendation, was supposed to give her a fresh start and help her get better. With a grandmother and father who would go to any length to bring an end to her suffering, a new school and new friends, some human and some not, Kate is ready to embrace her new life, but first she needs to convince those dearest to her that she is not crazy; her dreams are just an extension of a reality that is so profound that it will leave everyone in shock. Unknown to young Katie are the events taking place following the discovery of an ancient scroll and the prophesy that the scroll reveals, plus her ultimate purpose in the prophecy. As the family starts to embrace the possibility of the existence of another world, they find themselves face to face with faceless enemies of enormous power.
Dragons Among Us: The Ghosts of Walker Pines By Robert W. Anton is a deeply moving story about a brave young girl whose determination and will are beyond anything imaginable. The masterfully created characters just add that extra something to an already amazing storyline. Nothing is more adorable than young Kate's spirit, the way she has somehow accepted her life with all its burdens, and her determination to live a normal life. The witty grandmother trusts no one and would do any and everything to get to the bottom of her granddaughter's suffering. The other characters in Kate's life -- human and otherwise -- all make this an absolutely amazing read. The setting of the story is a secluded place with breathtaking scenery and more mysteries and secrets than you can imagine. The choice of words and phrases make for a style and tone that perfectly enhance the mood of the story and bring out a great emotional connection with readers.
Dragons Among Us: The Ghosts of Walker Pines By Robert W. Anton is a deeply moving story about a brave young girl whose determination and will are beyond anything imaginable. The masterfully created characters just add that extra something to an already amazing storyline. Nothing is more adorable than young Kate's spirit, the way she has somehow accepted her life with all its burdens, and her determination to live a normal life. The witty grandmother trusts no one and would do any and everything to get to the bottom of her granddaughter's suffering. The other characters in Kate's life -- human and otherwise -- all make this an absolutely amazing read. The setting of the story is a secluded place with breathtaking scenery and more mysteries and secrets than you can imagine. The choice of words and phrases make for a style and tone that perfectly enhance the mood of the story and bring out a great emotional connection with readers.
". . . a one-of-a-kind tale and an ending that left me on the edge of my seat."
-- Faridah Nassozi, for Readers' Favorite
Readers' Favorite
Five-Star Award. |
|
DRAGONS AMONG US
Part Two
The Lost City Of The Dead
A Second Review by Faridah Nassozi, for Readers' Favorite
Book 1 of the Dragons Among Us series ended after Katie and her family had finally accepted her bi-species status. Now, in The Lost City Of The Dead, book 2 in the series, Robert W. Anton once again takes us on a thrilling adventure into the land of humans and dragons. Katie continues to balance her life between being a normal teenager looking forward to celebrating her 16th birthday and her life in Solana, the underground kingdom of the dragons. For the very first time, Katie has undergone complete transformation into a dragon and the excitement in the dragon world continues to grow as the dragons look forward to the Recommunion, an event that will see the peaceful return of dragons to the upper world. Meanwhile power struggles continue to threaten the Solana, while the citizens of Walker Pines continue to live their lives, unaware of what lies beneath their city. As the One Chosen, Katie is the key in the Recommunion and the future of the dragon world. Maybe even the future of the upper world is in her hands. The half human/half dragon Uncle Rutger continues with his dubious and dangerous plans to manipulate both worlds for his own gain and only Katie's grandmother Ruthie and Ruthie's best friend Nela might have a hint of what he is up to. After a painful breakup with her boyfriend, a new and very interesting someone from Solana enters Katie's life.
Dragons Among Us: The Lost City Of The Dead by Robert W. Anton is an incredibly brilliant novel that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole reading. Robert W. Anton skillfully balances out what would have been rough edges of the story with Katie's witty teenage personality. Keeping Katie's light and humorous teenage personality even when changed into a dragon was a touch of sheer genius that put a light note on the whole dragon transformation thing. It is simply incredible, yet in a very natural and believable way, to see how her family is holding it together. However much you feel you are ready for what is coming, nothing can prepare you for the reality of watching your 16-year-old daughter transform into a dragon before your own eyes, but George manages to get through it and even joke about it. Book 2 was even more thrilling than book one, if that is possible, because the story keeps getting more and more intense. The book has everything that makes a thrilling novel - a unique and electrifying plot, believable and easy to connect with characters and flawless writing. Robert W. Anton delivered a one of a kind tale and an ending that left me on the edge of my seat. I really cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, especially with Timtu's entry into Katie's life.
Dragons Among Us: The Lost City Of The Dead by Robert W. Anton is an incredibly brilliant novel that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole reading. Robert W. Anton skillfully balances out what would have been rough edges of the story with Katie's witty teenage personality. Keeping Katie's light and humorous teenage personality even when changed into a dragon was a touch of sheer genius that put a light note on the whole dragon transformation thing. It is simply incredible, yet in a very natural and believable way, to see how her family is holding it together. However much you feel you are ready for what is coming, nothing can prepare you for the reality of watching your 16-year-old daughter transform into a dragon before your own eyes, but George manages to get through it and even joke about it. Book 2 was even more thrilling than book one, if that is possible, because the story keeps getting more and more intense. The book has everything that makes a thrilling novel - a unique and electrifying plot, believable and easy to connect with characters and flawless writing. Robert W. Anton delivered a one of a kind tale and an ending that left me on the edge of my seat. I really cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, especially with Timtu's entry into Katie's life.
DRAGONS AMONG US: The Preliminary Outlines
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Parte Tres
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Includes complete outlines for:
The Diaries Of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter
Novella I
Sins Of The Brotherhood
Novella II
The Search For Strakx
Novella III
Dragonocalypse
Sins Of The Brotherhood
Novella II
The Search For Strakx
Novella III
Dragonocalypse
Fig. 3.
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Fig. 4.
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Fig. 5.
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The Preliminary Outlines
My Amazon.com Kindle eBook Introduction
For one reason or another, some books never get finished. Though uncommon, some series of books are never completed. The reasons in most cases are related to an illness the author may have suffered, or in the worst case, a premature death. In other situations a writer may have simply given up, lost interest, or moved on to other pursuits; by analogy, the ultimate writer's block.
Regardless of the specific cause related to the DRAGONS AMONG US series, the multi-book project will likely never be completed. The good news is that, as the author, I wrote extensive outlines for the remaining two novels that would have brought the series to an initial conclusion. I say “initial” because a third outline was also written for the project – a (first) trilogy called The Diaries Of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter.
This third outline expands the basic story (Books 1&2) into new but familiar territories, all of which are the imaginative extensions of a highly complex, yet thoroughly comprehensible tale. The story's depth of detail and large number of diverse characters, both human and dragon, allowed for a virtually unlimited continuation of fantasy adventures, all of them filled with twists, turns, and other surprises.
In hindsight, it could be argued that no work of fiction, fantasy or otherwise, is ever truly finished. As in real life, nothing ever really ends – or begins – but is always little more than a sequence of chapters that are part of an endless continuum.
If I might be granted a moment to “toot my own horn” as the saying goes, allow me to say that I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to complete the writing of at least the first two introductory novels of the DRAGONS AMONG US series. Book 1, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines, and Book 2, The Lost City Of The Dead. Both books take readers on an amazing thrill ride filled with lots of action, humor, and intrigue – some of it adult in nature – but all of it brimming with dragons. Throw in some fascinating chunks of science fiction, a love story like none other, plus a bunch of great illustrations and readers get their money's worth – and then some.
Fortunately the story doesn't end there. Literally. Thanks to my obsession with details and a need to know where the DAU series was headed, plus an increasingly involved plotline populated with interesting characters, I wrote extensive outlines for the final two books – or what may have resulted in a final three or more books. In addition, I wrote a single (and lengthy) outline – The Diaries Of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter – which covers the years subsequent to the conclusion that ends the last books (outlined Books 3&4) of the original series.
The Diaries of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter was originally envisioned as a trilogy that included: Book I, Sins of the Brotherhood; Book II, The Search for Strakx; and Book III, Dragonocalypse.
Here then, presented for the (dubious) enjoyment and edification of those who felt they were left hanging by an unfinished series (which they were), are the revised and extended versions of the original outlines written for the DRAGONS AMONG US series. I hope you will read them and derive a good sense of not only where the project was headed, but how we might have arrived there. Thanks to all of those who read the first two books, and I hope this extra bit of effort makes the trip worthwhile.
Regardless of the specific cause related to the DRAGONS AMONG US series, the multi-book project will likely never be completed. The good news is that, as the author, I wrote extensive outlines for the remaining two novels that would have brought the series to an initial conclusion. I say “initial” because a third outline was also written for the project – a (first) trilogy called The Diaries Of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter.
This third outline expands the basic story (Books 1&2) into new but familiar territories, all of which are the imaginative extensions of a highly complex, yet thoroughly comprehensible tale. The story's depth of detail and large number of diverse characters, both human and dragon, allowed for a virtually unlimited continuation of fantasy adventures, all of them filled with twists, turns, and other surprises.
In hindsight, it could be argued that no work of fiction, fantasy or otherwise, is ever truly finished. As in real life, nothing ever really ends – or begins – but is always little more than a sequence of chapters that are part of an endless continuum.
If I might be granted a moment to “toot my own horn” as the saying goes, allow me to say that I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to complete the writing of at least the first two introductory novels of the DRAGONS AMONG US series. Book 1, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines, and Book 2, The Lost City Of The Dead. Both books take readers on an amazing thrill ride filled with lots of action, humor, and intrigue – some of it adult in nature – but all of it brimming with dragons. Throw in some fascinating chunks of science fiction, a love story like none other, plus a bunch of great illustrations and readers get their money's worth – and then some.
Fortunately the story doesn't end there. Literally. Thanks to my obsession with details and a need to know where the DAU series was headed, plus an increasingly involved plotline populated with interesting characters, I wrote extensive outlines for the final two books – or what may have resulted in a final three or more books. In addition, I wrote a single (and lengthy) outline – The Diaries Of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter – which covers the years subsequent to the conclusion that ends the last books (outlined Books 3&4) of the original series.
The Diaries of Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter was originally envisioned as a trilogy that included: Book I, Sins of the Brotherhood; Book II, The Search for Strakx; and Book III, Dragonocalypse.
Here then, presented for the (dubious) enjoyment and edification of those who felt they were left hanging by an unfinished series (which they were), are the revised and extended versions of the original outlines written for the DRAGONS AMONG US series. I hope you will read them and derive a good sense of not only where the project was headed, but how we might have arrived there. Thanks to all of those who read the first two books, and I hope this extra bit of effort makes the trip worthwhile.
The Preliminary Outlines
Continued
Fig. 6.
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Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
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Fig. 9.
|
Forward
What you’re about to read is a very unusual kind of book. One reason is because this in not really a book at all – not in the usual sense or style to which one is generally accustomed. This volume does address two, more typical clichés, however, which are: better late than never, and something is better than nothing. Both of these are further designed to answer the following question: What might an author do if, for reasons of health or other causes, he or she were unable to complete the remaining novels of a four, five, or six-book series? But where the first two volumes were already finished, published, and illustrated.
To a great extent, this single volume represents an anthology of sorts – a compilation of all the writings, notes, and ideas which were formulated both before and after the initial two novels of the DRAGONS AMONG US series were finished. This one book encompasses at least four additional volumes, even more, all of which were thought-out in extreme detail prior to the writing of the first words of the first paragraph for the first novel, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines.
More than a year was spent prior to writing these various parts and paragraphs that, like puzzle pieces, would begin to “flesh” out the single story lying at the very heart of the series, regardless of how many separate books might ultimately be involved. Similar to Harry Potter, the final showdown between Harry and his arch nemesis doesn’t arrive until the very last book in what turned out to be a very lengthy series indeed.
Any good fantasy novel is full of twists and turns and the DAU series is no slouch in that regard. Although not every twist or every turn needs to be identified beforehand, it helps to have a knowledgeable friend or two who can act as a good “devil’s advocate” – as critics and editors of sorts. Because the series was viewed from the start as a long term, multi-book project, it was considered necessary and prudent to determine where the story would aim and eventually end-up, in addition to how the pieces might fit together from the very beginning.
When I wrote my first trilogy, DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon, I did so with the help and assistance of a writers critique group. After five years of weekly meetings, plus additional course work at a local college, I was ready to strike out on my own and went on to complete and self-publish the trilogy in or around 1997. Twelve years later, about 2009, The new series, DRAGONS AMONG US, was begun and only recently concluded as a technically unfinished project.
Fortunately, because of a wealth of preliminary outlines written for the series, this final book is viewed as a lasting testament both to those who had read the first two books, and as a substantial peek into the process itself – a work-in-progress model of one method by which novels can be constructed, arranged, and most importantly, completed.
Among those who start to write the next “Great American Novel” (an inside joke) a large percentage give up and quit. Or never really start once they discover what’s really involved. Probably the single greatest reason for this failure is the lack of a functional outline. The old aphorism of keeping one’s “eyes-on-the-prize” is certainly true in the case of authoring a book. In this case the prize is a writer’s love for their own story, and the joy of seeing it come to life. If either of these two critical components are missing, typically for lack of a strong, highly defined outline, the work is likely doomed before it even starts.
Literally hundreds of pages were written detailing the many characters who would play both minor and major roles – their biographies and such, plus seemingly endless scientific minutia which required fact-checking while much of the science had to be invented “from scratch” and then made plausible. Foreign languages, words, and wholly unique terms needed to be woven into the stories such that the increasingly complex plot lines would facilitate the blending of two separate worlds: that of the humans and the dragons.
The DRAGONS AMONG US books, like time machines, take readers into prehistoric times, linger in the present, speed headlong into the far future, then return us, like passengers on a thrill ride, back to the present. Worth repeating is the fact that much of this required intense development long before I was willing to spend the time, money, and lots of sweat sitting and setting words to paper – or to computer screen.
Because of all the preliminary work that went into the series prior to its launch as a set of Kindle eBooks on Amazon, a veritable wealth of material sat tucked away in computer files, all of it waiting to be called upon as soon as the next books were ready to write. In all likelihood that day will never come.
Due to circumstances both personal and complicated, the chances are huge that the remaining volumes in the DRAGONS AMONG US series will never be produced. Not by me in any event. About a year after the first book, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines, was finished, I completed the second in the series, The Lost City Of The Dead. As is obvious to anyone who looks, both eNovels are currently available on Amazon.com and will continue to be so. The two have been lonely, however, for a year or more, awaiting the addition of the next volume, The Floods Of Chamadar – a volume that is mentioned and promoted at the tail end of Lost City as the next exciting adventure in the series.
Originally intended as a trilogy, then a four-book collection, then five or more – not unlike many of the other, seemingly endless Young Adult fantasy novels – a final decision was made to keep this series unlimited for the time being. It would eventually be, more or less, what it ended up to be. Such a large quantity of written materials had already been created, trying to contain – and explain – the myriad complex elements contained in the story, it was difficult to tell how many books, or how few, might be necessary to encapsulate the full potential of the story. A tale whose ability to branch out and expand into an operatic epic, appeared to grow larger by the page.
This particular book of preliminary outlines is also different in that it is not designed to stand alone as a separate and independent work. The assumption is made that readers have already read the first two books in the series and have been patiently (or impatiently) waiting for the third. That last assumption also presumes that the other, finished novels were good enough that readers would even want to delve into a third or fourth book.
In addition, these same, theoretical fans will be especially pleased to know that not only have I included complete and detailed outlines for books three and four, but a trilogy of novellas as wellas. This last group of two books and three novellas – designed to be illustrated by other artists, even written by other writers – follows the lives and adventures of Katie and her entourage of friends as they go into business helping exclusive clients cope with, and learn to live with, a world that has become evenly divided between dragons and humans.
Also, in theory, the number of episodes subsequent the “Recommunion” where the Earth is no longer the sovereign realm of human beings alone, is virtually endless. Similar to a fantasy TV series, the extensive number of characters, both good and evil, all with numerous powers, abilities, and wildly diverse personalities, could parallel the best of the genre currently available.
I believe, therefore, that this volume is a rarity for any number of reasons, some good, others unfortunate. It’s definitely unusual in the sense that more often than not, most authors who write trilogies or longer collections, finish the series at some point. Certainly prior to their demise or their inability to continue. Even Beethoven still wrote music after deafness took away his hearing. So in some respects, this assemblage of lengthy outlines represents a great privilege for me as the author, and a nice treat for readers who might otherwise have never known what became of Katie and her friends.
Once I realized that the final books of the series would likely never be written, I went on to other activities and failed to see the obvious choice staring me in the face, so to speak. The choice to which I refer afforded me the opportunity (at long last) to be respectful of those who had invested both time and money in two novels, but were then left hanging afterward – readers who would be forever curious as to what happened not only to the characters in the series, but to the author himself. At least I’d like to think so.
The answer became suddenly very apparent one day when a new friend decided to read the two DRAGONS AMONG US novels, and was very disappointed when I had to tell that person how the third and fourth books had not been written. And likely wouldn’t be. To try and compensate, I offered to send my friend the bunch of extensive outlines which had already been developed and served as the last step before writing the actual novels themselves.
After some additional thought and soul searching, I realized how I could assemble the outlines into a form and format that would, at the very least, allow my readers to know the whole story, plus even more details as an added bonus, all of it never published or previously revealed. People could now read the first two books and realize that while no other finished novels might be forthcoming, a satisfying and expansive conclusion was now available assuring my readers that their time would not have been wasted.
Complete with alternate endings, here then are the basic (and concluding) outlines for books three and four of the DRAGONS AMONG US series. Also included with this volume are the preliminary outlines for how a collection of novellas (or additional novels) might follow the Baxter family and their extended group of friends and acquaintances (both human and dragon) as they participate in any number of further adventures.
As my readers embark on an unusual odyssey that takes them “behind the scenes” so to speak, I wish to remind them that preliminary outlines which precede novels are just that: preliminary writings that would not only have undergone numerous changes, but more importantly are expected to spawn new ideas and directions never imagined in a story’s original stages of development.
To a great extent, this single volume represents an anthology of sorts – a compilation of all the writings, notes, and ideas which were formulated both before and after the initial two novels of the DRAGONS AMONG US series were finished. This one book encompasses at least four additional volumes, even more, all of which were thought-out in extreme detail prior to the writing of the first words of the first paragraph for the first novel, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines.
More than a year was spent prior to writing these various parts and paragraphs that, like puzzle pieces, would begin to “flesh” out the single story lying at the very heart of the series, regardless of how many separate books might ultimately be involved. Similar to Harry Potter, the final showdown between Harry and his arch nemesis doesn’t arrive until the very last book in what turned out to be a very lengthy series indeed.
Any good fantasy novel is full of twists and turns and the DAU series is no slouch in that regard. Although not every twist or every turn needs to be identified beforehand, it helps to have a knowledgeable friend or two who can act as a good “devil’s advocate” – as critics and editors of sorts. Because the series was viewed from the start as a long term, multi-book project, it was considered necessary and prudent to determine where the story would aim and eventually end-up, in addition to how the pieces might fit together from the very beginning.
When I wrote my first trilogy, DRAGONIA: Tales Of The Golden Talon, I did so with the help and assistance of a writers critique group. After five years of weekly meetings, plus additional course work at a local college, I was ready to strike out on my own and went on to complete and self-publish the trilogy in or around 1997. Twelve years later, about 2009, The new series, DRAGONS AMONG US, was begun and only recently concluded as a technically unfinished project.
Fortunately, because of a wealth of preliminary outlines written for the series, this final book is viewed as a lasting testament both to those who had read the first two books, and as a substantial peek into the process itself – a work-in-progress model of one method by which novels can be constructed, arranged, and most importantly, completed.
Among those who start to write the next “Great American Novel” (an inside joke) a large percentage give up and quit. Or never really start once they discover what’s really involved. Probably the single greatest reason for this failure is the lack of a functional outline. The old aphorism of keeping one’s “eyes-on-the-prize” is certainly true in the case of authoring a book. In this case the prize is a writer’s love for their own story, and the joy of seeing it come to life. If either of these two critical components are missing, typically for lack of a strong, highly defined outline, the work is likely doomed before it even starts.
Literally hundreds of pages were written detailing the many characters who would play both minor and major roles – their biographies and such, plus seemingly endless scientific minutia which required fact-checking while much of the science had to be invented “from scratch” and then made plausible. Foreign languages, words, and wholly unique terms needed to be woven into the stories such that the increasingly complex plot lines would facilitate the blending of two separate worlds: that of the humans and the dragons.
The DRAGONS AMONG US books, like time machines, take readers into prehistoric times, linger in the present, speed headlong into the far future, then return us, like passengers on a thrill ride, back to the present. Worth repeating is the fact that much of this required intense development long before I was willing to spend the time, money, and lots of sweat sitting and setting words to paper – or to computer screen.
Because of all the preliminary work that went into the series prior to its launch as a set of Kindle eBooks on Amazon, a veritable wealth of material sat tucked away in computer files, all of it waiting to be called upon as soon as the next books were ready to write. In all likelihood that day will never come.
Due to circumstances both personal and complicated, the chances are huge that the remaining volumes in the DRAGONS AMONG US series will never be produced. Not by me in any event. About a year after the first book, The Ghosts Of Walker Pines, was finished, I completed the second in the series, The Lost City Of The Dead. As is obvious to anyone who looks, both eNovels are currently available on Amazon.com and will continue to be so. The two have been lonely, however, for a year or more, awaiting the addition of the next volume, The Floods Of Chamadar – a volume that is mentioned and promoted at the tail end of Lost City as the next exciting adventure in the series.
Originally intended as a trilogy, then a four-book collection, then five or more – not unlike many of the other, seemingly endless Young Adult fantasy novels – a final decision was made to keep this series unlimited for the time being. It would eventually be, more or less, what it ended up to be. Such a large quantity of written materials had already been created, trying to contain – and explain – the myriad complex elements contained in the story, it was difficult to tell how many books, or how few, might be necessary to encapsulate the full potential of the story. A tale whose ability to branch out and expand into an operatic epic, appeared to grow larger by the page.
This particular book of preliminary outlines is also different in that it is not designed to stand alone as a separate and independent work. The assumption is made that readers have already read the first two books in the series and have been patiently (or impatiently) waiting for the third. That last assumption also presumes that the other, finished novels were good enough that readers would even want to delve into a third or fourth book.
In addition, these same, theoretical fans will be especially pleased to know that not only have I included complete and detailed outlines for books three and four, but a trilogy of novellas as wellas. This last group of two books and three novellas – designed to be illustrated by other artists, even written by other writers – follows the lives and adventures of Katie and her entourage of friends as they go into business helping exclusive clients cope with, and learn to live with, a world that has become evenly divided between dragons and humans.
Also, in theory, the number of episodes subsequent the “Recommunion” where the Earth is no longer the sovereign realm of human beings alone, is virtually endless. Similar to a fantasy TV series, the extensive number of characters, both good and evil, all with numerous powers, abilities, and wildly diverse personalities, could parallel the best of the genre currently available.
I believe, therefore, that this volume is a rarity for any number of reasons, some good, others unfortunate. It’s definitely unusual in the sense that more often than not, most authors who write trilogies or longer collections, finish the series at some point. Certainly prior to their demise or their inability to continue. Even Beethoven still wrote music after deafness took away his hearing. So in some respects, this assemblage of lengthy outlines represents a great privilege for me as the author, and a nice treat for readers who might otherwise have never known what became of Katie and her friends.
Once I realized that the final books of the series would likely never be written, I went on to other activities and failed to see the obvious choice staring me in the face, so to speak. The choice to which I refer afforded me the opportunity (at long last) to be respectful of those who had invested both time and money in two novels, but were then left hanging afterward – readers who would be forever curious as to what happened not only to the characters in the series, but to the author himself. At least I’d like to think so.
The answer became suddenly very apparent one day when a new friend decided to read the two DRAGONS AMONG US novels, and was very disappointed when I had to tell that person how the third and fourth books had not been written. And likely wouldn’t be. To try and compensate, I offered to send my friend the bunch of extensive outlines which had already been developed and served as the last step before writing the actual novels themselves.
After some additional thought and soul searching, I realized how I could assemble the outlines into a form and format that would, at the very least, allow my readers to know the whole story, plus even more details as an added bonus, all of it never published or previously revealed. People could now read the first two books and realize that while no other finished novels might be forthcoming, a satisfying and expansive conclusion was now available assuring my readers that their time would not have been wasted.
Complete with alternate endings, here then are the basic (and concluding) outlines for books three and four of the DRAGONS AMONG US series. Also included with this volume are the preliminary outlines for how a collection of novellas (or additional novels) might follow the Baxter family and their extended group of friends and acquaintances (both human and dragon) as they participate in any number of further adventures.
As my readers embark on an unusual odyssey that takes them “behind the scenes” so to speak, I wish to remind them that preliminary outlines which precede novels are just that: preliminary writings that would not only have undergone numerous changes, but more importantly are expected to spawn new ideas and directions never imagined in a story’s original stages of development.
Fig. 10.
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Fig. 11.
Fig. 13.
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Fig. 12.
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The Preliminary Outlines
continued
A Brief Note to New Authors
And maybe some older ones
Although I am, of course, bias in the extreme, I would suggest to any new author that they consider this book as required reading. Whether an author has already written one or more novels or other fiction works, the outlines contained in this collection represent a good example of one way a story – any story – might be initially created as the basis for a “first draft”. While not the only way, by any means, the style of outlining presented here does illustrate a methodical approach that, if followed, increases the chances that an author's story will have the necessary beginning, middle, and ending -- and in the proper order.
What is not included here are the reams of paperwork, the notes, diagrams, and other scribblings (often called a bible) that preceded all of the given outlines, each sheet of which was necessary in order to slowly and painstakingly develop a coherent combination of main characters, plot, and factual material upon which all good fantasies are grounded.
Accordingly, even these sketchy outlines are themselves a kind of finished platform, each of them serving to drive and direct the hundreds of subsequent pages that might eventually come after.
At this particular stage, each of the outlines have been broken into “acts” which further clarify the three basic parts to any good story. Though not hard and fast as a rule, in Act One readers are introduced to the main characters, the world in which they exist, plus some initial details that relate to one or more crises that loom over the story as a whole. In Act Two, the “main event” so to speak, whatever friction existed among characters and whatever crises had previously been building, become fully realized. Things reach their breaking (and making) point. Minus a third Act, we’d be left with the classic and proverbial “cliffhanger”.
Act Three is where most novels either find their strength or fall apart, leaving readers dissatisfied or disgruntled for having wasted their time reading Acts One and Two. Some readers will also simply stop reading at some point in Act Three, for any number of reasons, but usually because the resolutions, answers, and conclusions that any decent Act Three ought to contain, are simply missing, poorly written, or illogical. More often than not, an author gets their facts wrong, or the level of detail is too shallow, too weak, or worst of all, the ending of the story – sometimes long before we get there – is predictable, cliché driven, unimaginative, or just plain nonexistent.
This is precisely where and why a detailed, well conceived outline comes into play. Although countless changes and additions will undoubtedly be made and implemented, the author knows exactly who the main characters are, both their strengths and weaknesses. The author knows where the story is going, where it needs to go, and most importantly, how it all ends up. These three, critical elements are the path to which the story must always, invariably return, regardless of how many subplots, loose ends, or other minor crises are introduced along the way. The outline is the guide railing on either side of the track, always steering the writer back to the center, always curtailing the tendency to wander off into uncharted (and unoutlined) territory.
It’s easy for a novelist to get lost on their journey because new ideas and new possibilities continually present themselves as part of any good story, let alone a great one. And just as no good tale, which is never more than a thin slice of some greater reality, is never truly complete, the number of different directions a novel might take are equally endless.
Similar to real life where we are faced with countless choices every day as to what we do – or don’t do – an author has to make those same decisions for any number of other people, then deal with the consequences and repercussions that result. You should know that some authors just “wing it” from the start and with little or no outline, let their story, like water, find its own level. This is one way to do things. Still others do a combination of both, using only the thinnest of outlines as their guide.
My chosen style falls into a third category where the outline itself is nearly the equivalent of a first draft. I like this particular method because I need to know pretty much how things conclude and how I got there. Whether in movies, TV, or books, strong endings have always determined whether I felt my time was well served or aggravatingly wasted.
As a brief example, to this day I’ve never forgotten how shocked, how utterly stunned I was by the horrifically awful ending to the famous film, South Pacific. I still remember sitting, staring at the screen in disbelief that the filmmakers, writers or both, had seriously offered their viewers what was tantamount to not only a terrible, depressing finale, but one that was illogical, nonsensical, and outright stupid. As if the last fifteen minutes of the film had been turned over to a bunch of inmates from the local asylum, then given free reign over how the story should end.
If you’ve never seen the film, it’s worth a viewing just for the ending. I want as many witnesses as possible to join the ranks of us who still shudder at the recollection of it all. That said, the rest of the movie, or stage play, the actors, and above all the music, are an entirely different – and far superior – matter. I do have to wonder, however, when the story was originally conceived, whether the writers forgot to include an ending, or just threw one in at the proverbial last minute.
In concluding this advisory to my fellow writers, I can’t stress enough the importance of a good outline. Or a great one – meaning extensive – if you have it in you. Although others have their own opinions, not necessarily better or of less value than my own, allow me to push you, to shove you, in the direction of writing as definitive an outline as possible. One that, were it a few pages more, might even serve as a first draft of the entire story.
Worth noting is how, at some point, your characters will (or should) become autonomous. This comment is meant literally as well as figuratively. Well developed characters will often speak and seemingly strive to act in a volitional manner, often independent of the author’s intentions otherwise. One of the great joys of writing is that when this happens, you’ll know you’re on the right track to authoring a compelling work. When it does, your story’s characters, like some kind of unruly mob, will need direction and leadership. That’s where your outline will always come to the rescue. No matter how far afield your children might wander, they will need to come home sooner or later. It’s your job to give them a home worth coming to.
What is not included here are the reams of paperwork, the notes, diagrams, and other scribblings (often called a bible) that preceded all of the given outlines, each sheet of which was necessary in order to slowly and painstakingly develop a coherent combination of main characters, plot, and factual material upon which all good fantasies are grounded.
Accordingly, even these sketchy outlines are themselves a kind of finished platform, each of them serving to drive and direct the hundreds of subsequent pages that might eventually come after.
At this particular stage, each of the outlines have been broken into “acts” which further clarify the three basic parts to any good story. Though not hard and fast as a rule, in Act One readers are introduced to the main characters, the world in which they exist, plus some initial details that relate to one or more crises that loom over the story as a whole. In Act Two, the “main event” so to speak, whatever friction existed among characters and whatever crises had previously been building, become fully realized. Things reach their breaking (and making) point. Minus a third Act, we’d be left with the classic and proverbial “cliffhanger”.
Act Three is where most novels either find their strength or fall apart, leaving readers dissatisfied or disgruntled for having wasted their time reading Acts One and Two. Some readers will also simply stop reading at some point in Act Three, for any number of reasons, but usually because the resolutions, answers, and conclusions that any decent Act Three ought to contain, are simply missing, poorly written, or illogical. More often than not, an author gets their facts wrong, or the level of detail is too shallow, too weak, or worst of all, the ending of the story – sometimes long before we get there – is predictable, cliché driven, unimaginative, or just plain nonexistent.
This is precisely where and why a detailed, well conceived outline comes into play. Although countless changes and additions will undoubtedly be made and implemented, the author knows exactly who the main characters are, both their strengths and weaknesses. The author knows where the story is going, where it needs to go, and most importantly, how it all ends up. These three, critical elements are the path to which the story must always, invariably return, regardless of how many subplots, loose ends, or other minor crises are introduced along the way. The outline is the guide railing on either side of the track, always steering the writer back to the center, always curtailing the tendency to wander off into uncharted (and unoutlined) territory.
It’s easy for a novelist to get lost on their journey because new ideas and new possibilities continually present themselves as part of any good story, let alone a great one. And just as no good tale, which is never more than a thin slice of some greater reality, is never truly complete, the number of different directions a novel might take are equally endless.
Similar to real life where we are faced with countless choices every day as to what we do – or don’t do – an author has to make those same decisions for any number of other people, then deal with the consequences and repercussions that result. You should know that some authors just “wing it” from the start and with little or no outline, let their story, like water, find its own level. This is one way to do things. Still others do a combination of both, using only the thinnest of outlines as their guide.
My chosen style falls into a third category where the outline itself is nearly the equivalent of a first draft. I like this particular method because I need to know pretty much how things conclude and how I got there. Whether in movies, TV, or books, strong endings have always determined whether I felt my time was well served or aggravatingly wasted.
As a brief example, to this day I’ve never forgotten how shocked, how utterly stunned I was by the horrifically awful ending to the famous film, South Pacific. I still remember sitting, staring at the screen in disbelief that the filmmakers, writers or both, had seriously offered their viewers what was tantamount to not only a terrible, depressing finale, but one that was illogical, nonsensical, and outright stupid. As if the last fifteen minutes of the film had been turned over to a bunch of inmates from the local asylum, then given free reign over how the story should end.
If you’ve never seen the film, it’s worth a viewing just for the ending. I want as many witnesses as possible to join the ranks of us who still shudder at the recollection of it all. That said, the rest of the movie, or stage play, the actors, and above all the music, are an entirely different – and far superior – matter. I do have to wonder, however, when the story was originally conceived, whether the writers forgot to include an ending, or just threw one in at the proverbial last minute.
In concluding this advisory to my fellow writers, I can’t stress enough the importance of a good outline. Or a great one – meaning extensive – if you have it in you. Although others have their own opinions, not necessarily better or of less value than my own, allow me to push you, to shove you, in the direction of writing as definitive an outline as possible. One that, were it a few pages more, might even serve as a first draft of the entire story.
Worth noting is how, at some point, your characters will (or should) become autonomous. This comment is meant literally as well as figuratively. Well developed characters will often speak and seemingly strive to act in a volitional manner, often independent of the author’s intentions otherwise. One of the great joys of writing is that when this happens, you’ll know you’re on the right track to authoring a compelling work. When it does, your story’s characters, like some kind of unruly mob, will need direction and leadership. That’s where your outline will always come to the rescue. No matter how far afield your children might wander, they will need to come home sooner or later. It’s your job to give them a home worth coming to.
EPILOGUE
It is hoped that one or more authors might one day write the hypothetical stories that could easily continue the Kathryn Baxter: Dragon Hunter adventures. As the original author of the series, I imagined a multitude of new and original tales arising out of the plethora of characters who would exist in near-endless combinations of humans and dragons, human and dragon hybrids, human and animal hybrids, even human, dragon, and mechanical hybrids.
As envisioned in the very beginning of Novella Four, Dragonopolis, we saw captain Katie at the helm of a battle-cruiser spaceship which wasn’t a ship at all. Rather the craft was a living dragon designed not only for space travel, but for space combat. Though only briefly touched upon later, this and other concepts certainly set the stage for the amazing and fantastic potential that unrestricted shape-shifting might offer.
In a world (and universe) where anyone can be anyone or anything, no limit exists as to the number of surreal and adventurous tales that might be realized, and about which both writers and readers could indulge their wildest dreams.
As envisioned in the very beginning of Novella Four, Dragonopolis, we saw captain Katie at the helm of a battle-cruiser spaceship which wasn’t a ship at all. Rather the craft was a living dragon designed not only for space travel, but for space combat. Though only briefly touched upon later, this and other concepts certainly set the stage for the amazing and fantastic potential that unrestricted shape-shifting might offer.
In a world (and universe) where anyone can be anyone or anything, no limit exists as to the number of surreal and adventurous tales that might be realized, and about which both writers and readers could indulge their wildest dreams.
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