Guest Blogger Sarah Ann Watts!

Hi, you crazy kids! Today, I'm honored to have Sarah Ann Watts guest blogging with me. Please enjoy her post regarding how the dragons feel. Betcha never thought of that, huh?

Thank you to Lindsay for letting me come play on her blog...

My name is Sarah. I write fantasy and romance and occasional science fiction.

I also write about angels and dragons...

One of my favourite quotes is G K Chesterton – “Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

It’s one of the best explanations for writing about things that aren’t ‘real’ and don’t take place in the ‘real world’ or ‘couldn’t really happen’.

No one asks how the dragon feels about it though.

Imagine it. Let’s just suppose you happen to be a dragon. There you are, minding your own business. Guarding a horde of bright shiny things you’ve spent aeons collecting. Then along comes some knightly enthusiast who has you on his hit list for winning his spurs.

For the dragon it’s a no win situation. Kill the noble youth to defend your territory and you’ll have all his friends and relations taking it badly. Storming your mountain bent on revenge.

It’s hardly your fault if he’s fool enough to think a sword can stand up against a flame thrower.

Let the knight win and you’re toast instead. At best your head’s a trophy on the castle wall. At worst you’re a handbag and shoes for some maiden you didn’t want to eat anyway.

Then there’s the sad tale of Puff the Magic Dragon. You can see his thinking. I’ll play nice, make friends. Frolic by the sea and hope that by the time they let young Jack play with edged weapons he’ll remember ‘Good Old Puff’.

Not a chance. The fickle brat gets bored – wants to go play on his Wii or whatever – and by the time he grows up he’s forgotten you.

And maybe you never meant to be a dragon when you grew up...

As for angels, do they get time off for good behaviour? Playing harps and floating around on clouds being angelic - do they get lonely and long to be loved?

My first MM romance story was about a man who’d lost his lover and an angel he met in the street on New Year’s Day.

My second is about a king who lost his kingdom and a knight who lost his memory. There may be a dragon in it:

Heart of The Kingdom

Please visit my website at http://www.sarahannwatts.com/


And here's an excerpt from Sarah's book Heart of The Kingdom:

(Heart of the kingdom is a story of a king who has lost his kingdom and a knight who has lost his memory...)

“You were a creature of water, and I was a servant of fire. There should be enmity between us.”

When I heard the horse coming up the valley I came out to meet you, my hands empty. The sun was in my eyes so I couldn't see your face, but I saw that you were armed and no casual traveller.

My own clothes had grown ragged— I knew I looked like a peasant.

You drew rein and asked me for water. Then I saw you were hurt. I fetched water in an
earthenware cup. You took it and drank deeply, and then the cup fell from your hand and I caught you, staggering a little with my useless arm, and laid you on the grass. I tethered your horse so she wouldn't stray. Then I took your shield and sword from you and half carried, half dragged you into my cave.

There I tended you. The hem of your cloak was wet like your hair. I stripped the cloak and your shirt and saw the jagged wound on your shoulder where the claws of the beast had torn you. I laid my hand over the marks and sighed. Then I heated water at the fire and crushed herbs to make a poultice to draw out the poison. Even then, the fever held you for three days before it broke. I thought you would die, young and strong though you were. More beautiful than memory. Your dark hair was forever wet, though I did my best to sponge the heat of the fever from your brow. I watched over you for three nights, bringing you cool water to drink and feeding the fire to keep you warm. Finally I rolled myself in your cloak and slept —worn out— knowing I had done all I could and you would live or die. After some hesitation, I laid your sword and shield at your side.

Heart of The Kingdom is available here!





Thanks for coming by, Sarah!