Shéa MacLeod - Dragon Warrior - Author Interview and Book Review

Dragon Warrior
By: Shéa MacLeod
A man without a past.
A woman without a future.
A world destroyed by monsters.
All that’s left is hope.

In Rain Mauri’s post-apocalyptic world there are no shades of gray when it comes to survival. Until she meets a Dragon Warrior and discovers nothing is as simple as it seems.

Together, Rain and the Dragon Warrior must uncover the truth behind the nightmare their world has become. Their quest will put them in the crosshairs of a ruthless enemy, but with her determination and his skill, they might just save their race from destruction. If they can save each other first.

My review: 

 Superb story! I really enjoy reading Dragon Warrior. The author really knows how to bring the characters to life. They both realistic and had depth.  The plot and pace flowed smoothly and keep me intrigued. The world setting was nicely created. Overall I would recommend this book and any book/series written by this author.  The cover?? *Drool*.

 My rating: 5 stars!

Author Interview:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m the author of urban fantasy post-apocalyptic sci-fi paranormal romances with a twist of steampunk. Mostly because I can’t decide which genre I like best.

I’m originally from Portland, Oregon, but now live in London, UK just a stone’s throw from the local cemetery. Which probably explains a lot.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Definitely. It began with reading. My parents are both big readers and my mother used to take us to the library every week for story time and to check out books. I was just so in love with words and stories, I wanted to create some of my own. Now I do.

What surprised you the most about the writing/publishing process?

I guess that I could publish on my own without an agent or traditional publisher and still turn out quality work. Not only that but be successful and make a living at it.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

The voices tell me what to do.
Kidding! Sort of.
I tend to get an idea for a storyline or a character and I mull it over for awhile, letting it really sink in. Then I give a call to my cousin in America and we have a brain storming session. She’s amazing at helping me hash out ideas and details (and she knows how my brain works so doesn’t get scared when I start talking demons and murder!). Usually by the time we’re done, I’ve got a much clearer image in my head. So from there I write down a basic outline. My outlines are quite fluid and usually change drastically as I write and rewrite.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

My favorite quote about writing is from Stephen King: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” I find this to be so true. Reading is like a writer’s continued education. The very best writers are as obsessed with reading as they are with writing.

As for the stories themselves, I think the most important elements are believable characters, a good flow to the story, and a nice balance of action and conversation. At least, that’s what works for me as a reader.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Dragon Warrior is the first book of the Dragon Wars series. It’s a post-apocalyptic adventure with elements of paranormal romance AND dragons! It’s also kind of got that edgy urban fantasy feel to it. I think both PNR and UF fans will really enjoy it, along with anyone who likes a bit of sci-fi or dystopian fiction.

In Twitter Fashion use 140 characters or less, sum Dragon Warrior for us. 

A man without a past.
A woman without a future.
A world destroyed by monsters.
All that’s left is hope.

How did you come up with a story that was such a whirl wind of events?

I’ve always loved apocalyptic fiction. Stephen King’s The Stand is my all-time favorite. So, writing something post-apocalyptic was definitely in the cards. And if you’ve read my blog, you know that I’m convinced everything is better with dragons. Add to that the fact that I love a man in uniform (Who doesn’t!), and the whole thing just sort of came together.


How long did it take you to write it, and did you have any writer’s block along the way?

Well, I had the idea for it some time ago and wrote down notes and characters. But the actual start to finish writing process didn’t take very long. Less than two months. I just really sat down and banged it out. Then it was a matter of edits and rewrites and all that fun stuff.

I never suffer from writer’s block. But there are days when I just don’t feel like writing or the words come slowly. I tend to go with it because I know there are days when I’m manic and can write 10k words!

Will we be seeing a following book to this story? 

I’m writing this interview in the middle of December, so right now I’m just finishing up edits on Kissed by Smoke (the third book in my Sunwalker Saga series – you reviewed the first two books) which will be published later this month. I’ve also started writing Dragon Lord, the sequel to Dragon Warrior (which will be out Feb of 2012). I originally planned Dragon Wars to be a trilogy, but it’s now looking like there will be a fourth book. Possibly more.

How did you come up with the character Rain?

I wanted a female lead who was strong, independent, and who was very comfortable in this new, not-so-bright, future. I wanted a woman who was willing to fight tooth and nail for those she loves, someone who was very pragmatic, but who could still see a glimmer of hope. From that, Rain appeared. It was easy to write her. It still is.

I always must ask, if you could pick one actor to portray Dragon Warrior on the big screen who would it be and why?

Ohhh... that’s a tough one! Jack (the Sunwalker) was always so easy because I had Gerard Butler in mind when I wrote him. But with Micah (the Dragon Warrior), I didn’t have a specific person in mind. I did a “Fantasy Casting” on my blog awhile back and I ended up casting Ian Somerhalder. Although he comes off as a 20-something pretty boy, in reality the actor is in his 30s. He can be very intense and, when roughed up a bit, I think he could bring out some of the sexiness of Micah. He’s not nearly big enough (after all, Micah is genetically enhanced), but what can you do? Lol Also, he’s got those gorgeous blue eyes, which is absolutely key for Micah.

Was there anything you find particularly challenging when writing this book?

In this world there is a faction of military-like men who call themselves “Marines”. They are NOT like the Marines of today. They’re thugs, basically, who use and abuse people they should be protecting. I found this really hard to write because I have a huge amount of respect for the US military and have lots of friends and family who have served. But this is an ugly future where ugly people have done some pretty terrible things. I got some flak from one of my critique partners for dissing the military like that. That made me wobble a bit. I didn’t want people thinking that’s what I was doing. But then I decided to stay true to my story and my vision. And I’m glad I did. It’s very clear to anyone reading the book that dissing the military is NOT what I’m doing. And I think Micah Caine represents everything that is good and noble about our country and our military juxtaposed with the clear representation of everything that is dark and ugly about human nature.

What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of your finished book?

Frankly, I loved it. I mean, hello! He’s smoking hot! Lol But honestly? I love the cover for book 2 (Dragon Lord) even more.




Follow Shéa MacLeod and Her Books:
Web Site: http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Shea_MacLeod
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sh%C3%A9a-MacLeod/139997056073174

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