The AwakeDragon Blog

For years, I existed on the internet as “Awakedragon.” (I think my Twitter handle might still be that.) I’m claiming my own name now, but as a nod to my beginnings, this is now the AwakeDragon Blog!

Check out my posts below to see the latest updates in writing and life.

Or check out my novels and short stories here!

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  • When a Fantasy Author goes Grad-Schooling…

    So, if you haven’t heard already, this author decided to go to graduate school (ten years after graduating undergrad). Sticking to the brand apparently, I am working on a degree called Political Ecology, which is basically if politics and environmentalism had an activist baby with every other field of academia.

  • Debut Novels: How My First Publication Came to Exist

    My debut novel, Jagged Emerald City, has a particular story of how it came to be, why it came to be, and what I learned while doing so.

  • On a smokey grey background, the words Blood Price Book Tour are written, with the cover of the book as well. Book cover is a fierce looking white woman with red hair, with a black raven and wolf on either side of her.

    Nicole Evans on Her First Self-Publishing Experience

    My dear friend Nicole Evans has just launched her debut novel: BLOOD PRICE. As someone who has had the privilege to read initial drafts and hear brainstorming sessions, I am so excited that this hauntingly beautiful and real book is coming out into the world.

  • My First Book Convention

    I attended my first convention with my book this previous weekend! It’s called OryCon, and it’s the premier fantasy and sci-fi convention in Oregon (according to them, anyway). It’s been held since 1979, so it’s been around a while. I ended up attending because a family member, months ago, was like hey! I’m going to…

  • Why does publishing your first book ruin your life?

    Okay so this title is a little click-bait-y. But stay with me, because I’ve got a point, an interesting story—and it’s actually positive. This is also going to get personal. Context: if you’ve been following me on Instagram, you probably have seen that my relationship of 13 years, and the life I’d been planning for…

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  • When Writing Plans Derail, Time to Reassess

    Weeelll… my plan to have Obsidian Divide Book 2 drafted by today did not pan out. Writing plans: derailed. So now, I’m trying to find the middle ground between not beating myself up but also holding myself accountable. Overall, I think it came down to a few factors: Middle Act Frustrations I’m not sure what’s…

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  • Accessible Fantasy: Writing the Supernatural that Anyone Can Love

    I receive a review for Jagged Emerald City the other day that got me thinking about accessible fantasy. (Before you say it, yes I know, reviews are for readers not for authors and I’m courting danger here, but I’m still in that initial stage where my book hasn’t attracted enough notice for the nasty reviewers…

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  • How to Craft Writing Goals to Keep on Track

    Book 2 of the Obsidian Divide series needs to be finished, and now that I’m *officially * an author, I should do things like make deadlines and build discipline to make sure I meet them. Thus, I’m diving into creating writing goals for the next several months.

  • How Migraines Inspired My Main Character’s Superpower

    I’m curious, have any of you read books where the main character has migraines? Sometimes I can be really oblivious to elements in my writing. Fairian’s “Episodes” in Jagged Emerald City turns out to be one of those things. Minor spoilers ahead if you haven’t read JEC already!! I’ve suffered from migraines since I was…

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