More Green than Envy - NaNo ‘13

Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the closeness of NaNoWriMo?

*noises of panic resound*

Ahem. Better yet, let’s not.

Well, over the last two weeks I’ve introduced my main characters, Leiden and Darven, the ones I shall be typing madly over for the entirety of November. Now we know who I’m writing about, but exactly what am I writing for NaNo?

Well, when I first participated back in 2010 I started the first book of a series about dragon riders. Ever since, I write each book of that series for each NaNo. This being my 4th NaNo I shall be writing the 4th book of the series. There should be 7 books in total (although the number keeps changing >.>) so I still have a few NaNo’s with this series to go. It’s going to be a strange day when the NaNo comes that I’m not writing in the Colors of a Dragon Scale series anymore. I’ve gotten comfortable visiting this world each November. Still got a few years to go though, right?

Colors of a Dragon Scale Series

In the great land of Aerigethel, dragons lay down their eggs every twenty-three years and entrust the humans to care for them. Seven years later, the eggs are ready to be hatched. From all over the land, people come to touch the eggs, for if the egg lights up upon their touch, they are chosen as that dragon's keeper and rider. After extensive training, these special chosen ones are proclaimed dragon riders, and keep watch over their land alongside their dragons.

In the region of Sivral, ten young people have finished their training and celebrate their new call of a dragon rider. The merry festivities of that day are quickly ruined when the princess of Sivral, Princess Iraila, is captured by mysterious beings. Though they have only been real dragon riders for less than a day's time, the new dragon riders of Sivral are each sent out in pairs all across Aerigethel on a quest to find the princess and bring her back safely.

Though many wars have taken place throughout its long history, Aerigethel has had a few years of peace. But now Iraila's capture is just the beginning of many perilous events that causes this world to fall into war again, and the dragon riders might be its only hope.

Each book follows a different pair of dragon riders until the final two books which will feature them all. For blurbs of the first three books you can check out this post.

This year’s book is entitled More Green than Envy and follows, as you know, the adventures of Leiden and Darven.

More Green than Envy
(CoaDS Book 4)

Darven has never been one to take to people. His last wish is to be partnered up with someone as energetic as Leiden, an overly hyper elf who seems to have way too much to say. Unfortunately for Darven, both these young men end up with green dragons, putting them together as dragon rider partners for the next thirty years. It's a journey of nonstop chatter on Leiden's part and annoyance on Darven's when the two and their dragons, Barveris and Gaelasil, are sent to the region to the east to search for the captured Princess Iraila.

Ordeth supposedly was on friendly enough terms with their home region Sivral, so when they cross the border and meet up with flying arrows aiming straight for them they know something is wrong.

Peril is thrust upon these two riders and their dragons as they discover tyranny, enslavement, and the threat of a looming war across all of Aerigethel in the borders of this region.

Imprisonment, torture, and loss force these young men to learn to rely on one another, and that even in the direst times there is always hope to cling to.

After putting together the outline last week, I’ve realized this is going to be the most intense book I’ve ever written. I don’t know how it ended up that way. It wasn’t really planned. I never exactly let my characters get off easy, but for Leiden and Darven. . .well, let’s just say their book isn’t going to be all that fun for them. But I like books like that, books that aren’t afraid to be severe but, in the end, show a powerful message of hope and light and God’s love, and that’s just how I hope this book turns out.

I have a feeling it’s going to keep me on my toes from November 1st to the 30th. And I greatly look forward to it!

So who else is participating in NaNo? What are you writing this year? I’d love to hear about it!