Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:
Welcome to another Friday Author Spotlight! This week I have Kandi J Wyatt returning with her new release, Dragon's Heritage. I've also had the privilege of interviewing Mere, a character from the story, so keep reading.
Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.Connect with the Author
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About the Book
In a world where dragons fly free and dragon riders are honored by all, sixteen-year-old Mere struggles with her place. Everyone in her family is a dragon rider, except for her. When a bully begins to rub it in, Mere’s insecurities come to a head. Upon seeing her so upset, Grandma Duskya gives Mere her old journal; a book inscribed with the family’s special heritage.Will Grandma’s journal help Mere see that not everyone has to be the same to be special? Will it help Mere acquire the courage to stand up for herself?
Start from the very beginning in this exciting prequel to the middle grade fantasy Dragon Courage series, Dragon’s Heritage by Kandi J Wyatt.
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Keep reading for an interview with Mere from Dragon's Heritage:
Where were you born, and what was it like growing up there?
I was born in our home in Boeskay. I'm told Grandma Duskya was there as was Aunt Cassandra. I don't remember it, but the story goes that it was an easy birthing.
Da owns the smithy in Boeskay. We've always lived here. I went to school in town and had the opportunity to visit Grandma and Grandda on weekends and most weekdays after school. I can't imagine living anywhere else. I've visited other places and always find my heart coming back to the farm fields of Boeskay.
What is the happiest memory from your childhood?
Hm, I think that would be the times spent with Uncle Kyn and Aunt 'Rena. We had all kinds of good memories from their visits or us going with Ma and Da to visit them. Probably the funnest times are when we go to the youngling challenge. That was started by Uncle Kyn. I remember having mock sword battles with my brother, listening to stories around the campfire into the late night, spending time with Grandma and Grandda and Uncle Kyn and Aunt "Rena and all the cousins on Grandma's side. Then there were the dragons! The youngling challenge had dragons everywhere. Us kids were able to play around them, and some of them even let us ride them.
Who is your enemy? What makes you enemies?
That's an easy answer, Alyshia. She really was my best friend at first, but then she became a dragon rider. I'm not a rider. Now she takes every opportunity to rub it in my face. I hate it. I'm learning how to not break down in tears of frustration or haul off and hit her! It's taken some doing.
Who do you most admire in your world?
My Grandma Duskya!
Why?
She's the best person to sit and listen to you when you talk. She'll sip her tea and nod at all the right places. She also tells the best stories. I love them. She's a good storyteller. I've always enjoyed listening to them, and only recently did I discover she wrote stories as well.
Tell us a little about your world, and where you fit in?
I live in the town of Boeskay. It's just south of the inland sea. We're a couple days dragon flight from Woolpren and Three Spans Canyon where my grandma's brother and his family lives. Da's the blacksmith here in Boeskay, and Grandda Cerulean is head of the dragon colony. I guess, I really don't know where I fit in. I'm learning. Uncle Darryn's invited me to help his wife with the herbs and midwifery. I'm really enjoying that. I think I'd love to grow herbs and help babies.
What is your greatest fear?
Oh, now that's an easy question to answer, but not to voice outloud. You see, my great-grandpa was the breeder of dragons in Three Spans Canyon. My grandma and her brother are riders as are my ma and her brother. My cousin's a rider and my brother's a rider. Everyone's had a dragon choose them, except me. I'm afraid that I'll never become a dragon rider.
How will you overcome it?
Overcoming that fear? Well, it's been a process. I think learning who I am has helped. I've discovered there's more to my family history than dragons. There's an herb called Calamadyn that grew in the northern canyons where Grandma Duskya grew up. That herb has given my family different abilities. I'm just learning what that means for me. I think it will help me keep the fear at bay.
What is the strangest situation you've ever found yourself in?
That would be the day a storm passed by without any clouds. I was ready to fight Alyshia when my uncle, Darryn, came along. I could have sworn the temperature dropped by ten degrees and the sky darkened with clouds. However, when I looked up, I saw clear skies! I couldn't understand it. It took my grandma to help me understand what I perceived as a weather change was really the emotions of anger coming from my uncle.
What are your hobbies?
I love herbs. I'm learning how to distill the essential oils from the plants and then to create salves, tinctures, and ointments to help Aunt Cassandra. I also enjoy growing the herbs. I find it relaxing to weed the beds and the aromas are so wonderful.
What is your favorite food?
Without a doubt it's tea. I love it hot on a cold winter's night and iced cold in the humid summer. Grandma Duskya has a nice relaxing blend that she brought with her from her home. Ma has her own version of tea. I think my favorite is mint with lemon grass, thyme, and rosemary. In the hot of summer it's a wonderful way to cool off. In the winter, I add lemon and honey and it helps with sore throats.
If you had one day left to live, what would you do with your last day?
If you would have asked me that a winter ago, I wouldn't have had the same answer. Now, however, I know I'd spend it helping bring babies into the world. It is the most rewarding and exhausting experience ever. I love the contact with their small minds and being able to comfort them. Knowing I've eased their discomfort and brought another human into the world is the best thing ever.
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