November 14, 2018 by Natli VanDerWerken, Zenith Star Publishing
Red Dragon’s Keep, by Aurora, Colorado author Natli VanDerWerken took a Finalist Award in the Fiction: Fantasy category of the Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest.
There’s one winner in each category and six finalists. 2,000 books were entered in the overall contest.
The full book listing is available at AmericanBookFest.com: http://americanbookfest.com/generalfiction/fantasyscifi.html
A major publicity campaign by American Book Fest announcing the award results is underway and will continue throughout the holiday season. A national press release will be sent out next week to media outlets and publishing industry contacts.
Natli said “I’m delighted to be honored with this award. It’s the fourth award that Red Dragon’s Keep has received this year.”
“It’s the story of a very young man who must master the magic in his blood, learn to wield his Sword of Light, and find the Talisman that will call the Dragons to help save his home and his world,” she said. “If you like Tolkien, Harry Potter or Percy Jackson’s books, you’re going to love Red Dragon’s Keep.”
“The book was inspired by a story I told to my five grandchildren one Christmas Eve. We’d finished with opening presents and dinner. The kids were tired and a little whiny and I could hear their parents getting testy. I sat down in the living room and said “I’ve got a story for you.” The kids were putting on boots and coats by the front door. “Once upon a time, there were three families with five children who lived in a castle. The parents had to go to help the King, but they didn’t have anyone to watch the children. The parents decided to ask the Dragon who lived in the basement if she would watch them.” The story grew from there, with magic swords and bandits attacking the castle and something scary living in the dungeon.
I’m telling the story and pretty soon I notice that all five grandkids are sitting in a semi-circle at my feet, listening with rapt attention. I continue on, finally realizing that quite a bit of time has passed. I look up and my three girls and their husbands are sitting around the room, listening just as attentively as the grandkids. Oh boy. How do I finish this? I did, with the grandkids and the Dragon capturing all of the bad guys and the parents returning from the palace. I realized right then that I needed to write this story.”
Natli has a Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, designs websites, shows Shetland Sheepdogs, creates quilts and writes fantasy and science fiction. She served in the Navy as a meteorologist and anti-submarine warfare specialist.
For more information, Natli can be found at https://www.natlivanderwerken.com, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/natlivanderwerken.author .
You’re going to love this book.
We talked about writing stories. The librarian, Ms. Juliana Reid, has been teaching the students about the important parts of a story: beginning, middle, and end. Conflict, climax, crisis. I asked questions, and they knew the answers. Good job, Ms. Reid.
I was at the Colorado Authors League Book Fest at the Denver Public Library on March 3rd. Talked to four librarians, other authors and lots of people interested in Red Dragon’s Keep and writing. On one side of my spot was a horror writer, on the other a women’s fiction author and right near us was a historian. It was really fun and educational.
