Colorado Author Natli VanDerWerken is Amazon #1 Best Seller
Red Dragon’s Keep made the #1 Amazon Best Seller list in June. The fantasy novel by Colorado native Natli VanDerWerken garnered over 1000 downloads over three days.
“It was awesome,” VanDerWerken exclaimed. “I ran a best seller campaign with the help of “The Book Shepherd” Judith Briles. It was exciting and scary at the same time.”
From choosing the categories to place the book in, to creating ads for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Natli said that she enjoyed finding photos and creating copy for the ads the most.
“The picture of the Dragon’s Eye drew the most comments”, she said. “I have to say, that one really draws you in. It’s as if it’s looking into your soul.”
Red Dragon’s Keep is the first book in her fantasy series “The Dragon’s Children”. It has now won five awards since it was published by Zenith Star Publishing, VanDerWerken’s private publishing imprint. WindRunner, second in the series, also saw a spike in downloads and purchases.
“I just finished DreamWalker, third book in the series. It’s about the daughter of the Duke of Red Dragon’s Keep and her struggles to grow up, take responsibility for her actions, battle demons, and find the third amulet that, when joined into the Power of Dragons talisman, will call the dragons to help them.”
“It’s on its way to my beta readers and then formatting for publication, but I can honestly say it’ll be out by the end of August. Happy dance!”
The Audible copy of Red Dragon’s Keep will also be out by then. Natli has had a very busy summer.
Her books are available on Amazon at bit.ly/RedDragonsKeep
and Barnes & Noble at it.ly/BNRedDragonsKeep
Find out more at natlivanderwerken.com.
Local Author’s WindRunner is Finalist In
Colorado Authors League 79th Writing Contest
WindRunner - Book II
The Dragon's Children
Local Aurora author Natli VanDerWerken has written another award-winning book. Her second book in the five-book series The Dragon’s Children is one of three finalists in the Colorado Authors League 79th Writing Contest.
WindRunner continues the story of the Arach family as demons, evil fey, and dark magic assault their world. A magical WindRunner, inspired by Friesian horses, chooses Owen Arach, second son of the Duke of Red Dragon’s Keep, to find a piece of the powerful talisman that controls Dragons.
Natli started the series with multi-award-winning Red Dragon’s Keep. Inspired by a fairytale she told her grandchildren one Christmas Eve, the main character in each of the five books centers around one of them.
“WindRunner” let me explore the complicated relationships between brothers,” Natli explained. “Owen wants to be as brave and confident as his older brother. He feels useless and jealous and does not know how to deal with those feelings. All of that changes when he must confront the fey of the Darkened Forest, sway the Forest Lords to his cause, and battle demons to get the Aos Si Amulet. The WindRunner, his Sword of Light, and a Dragon help him grow and change.”
While WindRunner didn’t place first in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category, Natli is grateful that the judges thought highly enough of WindRunner to choose it as one of three finalists in the CAL contest. “I’ve entered it in other contests, so we’ll see what happens,” she said.
DreamWalker, the next book in the series, will be available in Summer 2020.
Author Natli VanDerWerken
Natli served in the Navy as a meteorologist and anti-submarine warfare specialist. She used her military background to create authentic battle scenes. She was a 4H leader for twenty years, has served as an officer, historian and webmaster for numerous non-profit organizations, and is a professional Parliamentarian. Natli is a quilter, avid gardener, and raises and shows Shetland Sheepdogs. She lives in Aurora, Colorado with her shelties.
WindRunner is available on Amazon amzn.to/2JImLYz and Barnes and Noble B&N//2K56UTo as an ebook ($4.99) or paperback ($15.00). ISBN 978-0-9991750-3-3.
Colorado Authors League 79th Annual Writing Awards Finalists
First-ever virtual awards ceremony on June 7th
Denver, CO. May 21 – The Colorado Authors League (CAL) is proud to announce that Natli VanDerWerken for WindRunner is a finalist for a 79th Annual CAL Writing Award.
On June 7, at 8:00 p.m., the Colorado Authors League (CAL) will host the first-ever virtual awards ceremony in the organization's 89-year history. The ceremony will be broadcast in a live FaceBook Watch Party as well as being made available on coloradoauthors.org and YouTube.
Each spring since 1942 CAL has recognized multiple works across several different categories and genres and one author with a Lifetime Achievement Award. More than 90 CAL members submitted published works for consideration of this year's writing awards. Past Lifetime Achievement Award winners include poet Lois Beebe Hayna, children’s writer Phyllis Perry, and mystery writer Clive Cussler.
“We are certainly living in unusual times,” says Barb Lundy, CAL President. “In 1931 the founders of CAL wanted Rocky Mountain readers to know our Rocky Mountain authors. With social distancing our new normal, we are excited to showcase our CAL authors and Lifetime Achievement Award winner with a virtual ceremony for all of Colorado to enjoy.”
The Colorado Authors League was founded as an organization of professional writers. Past Presidents include notable Colorado authors Clive Cussler, Rex Burns and Margaret Coel.
WindRunner
May 28, 2019, by Zenith Star Publishing
Contact: Natli VanDerWerken
303 755-5404
[email protected]
HEARTBROKEN OVER THE END OF GAME OF THRONES?
Dragon’s, Demons, and Magic Star in Local Author’s Second Book
May 28, 2019, Aurora, Colorado, USA
The Game of Thrones is over and millions of people are suffering withdrawal symptoms. Natli VanDerWerken has written just the story to take that suffering away — WindRunner.
Book Two in The Dragon’s Children series continues the story of the Arach family as demons, evil fey, and magic assault their world. A magical WindRunner chooses Owen Arach, second son of the Duke of Red Dragon’s Keep, to find a piece of a powerful talisman that controls Dragons.
Natli started the series with multiple award-winning Red Dragon’s Keep. Inspired by a fairytale she told one Christmas Eve, the main character in each of the five books centers around one of her grandchildren.
“WindRunner” let me explore the complicated relationships between brothers,” Natli explained. “Owen wants to be as brave and confident as his older brother. He feels useless and jealous and does not know how to deal with those feelings. All of that changes when he must confront the fey of the Darkened Forest, sway the Forest Lords to his cause, and battle demons to get the Aos Si Amulet. The WindRunner, his Sword of Light, and a Dragon help him grow and change.”
Natli served in the Navy as a meteorologist. She used her military background to create authentic battle scenes. "Someone told me that when he started reading those scenes, his heart began to beat faster. Another reader said she got goosebumps reading another scene. That's a huge compliment!"
She lives in Aurora, Colorado with her shelties.
WindRunner is available on Amazon amzn.to/2JImLYz and Barnes and Noble B&N//2K56UTo as an ebook ($4.99) or paperback ($15.00). ISBN 978-0-9991750-3-3.
Red Dragon's Keep - Book 1 in "The Dragon's Children" Set to Launch
Demons Want to Kill Him - Dragons Need to Save Him
July 13, 2017, Aurora, Colorado, USA
Just in time for Christmas in July, “The Game of Thrones” without the gore.
On July 15, mages, demons, and a talisman that controls dragons plague firstborn son and heir Thomas Arach. An intriguing debut novel, Red Dragon’s Keep is the first book in The Dragon’s Children fantasy series by local Aurora, Colorado author Natli VanDerWerken.
“Red Dragon’s Keep grew out of a fairytale I told my grandchildren one Christmas Eve,” Natli said. “They were tired and cranky getting ready to leave for home, so I told them a story. It was about five children in a castle with dragons, magic swords, and a threat of invasion from a mysterious source. They loved it. Their parents did too, sitting down in coats and boots to listen.”
Natli fell in love with science fiction and fantasy when she was twelve. She has always loved the idea of dragons - the myths and the stories. She thought she might be a veterinarian, a chemical engineer, or an astronaut. She became a meteorologist in the Navy instead.
Natli is a website designer, quilter, and raises Shetland Sheepdogs.
Red Dragon’s Keep is a coming of age action-packed novel. Thomas Arach wants desperately to earn his father’s respect. When danger threatens, will his father finally let him learn how to fight? Sabotage and treason change Thomas’s life forever.
Red Dragon’s Keep creates a world filled with secret passages, amulets and talismans, magic and Swords of Light. Will Thomas learn the lessons of war, master the magic in his blood, find the Dragon Amulet, and make everything ready before the Demons arrive? Can he bring everything together to save Red Dragon’s Keep?
Contact:
1505 S Norfolk St, Aurora, CO 80017
303 755-5404
https://www.facebook.com/natlivanderwerken.author/
Purchase Red Dragon’s Keep at Amazon.com on July 15. There WILL be Dragons.
July 7, 2017 Red Dragon’s Keep YA Fantasy Novel Set to Launch July 15 _ YourHub
