Truth (Makilien Trilogy) available for Nook

Just a quick announcement for those who have a Nook rather than a Kindle or other e-reader that Truth is now available from Barnesandnoble.com. Only $2.99!

 

C is for Carmine

Today’s A-Z post is about the stunning and majestic dragon named Carmine. I hardly know where to begin. In writing through Makilien, Carmine has become one of my most favorite characters, even more so than I ever expected when I first created him. He is one of those characters you begin writing with a fairly basic idea and before you know it, the more they grow in your mind and on paper (or computer screen) the bigger their role becomes in the story.

 

His name, his character, I love everything about him. I love the sense of deep wisdom about him and his nobility. Carmine is the oldest character in the story—around 300 years old (a dragon’s average lifespan is about 500)—so he’s seen a lot. He is a guardian, a protector to the people of Eldor. He knows this is the reason Elohim created dragons, to be helpers and companions to the Humans and Elves, and he takes this responsibility seriously. Despite his intimidating appearance and being a fierce warrior, he is also very kind.

 

Part of what makes Carmine so interesting is that he is from a very different era than you see in Makilien. He is only one of three known dragons who still live and fight for Eldor. Generations ago, evil men would hunt down dragons for their scales, teeth, claws, and spines. The dragons became so disgusted that all but five left Eldor. Carmine is the only one left of the original five, and the only one who still remembers that time. His steadfast loyalty to the people of Eldor proves not only his honor, but his faith.

 

And how can I not mention his name? Carmine is another word for “red.” I always planned for Carmine to be a red dragon and thought it would be interesting to name my dragons after the color of their scales. In looking up synonyms for red, I found the word carmine and it was an instantly perfect fit.

 

Though Carmine doesn’t have a big role in Truth, expect him to show up quite a bit more in Courage. :)

 

 

Carmine Painting:

B is for Baltar

 

Today’s A-Z post is about a character who is not an active part of Makilien, but you do hear mention of him scattered throughout the trilogy. As is touched on briefly in Truth, Baltar is very important to the history of Eldor, the main country in the trilogy. He was the leader of seven people who left an oppressed country in the south, journeying north to find a place to settle and serve Elohim (God) in peace.

 

That story has always been interesting for me to imagine—to think of a man living with his family in oppression and one day finally deciding he would rather face the unknown than conform to the standards of the rest of his people. And so with his family and a couple friends, he set out north toward countries he had no knowledge of. They passed through plains, deserts, mountains, and forests, and after months of travel, finally came upon beautiful and fertile plains unlike any they’d seen. I’m sure they felt the promise of this new country.

 

Through Baltar’s desire to remain steadfast and true to his faith came the country of Eldor. Founded on Baltar’s principles, it has remained a country of strength, courage, and faith. Always its leaders are reminded that their strength is not their own, but Elohim’s. And because of this, the country is blessed, and has, in a way, become a shield against evil, protecting the lesser countries it is allied with. It is important to the people of Eldor to pass down that sense of honor and nobility that started with Baltar.

 

Photo by flaivoloka