Dragon Clans: Sequel to Dragon Flame YA Series

Thank you Rebecca and Teen Word Factory for inviting me to the Teen Word Factory blog.

'Dragon Clans' is a fantasy young adult book. the sequel to 'Dragon Flame'. The second book continues the story a few years after the humans have come to an understanding with the dragons.

The four dragon clans are wary of the outcast red dragons who have attacked with provocation in the past. When the reds once again appear in their skies and cause destruction to the sentient forest, the dragons of the clan treaty ask the humans for help.

Sie is human, but the reds rescue her from the sea and invite her to become part of their clan. Can she help her dragon family to find a peaceful solution to the feud between them and the treaty dragons?

I love dragons. I know they're mythical creatures but they are the most well known of the beasts of fantasy. Dragon stories always attract me so it's natural for me to write about them. Series with stand alone books are also a favorite with me which is why I have made this a series with a third book to come.

My very own dragon is made of stone, others think he's a garden ornament but both he and I know he's a dragon just waiting to emerge from his stone covering. I've included a photo of him - isn't he cute?

Below is an excerpt and I hope you'll leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook selected randomly from commenters at the end of the tour.

Buy Link:    http://tinyurl.com/dragonclans

Webpage:   http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Excerpt

Her orange and female companion indicated the difference in colors to be between male and female. The majority of dragons doing food preparation were smaller than the one beside her so she guessed they were young, but they were a mixture of genders.

Essi. An orange dragon came forward when Benare called. This is the human you heard call for help. I am making you responsible for her. Find some warm clothing for her and feed her.

With a nod to Sie, the healer turned and moved away.

My name's Essi. The dragon sounded a bit shy. What should I call you?

"I'm Sie. Do you mind if I sit down? I'm feeling a bit dizzy."

Sit over here. Essi indicated a flat rock a short distance away. I'll bring you something to eat.

Visions of raw meat flicked through Sie's mind. What did dragons eat? Essi returned holding a flat rock. Several different fruits and an unusual cake sat on top of the rock, and the young dragon placed it beside Sie, then scrunched down on her back legs.

Eat. We can talk after you have food inside you.

Sie picked up some fruit and bit into it. The juices ran down her throat soothing a path through the soreness caused by swallowing sea water. She took a tentative bite of the cake. It tasted delicious. Made of fruit, it had been compressed and blended to make a cake texture. In moments it vanished.

You have finished? Come, we will find you something warm to wear. Essi led the way to some caves in the rocky walls of the valley. The large opening allowed light into the cave, and Essi began to rummage through piles of hides and skins.

Ah, here we are. The dragon held up a rectangle of thick fur against Sie's body then folded it in half down the narrow edge. With one of her sharp talons she slit the center at the top, leaving a small piece of fur at either end. When Essi offered her the skin, Sie looked at her in bewilderment. What did the dragon want her to do?

Pull it over your head.

"Oh." Sie pushed her head through the slit and found the fur hung from her shoulders to her knees. The flight to the dragon settlement had dried her clothes, and with this extra cover her body warmed up. Essi picked up a bigger fur skin and led the way to a small cave. Near the back Sie could see a heaped pile of animal furs and dried vegetation.

These are my sleeping quarters, Essi explained. You can sleep here for now. I'll be busy outside for a while. Use this as a cover.

The dragon handed Sie the larger fur. Clambering up on the bedding Sie pulled the covering over her and snuggled down.

"Thank you, Essi." A yawn stopped her saying anything further. Her eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep.