When Lightning Strikes, You Find a Dragon

By Lyndi Lamont (Guest Blogger)

I love dragon shifter stories and wanted to write one, but for a long time, I didn’t have a story idea. One night, my last thought before fall asleep was that I wanted to write a dragon shifter story someday. That night I had a vivid dream about a young woman running away from a lightning storm. She found shelter in a cave where a dragon guarded its lair.

For a week, I mulled over possibilities about turning the dream into a story. Then I had a sleepless night. As I lay in bed in the middle of the night, trying in vain to asleep, the story started coming to me. I knew I had to get it down, so I got out of bed at 4AM, went into the living room, grabbed a yellow pad and started writing. (When I tell this story to non-writers, they look at me like I’ve lost my mind, but other writers understand.)

When I was done writing, I had the outline for what became Tova's Dragon. The muse had gifted me with a Norse-style legend about a young woman who was descended from Thor and could channel lightning, if she could just get over her fear of the power. More urgently, she had the power to save the kingdom, but needed the help of Kane, the last dragon lord in Velosia. My creative brain had been metaphorically struck by lightning.

But I still didn’t know much about dragons, so it was time to delve into the research books. I learned that most Western dragon lore is of the “dragons are dangerous, be very, very afraid” variety. Since I write romance, not horror, I didn’t find most of the information particularly helpful. So I turned to Chinese dragon lore, which has a more benign view of dragons. After all, the Chinese emperors were supposedly descended from dragons! I discovered that the soul of a Chinese dragon is kept safe in a pearl, a notion that plays an important part in the dark moment of the story.

I was so enthused by the story I might have gone a little overboard. For inspiration, I went to the local New Age store and bought myself a dragon figurine. Isn’t he cute?

I picked up a copy of the delightful Celtic Dragon Tarot deck and book. I love tarot cards and often find them useful for creative work. I also read  Dancing with Dragons: Invoke Their AgelessWisdom and Power

by D.J. Conway, a New Age / Occult Magic book that proved helpful.

I did not, however, actually try to conjure up a dragon elemental! Some things shouldn’t be tried at home.

Tova's Dragon

by Lyndi Lamont

Amber Quill Press

Genres: Fantasy / Shapeshifter / Fairy Tales / Witchcraft / Magic

Heat Level: 3

Length: Novella (20k words)

Tova, an earth mage, rejuvenates through sex magic. She's on a mission to save her homeland, but her magical energy is running low--closing in on empty. How is she to know the handsome half-naked man she encounters is not only a condemned man, but also a dragonshifter? Talk about hot and steamy sex. And nothing is simple after that...

Kane has always loved Velosian women and their sex magic. Tova's warmth stirs his passions and her courage touches his heart, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. But Tova is made of sterner stuff.

Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia. If they survive, can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter? In a land where sex and magic are intertwined, anything may be possible.

Buy Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/TovasDragon.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AZAN0U/

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tovas-dragon-lyndi-lamont/1112495654

Excerpt

Tova awoke to find herself on a soft bed wrapped in the embrace of a very hot, very aroused man. She opened her eyes and looked around the dimly lit chamber. “Where am I?”

“In my cave. You fell and hit your head.”

She squirmed around to stare at the man, and it all came back to her—the climb up the mountain, the lightning storm, being guided to the cave, and falling in the tunnel. “Your cave,” she repeated. “And you are?”

“I am Kane.”

Why did his name sound so familiar? She studied the face just inches from her own. He was older than she, perhaps in his third decade. Long black hair hung down to his shoulders and his eyes were a warm shade of amber under straight black brows. Her gaze dropped to sensual lips above a cleft chin. He was handsome as sin and naked to the waist. A shiver traveled up her spine and her heartbeat increased.

Around his neck he wore a heavy gold chain with a large, luminous pearl dangling from it. When she reached out to touch the pearl, she sensed power radiating from it, from him. “It was you who guided me to the cave, was it not? I thank you.”

“It was my pleasure, daughter of earth.”

She smiled at the apt nickname. “I am called Tova Svensdottir.”

“How are you feeling, Mistress Tova?”

She assessed the situation. Though she was warmer, her head still hurt and her energy was depleted. Self-healing would take a long time in this state. “Weak, a feeling I can ill afford.”

“Where were you headed in such a hurry?” he asked, his voice casual. “What on earth brought you to my mountain?”

She hesitated, not certain whether or not to trust him. Mutti Zee’s instructions echoed in her head. “I seek the Lord of Drakkenberg.”

Kane raised his brows. “You have come to the right place, though the old lord is dead.”

Suddenly, she realized who he was and scooted away from him. ’Twas just her luck to be rescued by the most feared outlaw in the land. “Please do not hurt me, Kane of Drakkenberg.”

With a sigh, he rose from the bed, clad only in his breeches and hose. “I would never hurt you, Lady Tova. I am not the monster legend depicts me. Well, not entirely.”

About the Author

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.

Find her online at:

Website: http://lindalyndi.com

Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamont

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamont

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LyndiLamont/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Thanks for hosting me today, Lisabet!

What’s your favorite kind of paranormal hero? Leave a comment below for a chance to win a $5.00 Starbucks e-gift card. And this month, check out my October Paranormal Blogfest for a chance to win a Halloween-themed gift basket at http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/.