Iβm about to step up on my soap box. If everyone would pay attention for a
moment, I will explain exactly what YA means. YA refers to the age of the
character in the book, not the age of the reader. The character of a YA novel
will more than likely be sixteen. The age of the reader can vary greatly.
Some people say they donβt read YA because they are not teens. Iβve never been a
male detective, but I enjoy mysteries. Iβve never been an alien, but I enjoy
science fiction. Iβve never been a hobbit, but I enjoy Tolkien. Need I say more?
So, why do I write YA? I love that during the teen years anything seems
possible. Itβs a time to figure out who you are. If you want to become a black
belt, you can sign up for a Karate class. Now, I know I could still sign up for
a Karate class as an adult. If I did, odds are Iβd end up funding a new condo
for my chiropractor. After a certain age the body does not bend and stretch and
bounce like it used to.
On a daily basis, there is a loop of smart ass comments playing in my head. When
I write, I can allow my characters to make all those snarky remarks. And yes,
technically I could say them, but that would lead to me being fired from my day
job and ostracized by my family.
In
GOING DOWN IN FLAMES,
Bryn blurts out inappropriate comments because finding out she is a
shape-shifting dragon turns her life upside down. In the second book,
BRIDGES BURNED, she comes
to terms with some unpleasant truths. In
TRIAL BY FIRE she finds her
footing in this strange new world and begins to carve out her own path.
If youβd like to find out more about my shape-shifting dragon series, come visit
me at
www.chriscannonauthor.com where you can read excerpts of the
books.
Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs,
Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the
ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd
Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you
can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal
adventures. Going Down In Flames is the first book in Chris Cannon's
shape-shifting dragon series.
Brynβs hopes for a peaceful new semester at school go up in smoke when
someone tries to kill herβagain. Sheβs not sure which is scarier, facing the
radicals who want to sacrifice her for their cause, or her impending nightmare
of a Directorate-arranged marriage to her nemesis, Jaxon.
The one bright
spot in her life is Valmont, her smoking-hot knight who is assigned to watch
over her twenty-four hours a day. Is what she feels for him real or just a side
effect of the dragon-knight bond? At this point, stopping the impending civil
war might be easier than figuring out her love life.
She may have to
live in their world, but she doesnβt have to play by their rules.
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