“I Get High with a Little Help from My Friends” by Jackie Gamber
Literary Underworld Blog Tour
“I Get High with a Little Help from My Friends”
by Jackie Gamber, author of Book I and II of the Leland Dragon Series
Yes, we all know what the Beatles meant about getting high with friends, and no, that’s not my interpretation of the title for this blog; the second in a “Friends” series for the Literary Underworld blog tour. A big thank you to Sara for hosting me on her blog!
But what is the Literary Underworld? It’s a consortium of friends–spreading the word, selling books, and helping each other. Purchases help support authors, small presses, artists and other creative folks trying to survive in trying economic times. With categories such as Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Thriller, Paranormal, and more, there’s something for everyone.
That’s why I’m here. To support fellow writers while they, in turn, support me. It’s all about getting a little bit higher each day. About friends making footholds with their hands and hoisting each other up; not scrabbling up the ladder by climbing over each others’ backs. The world needs more of the former sort of getting high with friends, don’t you think?
As an author, I’ve written all sorts of stories (and I’ve won some awards!), a little poetry, and even some flash fiction. I’m a genre girl, born and bred. I love science fiction, fantasy, and the dark, spooky stuff. Give me Ray Bradbury or Poe or Shelley, and a weekend of blankets and tea to go with it, and that’s my bliss. Right now, I’m writing Book Three of the Leland Dragon Series, through Seventh Star Press, as well as a steampunk fantasy novel, through New Babel Books. I’m also an award-winning editor, and my “Scary Psyches” issue is due soon from Shroud Magazine.
But it was in the process of writing my novel, Redheart, that I first became sensitized to the harsh effects modern media had on shaping human perception of dragons. Of course there are those dragons who fall prey to a darker nature, with the occasional stealing of a cow or razing of a village, but should those violent few paint the portrayal of all dragonkind? I realized I could use my gift to be the voice for all dragons everywhere, allowing humans to see that we have more in common with these misunderstood creatures than we realize. The human condition applies to them, as much as us.
In this continuing series for the Literary Underworld blog tour, I’d like to offer another excerpt about dragon safety and awareness from my presentation “Dragonspotter’s Survival Guide”. After all, would you know what to do if you came face to face, for example, with a Pedemontanum Somatochlora (banded emerald)? Read on and increase your chances of survival.
Open attacks on humans are rare, less than 12 documented predatory attacks resulting in death in the last 100 years in the U.S. However, there are three common ways to find yourself at odds with a common dragon. Never–
- Openly threaten a fledgling.
- Surprise one within its natural surroundings.
- Show carelessness in regards to food clean up and storage.
It’s fairly easy to avoid these situations, common sense prevails here. As well, dragons have superb hearing and acute sense of smell. If a dragon hears or smells you coming, you may never see him or her at all. As such, noise is an effective defense. If in a group of people, chances are you’re already making enough noise to be heard. If alone, it may behoove you to wear a bell or string of bells around your neck, or hum loudly to the tune of a familiar camp song. If you happen to lack a sense of tone, there is the added benefit of actually making the dragon run from you.
Remember, dragons aren’t dangerous; lack of understanding of dragons is dangerous. The next dragon you meet might just be your next BFF.
Be sure to stop by the Literary Underworld today at http://www.literaryunderworld.com/ and check it out! And use this special discount code to do your shopping for yourself and your friends:
LUBLOGTOUR
Jackie Gamber is the award-winning author of “Redheart” and “Sela”, Books One and Two of the Leland Dragon Series, now available! For more information about Jackie and her mosaic mind, visit http://www.jackiegamber.com
And meet Jackie elsewhere on the world wide web at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/JackieGamber
http://www.twitter.com/JackieGamber
http://www.facebook.com/jackiegamber
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