James Riley was inspired by the book bans across the country, and added dragons to make "The Dragon's Apprentice" more fun.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
The inspiration for "The Dragon's Apprentice" started out from all the book bans happening across this country, as I wanted to explore why those in power are so afraid of books and ideas. And then I added in some dragons, because dragons make everything more fun.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
To me, it means readers seeing themselves in the pages of a story, and knowing they're not alone. And hopefully it helps them on the journey toward accepting themselves and taking pride in who they are, even if it's just a small step.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Whatever else books are or can be, at their core they let us see what it's like to live another person's life, to see how and why they're thinking and feeling what they're thinking and feeling. Reading about a character who is completely different from you can help open your mind, create empathy and compassion, and show the strength that comes with diversity of thought and being. And for those readers who are traditionally underrepresented in books, it's a reminder that their stories are equally as valid as anyone else's, and as important to tell.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"The Dragon's Apprentice" is all about whether we all deserve magic in our lives, or if someone else can tell us we're not worthy of it. Ciara, our 12-year-old hero, thinks magic is for everyone, while the Draconic Empire insists that only the worthy can use it, or Bad Things Will Happen. Will we learn who's right? (Spoiler: Yes, it's Ciara.)
What can fans expect from your book?
Lots of humor, especially between Ciara and her dragon mentor, Scorch; questions about who gets to make choices for us; and maybe even a little heartbreak. Oh, and cliffhangers. I LOVE writing cliffhangers, probably because I'm mean.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
More Dragon's Apprentice (working on book 3 in the series at the moment), and after that, I've got a graphic novel in the works, more ideas for books for kids, and maybe even a cozy fantasy book for adults someday!
Check out more about the book here.
