“The Color of Fire” begs the question, what would the world be like without art, and where does creativity and inspiration come from? Advance Reader Copy. Get to know this sure to become a classic story in its early incarnation.
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\nThe characters:
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Eadelyn (Eady for short): Heroine
\nEadelyn is a young woman newly 18, from the desolate, barren land of Jehjuna. Still retaining what others call “the sight,” a gift long ago lost, Eadelyn strives to create and draw the beauty she sees in her mind, even if there isn’t much beauty left. This proves difficult in the oppressed world she resides in; but, Eadelyn can’t ignore the electricity constantly flowing through her veins, in spite of the king’s ban on all forms of creativity and expression. Eadelyn is caring, compassionate, driven, and quick-witted. She follows her passions and senses, which leads her to discover that her art holds more strength and power than she realized.
\nSeraphim: Main Character
\nSeraphim is the sum of many majestic noble creatures; but, being as he is not fully any of them, Seraphim doesn’t look majestic nor feel noble. He is half-dragon, one-quarter human, and one-quarter unicorn. Seraphim starts out as extremely insecure, constantly picked on, and wishing to blend in with the scenery- proving near impossible when sticking out like a sore thumb. He could easily be scary, and powerful; but, that just isn’t his nature. Being part unicorn, he tends to be sensitive and compassionate. He also can’t help but get choked up at something sappy and romantic or get teary at a good drama story. When Seraphim turns 22, he becomes aware of strange abilities stemming from his heritage, and that a prophecy involving him and the very fate of the world has now been set in motion.
\nRiley: Main Character
\nRiley is a 23-year-old werewolf with a death wish and is considered to be on the lowest tier of society in Ensorcellous. He smokes like a chimney, is rarely sober, and openly hates himself. Riley is also tactless, sarcastic, impulsive, and a self-serving womanizer. He is the self-appointed best friend of Seraphim, but only because he usually gets free meals and a place to crash when drunk. Although Riley seems like a low-life and borderline antagonist at times, he has some redeeming qualities and learns a lot about himself when he begrudgingly gets dragged along on the journey.
\nGrandpa Burnard: Main Character
\nGrandpa Burnard is a massive, ancient dragon who has seen many lifetimes. Powerful and wise, with a no-nonsense attitude, he serves as mentor and guide to Seraphim.
\nLesandra: Antagonist
\nLesandra is an ancient dragon from the beginning of time who is gifted with powers and charged, along with her brother, with overseeing balance and harmony in the world. When envy and corruption grow inside of her, Lesandra seeks to prove her superiority and influence over the human race and sparks a war, almost annihilating her own kind.
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\n“The Color of Fire” begs the question, what would the world be like without art, and where does creativity and inspiration come from? For centuries, art has played a crucial role in our history and civilization. Without art, we wouldn’t be where we are nor have the things we enjoy around us every day. Yet, most artists struggle and get little to no respect. From houses, to cars, to clothing, to TV and entertainment, artists have a hand in just about everything that people see. Why then, do many feel they are entitled to our years of study, slaving to improve one’s craft, and our very creativity for next to nothing? Do artists not also provide an invaluable service?
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\nMost stories are made by artists and written for the rest of society. “The Color of Fire” is a story geared for adults and young adult artists; but, non artists will love the story and strong messages just the same. Children have the world at their fingers and, when they are young, they believe they can do and be anything. Somewhere down the line, those dreams fade, reality sets in, and people lose their connection to their creativity and their muses.
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\n“The Color of Fire,” through an exciting fantastical adventure and relatable characters, hopefully encourages adults not to give up on their dreams, to keep struggling, and realize the importance of continuing to create and dream. Never lose that creative spark!