Featured Interview With Iain Reading
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Originally I am from Canada (who am I kidding? I will ALWAYS be from Canada). Specifically, I am from a place very close to where the heroine of my Kitty Hawk book series lives – on a magical and beautiful island called Vancouver Island. That’s where I lived until I was six, at which point I was moved to the prairies, to a small city south of Calgary called Medicine Hat, Alberta. But now…I live in Holland. The Netherlands, if you prefer. Why here? That’s where work is.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been an avid reader, although I must admit that I usually read non-fiction books. But I didn’t really get around to trying my hand at writing until the last few years. I didn’t have any stories to tell, I suppose.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As I said above, I usually read non-fiction. I love history and science books in particular. But when it comes to fiction I have two favourite books, always and forever: The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux and Contact by Carl Sagan.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My most recent book is called The Dragon of the Month Club and it is the first in a series of possibly five or seven books. It is really a great adventure that starts with two friends who have discovered a magical book in their local library that allows them to conjure different dragons. Each month on the 13th day a new dragon spell appears and they can take a shot at trying to conjure it. But then one day a spell goes wrong and they end up being sucked into a fantastical world of books (real books!) and have to use their wits (and the dragons) to find their way home again.
Here’s the official synopsis and more information about the ongoing art contest on my website:
The Dragon of The Month Club is the exciting first installment in a new book series that tells the story of Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as members of a very special and exclusive club – The Dragon of the Month Club.
On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons – not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.
But one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler’s messy bedroom. Travelling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again.
Drawing inspiration from some of literature’s most memorable stories – from 19th century German folktales to the streets of Sherlock Holmes’s London – the adventures of Ayana and Tyler bring these classic stories to life in delightfully strange and unexpected ways. Filled with fascinating detail and non-stop action these books will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages to inspire a life-long love of reading and seeking out books that are just a little bit off the beaten track.
Praise for The Dragon of the Month Club:
“No other book bonds together so many stories in such a fashion that is actually readable and enjoyable at the same time. With the title being The Dragon of the Month Club, many might think this is a book strictly about magic and dragons, yet you will find that what’s inside this book will leave you awe struck.” – Red City Reviews
“Iain Reading has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I started reading his Kitty Hawk books and now I’m introduced to a fantastical world. This is the type of book I would have spent hours in my room, wishing I could slip into the pages and have an adventure.” – Sandra Stiles
“The Dragon of the Month Club is a very enjoyable read. I’m a grown adult and I enjoyed it. It reminded me of a Harry Potter meets Goosebumps (the part where the books come alive) meets Sherlock Holmes. I found the book to be engaging and kept me wanting to read on. This is a wonderful series for any young reader.” – sgebhard
Contest:
There is an ongoing contest for readers to win a one-of-a-kind hardcover version of The Dragon of the Month Club with their artwork as the cover.
“Draw a picture! Write a story! Take a photograph! Bake some cookies! Mold a dragon out of clay! Knit one out of yarn! Make one out of LEGO! Whatever you want! Just let your imagination run wild because anything goes – the more creative the better! Send your dragon in and then on the 13th day of every month one entry will be chosen at random and featured on the official Dragon Of The Month Club website. Each month’s lucky winner will also receive a free one-of-a-kind personalized hard-cover edition of The Dragon Of The Month Club book featuring their winning artwork (or other creative content) on the cover or inside the book itself,” says Iain.
To learn more, go to http://www.dragonofthemonthclub.com/
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