I’m such a sucker for dragons, and CARLA MOONEY has certainly given us one super dragon, hasn’t she?
Carla is the author of more than 20 books for kids and teens, but OWEN AND THE DRAGON is her first fiction trade book and, therefore, officially her debut book.
The books she’s written for the educational market include: AMAZING AFRICA PROJECTS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF, and the upcoming SAMSON”S STORY (Fall 2010) AND GREAT GEORGE WASHINGTON PROJECTS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF (November 2010). As long as she can remember, she has been in love with reading and writing. She is thrilled to create adventures and explore new worlds in each of her books and hopes that readers enjoy the journey as much as she has. Carla lives near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When not reading and writing, Carla volunteers as the Pittsburgh Chapter Director for Flashes of Hope, a nonprofit organization that photographs children with cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Be sure to visit Carla at her WEBSITE to find out more about her and her work.
About Owen and the Dragon
Owen is a ten-year old boy who has just moved to a new town and left behind his best friend and everything familiar to him. Unable to face unpacking his room, Owen decides to explore the woods behind his new home. He is stunned to discover a dragon named Phineas. Owen soon gains the dragon’s trust and learns that Phineas has lost the ability to fly. As he struggles to find a way for the dragon to return home, Owen learns friendship can be found in unexpected places.
I’m always curious and ask writers about the book(s) that inspired them as young readers and encouraged them to read and perhaps later led them into writing in their genre. Can you share what book or books did that for you?
I loved all different types of books as a young reader but some of my favorites included the Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series, Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie mysteries, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I can remember going every Thursday night to our local library and spending hours browsing through book after book, until I found just the right one to take home.
Are you working on another or other books? If so, can you give us a peek at what you’re creating?
I have several projects in the works right now. Later this year, my first picture book, Samson’s Story, is scheduled to be released from a new independent publisher, Earth Day Publishing. I’ve heard that the illustrations have just been completed and I’m very excited to see them!
I’m also working on the final edits for a nonfiction book about George Washington from Nomad Press that will be coming out in November 2010. It was engrossing to work on that one – I loved all the new details I learned about Washington, that I never learned in school. He truly was a great man, one that we as a nation were very lucky to have in the right place at the right time.
What’s the best advice you have for writers?
The best advice I can give is to believe in yourself and your story. Never stop trying to make yourself a better writer through practice, critiquing, classes, reading or whatever works for you.
. . . And now the CONTEST!
Carla has been so generous to offer a signed copy of Owen and the Dragon. Here’s all you have to do to win. Leave a comment telling what type of mythical creature you would like to discover behind your home just like Owen discovered Phineas.
Be sure to check out Carla Mooney’s Facebook or follow her Tweets @carlawrites to stay current with this author.
Owen and the Dragon is available through Soto Publishing or on Amazon.
Marcia says
The book's cover is very appealing. I'm more sure of what I wouldn't want to find than what I would: no vampires or werewolves!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Okay, I can't stand it. I have to jump into this. I want to find a Griffin.
beth says
I would like to discover a sparkling vampire.
DazyDayWriter says
Mythical creature, what fun. I'm not good at contests, but because you asked I'll offer this: a life-sized dragonfly that is a lovely spiritual messenger. That idea sort of grabs me today. So have fun with it if you can use it anywhere! We've had some dragonflies in our yard lately (regular, normal ones, that is!), so I've been reading about their symbolism. Mentioned this on my facebook page, in fact. Wonderful creatures it seems.
Julie Musil says
Her book sounds so fun! I would love to find a dragon in my backyard, because my 10-year-old is obsessed with them. He'll love this book!
theaccidentalnovelist says
I already own Carla's book, so you don't have to enter me. It's a very sweet book. I adore the Izzy character.
I just finished reading Ursula LeGuin's Rocannon's World and I'd love to have one of those windsteeds. They're basically large winged cats.
paulgreci says
I'm excited to learn a little more about "Earth Day Publishing." And, Owen and the Dragon sounds like a very cool story. Congrats to Carla!
Margo Berendsen says
A dragon is tempting, if there wasn't the risk of being fried! Since I've dreamed of meeting a unicorn in a misty wood ever since I was a little girl, that's the obvious choice. Though if it also happened to be a pegasi unicorn, with wings, that would be the ultimate!
C. Lee McKenzie says
So far we have a forest of mythical critters that would make any book exciting. I'm thinking about what I'd choose, although I can't win. Drat!
Jemi Fraser says
I loved all of those same childhood books – awesome! 🙂
I've always been a dragon fan too – McCaffrey's Pern series hooked me. If not a dragon, a centaur would be very cool as well!
Lisa Gail Green says
Congratulation it sounds like a great book! Once again, you don't have to enter me in the contest (since I won something recently) but if I were to discover something in the woods, I'd want it to be a sparkly brooding vampire that has no desire to hurt me. Yeah. Oh wait. Maybe my husband wouldn't like that too much.. How about a unicorn?
Theresa Milstein says
I'd like to discover a pegasus because I'd love that sensation of flying in the air (And I'd be fictional so I'd get over my fear of heights. And flying.)
My son has read and enjoyed many dragon books. We'll have to check this one out.