SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON

2013 Readers' Favorite Finalist for Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi

While visiting her father in rural Oklahoma, twelve-year-old Myra Goodfellow finds a baby dragon from Kasan, the home planet of the Guardian Dragons of Earth. When she and her friend Aiden accidentally 'dream travel' to Kasan, they must protect the baby dragon from the Red World Society, a secret alien group determined to rule both Kasan and Earth.

SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON [©2013] by Paula Blais Gorgas | Juvenile Fantasy (154 pages / 44,000 words) Rated G for ages 8-12 and up | Available in ebook, hardbacks, and paperbacks from the DFP Books label of Dragonfly Publishing

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PAPERBACK [EAN 978-1-936381-41-8 | ISBN 1-936381-41-9] 5.5 x 8.5 trade or 6x9 library trim (154 pages) | Average Price: $8.99

HARDBACK [EAN 978-1-936381-40-1 | ISBN 1-936381-40-0] 6x9 library casebound (154 pages) | Average Price: $19.99

EBOOK [EAN 978-1-936381-42-5 | ISBN 1-936381-42-7] Available in standard EPUB and Kindle MOBI (44,000 words) | Average Price: $3.99

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READ AN EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1:
Into the Woods

THE woods were quiet, much too quiet. And still. Not the friendly stillness of summer when fat green leaves cover the trees and reach out to hug you, but a bothersome kind of feeling that puts goose bumps on your arms.
Not wanting to make a sound, Myra stepped carefully over fallen twigs and branches and promptly set her foot into a shallow hole hidden by dead leaves.
"Ow-ww!" she yelped, losing her balance and sitting down hard on the damp ground.
So much for being quiet. She rubbed her ankle, and then tested it gently. It would do. It had to do. No way was she going back to that house any sooner than she had to. Like dinnertime maybe. Or maybe not, depending on how she felt. And right now she wanted nothing to do with Daddy or Grammy and Pop and their big old house in Winston, Oklahoma.
She trudged on in the same direction, no longer concerned about leaves crunching under her feet. No one would hear anyway, except maybe the chickadees and finches flitting from tree to tree. Nobody else walked around these woods, and for sure no one but Myra knew where she was going.
A chilly breeze whistled around her. Hurry, hurry, hurry! It seemed to say, and Myra's feet moved faster. Which was crazy. Why should she hurry?
Hurry, hurry!
She was running now, dodging trees and shrubs, following a path she couldn't see but knew by heart. A twist to the left, sharp turn to the right, past the giant water oak.
She heard the water before she saw it spilling from a rocky cliff into a narrow stream that flowed through the clearing and disappeared into a thicket of trees. Panting from her wild dash through the woods, Myra settled herself on a wide slab of rock that jutted out of the ground right beside the clear water. She closed her eyes and breathed in the cool, damp air.
This was her quiet place, her secret, where she always felt safe no matter what was going on in the rest of her world. Dipping her hand into the cool water, she let it lap over her fingers.
A loud crack broke through the stillness, and Myra almost tumbled into the water. Her arm did go in all the way to her elbow. She scrambled to her feet and peered into the woods. Should she run? Hide?
The second crack, long, slow and even louder, sent her scurrying for cover. Flat on her belly, she squirmed into the thickest brush she could find and lay there, her heart pumping wildly, her mind racing.
Was someone shooting? Not that she had ever heard real gunfire, but she didn't think so. Had they heard the noise at Grammys house? She lay there waiting and wondering, but no one came running through the woods looking for her. Instead, the eerie stillness settled in again all around her, and that was almost worse than the noise.
Finally, she couldn't stay still another second. It had been several minutes at least and no more cracking sounds. She stood up slowly, this time very careful to step close to the water's edge so the damp ground could muffle her footsteps. She would follow the stream deeper into the woods where she thought the noise had come from. Daddy always said her curiosity was a good thing. Well, sometimes he said that, but she would never forgive herself if she went running back now like a big scaredy cat.
She stepped carefully, almost on tiptoe, going further from the house than she ever had before. Stay close to the water. Nice and quiet.
If she hadn't been looking around, watching the ground so closely, she might have walked right by the nest. At least, that's what she called it later. Right now all she saw was a big hole scooped out of the dirt on the far side of the stream. It was a really big hole, but even stretching as far as she dared, she couldn't see into it.
She knew the water wasn't deep, and by now her curiosity was working overtime. She had to see what was in that hole. Quickly, she pulled off her sneakers and socks, rolled up her jeans, and stepped gingerly into the water.
"Ai-yi!" She didn't mean to shriek and it wasn't very loud, but the sound seemed to echo all around the woods. Splashing through the icy water as fast as she could, she made up her mind. She would check out that hole then get herself back to the house ASAP. The sun was setting anyway, and sometime in the last few minutes she had decided she really didn't want to be out here alone in the dark. She might be curious but she wasn't dumb, and something about this place spooked her. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably, but she hardly noticed. Scrambling onto the far bank, all she could see was the hole and the huge sparkly hump resting inside.
What was it?
But even as the question formed in her mind, she knew. There was no doubting that shape. Myra was looking at a giant egg.
It couldn't be real. No animal could lay an egg that size. No real animal, that is. Which meant it wasn't real, just somebody's idea of a joke.
Cautiously, she padded to the edge of the hole and squatted down. She wanted to touch it, but something held her back. And then she saw it, the dark jagged line running down the side of the egg. Like a crack, a big crack that would make a loud noise.
Like in that dinosaur movie she saw a long time ago.
She didn't believe that, of course. A movie was just a story someone made up, but this was real.
Another loud crack split the air and the egg rocked. Myra lurched back and almost tumbled into the water. Just in time, she caught her balance and stared into the hole.
This was real all right. The giant egg was hatching!
Get out of here! A voice screamed in her head.
She scrambled to her feet and looked around wildly.
Get out! Get out!
She didn't see anyone, but that didn't stop her. Something was screaming in her head, and she wasn't waiting around to find out what. With shoes in hand, she ran across the water and back toward the house as fast as her long legs would take her...

[Copyright ©2024 Paula Blais Gorgas | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]

REVIEWS

"This is such a cool concept for a story. Two main protagonists, Myra and Aiden find a dragon egg on Earth and, hours later, they are transported to the world of Kasan where dragons are the norm. Once they arrive, it appears that everyone wants to capture the baby dragon, affectionately called Baby by Myra, and it is up to Myra and Aiden to protect Baby from the `bad guys'. SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON is a wonderful fantasy for kids who love action and adventure. At times there is a sort of back and forth in the plot, but overall, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read, brimming with bad guys, not-so bad guys and our action heroes. Not to mention there's a delicious twist at the end that will leave readers wanting more." ~ reviewed by AnneMarie Myers [FIVE STARS]

"Tweens are considering these questions: Who can I trust? What's going to happen to our planet? What is all of this adult political wrangling about anyway? Are there good reasons for my family to keep secrets, and how can I show them I'm old enough to be trusted? Paula Blas Gorgas helps readers consider these questions and while pulling us into a captivating fantasy of earth interconnected to a planet of dragon people.SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON is a great beginning for a trilogy with pair of very believable of earth tweens, Myra and Aden, who exhibit strong but age appropriate skills when faced with critical, world-changing situations. Get ready for an exciting set of escapades." ~ reviewed by Miss Carole, Children's Librarian [FOUR STARS]

"SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON is a seamless blend of fantasy and reality. The characters and events grab you and draw you in immediately. Then hold you for the duration. It is a fantastic adventure, while being totally relatable. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The premise is fresh and thoughtful and fun. I can't wait for the next book!" ~ reviewed by Denise Russell [FOUR STARS]

"From the setting to the characters this story is a very adequate read for upper elementary and middle school readers. The beginning of the story is detailed and develops an aire of mystery. What we come to find in the mysterious woods takes the readers immediately from possible reality to fantasy. Any reader who has a taste for dragons and alternate worlds will find this story interesting and entertaining. The cast of characters are vibrant and have enough substance to keep a younger reader enthralled in the story line. Both male and female readers can become Aiden or Myra, the two main characters in the story. In the SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON the reader can assume the persona of either protagonist-this is what sets this story apart from others. Most short stories or novels have one hero and a sidekick, like in Harry Potter, but here at least in this first book it seems that both are neck at neck for a possible hero to this tale. Of course, with any good story there is more to unfold in book two. Will Myra hold the archetype hero role or will Aiden become the dominant hero? I look forward to the continuation of the adventures Myra, Aidnen, and the rest of the characters will embark upon soon. This book has enough action and adventure for the intended reader. As an ex-school teacher, I would totally recommend this to my students." ~ reviewed by Mirta Ramirez-Espinola [FOUR STARS]

"SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON by Paula Blais Gorgas is a delightful fantasy about two worlds whose histories have been closely tied together since the beginning of man's time on Earth. Myra Goodfellow, now twelve, has heard the stories of the Dreamkeeper and a place called Kasan where the Dragon People lived since she was very young. Of course Myra knew these were make-believe, that is until one day when she finds a dragon egg in the woods! With her new friend Aiden, they discover a special connection to the baby dragon and dream-travel to the world of Kasan, home of the Guardian Dragons of Earth. Myra must protect 'Baby' from the Red World Society, an alien group trying to take over both Kasan and Earth, while learning to put her trust in others and still find a way back home. Can she save the dragon and find its mother? Is this the beginning of some hidden destiny for Myra? Myra's struggles with her parents' divorce, her sense of loss and betrayal, as well as her mannerisms and speech are very realistic for a twelve-year-old girl. In creating a world closely paralleling life on Earth, Paula Blais Gorgas has made SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON is an easy to understand read for younger children, while still entertaining for adults with vivid descriptions and constant action. I was captivated throughout and strongly recommend this book to younger readers with its positive outlook and fast-paced plot!" ~ reviewed by Dianne Bylo for Readers' Favorite [FOUR STARS]

"Twelve-year-old Myra Goodfellow barely remembers the bedtime stories her grandmother once told about shape-shifting dragon people from the world of Kasan. But the memories come flooding back when a baby dragon hatches from the abandoned egg she finds in the woods of rural Oklahoma. Myra and neighbor Aiden discover that the stories are true when the two unintentionally dream-travel to the politically divided planet. Trapped on an alien world, the pair must unearth deeply buried secrets to save the baby dragon from the clutches of the Red World Society and find their way home again. SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON draws the reader in by expertly weaving Kasan into Earth's history and keeps them turning the pages to find the truth behind Myra's unique ability to mind-talk with the baby dragon. The twelve-year-old main character is authentic with her quick judgments and sarcasm. Still recovering from her parents divorce, she struggles to trust her own heart while Aiden gives her the courage to trust others. With each new hurdle they face, the story hints that Myra and Aiden may be more important to the futures of Kasan and Earth than they could ever imagine. Middle grade to adult readers will enjoy losing themselves in dream-travel and dragon shadows. While the end of the book answers some of the reader's questions, SECRET OF THE CRYSTAL DRAGON is the first installment of the Guardians of the Blue Planet series and future books hold the promise of revealing more about the girl who is only beginning to discover her destiny." ~ reviewed by Amanda M. Hopper [FIVE STARS]