It fascinated me and I kept researching about World War II and interviewing older folks that had experienced the war. I also had a huge imagination and while playing outside when I felt the wind I would look up to the sky and just think, an invisible dragon flew past. So, a combination of those two things were the start of Land of the Dragon.

Steffanie Costigan – 4 December 2024

The Back Flap

They had not even started to fight, yet I already could smell blood in the air…
I am a traitor, victim, fighter, survivor, sister, and daughter of a Nazi. I am Eleanor Kuhn. I will not be indoctrinated by Hitler. I fight for the truth my world has forgotten and ignored, but upon escaping the country. I stumbled into a whole new world, and I soon realized that war is everywhere you look.

With nothing but the clothes on my back and five siblings in tow, I wash up on the coast of a world I’d only glimpsed in books and the clouds of dreams: Land of the Dragon. But there’s something about this new world that rings with familiarity. Or perhaps someone …

About the book

What is the book about?

My book is a historic fantasy based in Germany during the time of World War 2. It is told in first person perspective with Eleanor, and she shares the dictatorship that is happening during that time; upon attempting to escape the country Eleanor and her siblings discover a whole new world where people can turn into dragons.

That is when they discover war is everywhere you look now, they have to work together to prevent the new threat from taking over. The core of this story is how easy a nation can become manipulated when they lose their sense of identity.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing Land of the Dragon at the age of 12 years old. The book just grew with me over time.

How long did it take you to write it?

20 years’ worth of writing Land of the Dragon.

Where did you get the idea from?

Growing up I had neighbors that were from Germany and were young during the time of World War II. From my visits with them they shared so many stories with me of what it was like living during that time. It fascinated me and I kept researching about World War II and interviewing older folks that had experienced the war. I also had a huge imagination and while playing outside when I felt the wind I would look up to the sky and just think, an invisible dragon flew past. So, a combination of those two things were the start of Land of the Dragon. I also use to have dreams about Land of the Dragon that I incorporated into the story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Of course, being dyslexic really took me a lot longer than most with writing.

What came easily?

I think the character development.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They are fictitious I developed them using this really well-developed personality test called the 16-personality test.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Well, I would say some of the story tellers that have impacted me is Peter S. Beagle the author of The Last Unicorn. Also, Jim Henson films really influenced me with The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth.

Do you have a target reader?

I do however I have noticed a wide variety of interest towards Land of the Dragon that I didn’t expect. I wrote it as a young adult novel, but pre-teens have also taken interest in it, along with adults. Historic Fantasy is a very niche genre, there are not as many books out there.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so, can you please describe it?

I do, so I do research depending on the scene while listening to music. Then I write the base down and go over it layering it with more details.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

There are many different styles of outlining; I feel I just write it. I have most of it already planned out in my head. It’s just laying it down. It’s like painting you draw the outline then you go over it with details.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I try to be sufficient while writing but have my computer read it out loud to me then I fix anything I find is troubling. Once that is done, I send it off to my editor.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I did. I own my own publishing house, so I had a team of editors go over it. I had each editor specialize in different aera’s of editing. I had a team of five editing Land of the Dragon.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

!00 percent, it depends on the scene I put on music that matches the scene’s mood.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I never did.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

It was defiantly a gradual process. I had my heart set on traditional publishing, what swayed me was during my studies of creative writing our teacher brought in successful authors. (The authors were all published traditional.) And as we were listening to them, they all voiced how they felt they had lost their voices as authors in traditional publishing and that they planned on leaving and going Indie now that they made a name for themselves.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Both, I designed the look, created a little booklet for the designer, and used models. The designer did an incredible job bringing the design out.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I studied marketing in school just so I could know what to do with marketing Land of the Dragon. So, I do have a marketing plan.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t wait to publish your book before creating your author social media. Start to build your following right away. You don’t need to wait until your book is published. Start hyping up your writing now. Toi many authors wait too long to create their author social media following.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up out in Aetna that is close to Cardston, Alberta.

Where do you live now?

I would rather not share as unfortunately I get too many creepy emails. But what I will share is that I am in Alberta Canada.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I really care and my mission with my writing is to inspire change. That is my goal at the end of the day. If my story brings hope to people that is a big win for me.

What are you working on now?

Oh boy, Well I have a new children’s book coming out called Crazy Potatoes so keep an eye open for it. I am working on Land of the Dragon 2, and I am also working on Romantasy (Romance + Fantasy) novella series called The Reaper of Love. I am co-writing that with my husband. And I am working on the continuation of the Crazy Potatoes.

End of Interview:

For more from .Steffanie Costigan visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok.

Get your copy of Land of the Dragon from Amazon US or Amazon UK.