Wordsworth and the Dragon: 2013

Kindle Version Now Available!

Wordsworth and the Dragon is now available for Kindle!

To see a sample and purchase, click this link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H31J2VM

Wordsworth is a Real, Live Book!

Years in the making -- but worth every minute! Wordsworth and the Dragon is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon! You can give a copy to everyone on your holiday shopping list! (Please like our Facebook page - click on link above!)

To purchase from Amazon, click _HERE_.

Cover Art

Christina and I are pleased to announce that Wordsworth and the Dragon is making the final lap before crossing the finish line into publication!

I thought it might be interesting for you to see the art that Christina created for the cover. It's not just a matter of designing the front of the book. Every book has a back and a spine as well!

CreateSpace provides specific guidelines for what an illustrator needs to submit as cover art. For example, the width of the spine must be based on the number of pages in the book, so a formula is provided to compute the width of the spine. Here is what Christina created for Wordsworth:

The front cover includes my name as the author, the title of the book, and the line "Illustrated by Christina Wald" with a gorgeous illustration in which Dash the dragon hovers in the air, his body forming the letter "C". You can see the process we went through to create the cover _HERE_.

For the spine Christina used an illustration from the interior of the book: Dash the dragon clutching his "hand" after Klause the cavabok bit him. The white rectangle at the bottom is where CreateSpace will place the _ISBN barcode_ for this book.

The back cover contains information about the story designed to interest readers in reading the book. We decided that we would name our publishing "house" fter Klause, the trusty cavabok, and Christina placed a really cool "logo" on the back, showing a silhouette of Wordsworth riding Klause.

This cover was accepted by CreateSpace and they are sending a physical copy of the book to me. I hope to receive it in about a week.

Bookplate and Book Update

Christina designed an awesome bookplate for Wordsworth and the Dragon. She and I will both sign it and place it in books that we send to people who donated to the funding campaign.

In other news, we are still waiting for a final proof from CreateSpace. We needed to make one more very small change after the first round of revisions were done. Apparently it doesn't matter how small the change is, the project goes to the "back of the line" behind all the other projects -- first come, first served.

We are still hoping that books will be available for Christmas shopping.

Wordsworth and the Dragon Update!

Latest News!

Wordsworth and the Dragon is almost ready to go to press. Christina and Scotti reviewed the digital proof sent by Create Space and made a number of changes/corrections. Create Space followed our instructions and sent a revised proof.

What's left?

Once we approve the revised proof, Christina will complete the cover art and send it to Create Space. Once that is approved, it will take about two days to become a real, live, printed book!

Book in Progress: Update

Latest message from Create Space:

"We have received your manuscript and high resolution interior illustrations. We will review your files over the next business day and then begin formatting your interior. Please allow up to three weeks for your interior to complete."

We... could... (will)... go... all... the... way!

Meanwhile...

Illustration for Chapter 10

Wordsworth and the Dragon will soon enter the production phase of its life -- as in, creation of a real, live book!

Here is the final illustration from Christina!

"So--will you teach me how to turn into a falcon?"
Princess Rho smiled and placed a Queen of Hearts across his Jack. "Maybe," she said.

Illustration for Chapter 9!

Full-page illustration for Chapter 9 of Wordsworth and the Dragon. Notice that each horse apparently has the same hair stylist as his rider. And did you also notice that one of the knights is female? Awesome!

"Five knights in chain mail rode into the clearing on spirited warhorses. As always, Wordsworth wished with all his heart that he were one of them. While four of the knights went to check the surrounding area and look into all the huts, their leader approached and dismounted. Wordsworth recognized Sir Clooney."
~ Chapter 9, "Lost is Found"

Illustrations for Chapter 8: Muddletonques

"The muddletongue was making horrible noises in his throat and waving his flaming torch in the air. Other muddletongues stood around the cage, growling and grunting. Some were very big and others were not so big, but they all had the same strong-looking arms and long, tangled hair. They were dressed in animal skins."

"Then, over in a corner, he saw something that seemed very much out of place. It looked sort of like a wooden bench, with two legs and a curved top. He barely suppressed a loud gasp. That's it!"

Bookmarks and Buttons, Oh My!

Wordsworth and the Dragon bookmarks and buttons will soon be available! Bookmarks will be shipped with all copies of the book once it is published. Buttons will be available for purchase from Zazzle once they have been approved!


Bookmark Front / copyright Christina Wald

Bookmark Back / copyright Christina Wald

Square Button / copyright Christina Wald

Round Button / copyright Christina Wald

We Are Funded!

We have SURPASSED our goal to fund Wordsworth and the Dragon with 8 days to spare! THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

On to the next phase! We will keep you posted as soon as the book is available.

If you still want to support our book, you can contribute until the clock runs out: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wordsworth-and-the-dragon

Help Solve This Terrible Rime!

It's Wordsworth Wednesday!

To find out how you can help make
Wordsworth and the Dragon
a real, live book...

... click this link:

Wordsworth and the Dragon at Indiegogo

Discussion Questions - Chapter 10

Well, here we are. Nothing left but the shouting, as they say. And yet... I get the feeling this may not be the end of Wordsworth's adventures. Be sure to read _CHAPTER 10_ and see what you think -- then take a look at these discussion questions.

(1) Wordsworth still thinks he is the luckiest boy in the kingdom, just like he did at the beginning of the book. Does he have different reasons for thinking that now than he had then?

(2) Why can't Wordsworth tell people about how Klause, Phrasia, Dash, and Rho helped him?

(3) Why did Wordsworth smile when he saw the signs over the banquet table?

(4) Why does Wordsworth stop for a second before he says Sir Clooney's name?

(5) If you were Wordsworth, would you keep quiet about what Klause, Phrasia, Dash, and Rho did to help you? Why or why not?

Illustrations for Chapter 5

It's Wordsworth Wednesday!

Christina has finished the chapter illustration and spot illustration for Chapter 5: Dashburn Drak the Fifth!

"The dragon was hopping back and forth from left foot to right, cradling one paw against his enormous green-scaled chest. 'Ow! Ow! Ow!'"

"But how would a muddletongue get up to the tower window, and how would it lift the letter when it's so heavy?"

Chapter 10: Secrets to Keep

WORDSWORTH AND THE DRAGON

by Scotti Cohn

Copyright Scotti Cohn

It's WORDSWORTH WEDNESDAY!

Chapter 10
Secrets to Keep

Once the letter was safe again in the royal treasury, King Omicron ordered a day of celebration. The knights marched through the village of Atoz. At the head of the parade rode Wordsworth on Starfire, the king's favorite horse.

I am the luckiest boy in the kingdom, Wordsworth thought, patting Starfire's glossy black neck. Even so, he found himself wishing that he were riding on Klause instead. He wanted everyone to know what the cavabok had done. But Klause had made him promise not to tell. He was afraid people would find out he could talk, and that would cause all sorts of problems.

After the parade, the citizens of Atoz gathered in the courtyard for a party. The town's merchants piled food and drink of every kind on large tables. When it was time to eat, the king came out on a balcony in his royal robes. Wordsworth, Sir Clooney, and Lord Reading stood behind him. Wordsworth smiled when he saw the signs over the banquet tables. One read "Chocolate Chip Cookies!" Another said, "Fresh Carrots and Cabbage!" "Roast Chicken" was written on a third. The letter "C" was back where it belonged.

"This is a great day for the Kingdom of Atoz!" the king declared. "The letter C has been restored to us. We have learned a hard lesson about the true value of the Royal Alphabet. Henceforth, guards will be posted not only outside but inside each room of our treasury. The windows have been sealed up. Never again will we allow one of our letters to be stolen!"

The crowd clapped and shouted its approval. The king raised his arms to quiet them.

"We owe our thanks to the Royal Knights and to my young page, Wordsworth, whose courage has made it possible for me to say the word courage!"

Everyone laughed. King Omicron turned and drew Wordsworth forward to stand beside him. The crowd cheered. Wordsworth was filled with a confusing jumble of feelings.

I don't deserve this, he thought. If it hadn't been for Phrasia and Klause and Rho and Dash ...

But what could he say? As far as the king and most of Atoz were concerned, there was no dragon. Klause was a beast of burden. Princess Rho was the king's daughter, not a sorceress who could change herself into a falcon. Phrasia was an ordinary servant woman who had loaned Wordsworth her cavabok, not a friend of a dragon or even a witch (the townspeople figured a witch wouldn't have needed Wordsworth to save her!)

As much as Wordsworth hated it, he knew that was how it had to be. That was the way his friends wanted it. His hand went to his chest. He could feel the Dragon's Troth stone through the material of the pouch around his neck. Soon after the letter had been returned to the treasury, the king had given him a new pouch and a new royal emblem. Wordsworth had summoned the stone to him using the words Phrasia had taught him: I summon thee from far or near. Dragon's Troth, thy way is clear.

The people in the courtyard grew quiet, waiting for Wordsworth to speak. He had to say something.

"Thank you!" he shouted. "You are all very kind! But I didn't do it by myself. I had a lot of help!"

"Such a modest lad!" boomed the king. "Such a brave, humble lad!"

The crowd started cheering again.

"Good work, my boy," said Sir Clooney, shaking Wordsworth's hand.

"Thank you, Sir..." Wordsworth hesitated out of habit but quickly recovered. "Clooney," he said firmly.

The knight smiled. He shook Wordsworth's hand again and clapped him on the back. Lord Reading stepped to the front, an open book in his hands. He cleared his throat and began to recite his favorite poem in a loud, proud voice: "While chipmunks scamper through the dale, we'll linger till the sun grows pale, to hear the chirping crickets praise the simple charms of summer days!"

Wordsworth was extremely relieved when the program was over. He sat with his parents at the king's banquet table and kept his mouth stuffed with food so no one would expect him to say anything.

That evening, he and Princess Rho got together to play cards. Lady Craddish sat knitting beside the fireplace. Princess Rho's spaniel, Bracket, was curled up on the hearth.

"I know I can't talk about what you did," Wordsworth whispered to Rho. "But I wanted to. Everybody thinks I'm a hero, but I'm not."

Princess Rho giggled. "Papa would be so angry if he knew about me using that spell, he would zoom straight up through the ceiling of the throne room and land on the moon. Besides, you are a hero, Wordsworth. I know how you snuck into the Village of the Muddletongues and I heard about how you tried to rescue Phrasia from the cage. You were very brave."

"But you're a hero, too," Wordsworth insisted. "And Klause. And Dash."

He laid a Jack of Hearts on the table.

"I know," Princess Rho said. "But we all know what we did. We can be proud of ourselves and of each other. That's enough. So--do you still want to be a knight, Wordsworth?"

"Yes!" Wordsworth said. "Only not the kind who fights dragons."

He leaned closer to the princess so Lady Craddish wouldn't hear him. "How did you get Queen Mu's book, anyway?"

Princess Rho's braid fell forward. She flipped it back over her shoulder. "I was in the Royal Library one day," said Rho, "and I pulled a book of poems off the shelf. That's when I saw it. It was wedged sideways behind the other books. I took it and hid it in my jewelry box."

"So--will you teach me how to turn into a falcon?"

Princess Rho smiled and placed a Queen of Hearts across his Jack. "Maybe," she said.

Bracket gave a frightened yip and scooted under Lady Craddish's chair.

Chapter 4 Illustrations

Here are Christina's illustrations for

Chapter 4: Finding the Dragon

Wordsworth's Wooden Sword / copyright Christina Wald

"He raised his wooden sword, then realized how

useless it would be against the dragon.

Why hadn't he thought of that before?"

"Grabbing the cavabok's stubby mane,

Wordsworth flung himself onto his back.

Klause dashed into a cave just in time."

WWatD Campaign Video

Wordsworth and the Dragon

A Campaign Video

Find out more at our

Indiegogo Web Site!

Discussion Questions - Chapter 9

Were you able to read _Chapter 9_ all the way through, or did you have to run and hide under the bed during some parts like I did? If that's what happened, do try to go back and read it all so you can answer these questions. You'll be glad you did!

(1) Were you surprised that Dash came to the rescue of Wordsworth and his friends?

(2) Why did Phrasia want Wordsworth to meet Dash?

(3) How do we know that Wordsworth's ideas about dragons have changed? What caused the change?

(4) Why can't Wordsworth summon his missing dragon's troth stone?

(5) How did the knights know where to look for Wordsworth?

Chapter 3 Illustrations!

If you haven't read CHAPTER THREE yet, my dears, please do click on the link.

And now, here are Christina's illustrations for Chapter 3:

In this illustration we see Wordsworth and Phrasia (who is rumored to be a witch) walking through the village of Atoz. Phrasia has offered to show Wordsworth the dragon tracks she noticed near her cottage by the Forest of Spells.

As Phrasia and Wordsworth walk through the village, they notice many instances where the absence of the letter C has created problems. Can you tell what the signs on these delicious bakery items are supposed to say?

Chapter 9: Lost is Found

WORDSWORTH AND THE DRAGON

by Scotti Cohn

Copyright Scotti Cohn

It's WORDSWORTH WEDNESDAY!

Chapter 9

Lost is Found

The muddletongue handed his torch to another muddletongue. He tried to open the little bag, but his fingers were too thick. As he struggled, a strong, cold wind gusted across the clearing. The muddletongues stopped growling and grunting. They looked up, down, and around, their red eyes glowing, their wild hair blowing in all directions. Thunder boomed. Lightning flashed.

Eyes on the sky, the muddletongues paced back and forth, bumping against each other, growling and shoving. Klause got back on his feet. Wordsworth fought against his captor harder than ever, kicking and squirming. Suddenly the muddletongue released him, and he fell on the ground. Just then, something much heavier than Wordsworth landed in the clearing. Thud!

Looking up Wordsworth saw the muddletongues running for the hills. Some leaped into the air and flew away. Then he saw what they were so frightened of. The falling object had green scales. It had wings. It had big spikes coming out of its head and long, pointed teeth. Wordsworth shouted for joy. At least he meant to shout. It sounded more like a squeak. The terror he had felt staring into the red eyes of the muddletongue had not yet faded away.

Dashburn Drak the Fifth tilted his head back and let out a roar louder than all the muddletongues put together. The few muddletongues that were still in the clearing shrieked and lumbered into the woods. With one quick movement, Dash yanked the bars off one side of Phrasia's cage. Wordsworth and Klause hurried over to her.

"Phrasia, are you all right?" Wordsworth asked. "What are you doing here?"

Phrasia threw her arms around him. "I was trying to find you!" she exclaimed. "I got worried after you went into the forest. I never should have let you go!"

She kissed Klause on his forehead and scratched him behind the ear.

"Why were you worried?" asked Wordsworth. "Did you think the dragon would hurt me?"

"No," she said. "In fact, the dragon was the reason I wanted you to go. You needed to meet Dash to see that he is not something you have to fight or kill."

"You already knew him?"

"Yes, I've known him for a few years now."

Wordsworth watched as Dash smashed what was left of the cage with his feet. His green scales glittered in the firelight. I'm going to ask the king about the days when people and dragons were friends, Wordsworth thought. Or maybe Lord Reading will have a book about it in the royal library.

"Thank you for saving us, Dash," Wordsworth said.

"Yes," said Phrasia. "I know you did not want the muddletongues to know about you."

"True," Dash said. "I surprised them this time, so they ran. But they will soon get over their fear and try to hunt me down. I will have to be on my guard."

"How did you know we were in trouble?" Wordsworth asked.

Dash lifted his paw to his chest, touching the small bag of Dragon's Troth stones. "The stones made a low humming sound and began to tremble," he said. "I knew someone who wears the Dragon's Troth was in danger. I always know."

Phrasia held up her hand so Wordsworth could see the dark orange banded stone in her ring.

"I have a Dragon's Troth, too," said Wordsworth. "Oh, no! My Dragon's Troth!" He dropped to his hands and knees and started searching in the dirt for the little bag. He could only hope that the muddletongue had not taken it with him.

"Wordsworth, you don't have to do that," Phrasia said.

"Yes, I do! I have to find it!"

"You do not have to find the Dragon's Troth," said Dash in his scratchy voice. "The stone will find you."

"What?" said Wordsworth.

Phrasia reached down and helped him to his feet. "You just have to say these words," she said. "I summon thee from far or near. Dragon's Troth, thy way is lear." A puzzled look crossed her face. "Thy way is... oh, dear. It looks like you won't be able to summon the stone until the missing letter is returned to Atoz."

Before Wordsworth could reply, he heard the sound of a trumpet coming from the woods. A horse neighed and someone shouted, "This way!"

"It's the knights!" he exclaimed.

He turned to warn Dash, but the cold, strong wind had already begun to blow. The dragon rose into the air and quickly vanished into the dark sky.

"Here they are!" shouted a voice.

Five knights in chain mail rode into the clearing on spirited warhorses. As always, Wordsworth wished with all his heart that he were one of them. While four of the knights went to check the surrounding area and look into all the huts, their leader approached and dismounted. Wordsworth recognized Sir Clooney.

"I am glad to see you are safe," the knight said.

"Thank you, Sir Looney. I mean..."

Sir Clooney dismissed Wordsworth's concern with a wave of his hand. "We were only able to find you due to the strange behavior of a bird," he said.

"A bird?" Wordsworth said.

"Yes, a falon." Sir Clooney sighed. "You know, a small hawk."

Wordsworth smiled. "I understand."

"The bird kept diving at us and flapping its wings, like it wanted us to follow it. And sure enough, it led us here."

"No one else around, sir!" shouted a knight. "But we found the letter!"

Back through the forest they traveled. Sir Clooney led the march, carrying a torch to help them find their way through the darkest parts of the woods. Wordsworth and Phrasia each rode horseback behind a knight. Next came Klause pulling a cart which contained the letter C, wrapped in the blanket Phrasia had provided. Two knights brought up the rear.

Discussion Questions - Chapter 8

Muddletongues! Yikes! If you've already read CHAPTER 8, relax! You're safe (for now). If you haven't, well, be brave and go ahead and read it. Then give these questions a try. They won't bite!

(1) Were you surprised that the muddletongues were using the letter C as a bench? Why or why not?

(2) Why do you think Princess Rho flew away after telling Wordsworth that the muddletongues had captured a woman?

(3) Wordsworth was afraid of the muddletonques, but he still tried to rescue Phrasia. Have you ever done something even though you were afraid? What happened?

(4) If you could be any character in this chapter, which one would you be?

(5) What do you think will happen next?

Chapter 2 Illustrations

The illustrations for Chapter Two are finished! If you've already read the chapter, you'll probably understand what the pictures are about. If not, go on and read it right now. Hurry quick, like a bunny, to this link: CHAPTER TWO

"In the beginning, the people of Atoz had not talked to each other with words. They had growled and grunted like animals. Then one night, their king had a dream in which he saw 26 different shapes floating in the air..."

"Help me!" Crump cried, shoving a piece of paper under Wordsworth's nose. "I have to go to the market and get everything on this list. Only I don't understand what it says!"

Chapter 8: Muddletongues

Wordsworth got up. He felt a little woozy, but he wasn't about to let it show. "I'm fine!" he said gruffly. "I'm just weak from hunger. I haven't had anything to eat lately."

The falcon flew to a low branch on a nearby tree.

"So, how did you learn to do this?" Wordsworth asked her.

"I used a spell I found in a book," she answered. "I've tried it out a few times. I was going to tell you..."

"Okay." Wordsworth's feelings were hurt for a moment, but then he realized that the princess had taken a great risk to come and find him. He had known she was smart and that she liked birds, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined. Too bad there wasn't time right now to talk to her about it.

"I'm glad you're here," he said. "You may be able to help me find the stolen letter."

"I already know where it is," she said. "It's in the muddletongue queen's hut, that one over there."

"I want to see it," Wordsworth said. "Let's go!" Without thinking, he held up his arm the way he had seen the king's falconers do. Then, just as quickly, he lowered it. When the falconers worked with their birds, they wore a special, extra-thick glove. Without it, he knew Princess Rho's talons would tear his skin to pieces. She was able to perch on Klause because of the blanket Phrasia had thrown over the cavabok's back.

The princess flew to the queen's hut, with Wordsworth and Klause following close behind. Using the same approach he had used before, Wordsworth flattened himself against the wall of the hut and peered sideways through the window. This room wasn't really much different from the others, except maybe a little larger. A few woven baskets sat near the doorway.

Then, over in a corner, he saw something that seemed very much out of place. It looked sort of like a wooden bench, with two legs and a curved top. He barely suppressed a loud gasp. That's it!

The muddletongues shouted angrily again. Wordsworth scurried back into the woods, where Klause and Princess Rho waited.

"I saw it!" he said. "They've tipped the letter on its side and made a bench out of it! We've got to go home and tell the king. He'll send the knights."

"Papa has already--" Princess Rho started.

But before she could finish, a scream cut through the night. Klause's ears pointed straight at the clearing. Wordsworth felt goose bumps up and down his body. Princess Rho pushed off from her branch and flew over the top of the queen's hut. In a minute or two she was back.

"It's horrible," she said. "The muddletongues have trapped a woman. I think they're going to kill her!"

Moving as quickly and quietly as possible, Klause and Wordsworth crept along the edge of the clearing to the other side. Now they could see what Princess Rho was talking about. A muddletongue stood beside a big wooden cage, holding a torch. His yellow-toothed grin and red eyes made Wordsworth shrivel up inside. He could feel Klause trembling beside him. He patted the cavabok's neck.

"Phrasia," whispered Klause. "Phrasia in trap."

Up until that moment, Wordsworth had not really looked at the woman in the cage. Now he saw that Klause was right: It was Phrasia! She crouched in a corner, trying to stay as far away as possible from the muddletongue.

The muddletongue was making horrible noises in his throat and waving his flaming torch in the air. Other muddletongues stood around the cage, growling and grunting. Some were very big and others were not so big, but they all had the same strong-looking arms and long, tangled hair. They were dressed in animal skins.

"We've got to save her," Wordsworth whispered to Klause. He glanced around to see if Princess Rho was nearby.

"Lady fly away," Klause said glumly.

Wordsworth wondered why Princess Rho had left, but he couldn't worry about that now. The muddletongue lifted his torch and turned toward the cage where Phrasia cowered in fear.

"We have to do something," Wordsworth said. "Harge the muddletongue, Klause. Stab him with your horns. Try to knok him down. I'll try to saw through one of the bars with my sword and get Phrasia out."

Klause nodded and lowered his head. With an enraged "Wheeeeaaaaa!" he dashed straight at the muddletongue who was holding the torch. The muddletongue staggered backward with a yell. Wordsworth rushed out of his hiding place and began chopping at the cage with his sword. He heard a muddletongue howl in pain and knew Klause must have jabbed or bitten him.

"Arghhhhhhhhh!" said a gravelly voice behind Wordsworth.

Big hands grasped him around the waist and lifted him into the air. Strong arms started shaking him. Wordsworth dropped his sword. He kicked his legs and swung his arms.

"Put me down!" he yelled.

He looked frantically for Klause. The cavabok was lying on the ground near the cage. A red-eyed muddletongue sat on top of him, grinning an ugly grin. The muddletongue with the torch was laughing. It was an awful sound. He stomped up to Wordsworth, who was still being dangled in the air like a toy.

Cocking his head to one side in a curious way, the muddletongue reached toward the boy with long, gnarled fingers. Wordsworth held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut. Whatever was going to happen, he didn't want to see it. Suddenly, the muddletongue snatched the little bag from around Wordsworth's neck.

"Ow!" yelled Wordsworth as the cord cut into his skin. His eyes popped open.

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