The Awakening of Reluctant Readers?

Ela Lourenco

The idea for the Dragon Born series was actually not mine but my daughter’s. Being dyslexic yet a lover of fantasy tales she decided that I should put my time to good use and write books especially for her! Her love of dragons and all things magical were the starting point for the series. The main characters are in fact based on my two daughters and nieces – and I found that they evolved and matured as the books in the series progressed… you could say they grew up together.

I know some writers plan their stories in great detail while others just let them flow spontaneously – I fall somewhere in between. Once I actually start writing it is all spontaneous and freestyle but then there are the months of planning that go on in the background before the first chapter is ever started. And the ever-changing relationships between the characters… so unpredictable at times!

Awakening is the third book of the five book Dragon Born series, and in some ways my favourite of the collection in that it’s the point where various characters and sub plots begin to merge at a faster tempo and the tension is rising rapidly. I have been ‘accused’ by many a reader of ending each chapter in suspense, so they just have to read the next one! Yes, I do like to keep throwing curveballs into the mix, I love to keep my reader guessing but there is a method to my seeming madness! Aside from creating my own fantastical stories my great passion is bringing the joy back to reading. Sadly, between the rise of gadgets, technology and the drastic increase in learning difficulties books have fallen by the wayside. Instant gratification has become the norm – I try to combat that with chapters filled with such a constant stream of mystery and action that even the most reluctant reader will be tempted.

Learning difficulties are often misunderstood by many. ‘Dyslexia’, for example, is not one size fits all – not all dyslexics mix up letters or struggle with spelling. And not all reluctant readers are dyslexic. One thing they all have in common though is that reading has to be exciting to keep them engaged. I try to achieve this without dumbing down the language or concepts – I merely attempt to keep my descriptions more vivid and to avoid unnecessarily long passages.

I hope my readers enjoy this latest book in the series and keep sending me feedback!

Fun fact about me: what many do not know is that I have studied child developmental psychology and trained in the area of dyslexia and learning difficulties – and I also run creative writing workshops for children and young adults.

Now for some info on Dragon Born: Book Three, Awakening:

The Royal tournament, the Karnac, is fully underway. But there is deception and betrayal at every turn. Unseen dark forces are at play, both within the school grounds and out with. Even the Gods are unable to help when a new threat looms over them all.

The very existence of Azmantium depends on Lara fully becoming the Child of Fire and casting aside the Shadows lurking in every corner of her beloved planet.

Can she overcome the challenges that await? Will the Shadows cover the world in darkness? Only Lara and her friends can change the fate of Azmantium.

Awakening is available on:

Amazon:

US | UK | Canada | Australia | Germany | France | Spain | Italy | Japan | Mexico | Brazil |India | The Netherlands

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About the Author — Ela Lourenco is a lover of all things fantasy, magic and mystery and loves nothing better than cooking up new tales – that is when she isn’t nose deep in a book herself! Nomadic by nature, she has now settled down in Scotland with her hubby, two daughters and two cats.

Ela also runs creative writing workshops for children and is passionate about helping those with learning difficulties to get ‘back to enjoying stories’.