Have you ever wondered what might happen if you could throw a party of your choice and not only could you invite your MC(s) but other literary figures as well? In this feature, I ask you to imagine exactly that scenario and some more. Meet Kerstin Espinosa Rosero and let’s get the party started!
aka The Author
Kerstin Espinosa Rosero is the author of SPFBO7 finalist Burn Red Skies. Her quest to be a translator has led her to live all over the world, including the US, Germany, Taiwan, and the Philippines. When she is not writing or working, she is traveling, sketching, or kickboxing. It is her goal to turn her sketches into stories.
Connect with Kerstin Espinosa Rosero
aka The MC(s)
Avantys and Rhysar are two spirits of dragons that don’t really like each other. Avantys is cruel, majestic, and humongous. Rhysar is smaller, younger, and kind of a brat. As fickle beings, they need constant supervision. At present, our dragonsitter is Valerya, accompanied by her trusty companion, Dove. Both have to be with them at all times to make sure they don’t burn down the forest. For the party, they invite a bunch of dragons in the hopes that the temperamental reptiles will get along with at least one of them. Incidentally, as General of the Firelands, Valerya is also cruel, majestic, and humongous. Dove is smaller, younger, and kind of a brat, but since she’s not “the” dragonsitter, Rhysar just ignores her most of the time.
Dove would invite Falkor from Neverending Story. Valerya would invite Drogon and Smaug—probably the only dragons Avantys would get along with. They did not discuss their decisions beforehand.
The Main Attraction
The gathering of a bunch of dragons is pretty unique. Random characters might actually show up uninvited and try to tame them. Bard the Bowman might make an appearance. It’s 50/50. Valerya doesn’t like bowmen and is distrustful of people named Bard.
The Music
“Enemy” – Imagine Dragons (Arcane)
Burn Red Skies is all about making enemies out of friends.
“Destruction” – Nier Automata
The soundtrack is gorgeous and fits the feel of elemental wars and interdimensional dragons.
“ətˈæk 0N tάɪtn ＜WMId >” – Attack on Titan
If I’m deejaying this party, I’ll play this at the precise moment one of the dragons gets offended.
aka Who Let the MC(s) Loose?
Valerya hates being Avantys’s babysitter. She spends the evening drinking and talking to the barmaids. If Bard the Bowman shows up, she would probably challenge him to a fistfight. Dove wonders how she ended up babysitting five dragons by herself and spends the evening sulking and wondering what the barmaids have that she doesn’t. Rhysar, the little brat, is shunned by the dragon horde, but he chills with Falkor. In the meantime, Avantys challenges Drogon to a duel. Smaug steals everyone’s coins. Dove has lost control over the dragon horde. Thus begins her first experience with alcohol. The pub is suddenly overrun by Hobbits looking for Smaug, and dwarves looking for the Arkenstone. Valerya wonders where all the children came from. Displeased with all the uninvited guests, Avantys rains fire. Then Drogon rains fire. Surprised, Smaug rains fire. Not to be left out, Rhysar rains fire. Falkor transports the Hobbits to safety. Valerya dropkicks Bard the Bowman and decides this party is suddenly worth her time.
Thanks for having me and sorry for hosting such a disastrous party.
I’m honored and overjoyed to take part in The Alchemy of Sorrow, an SFF anthology of 13 fierce and powerful short stories that deal with grief and joy—but as an illustrator, not an author. Definitely check out the Kickstarter if it sounds up your alley! kck.st/3ugMEW6
Kerstin’s SPFBO 7 finalist novel, Burn Red Skies, now has a sequel, Rise Red Kingdom! Grab your copy! It’s also available in KU Unlimited!
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