Welcome Author Wendy Blanton

Friday, March 13, 2026

Hi everyone. It's been a couple of months but one author cancelled and the other postponed. So, for the rest of March and beginning of April, I am happy to introduce you to a new author you will love.

Welcome Wendy Blanton!

I met Wendy during a Zoom writing group and I started reading her fantasy dragon series that will capture you immediately.

Here is the interview for you to learn more about her:

INTERVIEW WITH WENDY BLANTON

Where were you born and where do you live now?

I was born in Flint, Michigan. I live near St. Louis, Missouri now.

Who or what influenced you to begin writing?

I've been telling myself stories my whole life. I was your typical daydreaming kid. I excelled at creative writing in school, but I didn't decide to be an author until after I separated from the USAF and was finishing college.

Besides writing, do you have any occupation? Do you have any hobbies?

I work at our church as the pastor's assistant, which I love. I like to read and cook, and I dabble in different things. My little ADHD brain likes to try new things, and I go all in, and then I get bored and move on. I tend to circle back to crocheting and knitting every few years, but I haven't done anything advanced.

What made you decide to go into the Air Force?

I enlisted for GI Bill education benefits. I spent the first 5 years as an Aerospace Ground Equipment mechanic, and then transferred to an admin position in the jet engine shop.

Wow,my father did the same thing during the war.

Did you see any combat and how did it affect you?

No, I served stateside.

Have you put any of your personal experiences into your writing?

Not really. Real life military doesn't translate well into dragons and magic. The mindset was helpful, but that's about it.

Please describe a typical day of writing for you.

I don't usually have typical days. I write in short spurts between other things--before work, at work when it's slow, sometimes in the evening.

How did you get interested in writing about dragons?

I was writing short stories for one of the Blackbirds anthologies, and I asked for ideas on Facebook. My friend posted something like, "Fire streaked across the sky. The dragons were back." That became a short story, and then another. I'm up to three books, and am working on both a prequel and a sequel.

What was the path to publication of your first book?

I went to a Realm Makers conference and met the publisher. We corresponded for several months when he offered me a three-book contract, which I happily signed. A book and a half in, the honeymoon was over. He was trying to get me to write the book in his head, not mine. I got my rights back and formed Coffee With Dragons to publish independently.

You were lucky to have found that out before you got too involved in publishing. There are a lot of dangers out there for writers.

How did you come up with that name? I didn't, actually. Stephen Bagley gave me the idea. Dragons represent the challenges in our lives. We all have them. You can try to kill them, but they don't die. It's easier to learn the lessons they are trying to teach. Sitting with your dragon with a cup of coffee is more pleasant than trying to kill it.

I never thought of dragons in that way but I will read your books with a different mindset now. And Stephen comes up with a lot of great ideas to help writers.

Do you feel it’s more important to build your world first or to develop your characters when you are writing a fantasy?

I do them simultaneously. It's pretty messy, but it's a thing of beauty when it all pulls together.

· Have you written about other things besides dragons?

I have several short stories in anthologies.

How can our readers reach you?

www.wendyblanton.com

Facebook: Coffee With Dragons

Finally, the last question I ask all my guests: Are you a plotter or a pantser? In other words, do you plot out your stories or do you just write? I'm a plotter, working toward plantser (the hybrid between the two). Writing is the only area of my life I can't plan well, so I'm working to find ways to streamline my messy process.

I'm a pantser so I can't really identify with plotting anything at first. I need to know my characters' movivation of course, but that isn't really plotting. It's character development, which leads to a plot. But at first all I do is write. If an idea hits me I'm off. Then I go back and look at it. That's when I develop my characters. But they have to have a story first. I find it fascinating that you can do both simultaneously as you do with your world building.

Thank you to Wendy Blanton for sharing your thoughts with us.

Here is an excerpt from one of her books:

Arwyne leaned forward a little. "Children, hear the story of your past. In the beginning, our world was barren and lifeless. Cruthadair, Mother Creator, cast her eye about the stars. She saw our world and formed it into a life-giving planet, filled with food and comfort and love. In those days, everyone used magic to perform simple chores and healing.

"For generations, people lived in peace. The first ones taught their children about Cruthadair's love. Each generation talked less about Cruthadair and more about her children: Brigid, goddess of hearth and home; Maccha, her bloodthirsty sister, who eats the flesh of her slain enemies and dominates her lovers through cunning and guile; and their brother, Laoch, god of Wreiddons, heroes and champions.

"After a time, one man became envious of his neighbor. He took what he coveted by force, and his neighbor gathered others and went to take it back. No one knows what the object was, or why it was so dear that it was worth the blood spilled. One killing sparked another until all of Balphrahn was at war.

"The dragons observed all of this, and when it appeared mankind would exterminate itself, they intervened, some on one side and some on the other as they saw fit. More blood was spilled, and thousands died in dragon fire." She raised her eyebrows and paused for effect as the children shivered.

"Eventually, one side overpowered the other. Who can say if it was the right side or the wrong side? The vanquished fled east, through the woods and across the wide river. Eventually, they called their new home Aramach, and their descendants are those who harry our border to this day.

The strongest of the dragon riders was chosen to sit on the throne and rule over all of Slan. He ordered a grand castle built, and from there, he led everyone to prosperity.

"King Fergus ruled wisely. At first. As time passed, his power overcame him and he cast his eye on his fellow dragon riders. He decreed that, as king, it was his right to have concubines and chose the female dragon riders as his own.

"Some of the women went to him willingly, smitten with his countenance and charm. Others went willingly because of his power and the knowledge that if they caught his child, they could mother the next monarch.

"One did not go willingly. Ailin protested, saying she was in love with another and wished to stay faithful to him. King Fergus ignored her pleas. His guards brought her to his chamber, where he overpowered her and took her by force.

"When it was done, he laughed at Ailin's tears and dismissed her. Instead of leaving, she stood next to his bed and cursed all men through the power of her magic and rage, and in the name of Maccha, with a dread of dragons and cowardice. As Maccha moved to grant her wish, Laoch intervened, offended at the curse on of his own. He was able to keep the cowardice from future generations, but not the dread of dragons. In retribution, he took magic from all women. A great cry went up in all of Slan and Brigid took pity, blessing women with her healing touch.

"King Fergus rose, terrified, from his bed and ran from the castle. His dragon, seeing the cowardice upon him, repudiated him, burning the curse away with dragon fire."

The children gasped as a silver dragon flew past the window, heading for the lairs.

"If it had been only King Fergus who was repudiated, it would have been bad enough, but all the male dragon riders suffered the same fate. The bond between dragon and rider is stronger than those of a mother and her child. The dragons who were strongly bonded to their male riders also died. Those who were not bonded as strongly lived, but fled to the mountains in grief.

"A great cry went up. When Ailin realized what she had done, she fled to the woods, too ashamed to face her lover and friends. When they found her, she was great with child and insensible with grief and shame.

"The remaining members of the Dragon Council judged Ailin harshly and banished her far to the west, beyond the mountains. She did not go alone, for her friends were also banished. They were escorted many leagues to the mountains and through a pass, never to be seen again. It is because of the Curse of Ailin that, to this day, only women ride the dragons, and only the men are mages."

The teachers stepped in. "Thank you, Wybren Arwyne. We appreciate your time." They gathered the children and herded them through the exact center of the room where there was nothing to touch.

"It's my pleasure," said Arwyne. She held the smile until they all left.

BIO:

Wendy has been writing since she learned to string words into sentences. She is a U.S. Air Force veteranwith a long and eclectic resume. When she’s not mired in stories, she enjoys reading, camping, gardening, and drinking coffee. She lives in Imperial, MO with her husband, cats, and a couple of reclusive

fairies.

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Until the next time, which will be April 13th I hope, my next guest will be Kerry L. Marzock, who is an author, editor, and mother of an adorable cat.

Spring is almost here and winter only has a few

more days.

As far as my own writing is concerned, the second book of the Mill Valley High series, Who Is Jennifer Taylor, is going to be out very soon. And I have sent a poetry manuscript to a publisher to see if it will be published. Fingers crossed but I will still have it published if it isn't accepted. This time I will not pay for it. LOL Also, I will be participating in a few in person events where I read my poetry.

Passover starts on April 1st and that is really early for that. What will it be like on April Fools Day? And Easter is not far behind. Please stay safe and try not to stress about world events. Be kind to each other and as peaceful as you can be in these times. If you don't like what is going on then protest and raise your voice. Get out on the streets and show how you feel. Protest works if enough people do it peacefully and forcefully.