Introducing Titus (by The Human)

The newest Dragon-Muse is Titus Liam Sterling.  He's the Determination Muse, which might explain why he's so small.  But Titus means "giant," so there's hope. 

With all my other Dragon-Muses, except for maybe Jerry, I had a hard time getting them to tell me their names.  Titus told me right from the beginning.  I didn't even realize he was a Muse (I thought he was just a common necklace charm) until he told me his name was Titus.  It took just the slightest bit of coaxing to get the rest of his name from him.  Liam means "strong, determined protector" and Sterling means "valuable." 

Determination is something every writer/artist needs--and I think I need a little extra, so I'm really glad Titus has joined this Dragon-Muse family.

Until Titus, Pneuman was the smallest Muse.  Pneuman doesn't mind not being the smallest, as long as he's still the prettiest.

Dragon Hibernation? (by the Human)

Okay, so this is the human writing. I'm writing because the Dragons have been extremely quiet lately. I've tried to carry on a conversation or two with Dravaena, just to see how she's adjusting. She just shushed me and told me I was a horrible poet.

I can't even get Jerry to talk to me. At first, I thought it was because he was still angry about me getting a new Dragon. He's still afraid of Dravaena. But even if he were angry, he'd probably be able to muster up a good hilarious insult.

Bion and Tai are quiet. Pneuman is quiet. He hasn't even updated his facebook status or twitter in weeks. I've come to realize that Dragons must hibernate or something.

As a writer who has written three books about Dragons, I like to consider myself a Dragon expert. I mean, if you write a book about something, that automatically makes you a top authority on the subject, right? So I figure that I know as much about Dragons as anyone. The thing is, Dragons are still pretty mysterious creatures. Even though they live in the same "cave" with me, there's still so much I don't know about them.

For the past couple of months, my writing has hit a little bit of a dry spell. I'm still writing...a little, but things just aren't coming as quickly as they should be. I've come to the conclusion that my Dragon-Muses have gradually entered a state of Dragon Hibernation. It started back in December and has gradually gotten worse over the past few months. Before they were doing very little, but now they're doing almost nothing at all. They're still Musing, of course. I'm still writing. It's just at a much slower rate, because they're in some kind of suspended animation.

I'm hoping that the arrival of spring starts to wake them up. I'm really in need of their inspiration. Dravaena was right--I'm a horrible poet.

The Dragon Lady (by Jerry)

The worst thing has happened. The worst thing that could possibly ever have happened has, in fact, happened. Whilst my "brothers" are off celebrating, I have snuck away for a few moments to write what may possibly be the last blog I will ever write.

I once thought that getting a girl-type Dragoness would be like the best thing ever, okay? So, I was wrong. When "Mom" got home today, she found this box in her room, and inside it was...a Dragon. A Dragoness. An evil red Dragoness. ...and Mom was actually happy about it.

Meet Dravaena. She's lovely, yes, but sinister. Just look at those cruel claws. *Shudder*

Well, of course Mom went to work trying to figure out this new Dragon's name. I suggested a few names for her. Jezebel. Delilah. Cruella. Spawn of Satan. Scarlet (because it rhymes with harlot--Mom told me she was going to wash my mouth out). Evil Incarnate. Mom hated all my name choices, and the evil red Dragoness hissed at me every time I suggested anything. Even after she started hissing and growling and snapping, Mom thought I was just being silly. She said, "It looks like this Dragon has been through a lot. She's feisty, but I'm sure we can all learn to get along with her."

Humans aren't that bright sometimes. And neither are my brothers. They all like her, all right. Bion is practically in love with her--but not like in a gross, mushy way. He just likes her because she scares the willies out of me. Jerk.


Anyway, so after MUCH deliberation, Mom discovered that this malicious creature is named Dravaena (Drah-VAY-nah) Taryn Thrush. According to Dravaena, her name is a combination of mostly Gaelic/Celtic names, and it has the following meanings: hunter, dark one, poet, bard, song. Taryn, her middle name, means "rocky hill" and can also mean "pure" and "torture." I think "pure torture" fits her rather well. Thrush, her last name, is a kind of bird--a song bird. I'm not sure how THAT name fits her, but whatever. I mean, she IS supposedly the Dragon-Muse that inspires Mom's poetry and song lyrics, but I think she's more of a vulture than a thrush.


And what's so necessary about a Poetry and Lyrical Dragon-Muse? My human writes horrible poetry. Apparently she just wants someone to blame it on. Why does it have to be this malicious Dravaena beastie? She could have been claimed by some cute pink Dragon-Muse that likes Italian food (and by that, I mean actual Italians), long rampages down the beach, and Dragon Nip Coladas. But no, no. Dravaena found and claimed her first. So now...we're doomed.

Anyway, Bion and Tai think she's great. Pneuman was skeptical until he heard her name. He knows a Dragon's name is very important. Apparently, he thought her name was acceptable. He approached her and officially welcomed her into the family with open wings. What is WITH my family? Can't they see that this Dravaena is going to kill us all in our sleep? I've read the Bible (at least the fun parts) and I've read Revelation. It had this Dragon that represented Satan--do you know what color it was? I'll tell you what color it was. Red. That's what color it was.

We're doomed, I tell you. Doomed.

Tai: Ooh! Who does your nails?

Bion: Scare Jerry some more! Scare Jerry some more!

Pneuman: I see you broke your horn. Our human broke my horn TWICE and had to perform emergency horn replacement surgery. So, how did you break your horn?

Dravaena: I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Wow. I thought I was the crazy one!

Thankfulness (by EVERYBODY)

The Human here. I thought it would be fun this Thanksgiving to ask all of my Dragon-Muses what they're thankful for.

Tai:
What am I thankful for? Well, this is an easy question and a difficult question. I'm thankful for pretty much everything, but I'm sure our readers want a more specific answer than that. So I guess I'll just say that I'm thankful for the ability to be thankful. I'm thankful for those times when it seems that things aren't going the way we want them to go. I'm thankful for the ability to still find something to be thankful for. I'm thankful to be able to see, in time, the way things are worked out. I'm thankful to be known by the Creator of the universe who is able to work things out while we wait for Him. There's beauty in the waiting, in the trusting, in the hoping--and I'm thankful for the ability to thankfully wait on God to bring about what He's planned.

Bion:
This might surprise you, but I'm actually thankful for Jerry. I'm thankful for Tai, Pneuman, and my human, as well, of course, but I'm particularly thankful for my brother Jerry. Yes, he annoys the fire out of me--literally. Yes, he steals my tail cap and pours hot chocolate in it for no apparent reason. Yes, he bothers me by never taking anything seriously. But I've found that we all need a little Jerry from time to time. I get caught up in my editing and work. Work and responsibility are very, very important. Sometimes, though, I forget that it's also important to rest. It's important to take a few minutes to laugh and just be the tiniest bit silly. While Jerry annoys me and will always annoy me, I must admit...well...that I kind of like the guy. I'm glad he's my brother. Don't tell him I said that.

I'm also thankful that my scales don't itch. Sometimes that happens when the weather gets colder.

Jerry:
I'm thankful for warm hugs, grape nerds, fishing lure, rabbit holes, chocolate chip cookies, Star Wars, socks, teddy bears, tarantulas, gummy bears, llamas, juggernauts, astronauts, cosmonauts, other kinds of nauts, pickled herring, coo-coo clocks, ribbons, lazer beams, gingersnaps, VCRs, drumsticks, yellow, doorbells, encyclopedias, tacos, and your mom.

Pneuman:
Well, let me see. I'm thankful for writing and for inspiration, of course. I'm thankful for every breath we're given in this beautiful life that allows us to work, write, sing, pray, laugh, dance, eat, dream, and just BE. I'm thankful for the delicate taste of a roasted peasant and the sweet scent of lavender candles. I'm thankful to be able to create and help create, to do and to encourage. I'm thankful to be truly alive.
I'm also thankful that I'm such a good looking Dragon. While no good Dragon is unattractive, I'm glad I'm exceptionally handsome.

And The Human:
I'm thankful for being able to get closer to my goals (and better define my goals) this year. I still have a long way to go, but as Tai was saying, there's something to be thankful for in the waiting. I'm thankful for all my quirky muses and for the ridiculously wonderful life that I have. I'm thankful for the serious, grown-up parts of my life, as well as the silly childlike parts. This year I've been able to see God working more than I've been able to in the past five years. It's been amazing. I'm so looking forward to Christmas and for 2011. Life is amazing and weird and unpredictable and beautiful. Even if I don't know what's going to happen to me and my writing, I know that God's working.
I'm thankful that I have food on my table, money in my bank account, a roof over my head, a car that's doing really well at the moment, friends who I can rely on when my car isn't doing so well, three jobs that involve the most incredible kids/staff ever, the bestest nieces and nephew an aunt could ask for, an amazing large family whom I can't wait to see come Christmastime, and I'm thankful to have something to work towards.
My life isn't perfect. I think that's part of what makes it interesting. I am a blessed, blessed person. I'm very thankful.

Everyone:
Happy Thanksgiving!

Bion: Jerry, STOP HUGGING ME!
Jerry: It's a Thanksgiving hug!
Bion: Oh, all right. But just for Thanksgiving. And JUST ONE HUG.

FAQ (by Pneuman)

Humans ask a lot of questions. Dragons don't ask as many questions, but I think that's because Dragons have lived longer and know more than humans do. I've had several humans ask me questions regarding Dragons, writing, my writer, and other various matters. To avoid getting asked the same questions again and again, I thought I'd post the answers to some of the questions I get asked most frequently. Here they are.

Q 1. Are you a real Dragon?
A: Yes. The other Dragon-Muses and I are as real as ANY Dragon.

Q 2. Are you made out of glass/ceramic/plaster/resin/plastic?
A: Um, no. I am made out of Dragon.

Q 3. What's your favorite thing about your human?
A: She has a way of looking at the world that I find refreshing. She has a creativity that is fun to inspire. She also has marvelous taste in Dragon-Muses.

Q 4: What's your least favorite thing about your human?
A: She's disorganized and tends to veer towards emotional extremes. It's very hard for her to balance. She also drops me a lot.

Q 5: How long have you been a Dragon-Muse?
A: Since long before you were hatched, puny human.

Q 6: Do you like children?
A: Yes, but my human discourages me from eating them.

Q 7: Are you your human's pet?
A: NO! I am a Dragon-Muse. If anything, I and the other Dragon-Muses own Miss Campbell, not the other way around. She refers to us as "her" Dragon-Muses to differentiate us from other Dragon-Muses, not because we are her possessions. We do belong to her, just as she belongs to us, but is more in the sense as you would belong to your human companions. Your friends do not own you, nor do you own them, but you do belong to each other. That is how it is with my human.

Q 8: How does Dragon-Musing work? Do you write for your human?
A: I am NOT a writer. I love my human, but she, like most writers, is irrational and emotional. I do not wish to be compared with her. She is the writer, and I am the Muse. The other Dragons and I breathe inspiration into her ears--we inspire her. The ideas and words, plots and characters are what she makes of what we breathe. And what she writes is splendid.

Q 9: Your human converses with Dragons. Is your human insane?
A: Yes, but not because she converses with Dragons. She's insane because she's a writer. In fact, I think that my human should contact the editors of her thesaurus to inform them that they should include "writer" as a synonym for "lunatic" in future editions.

Q 10: Why is your human the only one who can hear you and the other Dragon-Muses talk?
A: Miss Campbell can hear us because we have chosen to be her Dragon-Muses. If you are fortunate enough to have Dragon-Muses choose to inspire you, then you will be able to hear them. I humbly suggest that anyone who ridicules Miss Campbell because she hears Dragon-Muses is simply jealous because the Dragon-Muses aren't talking to them.

Q 11: What's your favorite book?
A: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Smaug is rad. It is kind of sad when he dies, though.

Q 12: Do you cause fires when you sneeze?
A: Sigh. I forget to take my allergy medicine ONCE and people NEVER let me forget it...

Q 13: What's your favorite color?
A: Look at the picture of me. Now back to this blog. Now back to ME. You see the gorgeous blue color of my scales. That's it.

Q 14: What did you want to be when you were a little Dragon?
A: What every young Dragon wanted to be. Godzilla, of course.

Q 15: What does Dragon-Muse breath smell like?
A: Clean hippies.

Q 16: You're the lead Dragon-Muse. Do you like being in charge of the other Dragon-Muses?
A: I'm not technically "in charge" of them. I'm more of just the main Muse, the one that ties together all of their particular talents into one mighty breath. Each of the Dragon-Muses on our team has something unique and good to share. I enjoy Bion's truthfulness and ability to see what needs to be changed in order to produce a more perfect product. I enjoy Jerry's ridiculous silliness; he always keeps us laughing. Humor is a true art. Tai is a wonderful addition to our team. I have seen him inspire my human to write when the rest of us could not. He has a way of boosting her talent that is truly remarkable. All in all, yes, I love working with the other Dragon-Muses, and I'm hoping to add more to our team in the future.

Q 17: Do you have a girlfriend?
A: Please, ladies, I have no time for romance. I have Musing to do.

Q 18: Is there any truth to the rumor that a squad of Dragon-hating bears is out to get you?
A: I have heard this rumor, but so far, nothing has come of it. I will keep both of my Dragon eyes open. If the bears appear, my brothers and I will be prepared.

Q 19: Is that really your original eye color?
A: Shhhh.

Q 20: What can you tell us about Miss Campbell's writing projects?
A: Well, so far, they all contain Dragons. That's why she's awesome.


If you have had questions about me, my writer, or the other Dragon-Muses, hopefully your question was answered above. If not, feel free to ask your question in the comments.

On Being a Dragon Muse

I am a Dragon.

If that were not impressive enough, I'm also a muse. My chosen profession is the inspiration of aspiring writer A. R. Campbell.

I am not the only Dragon Muse Miss Campbell has in her arsenal. At the moment, there are three of us. I am the main muse, Pneuman Excelsior. You can see my lovely image (though the picture does not do me justice) in the title of this blog.

The other Dragon Muses who inspire Miss Campbell are Jerry, the silly Dragon, and Bion the editor. They might be posting on this blog, as well.

Miss Campbell is always looking for more muses, so there may be new Dragons in the future.

This post is just an introduction. The Dragon Muses have much to say on writing, life, and inspiration, so come back often. We promise not to eat you, unless you're a peasant.