Uncategorized

Reflecting on Gratitude This Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone,

With Thanksgiving upon us, I’ve found myself reflecting quite a bit on gratitude. As the holidays approach and we gather with friends and family, I wanted to take a moment to send a heartfelt “thank you” to the extended family I have found through my writing. I am incredibly thankful for everyone who enjoys my books; your support is the fuel that keeps the engines running and the stories flowing.

A Behind-the-Scenes Secret: Two New Books in the Works

Speaking of stories flowing, I have been keeping a secret for the last few months. While most authors focus on one project at a time to keep their sanity intact, I apparently decided to throw caution to the wind. I’ve been hard at work on not just one, but two upcoming books in the Richard series.

Writing Two Books at Once: A Creative Challenge

I know, I know – writing two books at the same time is a massive challenge. It’s a juggling act, flipping between Google Docs and keeping timelines straight. But I honestly didn’t have a choice. Both stories were calling to me so loudly that I had to put them on paper immediately. They are intertwined, yet distinct, and holding one back while writing the other felt impossible.

A Darker Shift in Book Six: Tragedy at the Heart of Richard’s Journey

I do need to warn you: these two books are far different from the previous five in the series.

We’ve followed Richard through many adventures, but we are entering a darker, more complex chapter of his life. The sixth book takes a more emotional turn. Unlike the earlier books where the struggles often felt external, this time tragedy strikes directly at the heart of Richard’s family. It has been difficult to write, but I believe it is a necessary part of his journey. It raises the stakes in a way I haven’t explored before.

Book Seven: A Strange New Beginning and the Rise of Dragons

Then there is the seventh book. If book six is about loss, book seven is about a strange and mysterious new beginning. The core concept is one I’m incredibly excited to share:

Richard becomes the father of a new race of dragons.

The twist?

He has no idea.

Imagine the dramatic irony of Richard moving through his world, dealing with the aftermath of tragedy, completely unaware that he is the patriarch of an entirely new lineage. This opens up so many possibilities for the lore, and I can’t wait for you to read how it unfolds.

Bringing Book Five to Life with New Video Tools

I’ve also been experimenting with new tools. I used Google Gemini to help create two short videos that capture the “vibe” of book five. You can watch them here:

It’s amazing to see the book’s atmosphere come to life visually, and I think you’ll really enjoy them. When the time is right, I’ll use these tools to create videos for the next two books as well.

Back to Writing: New Worlds Await

Well, the manuscripts are calling my name, so I need to get back to work. There are dragons to hatch and plot twists to refine.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of great food and even better company.

Warmly,

Michael W. Hickman

Welcome back to the universe of the Richard series! It has been an incredible journey bringing Richard: A Dragon’s Destiny to life, and I am thrilled to finally share Volume V with all of you. If you have been following Richard Plantagenet’s story from the hills of Ohio to the throne of the Milky Way, you know that his life is anything but ordinary. But in this installment, the stakes and the scales have never been higher.

A King Transformed

The most shocking twist in this volume is, of course, Richard’s new reality. The King of the Milky Way has been transformed into a massive golden wing dragon. This isn’t just a physical change; it is an emotional odyssey. Richard is no longer the boy from Earth or the ruler sitting comfortably in his palace on Krel. He is isolated on the world of the air dragons, grappling with his new instincts, his massive size, and a profound sense of loneliness.

For the first time, we see Richard stripped of his ability to simply “fix” things with his powers. He is forced to rely on his brother, Henry, to rule in his stead. Henry, who was created as a double, must now step out of the shadows and lead a kingdom at war, all while trying to keep the secret that the true king is actually a fire-breathing leviathan living in a cave.

A Tale of Two Families

One of the most complex themes I explored in this book is the concept of family. Richard is torn between two worlds. On Krel, he has his beloved mate, Amber, and their cubs, including the newborn Hunter. But on the dragon world, a new destiny has forced a new family upon him.

Readers will be introduced to Ehecatl, an air dragon, and the clutch of hatchlings she shares with Richard. Among them is a character I am particularly excited for you to meet: Drax. Drax is a unique hybrid a boy with a dragon’s tail, scales, and wings, who faces rejection for being different but finds unconditional love from his father. The dynamic between Richard’s Krel family and his dragon family drives the emotional heart of this story, leading to moments of heartbreak, jealousy, and ultimately, acceptance.

War and Treachery

While Richard battles his internal demons and navigates his complex family life, the galaxy is burning. The war with the Federation has reached a boiling point. We see the rise of a new antagonist, King Yoxall, who is determined to bring the Kingdom to its knees.

However, not everyone in the Federation is an enemy. This book introduces Prince Rowan, a young man who challenges his father’s tyranny and risks everything for love and peace. His dramatic confrontation with Henry in the palace gardens is one of the most tense scenes I have ever written, involving a mono-molecular dagger and a desperate bid to save two civilizations.

Bringing the World to Life

For A Dragon’s Destiny, I decided to try something new. I wanted you to see this world exactly as I see it in my imagination. To do this, I collaborated with AI tools to generate initial concepts for illustrations, which I then personally manipulated and refined to fit the narrative perfectly.

Included in this book are visuals of Richard in his golden dragon form, the terrifying black dragon Aine, and the heartfelt moments between the characters. I hope these images add a new dimension to your reading experience, immersing you even deeper into the lore of the Milky Way Kingdom.

The Road Ahead

As we look toward the future, the path for Richard is fraught with danger. There are forces at work mysterious entities like the “Other Amber” who are manipulating events from the shadows, insisting that Richard must return to human form to fulfill a destiny that spans the multiverse. But does Richard want to be human again? That is the question that will haunt him as we move toward the finale.

I am already deep into writing the next in the series, aiming for a release in late 2026 or early 2027. Until then, I hope you enjoy the adventure, the heartache, and the triumph of Richard: A Dragon’s Destiny.

Thank you for reading, Michael W. Hickman