A willful young man with an ache to prove his worth. A street girl who’s trying to find her place in a world of magical wardens and lehrlings. Rumors of darkness infecting the land and of men turned into monsters. And a horrific dragon that doesn’t really exist…or does it? Taryn Frazier’s fantasy The Dragon’s Mark, released this winter as a serial podcast, pulls listeners in with all this and more.
Two summers ago, I had the great privilege of reading The Dragon’s Mark in manuscript form. Taryn had read about my novel The Arrow and the Crown on the SCBWI Southern Breeze website, and reached out to learn more. We ended up becoming great friends and swapping manuscripts for feedback. Both of our fantasies are set in carefully-researched medieval Germanic worlds, and we both enjoy well-rounded characters and layers of symbolism. Most of all, though, I knew Taryn’s novel was something special when her lively characters continued to haunt my imagination long after I’d read the last page. Here’s a teaser from Taryn’s synopsis:
Brida and Michael ought to be bitter enemies. After all, he is coming to take the city she has sworn to protect. But a chance meeting will lead to a secret friendship–one that will test Brida’s resolve and Michael’s loyalties.
Last November, Taryn began releasing The Dragon’s Mark as a serial podcast, narrated by Jordan Cooper. Getting to relive her story in audio form each week has been an incredible ride– one I hope you won’t miss! I decided to go behind-the-scenes this month to learn more about The Dragon’s Mark, its author, and Taryn’s choice to release via podcast. It proved to be a fascinating interview!
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
I read anything as a kid– even the back of the shampoo bottle. My family used to check out gym bags’ worth of books out of the library. My great-grandfather supported a wife and twelve children on a humor columnist’s salary, so maybe seeing his books on the bookshelf put the idea in my mind. But I wear so many hats that most days I feel like someone who sometimes writes, not a WRITER.
What were some of the inspirations behind The Dragon’s Mark?
I wolfed down fantasy books as a kid–still do! So when it came time to write, I leaned toward that genre. I wrote the majority of The Dragon’s Mark when I was pregnant with my fourth baby and feeling sick as a dog. I needed to take my mind off my body: a last creative hurrah before descending into the newborn trenches.
I wanted to write a book that read like two stories–not a true allegory, but a story that grows up with the audience. Sharp-eyed readers will catch some philosophical and theological allusions, but it was important to me that the book wouldn’t preach.
Who was one of your favorite characters to write, and why?
Michael– and I think it shows. I challenged myself to write a redeemable villain, without his redemption feeling saccharine. Hopefully I hit that note. Through Michael, I wanted to explore the motif of seeing. Truth illuminates and falsity obscures, so the story holds a lot of light/dark imagery and sight/blindness moments.
Friedrich also has a special place in my heart. I have an African-American son, and I wanted to put a big, smart, brave black teen out there so my guy can find him one day.
How did you land on the podcast format as a way to release your novel?
Podcasting struck me as a fun, inexpensive way to find an audience for the project. It seemed like the road less travelled–a way to get a book out there that most writers don’t consider. I had some experience editing audio, and Jordan kindly offered to read. So I had a narrator, the energy, and Google to fill in the gaps of my ignorance.
Tell us about some of the challenges and joys involved in releasing a serial podcast.
So. Many. Challenges. I had to learn a lot, even with prior experience. Getting the audio right for Episode 01 ALMOST did us in. Jordan wins the Nobel Prize for Patience. We’re both parents, and Jordan is a busy teacher, so finding time to record, re-record, edit, and produce… was a lot. Let’s just say my shower, my next WIP, and my to-be-read list feel a little neglected. But the joy of hearing the story again, this time along with an audience, has been worth all the hassle.
Who are a few of your favorite fantasy authors? How has their work inspired you?
Tolkien and Lewis for stories that enchant and speak truth. Lloyd Alexander, for his humor and my favorite fantasy romance. Ursula Le Guin for her solemn, beautiful worlds and amazing work ethic.
How do you weave writing into your busy days as a mother?
In the margins! As the baby naps or when all four kids sleep, I jump onto my ancient Mac and type away. I do a lot of jotting and thinking during the day, so I rarely get writer’s block unless a child is actually blocking my view of the screen–which does happen. But the kids are my priority and my favorite project, so I’m (usually) content with the arrangement.
Do you plan to release The Dragon’s Mark in print format at some point? Do you have other projects in the works?
Yes, but I’m still exploring how to do that. The Dragon’s Mark is my first novel, and I’m learning as I go.
As for projects in the works, I’m preparing a short story for Transept then diving back into my contemporary YA novel, MILITARY BRAT. It’s a departure from fantasy, but military culture is so unique that I’m world-building for the civilian audience–the way fantasy authors invite readers into a new realm.
The final Dragon’s Mark episode airs Monday, 1/25/21, and the full podcast series will be available through the end of February on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google and Stitcher. Learn more about the podcast, meet the author and narrator, and listen to the latest episode at TarynFrazier.com. You can also find Taryn on Twitter and Instagram : check out her amazing “character cards” for The Dragon’s Mark!
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