Jason and the Draconauts
About the Book 
The creature hiding in the barn can’t exist. Fifteen-year-old Jason Hewes knows it’s impossible. A live dinosaur would be more believable; at least dinosaurs once roamed the land which is now the Hewes Montana farm. But this beast from legend? Quite impossible—although it doesn’t seem to be going away just because it shouldn’t exist.
Jason is about to reevaluate what is or isn’t possible. His discovery is very real, leathery wings and all. Nor is his new friend alone. Others of his kind are awakening from a centuries-long slumber. Realizing how traumatic contact between mythological beast and modern life could be, Jason and his impossible new ally devise a plan to integrate the newly awakened creatures into society through teenage interaction. What could possibly go wrong?
As the sound of giant wings becomes a common occurrence on the Hewes family farmstead, a malignant force senses his old enemies are flying again. Determined to end an eons-long war forever, this being turns his attention to a small rural Montana town, a family farm, and Jason Hewes.
Buy on Amazon | Read a Sample Interview 1. When did you start writing?
I started writing several years ago on some on-line fan fiction sites. I got a lot of great responses over the three stories that I did
2. What inspired you to be an author?
I enjoy telling stories and exercising my imagination. When I wrote fan fiction, I knew it really couldn't go anywhere since they were in established and copyrighted world. That led me to decide to write something that was completely original and that my own kids would enjoy reading.
3. What was your favorite book as a child?
I am a HUGE comic book fan, so those were my favorites. Walt Simonson's Thor run and the Chris Claremont/John Byrne years on the X-Men stand out to me. But the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit were also really huge for me.
4. What is your current favorite book?
I am currently really enjoying Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series. But I really recommend a book by Andy Weir called The Martian. Good stuff!
5. How did you think of the idea for Jason and the Draconauts?
I love dragons but I feel like most dragon stories are set in the time of knights and castles. The movie Reign of Fire intrigued me because it brought dragons back in modern times (even though the movie was quite the stinker). So I decided to go the route of bringing dragons back in the 21st century and put my own take on what would happen.
6. What was the best part about writing/publishing this book?
The creativity, the bringing of ideas to life, and when someone tells you they enjoyed your book.
7. The worst?
The marketing :(
8. What is some advice you have for other writers?
Take your time telling your story. Don't try to rush to what you think is the "good stuff". The readers want you to take them on the journey, go give them a journey they can enjoy. About the Author
Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999.
A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul’s writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel.
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The creature hiding in the barn can’t exist. Fifteen-year-old Jason Hewes knows it’s impossible. A live dinosaur would be more believable; at least dinosaurs once roamed the land which is now the Hewes Montana farm. But this beast from legend? Quite impossible—although it doesn’t seem to be going away just because it shouldn’t exist. Jason is about to reevaluate what is or isn’t possible. His discovery is very real, leathery wings and all. Nor is his new friend alone. Others of his kind are awakening from a centuries-long slumber. Realizing how traumatic contact between mythological beast and modern life could be, Jason and his impossible new ally devise a plan to integrate the newly awakened creatures into society through teenage interaction. What could possibly go wrong?
As the sound of giant wings becomes a common occurrence on the Hewes family farmstead, a malignant force senses his old enemies are flying again. Determined to end an eons-long war forever, this being turns his attention to a small rural Montana town, a family farm, and Jason Hewes.
Buy on Amazon | Read a Sample Interview 1. When did you start writing?
I started writing several years ago on some on-line fan fiction sites. I got a lot of great responses over the three stories that I did
2. What inspired you to be an author?
I enjoy telling stories and exercising my imagination. When I wrote fan fiction, I knew it really couldn't go anywhere since they were in established and copyrighted world. That led me to decide to write something that was completely original and that my own kids would enjoy reading.
3. What was your favorite book as a child?
I am a HUGE comic book fan, so those were my favorites. Walt Simonson's Thor run and the Chris Claremont/John Byrne years on the X-Men stand out to me. But the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit were also really huge for me.
4. What is your current favorite book?
I am currently really enjoying Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series. But I really recommend a book by Andy Weir called The Martian. Good stuff!
5. How did you think of the idea for Jason and the Draconauts?
I love dragons but I feel like most dragon stories are set in the time of knights and castles. The movie Reign of Fire intrigued me because it brought dragons back in modern times (even though the movie was quite the stinker). So I decided to go the route of bringing dragons back in the 21st century and put my own take on what would happen.
6. What was the best part about writing/publishing this book?
The creativity, the bringing of ideas to life, and when someone tells you they enjoyed your book.
7. The worst?
The marketing :(
8. What is some advice you have for other writers?
Take your time telling your story. Don't try to rush to what you think is the "good stuff". The readers want you to take them on the journey, go give them a journey they can enjoy. About the Author
Paul Smith lives in upstate New York with his wife and two sons, where he works with emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. He earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Binghamton University in 1999.A lifelong love of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories influences Paul’s writing. His most recent work was a popular weekly online series that generated over 20,000 views. Jason and the Draconauts is his first novel.
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