The following is not just some self-serving, shameless plug for my ever-growing chapter series for kids. It’s a self-serving, shameless plug PLUS some really thoughtful insights into a collection of purposefully STEM-inspired books that will resonate with young and old minds alike.

The whole idea for the series’ intertwined narratives is unapologetically rooted in my love for Tolkien and for the great, grandiose, puppet-filled fantasy epics of the 1980s. ‘Willow’, ‘Labyrinth’, and especially ‘The Dark Crystal’ were all staples growing up. The idea of some clueless, naïve sap going out into the great unknown is a classic fantasy standard. Add in some sort of unavoidable quest, and you have the makings for a tale of danger, adventure, and beyond.

And so, book number 4 in this series, titled ‘Squirrels Stay in the Forest’, sets a curious, talking squirrel named Moira on just such a quest. She begins by saving her village from starvation, but her 3-book story arc will ultimately chase the question: where does the wind go? You see, in the world outside her forest home, The Greater Drey, the wind is constantly blowing toward the single mountain that towers over the surrounding plains.

But as I developed the narrative I was after – one where a young character is chasing this impossible breeze, I began to ask myself the question: where does the wind actually go? Why is it blowing? And like many of my creative works, the analytical part of my engineer brain started to help craft a classic case of cause and effect. So, Moira’s story ended up being put on hold until I could develop this background mythology. And that’s where we meet a young dragon boy named Dracken.

So actually, Dracken kicks off the series with his own trilogy of books one through three. Dracken’s part of the story is very special for me because it resonates in several ways with my inner child. Dracken is me, and his relationship with not asking for permission, doing things anyway, and the way his mother’s love impacts his development is a direct retelling of my own relationship with my mom. He has a lot of heart and a lot of big ideas.

In book one, Dracken’s colony of dragons is being threatened by some sort of illness. The oldest dragons, highest up in their cavern system because of their honor and age, are all becoming sick. Dracken is the only one who suspects the dragons’ own heat is to blame. After learning about the dragons’ steam-powered drill, and how to use a block and tackle to help lift heavy things, Dracken schemes to bust a hole in the top of the mountain. After all, he reasons, heat rises. All of these elements are how and why the first book set the rest of the series on a course to be intentionally STEM-inspired. The lessons of course are not about the physics calculations needed to lift a mining drill, but rather, how do we harness science to make a positive change in our world. And especially, how do we decide which problems should or shouldn’t be solved.

But Dracken’s biggest lesson is yet to come. Centuries after he successfully ventilates the mountain, Moira is on a crash course for the tippy top. As it turns out, that’s where the wind blows. Toward the mountain and up, then out and away and back again. You see, once Dracken opened holes at the top and bottom of the dragons’ cavern system, the heat of the elder dragons’ fire fueled a constant upward draft. After centuries, that draft started to draw air from across the plains. Like a giant ceiling fan circulating warm and cool air, Dracken’s clever solution to his elders’ sickness inadvertently created a permanent weather system around the mountain. This wouldn’t be a problem, except the wind started to accelerate the human civilizations around the mountain. Wind power now drives mills, vehicles, and equipment. And because the wind blows toward the mountain, the most densely populated settlement, The Climbing Keep, is growing right around the base of the mountain. This is what Moira will discover in book six, which I am currently writing, but she, a now ancient Dracken, and some reluctant humans won’t solve that issue until the climactic book seven.

It’s a big story for my seven to ten-year-old target demographic, but each part is broken down into fun, bite-sized pieces. The books themselves are meant to look and feel like a big kid’s book, but with a larger font, and about an illustration per chapter, they aren’t so intimidating.

Other spin-offs may result, but for now, I am focusing on the 7-book core world-building arc. They are available on Amazon for $9.99 each, but I like to sell them directly to people for $5. It’s part of my diabolical get-rich-slow-scheme. In reality, I crowd-funded the artwork costs for the books, and my agreement with those benefactors was that I would price the books simply on printing costs alone because they helped defray those initial production expenses. And really, books for kids should be as cheap as possible. A parent who’s scraping by shouldn’t have to say no to a book. It’s not a smartphone or a pair of designer basketball sneakers, right?

So, if you’re interested for a young reader in your life, drop me a line. I love to participate in library donations, school visits, and more!

Matt Hebert is an engineer and self-published author. His dopamine-fueled creative pursuits have spanned from chicken keeping, sand sculpture, acting, and public speaking, but writing is nearest and dearest to his heart. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and two daughters. You can find him on Instagram at @jerkofalltradeshebert or email him at matt.hebert.books@gmail.com

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