Chasing Dreams, Dragons, and a Little Bit of Magic

In a recent interview, author Rachel Simpson shared the inspiration behind her fantasy novella Dragon's Calling, a story that began with a single, offhand comment about dragons.

"At a cultural event," Rachel recalled, "a woman from Japan mentioned how dragons show up in so many Eastern stories because no one ever tried to hunt them down. I thought, Oh, that's the story I want to tell!"

From that one moment, Rachel imagined a world where dragons love the land, care for it deeply, and inevitably clash with humanity's need for control.

At the heart of the tale is A'Brent, a young dragon desperate to become a guardian like her mother. Yet for years, she's heard only one answer: not yet. It's a rejection that leaves her battling self-doubt while still dreaming of protecting her valley and the magical elementals who call it home.

"A'Brent really struggles with confidence," Rachel explained. "She wonders, Am I broken? What's wrong with me? Why won't they let me move forward? I wanted to explore how we keep going even when the world says no."

That theme of perseverance threads through the entire story. A'Brent faces rejection, self-doubt, and uncertainty, but she keeps moving forward. For Rachel, A'Brent's journey reflects something universal: the courage to keep showing up, even when the path isn't clear.

Rachel's background as a physician and scientist also shaped her magical world.

I've never understood why people pit science and creativity against each other," she said. "For me, science inspires wonder, and I wanted A'Brent's world to have that same sense of harmony and complexity.

Readers can expect grumpy but loveable elementals, heartfelt family dynamics, and even humor as A'Brent learns to fly with plenty of crash landings along the way.

And this novella is only the beginning. A'Brent's full-length novel launches in the fall 2025. As Rachel teased with a grin, "She might even have to learn to wear pants in the human world. That's going to be fun."

For more about Rachel's work, visit https://rachelsimpsonwrites.com/ and keep an eye out for the next chapter in A'Brent's adventure, a story about courage, dreams, and the magic that lives inside us all.