As a result of this outpouring of creativity, I decided to embark on writing more speculative science fantasy stories featuring my characters in my own universe, which is as real for the reader as I can make it. These are fresh and original stories and as such I have designed them to stand alone but linked together by a common theme. Each book explores more of the origins and adventures of Antonia’s people while keeping faith to the original concept. Given the scope and developing ideas which have emerged from the first two books so far, I finally came up with a name for the series which ties in nicely with its mythology: Children of The Dragon.

This series is a chronicle of the Xosan, living vampires from the planet Antellus who were once human but were transformed by a dragon’s blood. They are stories of science fiction, fact and fantasy, myth and history, tragedy and triumph linked together by the theme of the vampire as hero.

There are many facets to this fantasy universe that are as yet unexplored and as I continue to delve into its mysteries the whole is becoming greater than the sum of its parts, much to my own delight. As I write each story, another comes calling to add to the saga and challenges my creativity and imagination.

I hope that you too will be fascinated and entertained by the people who are the descendents of Xosan and the inheritors of the dragon's blood.

--- Theresa M. Moore

Dedicated to Bruce Lee and the Xaolin monks who were the progenitors of the martial arts discipline.

1

Michael Alan Burton managed to make it to his desk just in time, tossing his knapsack on the floor as he rocketed into his chair and sailed on its five legged rollers up against the wall of his cubicle just as the news room clock's long minute hand hit the 35 mark. But he knew he was caught when he heard the booming voice of his editor, Charles Allen, yell across the large room, “Burton, you're late!! Get in here!!”

He froze, winced, then glanced across the aisle to his fact checker and all around bud, Jerry Gale, for some sign of support. His friend smiled and shrugged, throwing up his hands. “Don't look at me. I'm not the one who's late.”