Here be Dragons...
...Not the slavering, whimsical monsters from childhood fancies, but real Dragons - fierce, complex, wondrous, and wild. They do not require our belief; they never have.

With hard science and myth, empirical wisdom and original line drawings, The Dragon Keeper's Handbook is the draconic enchiridion for the modern world, providing everything you need to know about these extraordinary beings. From disparate theories of Dragon evolution and the golden geometry of their form to modern conservation efforts and how to release a well-weaned orphan back into the wild, this book answers all your questions, even those you didn't know to ask. From awe-inspiring Cosmic Creators to wee pisuhänds guarding hearth and home, discover the habits and habitats of Dragons and pseudo-dragons both familiar and rare.

The Dragon Keeper's Handbook shows us how human and Dragon lives are bound together and why Dragons are now - and ever-will-be - relevant: In their wildness lie lessons for us all.




Follow these links for the inside track on the World Association for Dragons Everywhere, the Dragon Conservancy, and Adopt-A-Dragon Programs! Not to mention some wicked Dragon photos!

What is being said about The Dragon Keeper's Handbook:


From Publishers Weekly (7/25/2011):
This note-perfect "nonfiction" book on fantasy creatures will be eerily familiar to anyone who's read the genre it emulates, down to catchy, vague chapter titles with explanatory subtitles; humorous, opinionated footnotes ("Flat-earthers do not make the world any less round"); and the occasional flight of impassioned rhetoric. The natural history of dragons is logically constructed and will enchant readers who like their magic to have rules (though if it were a real how-to, would-be dragon keepers would surely be impatient with the abstruse background). The mythic analysis section is deft and fascinating, though the line between metaphor and purported truth often blurs. The final detailed advice on dragon keeping is uniformly charming.


From Karen S. Elliott (9/17/2011):
Five Stars! A must read!
Dragon Keeper's Handbook is brilliant. I find myself looking to skies - hoping for a glimpse of a Dragon. Shawn's writing is inspirational and full of amusing imagination; her writing creates a world where Dragons truly exist. Where King made us believe in vampires, Shawn will make you believe in Dragons. She has taken Dragon lore to its ultimate, and then pushed it beyond ultimate. Shawn is a writer that invites attention and envelopes readers in a superior and noble adventure in literature. This book is obviously well-researched, but it doesn't have an academic feel. It's fun and interesting. And pay attention! Shawn puts little tidbits throughout that will make you laugh out loud. Her grasp of language and vocabulary is awesome. This is the encyclopedia of Dragons, not just a handbook - from their habitats and habits, to eggs and orphans, to wellness in a Dragon's world. All chapters are a joy and an adventure. A MUST READ!


From Katrina Rasbold (9/6/2011):
Here There Be Dragons!
What does a dragon sound like? Does a dragon need water? Are there gay dragons? How should you keep an incubating dragon egg at each stage of development? What terrains are hospitable to dragon life? What medical supplies should you have on hand for the care of dragons? What do dragons eat? What happened to the dragons of old? What is the separation of fact and myth regarding dragons?
Shawn MacKenzie's profound respect and love for dragons, their lore and their keeping permeates this exhaustive exploration of all things dragon. Her labor of love is bound to be the treasure of any true dragon enthusiast as she details the finest point of "the care and feeding, life and lore of these fiercely splendid creatures."
The author tracks everything from the dragon's place over time in mythology, their hunting,mating and sleeping habits and their behaviors through the seasons. If you want a measure of the fine points of this book, there is even detailed instructions for the legal probate of dragon inheritance and how to properly transfer your dragon to its new legal owner upon your (expected) death (given their longevity). There is literally no stone unturned in the exploration of the dragon experience. Ms. MacKenzie's writing style is extremely favorable and engaging. Her dedication to and appreciation for dragons as a life form is tremendous and it is clear through every word of her writing that she possesses great reverence for these magnificent creatures and those who honor them. This book is a must have for all lovers of these "most perfect beings."

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