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26 September 2014
The George and the Dragon artwork competition has been running now for almost a month.

As we fast approach the end of September you can expect a flurry of prize announcements for both the under 16s and over 16s categories.

The prize I'm announcing today is for the over 16s category, so without further delay here it is:

The Battle of Britain: Portraits of the Few


The Battle of Britain: Portraits of the Few is an exceptional tribute to the small group of legendary pilots that served with the Royal Air Force through one of the most critical periods of the Second World War.

Portraits of the Few is a beautifully constructed hard bound book that contains over 60 full-colour illustrations, capturing the images and character of the military aviators who were designated the 'Few' by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. 

Accompanying the portraits, painted by artist David Pritchard, are action filled accounts written by Second World War aviation author Christopher Yeoman, recounting gripping combats and ferocious encounters as the respective men successfully resist the might of the Luftwaffe. 

Indeed the aerial battle fought during the long and glorious summer of 1940 is now viewed as one of the most decisive episodes in all of British history. Each and every day proved consequential, ultimately shaping the island's future. It was a struggle which will never be forgotten by the wartime population of Great Britain; it will never be forgotten for generations to come. 

It is this battle that forms the background for the events told in George and the Dragon and the pilots of 505 squadron are based on these real life heroes who risked their lives to defend our country from the Luftwaffe.



23 September 2014
Those who read my blog frequently will know I'm an advocate of sending an automatic Direct Message (DM) to my new followers.

I've tried various direct messages in the past.  My latest reads as follows:

"Take a dragon put it up against four pilots in Hurricanes and Spitfires, who wins?"


This is a little more direct than I've tried in the past, it encapsulates the question that set me on the road to writing George and the Dragon in the first place. 

My aim is to make people curious enough to respond even if it is with, 'I don't know.'  I can then reply to them with how it does or does not turn out in my book.  (If you want to know the answer you can read it in one of the two scenes I made freely available as part of the George and the Dragon artwork competition.)

Much like Ben Nijssen @nijssen1804 previously another of my followers has taken inspiration from this question and produced a rather cool piece of artwork based on it.

Step forward Sara Snowings +SaraSnowings @SaraSnowings whom put together the following and posted it on her Instagram page:


Yet again I am bowled over by just how creative people are.  Sara wasn't aware of the  George and the Dragon artwork competition when she drew this but I have let her know about it and am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with for her entry.

Don't forget you have until 31 October 2014 to enter so get your pencils, crayons, pens, spray cans etc out and start creating.

Phil


17 September 2014
It's high time I announced another of the fantastic prizes that is up for grabs in the George and the Dragon Artwork Competition

This is yet another of the pizes for the under 16 age group.  Don't worry over 16s I have you covered.

This time I've gone for a book on drawing, but not just any old book on drawing.  This particular book features 175 fully illustrated, often in full colour, glossy pages, an original fantasy story and a 72 minute long bonus DVD as well.

Allow me to reveal to you all the:

inkBloom: Draw and Paint Fantasy Adventure



You can see a preview of just how lavishly the book is illustrated on Amazon here.

Don't forget this is only part of the grand prize for the Under 16s group, so far they have:

1.  A Signed copy of George and the Dragon by me.
2.  A Nook
3.  Dragon Rivetz Kit
4.  inkBloom: Draw and paint a fantasy adventure.

and 4 signed copies of George and the Dragon for the runners up.

I hope you'll agree that the prize pool is starting to make the competition worth while.

Phil

16 September 2014
I'm hoping there's more than a few people out there that have already got the bit between their teeth and are busy working out what they are going to draw, paint, sketch etc for the

George And The Dragon Artwork Competition.


You haven't head of the competition?  Well click on the link above but only after you've finished reading this blog post.

I've been reading a blog post by the author John Birmingham about books he is due to release next year and as part of the post someone posted a link to the following magazine cover from the '80s


I think this could easily be a scene from George and the Dragon.  The dragons in my novel though have 4 limbs and wings and the cockpit wouldn't be that of a modern fighter plane it would be more like this:


But that's just one idea someone suggested you could just draw a picture of the four pilots of 505 squadron lounging in their ready shack.

The idea is that the book contains endless sauce material and anyone that decides to enter the competition should be able to find inspiration from somewhere within it's pages.

Phil
9 September 2014

It's time to introduce the second of our two guest judges:


Introducing

Matthew Munson


Matthew Munson is a fantasy writer, with his two books (Fall From Grace & Leap of Faith) published by Inspired Quill. As well his writing, where he's currently working on two new titles, he is starting to blog regularly on language, the writing process, health & fitness and various other subjects over at www.matthewmunson.co.uk

Outside of his fiction, Matthew is a founder member of The Two Dyspraxics, a charitable group dedicated to raising awareness of "invisible" disabilities, is a trustee for two Kent-based charities, and is practicing for his fourth, fifth and sixth marathons ... oh, and goes to regular yoga classes as well as avidly reads sci-fi & fantasy. Well, he doesn't own a TV, so why not?

He currently feels like he trying to live three lives at once, but is thoroughly enjoying every one of them. Matthew is honoured to be a judge on this project, and looking forward to getting started.

Oh, and if you felt so inclined, you can buy his books right here.

Again I am incredibly grateful to both my fellow judges.  They are both volunteers so please check out their work, you never know you may see something you like :)

Phil
3 September 2014

It's time to meet the first of my two judges for the artwork competition.


I've been very lucky to have two great people volunteer to be judges for the George And The Dragon artwork competition.

Introducing 

Jo Jenner 




Jo is the author of Stripper of the Yard and has been living in Kent for the last two years. 

She credits the joy of being so close to the sea to giving her the inspiration to complete her novel and continue to write.

She is a huge advocate for indie publishers and promotes them through her work with Rave Reviews Book Club.

She is a modern history buff having studied world war II as part of her school work and enjoys reading books that take real events and twist them with a what if question.

She is honoured to be working with Phil on this project and very excited to see the result.

Jo blogs regularly at http://jojenner.blogspot.co.uk/

And her novel Stripper of the Yard is available from Amazon here

I can't thank Jo enough for volunteering and ask you all to check out her book and her blog.

Phil
1 September 2014
Regular readers of Dragon in the Rubble will know that I have been planning an artwork competition linked into my novel George and the Dragon for some time now.

Well that competition officially starts today! Que rapturous applause...


All the details for the competition can be found here: www.georgeandthedragon.co.uk/competition

The competition is split into two groups those entrants who are under 16 on 1 September 2014 and those who are 16 or over on the same date.

From each of those groups 5 short-listed entrants will each receive a signed copy of George and the Dragon.

Then one work of art will be chosen for the first prize from each group.   First prize for each group consists of a selection of prizes.

For the over 16s I recently announced this Royal Airforce keyring on my Facebook page:


For the under 16s I announced this Dragon Rivetz Kit on this very blog only a few days ago:

Today, is launch day for the competition so it's time to bring out the big guns.

For each group the prize pool will include a Nook Simple Touch!!!


That's right there's not one but two Nook Simple Touches up for grabs!


All you have to do is read George and the Dragon and then draw, paint, sketch, doodle, sculpt or model a piece of artwork based on a scene in the book and email it to competition@georgeandthedargon.co.uk

Remember to include your name, age (as of 1 September 2014) details of the scene you are using as your inspiration and a way to contact you should you win.

For more details look here: www.georgeandthedragon.co.uk/competition

If you know anyone that might be interested let them know.  It's free to enter and who knows they may win.

Good luck and have fun.

Phil