E.A. Winters Discusses the Inspiration Behind the Blood and Flame Saga and the Impact of Explicit Content on Youth

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This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity but reflects the full conversation from the BookWorthy Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee, listen, and read along. This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Random Question of the Week

Inspiration Behind E.A. Winter's Dragon's Kiss

Valerie - Welcome to Book Worthy, where we talk about the heart behind the books your kids are reading. Today, we're chatting with the author of Dragon's Kiss, a dragon and assassin series by E.A. Winters. Erin and I will tackle two topics today: her adventurous book Dragon's Kiss and the dangers of spicy books for teen audiences. I've enjoyed watching her convictions, expertise, and amazing writing journey on social media. I can't wait to share this conversation with you all. Welcome to Book Worthy, Erin.

E.A. Winters - Thank you! What a generous introduction. I'm glad to be here.

Random Question of the Week

Valerie - We usually start with our random question of the week. Since you're a boy mom, as I am too, I thought I'd ask: what's the most interesting thing your kids have somehow ended up in your hair?

E.A. Winters - I don't know if it's interesting, but I'm going to go with snot or liquid wax—like candle wax. Fingers, maybe? I can't decide!

Valerie - There's always something! I wasn't quite going for snot or vomit, but I could definitely check those off the list. That's just a mom's general term.

E.A. Winters - Yeah, that's fair. I can't think of a specific incident, but there have definitely been a few.

Valerie - It's always something! I had a friend whose son took one of those toy mixers and basically mixed his hair. That was lovely! I know I've had a drone in mine. It's always interesting with boys running around.

E.A. Winters - Absolutely!

Valerie - So, Erin, why don't you tell us a little bit about your book, Dragon's Kiss?

Inspiration Behind Dragon's Kiss

E.A. Winters - Sure! Dragon's Kiss is the first book in a complete four-book series called the Blood and Flame Saga. It’s so much fun! Think dragon assassins and royal intrigue. I love fast-paced, high-stakes adventures with romance woven in. There's enough excitement for both boys and girls to enjoy.

Valerie - It has been a lot of fun! I've read at least the first book in the Blood and Flame Saga, and you really throw readers into the action right away.

E.A. Winters - Exactly! You’re dropped into a botched assassination attempt right from the first page. Essentially, there's a village where every month a child is snatched by a dragon. The villagers assume the dragon is eating the children. But Semra, one of those kids, knows the truth. There’s a dragon lord in the mountain raising his own personal army of assassins. When she uncovers the lie, she risks everything to expose him, leading to a lot of shenanigans.

Valerie - What inspired this series?

E.A. Winters - I get asked this a lot, and I feel boring because I often don't have a specific answer. It usually starts with a "what if" situation that pops into my head and spirals from there. For example, my most recent series began with the idea of a magical system based on an MLM pyramid scheme. I thought that would be kind of funny!

Humorous Character Inspiration from BookTok Community

E.A. Winters - Oh, that’s true! One time, I was in the middle of writing and needed a name for a character. All I wanted was a letter to inspire ideas. My husband jokingly suggested "Frizzletwerp." I thought, what in the world? It’s the ugliest name ever! It sounds like something from Narnia. I made fun of it on TikTok, and suddenly everyone was commenting about what kind of character he would be. It was hilarious! Now, he has his own series, even though I still hate the name.

Valerie - That's great! For a character with so many aliases, it’s good to know that the name you dislike isn't the one you use often.

E.A. Winters - Exactly! I mention it, but I avoid it as much as possible.

Valerie - Your books really blend adventure with themes reminiscent of Lord of the Rings and Narnia. What made you want to write those types of stories?

The Impact of 'Spicy' Material for Readers, Young and Old

E.A. Winters - Ultimately, I write what I like to read. I screen my own reading material. A lot of people in the book community are into "spicy" content right now. Interestingly, clean and wholesome books have remained sustainable over time. Explicit content was actually declining until around 2020. That’s when COVID hit, and people started reading more.

Valerie - It’s fascinating how trends shift!

E.A. Winters - Yes! I have children, and I don’t need to watch explicit content. My personal convictions as a follower of Jesus guide me. As a licensed professional counselor, I know the potential damage that certain content can cause. Whatever I consume impacts me—whether it's TV, movies, or books. I write what I enjoy reading, and I believe in consuming media that is beneficial for our minds.

Taking the worldview out of it, it's just objectively not beneficial when we look at studies, specifically in adolescence, it actually causes a lot of damage, particularly to the impulse control center of your brain.

Valerie - I love that you blend adventure and romance with a therapist's insight into what our brains can handle. The media we consume impacts us, no matter our faith.

E.A. Winters - Exactly! It’s crucial to be mindful of what we expose ourselves to, especially in a media-rich culture.

Valerie - Recently, an author mentioned that editors wanted explicit content in YA books. YA typically targets ages 12 to 18, which is concerning.

E.A. Winters - It’s ridiculous! Sometimes authors miscategorize their work, or publishers do. There have been books on YA shelves that were eventually pulled due to complaints. There’s a big difference between teens sneaking into an R-rated movie and targeting children with explicit material.

Valerie - Absolutely! It’s essential to serve the market appropriately.

E.A. Winters - Yes! The Blood and Flame Saga is dedicated to anyone who has ever believed the lies they were told. Our main character, Semra, is indoctrinated by the dragon lord, who acts like a controlling father figure. It’s a reflection of how children who experience abuse often blame themselves.

Valerie - Yes, no matter the level of trauma, we all carry those beliefs about ourselves. Changing the narrative is vital for our growth.

The Scientific Effects of 'Spicy' Content

E.A. Winters - There’s actually research on this topic. I compiled several studies because I was tired of hearing that there was none. One study I love focuses on readers of Fifty Shades of Grey. It found a strong correlation between reading the book and experiencing abusive relationships.

Valerie - That’s alarming!

E.A. Winters - It is! The normalization and romanticization of unhealthy relationships can be damaging. I want to write fun stories without glorifying harmful behaviors.

Valerie - It’s so important to create stories that uplift rather than glorify evil.

E.A. Winters - Exactly! I want my boys to grow up reading stories that inspire them, not ones that normalize harmful behavior.

E.A. Winters Author Journey

E.A. Winters - I’ve wanted to be an author since I was eight, alongside my dream of being a dolphin trainer. I went to school for psychology and got my master’s in mental health counseling. I still see clients once a week, but writing has become a significant part of my life.

Valerie - It’s inspiring to see your journey unfold on social media!

E.A. Winters - Thank you! I stumbled upon writing again when a poetic line popped into my head. I couldn’t let it go, so I started writing. Once I got going, I fell in love with it.

Valerie - It’s amazing how those childhood dreams can resurface!

E.A. Winters - Absolutely!

Valerie - What is one of the most impactful books in your life, Erin?

Most Impactful Book for E.A. Winters

E.A. Winters - For fiction, I love Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. One of my favorite openings is from Black in the Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. I love stories that sweep me off my feet right away.

Valerie - The Circle series was my introduction to faith and fiction. I can't wait to share it with my teenager!

E.A. Winters - It’s such a good series!

Valerie - What can we expect next from you?

Future Projects and How to Connect with E.A. Winters

E.A. Winters - I have a dozen published fantasy novels and three completed series. I’m also working on an ongoing series called Monster Makers. It’s a high fantasy with game elements. Imagine a world where killing monsters gives you experience points!

Valerie - That sounds exciting!

E.A. Winters - It is! The story follows a warrior trying to redeem himself and an unmarked girl trying to keep her sister alive. They must work together to clear their names when they’re accused of murder.

Valerie - I can't wait to hear more about that! Where can people find out more about you and your books, Erin?

E.A. Winters - You can find all my books on Amazon, and I have a website at eawinters.com. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Valerie - You're definitely fun to watch!

E.A. Winters - I'm glad! It’s a lot of fun.

Valerie - Thank you for joining me today, Erin.

E.A. Winters - Of course! Thanks for having me.

Valerie - And thank you for joining Erin and me on this episode of the Bookworthy podcast. Let us know in the comments something your kids have stuck in your hair. Help other parents discover Bookworthy by leaving a review and sharing it with your friends.

Happy reading!