The Book Dragon Team

The Book Dragon Founder

Kirsty F. McKay

Business Executive and Founder of The Book Dragon

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Kirsty McKay, and I am an avid reader and a self-published author. My pen name is Kirsty F. McKay, and I independently published my first urban fantasy novel, The Veils of Valoria, Book One in The Morvantia Series, through Sixth Element Publishing House, in November 2019 (although l have since self-published this.) I live in Middlesbrough in the North East Region of England, happily married for over 25 years with 3 wonderful children and two gorgeous grandchildren. I am an animal lover, and a proud, and crazy cat lady, with 4 cats, and one Labrador, who is the talk of my neighbourhood, as he regularly goes on walks with his feline pal. It’s a real bromance, and has to be seen to be believed! One day I will write about them and their amazing friendship. When I am not writing or reading, or being nagged by my fur balls for attention, I am diamond art painting, which I find really therapeutic, and extremely rewarding, much to my husband’s confusion, as he has no patience for ‘dotting.’

My day times are spent working with my wonderful team at The Book Dragon HQ, and my brilliant daughter, Bronwyn, who is a great support and inspiration to me. And I love the fact that I can combine work and pleasure! I enjoy reading books as much as I love to write them, and I am considered one of the local libraries best supporters, and most frequent customers, even though I still have over 200+ books sitting in my Amazon Shopping Cart, which keeps on growing every week. I regularly purchase books every month, both in paperback and in Kindle format, although my preference is to hold a physical copy of a book in my hands. I am your typical Book Dragon (not worm….hey why be a worm when I can be a Dragon!!) My husband nicknamed me Johnny Five, from the film Short Circuit, as my love of books, and speed for reading, reminds him of Johnny Five’s need for “more input.”

I first became interested in book reviews, and blogging, following the publication of my book. Since its release, I have both submitted, and received valuable feedback, which has helped me as an author to improve my writing, and allowed my work to reach a far wider audience. I very much wanted to support my fellow self-published / indie authors by offering the same opportunity to improve, and grow their reading audience, and to share my appreciation of their work. My favourite genres are fantasy, paranormal romance, the supernatural, and horror. But in all honesty I read them all. I do enjoy reading young adult fiction as much as I enjoy adult fiction. As a reviewer and a reader, what I look for in a book is the ability to make an emotional connection to the characters, and so the dialogue has to be genuine, realistic and heartfelt. An author who can take me on a rollercoaster ride, will definitely have me invested in their story.

Best Wishes

Kirsty

Bronwyn McKay

Front of House Manager

My name is Bronwyn McKay, and although I am not an avid reader, I am so very proud to be the daughter of self-published author, Kirsty McKay, and I truly appreciate the hard work, dedication and commitment that goes into writing and publishing a novel. The Book Dragon is a family run business, and it has been such an amazing time for me welcoming so many fantastic authors into our services, and joining our extended family of dragons. I am really excited by the opportunities that The Book Dragon provides, and how it embraces talent and learning for young people, allowing me the opportunity to develop my career, in a role I love, and the chance to keep supporting my mum and best friend. My role is to provide a professional and welcoming Front of House service to our self-published and independently published authors, and as the lead for our ‘Roarie Dragon’ Department I manage our social media presence, liaise with schools and local community groups to market, organise, and facilitate public in-house events including, but not limited to, children’s reading groups, writing groups and local book clubs. I really enjoy working in partnership with our Author Memberships Business Partners, and being part of the fantastic initiatives that The Book Dragon is launching. To have the opportunity to introduce my own ideas and contribute to the success of The Book Dragon, and its family of authors is a wonderful experience and I am loving every minute of it.

Best Wishes

Bronwyn

Our Book Dragon Business Partner

Michelle Marshall

Author Membership Business Partner

I’m Michelle Anne Marshall and I’m an Author Membership Business Partner at The Book Dragon. My job is to help support the authors under my care and facilitate an experience that is as smooth and successful as possible for them.

I’ve loved reading ever since my first experience at the tender age of two. As a child, my parents had to force books out of my hands when it came to mealtimes, as I’d happily have spent every possible moment engrossed in one. I’m still an avid reader and feel lost if I don’t have a current book on the go.

My tastes stretch over a wide variety of genres, but I have a special place in my heart for mysteries and thrillers, particularly those with a psychological edge. Some of my favourite contemporary authors include Brett Easton Ellis, Ian Rankin, Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Nicci French and Lisa Jewell. I also love classics by George Orwell, F Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen amongst many others! In addition to my own personal reading and keeping up with my authors’ creations, I’m a member of a book club that meets monthly.

I also enjoy creative writing, although I’ve yet to attempt to have any novels published (kudos to all you brave authors!) I have had short stories published however and I’ve completed creative writing courses and attend a creative writing group. I even met my husband Tim (who is also an Author Membership Business at The Book Dragon) in a writing community. We now live together in a beautiful coastal town.

Away from the worlds of reading and writing, I enjoy going for walks (particularly by the sea), being a member of a photography group and listening to music. Some of my favourite recording artists are Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Foo Fighters. I also attend live music events whenever possible and enjoy taking part in quiz nights with family and friends.

I’m absolutely thrilled to be a member of The Book Dragon team and look forward to being an ongoing part of this exciting and inspiring venture.
 
Best Wishes
 
Michelle

Ralph Booth

Marketing & Entertainment Business Partner

My name is Ralph Booth and I am the Marketing and Entertainment Business Partner here at The Book Dragon. My job is to help get books out where the public can see them; be that schools, libraries, museums, in the house at R’lyeh where the dead Cthulhu lies dreaming…

…Anyway, I have been a passionate reader for the entirety of my life. My mum would read me the “Redwall” series by Brian Jacques and would do incredible voices for the various species that make up that world, and my passion for sharing and enjoying novels of all kinds started there. My favourite genres are fantasy and sci fi, though I’ll give anything a go, and I particularly like the kinds of books which bend the form and play with your expectations. As such, my favourite authors include the likes of Susan Cooper, Brandon Sanderson, Gene Wolfe, Robert Jordan and Charles Stross.
In other walks of life I have been a primary school teacher and continue to narrate and produce audiobooks, and therefore accessibility to reading is very important to me. There is no greater act of love and kindness than encouraging a reluctant reader or giving someone access to the worlds and imaginative spaces of books that would otherwise have barriers to that.
Away from books I am a keen practitioner of karate, DM to a band of misfits and rogues, a Beaver leader, and the chairman of Guisborough Theatre Company, where my wife and I enjoy performing in productions whenever we can find the time.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Book Dragon team and to help share your words and worlds with as many people as possible.

Best Wishes
 
Ralph

Timothy Blake Marshall

Editor-in-Chief

I’m Timothy Blake Marshall, and I’m a Business Partner for Author Membership at The Book Dragon.  My role is to support the authors I work with in getting the most out of the Book Dragon’s membership services.

I would say that I have my parents and my uncle to thank for my love of books – my parents used to read to me, and my uncle recorded a cassette tape narrating ‘The Little Engine That Could’ for me as a child.  Bringing the stories to life through vivid narration helped ease me into reading books myself, and I loved the Hardy Boys and Encyclopaedia Brown even before I started school.  My uncle also turned me onto the Sugar Creek Gang series – similar in genre but more relatable as I was a grade schooler living in Arkansas at the time.

Later on, I developed a taste for fantasy, Star Wars novels, and Douglas Adams – though I still enjoy mysteries.  Science fiction, fantasy, and comedy are all elements that I tend to be drawn to the most when it comes to books and other media.

I enjoy creative writing in my spare time (though I’ve yet to publish anything), and currently volunteer as staff in an online collaborative writing community.  Outside of reading and writing, I love gaming on my PC, virtually attending e-sports events, playing guitar, and listening to music.  My favourite genres are 90s rock, post-hardcore, folk, metal, J-Rock, and most things in-between.

I was born outside Atlanta and moved to Canada just before my teens, so I’ve lived in a variety of places, but I’m now happily settled on the North Yorkshire coast with my wife Michelle (who’s also a Business Partner for Author Membership at the Book Dragon).  I’m excited to be a part of the Book Dragon and supporting self-published authors.

Best Wishes
 
Tim

Jesse Gibbs

Corporate Brand & Design Business Partner

My name is Jesse René Gibbs, and I am the author of Girl Hidden. I am an artist, designer, dancer, and survivor. I am a stepmother to four, Amma to four more and blessed beyond measure with the family that I chose. As a designer I have extensive experience collaborating with authors, marketing managers, copywriters, web developers, photographers, and designers, to translate marketing and brand strategies into elegant solutions for print, social and digital media. I have expertise in successfully creating dynamic marketing collateral under tight deadlines and tight budgets. I strive to offer my clients outstanding customer service, while thinking outside the box and connecting marketing collateral from every angle. I’d love to help you design everything from your website to your book cover to creating branding that will build your audience and help your amazing writing find the perfect audience.

My portfolio site is esperluettecreative.com

Best Wishes

Jesse

Sophie Jupillat Posey

Official Reviewer

I read many kinds of works, as long as they’re well written and connect with the reader. I enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, horror, and historical novels and short stories, as well as children’s books, non-fiction, essays, poetry, and plays (though I like comedies, I enjoy dramas too, as long as they have a happy ending).

In a good book, the characters have to be unique and strong—without being Mary Sues or Gary Stus. The dialogue has to flow, be pertinent, and sound original to each character. I tend to go for sweeping epic plots, but I also like smaller, more “cozy” plots that focus more on character growth. There has to be some sort of change, whether big or small, in the plot and/or character. In the end, books that make me reflect and that have memorable lines or characters are a plus. 

I love reading indie books, as there is so much undiscovered talent there. One of the reasons I have for being with the Book Dragon is that I can discover a whole world of diverse indie works that I wouldn’t otherwise.  The Book Dragon takes care of its indie authors and offers visibility, and I think that that mentorship is vital to an author’s career.

As an indie author myself, I know how hard it is to get your book out there, so giving reviews, particularly to indie authors, is really important. Reviews help immensely in gaining exposure and building a following.  Plus, nothing beats getting a detailed review that shows a reader delved deeply into your work. The indie community is a warm, welcoming one, and giving reviews is part of the process. My favorite part is discovering new authors in new genres. I have started fairly recently and the books I’ve gotten have been diverse, but I think my favorite so far is The Darkness Rising by Carl F. Northwood.

Best Wishes


Sophie

Phoebe Wilby

Official Reviewer
Hi, I’m Phoebe, and I’m a readaholic. That’s the best way to introduce myself! I have photographic proof that I started reading before hitting pre-school, thanks to my mother, who is also an avid reader, and have barely put down a book since.
 
Without giving my age, I devoured Anya Seton and Victoria Holt for their historical romance/drama while a teen, absolutely loved the flowery prose of Jane Austin, cowered at the antics of Heathcliff and Cathy in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and flew off to fantastical worlds with Anne McCaffery and her dragons. I followed Frodo to Mordor in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and found his long-winded way of telling a tale fascinating and exciting. We don’t write like that anymore. Oh, and Shakespeare is The Bomb! We don’t write like that anymore, either! I also love crime and memoir. My latest memoir read was Miriam Margolyes’ This Much is True which is a hilarious romp through her life on the stage and the silver screen. Favourite crime writers include Patricia Conwell, John Grisham, and Nora Roberts. I have been known to stay up all night reading a particularly engrossing story.
 
If I start a book, I finish it, whether I like it or not. As a reviewer, I will tell it how I find it. I love well-rounded characters that accomplish unbelievable feats in believable ways. I like to find a character I can identify with and immerse myself in the story. I like a story that will grip me, draw me in and consume me before tossing what’s left of me out at the end, back into the real world. Those are the most satisfying and they can be any genre. I particularly like  and feel that certain loss when the story is complete and the real world beckons. 
 
I am excited to be part of the Book Dragon’s reviewing team and look forward to reading your books.

Best Wishes

Phoebe

Eryn McConnell

Official Reviewer
I’m Eryn, I’m a Brit who lives over in Germany with my two younger children. I am a published poet and am currently writing two dragon novels. I also work freelance as a translator and an English teacher. 
 
I’ve been a big reader probably since before I started school, and I spent much of my childhood up a tree and with my nose in a book. Nowadays I still have my nose in a book, but it’s more likely to be at the park than in a tree! I am fairly open to genres but my favourites are fantasy, in particular urban fantasy, dystopian, steampunk, post-apocalyptic and grimdark, thrillers of the religious conspiracy and world contagion type, and some horror. I also read a fair amount of poetry. 
 
My favourite current authors would be Brandon Sanderson, Tolkien, Diana Gabaldon, Sue Lynn Tan, Audrey Niffenegger, Trudie Skies, Andy Peloquin, Stacy Olsen and Nils Odlund. 
 
I read a lot of indie authors, and try to read more indie books than anything else. I enjoy the freedom that the indie publishing world has to offer, and the explosion of sub genres. I like good characterisation in a book, and a well structured, flowing plot. I can be exacting in what I think a good book is, but if I like the book, then I will recommend it to everyone who listens! 
 
Best Wishes
 
Eryn

Yvonne Marrs

Official Reviewer
Hi, I’m Yvonne Weston and I write under my professional name of Yvonne Marrs. There are 40 books in my portfolio, with another 10 in the pipeline, as I was once called prolific but I decided that having 50 books published warrants the title of a prolific author! I’m delighted to have found The Book Dragon, and love the concept of being a dragon rather than a worm! 
 
I edit my first protégé’s Sci-fi sports series regularly, since encouraging him to continue the tale. Recently I have mentored The Tie Dye Poet in producing her first poetry book, and you guessed it, there’s more to come from her! 
 
I’m happy to read all genres of books, but my reading comes in fits and starts thanks to chronic illnesses. My favourite authors are TE Kinsey, Terry Pratchett, Edward Marston, Colin Dexter, Alexander McCall Smith, and others. 
 
I’m look forward to helping more authors get the most out of being a Book Dragon. 
 
Best Wishes
 
Yvonne

Carol Kerry-Green

Official Reviewer

I live in Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire and am an avid reader and I love to write. I grew up reading science fiction and fantasy, and love those genres most. I also enjoy reading romance in all it’s permutations, especially LGBTQ+ connected. I’m a big fan of 1920/30s crime mysteries, both written by contemporary and modern authors. I remember getting a mention in one of my school assessments that said I tried hard at reading, but needed to practice more. I’ve been doing that ever since! I read a lot, several books a week. These days I’m more likely to be carrying my kindle around with me, but I do love a good second hand bookshop. Most of my non fiction reading is still physical books, I love anything to do with history, as that fits in with my job as being a Professional Genealogist and I devour anything social history-wise. As an author I write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, all usually with several characters who are within the LGBTQ+ community. I have written vampires, witches, evil chimeras and other creatures. With more yet to come.

I share my house with my husband Steve and our four cats, Max, Gingy, Merry &  Pippin (guess where those last two names came from!)

Best Wishes

Carol

Rebecca Wade

Editorial Assistant (Volunteer)
Hello, I’m Becky, and I’m a Stockton-on-Tees local. I’ve been a dedicated and enthusiastic reader my whole life.  I loved completing book reviews throughout my time at school, college, and university. I’ve also spent the last 18 months attending a book club with my close friends, where I got to experience genres I never would have gone for and gained insight into others’ opinions and preferences.
 
My favourite genres currently are – new adult, romance, fantasy, mystery, dystopian, magical realism, and anything set at the seaside, as I grew up by the ocean. I will, however, give any genre a go as you never know what you might like. In addition, regardless of genre, I love to see a representation of the world around us in terms of racial, neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ diversity. My favourite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, John Green, Scott Westerfeld, Jandy Nelson, and Patrick Ness.
 
What I look for in a book is understandable world-building, a rich and meaningful relationship with all the characters, and a stable, structured plot as my attention span can falter on unnecessary information that stagnates the story. I’ve been a maladaptive daydreamer since I was a child, so I like when a story makes such an impression that it occupies my thoughts for an extensive amount of time. Literature is a vastly important aspect of our lives and is a way to relate and grow with fictional characters. It’s also a way to bond with people in the real world, whilst also providing some escapism when necessary. 
 
Best Wishes

Becky

Jane Clack

Official Reviewer

Meet Jane Clack: A retired educator with a huge appetite for both reading and writing. Her preferred genre is psychological thrillers with dark, twisted and somewhat sinister plots. Some of her favourite authors include Alice Feeney, Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins and Oscar Wilde.
But her love of literature doesn’t end there. Jane also adores children’s books, a passion cultivated from her earliest days and developed throughout her teaching career. From Julia Donaldson to C.S. Lewis, she seeks tales that carry messages, evoke laughter, tears and a profound sense of awe and wonder. With an eye for enchanting illustrations, Jane enjoys every page, regardless of whether it’s meant for adults or children. Her idea of a great book is one that makes her feel like she never wants it to end.
As an indie author herself, Jane understands the power of constructive feedback and the joy of discovering new voices. That’s why she’s thrilled to join The Book Dragon’s team of reviewers!
Beyond the realm of books, Jane dabbles in yoga, pilates, and globetrotting adventures. With a deep love for animals and nature, she draws inspiration from the world around her. And while her culinary aspirations have led to their fair share of mishaps (think crème brûlées gone wrong and exploding liquidisers), Jane enjoys the simpler pleasures in life — or  just losing herself in the pages of a captivating story!

Best Wishes

Jane

Niall McKay

Official Reviewer

My name is Niall McKay and I have been an avid reader since the age of 6 having been introduced to JR Tolkien and John Wyndham in the fantasy and science fiction genres respectively. I then developed into further adult fiction enjoying authors such as Stephen King and Clive Barker in fantasy horror. My enjoyment of action and espionage developed from many trips to the cinema and particularly watching great actors such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore portray James Bond. Whilst I didn’t take to Ian Fleming as an author I did enjoy the grittier portrayal of espionage through the mind of authors such as Robert Ludlum and John Le Carre. I enjoy reading stories where you never quite know what will happen next but you know something will. Action developing at a fast pace is important to me as are unique and believable characters. So with this in mind I have started to read more historical fiction such as Ken Follet. If I could pick one stand out author it would be George RR Martin who has adapted stories under the fantasy genre. Whilst Game of Thrones is such a good read there are many other stories away from Westeros that are really well written, immersive reads.

I want to give genuinely constructive feedback when reviewing new novels and I will aim to make sure this is balanced. I believe that in anything we do we should look to continually improve and reinvent ourselves to keep ideas fresh and exciting. Knowing how much work goes in to writing a novel this philosophy is just as important to authors too. I hope that my comments are taken in good faith with good points reinforced and areas for improvement taken on board to help the author really sharpen their pens. If I don’t like a particular read I will say so but this does not mean that other readers won’t like it so I will make this point in reflection.

I am looking forward to sharing my enjoyment of reading with you all, and my recommendations for your next book.

Best Wishes

Niall

Niall McKay Toni Lutz

Official Reviewer
Hi, I am Toni, mother of one, avid reader and lover of all art. I am jn my romance era and read a wide range of contemporary, romantasy, fantasy and even a little dark romance within reason. My main love is for all books with HEA’s cozy vibes and feel good factors.
I also love funny books and not just rom coms, one of May favourite all time authors is Sir Terry Pratchett for his wit but I have read across all genres throughout my life if I’m honest.

Best Wishes

Toni

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