31.7K
Downloads
217
Episodes
There’s a book inside you. A message that won’t leave you alone.
But between fear, responsibility, doubt — and now the rise of AI — you keep starting… and stopping.
Welcome to The Adventurous Author Podcast.
I’m Bonnie Jean Schaefer — fantasy author D.K. Drake — and I’ve published four novels while working a full-time job. I didn’t quit my life to write. I built systems that made finishing possible inside it.
Now I help stuck Christian writers do the same.
This podcast is discipleship through storytelling.
We follow a simple framework:
Start with WHO.
Anchor your identity in Christ so fear loses leverage — especially in an AI age where identity matters more than ever.
Live Your Story.
Build sustainable 15-minute systems that fit your real life.
Win Your Race.
Finish what God called you to start — and become the kind of person who keeps finishing.
Every season rotates through identity, systems, and storytelling mastery in a structured spiral of growth.
If you’ve been hiding, doubting, or wondering where you fit in this new creative world — you’re not alone.
Let’s adventurize your life and rise from stuck...together.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Have you ever had to make a this or that lifechanging decision? I’ve had to make quite a few such decisions throughout my life. One came while writing The Dragon Collector.
In today's Insider Tip of the Day, I'll share about that decision and how it prompted me to finish and publish The Dragon Collector.
And here on Day 18 of the 21 Days of Storytelling, I'll be reading chapter 16 of The Dragon Collector. In this chapter, Javan has to make a decision as well. Will he choose to take the easy out and return to his normal life on earth? Or will he choose the unknown and remain in Zandador to save his mother?
Listen in to find out.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
It’s Day 18 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
In today’s Insider Tip, Author DK Drake shares how her real life experience with breaking her nose helped her write the end of the chapter chapter fifteen entitled Captured.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Welcome to Day 17 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter fourteen entitled A Hint of Attachment.
In this chapter, Javan is headed back to the portal with his mother, and she shares a bit of her backstory with her long-lost son along the way. She also mentions the official names of some of the regions located within Zandador.
What you don’t learn here is that the territory of Zandador is basically the country in the middle of the vast continent known as the Great Rift. Seven regions make up the territory of Zandador, and I could have made up the names of those regions with a dose of creativity. But I chose to use a specific source for help naming those regions: the Bible. Genesis chapter 10 verse 2 to be exact. This verse is also where I got the name of my main character Javan and ties in with the entire origin story of the Great Rift.
Although I hope you are now curious enough to open your Bible to Genesis 10:2, the purpose of this episode is not to share the backstory or read the genealogy found in Genesis 10. The purpose of this episode is to entertain you with chapter 14 of The Dragon Collector.
So let’s get to it.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Saturday Nov 05, 2022
Saturday Nov 05, 2022
It’s Day 16 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter thirteen entitled Return to Obscurity.
Today’s Insider Tip from Author DK Drake explains how she dreamed up ways to describe the landscape and insects of Zandador.
And if you haven’t yet secured your free digital copy of The Dragon Collector, be sure to visit authordkdrake.com/insiders to snag it as part of the DK Drake starter library. It’s getting removed from the library on Thursday, so get it while you can.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
It’s Day 15 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter twelve entitled A Smashing Return.
Today’s Insider Tip from Author DK Drake why there is no magic in Zandador.
Wait? No magic? In a fantasy novel? That’s right. Listen in to find out why the author made the decision to NOT have magic in her fantasy series.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Welcome to Day 14 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter eleven entitled Bargaining for Boundaroos.
What is a boundaroo? Glad you asked! It’s an animal unique to the Land of Zandador, and you’ll have to listen in to learn more about this interesting animal that is completely fictitious.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Welcome to Day 13 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of the Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter ten entitled Torix.
And here’s your Insider Tip of the Day: Zandador used to be a bright and vibrant land. Then Omri came to power. Over the course of his centuries-long reign, he has zapped the life and passion from the people, earning his nickname the “Dark King.” His soldiers patrol every city to ensure compliance with things like his dress code (everyone is only allowed to wear brown clothes), his marriage laws and even travel from place to place.
In this chapter, you don’t learn why Omri has instituted such rules (that comes much later in the series), but you do get to see the city of Torix through Javan’s eyes and get a hint of what life is like under the rule of the Dark King.
You should also pay attention to things like energy balls and time traps as this is the foreshadowing technique in action.
Remember, at the end of chapter nine, the Dawn Stalker Opny snacked on the okties Ravier and Javan had flown to Dawn Territory to observe the dragon. Now the two are stranded in the middle of a place where only dragons live.
Tune in to find out what happens next.
Apply here for a Personalized Writing Workshop with Author DK Drake.
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Welcome to Day 12 of the 21 Days of Storytelling featuring The Dragon Collector, book one of The Dragon Stalker Bloodlines Saga.
The story snippet of the day is chapter nine entitled Stalking the Stalker. Today you get to meet a Dawn Stalker! Only this dragon isn't the friendly sort that are back on Earth with Kenton.
Opny is 814 years old and lives free in Dawn Stalker territory in Southwest Zandador. He's selfish, vain and territorial. As Javan will soon learn, this particular dragon lashes out at anyone or anything who enters his territory.
His biggest fear that no human knows is that he's terrified of mosquitoes. This big bad dragon actually faints when he sees or hears them flying around him!
Another interesting fact is that he sulks and forgets to eat when he sees butterflies because he's jealous of their beautiful colors and their ability to fly. I told you he was vain!
As far as what he likes to eat, lily pads and okties are at the top of his list.
What's an okty, you ask? Listen in to find out.
Apply now for a personalized writing workshop with Author DK Drake!