I've mentioned before where the inspiration for Dragons are Real! came from but what about Richard the Dragon? His story took a little bit longer than just one day. Over 15 years ago I started performing at renaissance festivals, and at one particular festival, during rehearsals, I was given the character name Mad Maggie and told to create her out of thin air. I decided since she was supposed to be insane, why not have an imaginary friend? I thought for a long time what his/her name should be until I came up with the outlandish story that Mad Maggie was actually the illegitimate daughter of King Richard and therefore her dragon would be named after the father she never knew. But how would this dragon be represented? At the time I felt like I needed something people could see, I was puzzled at this until one day I was walking through the dog treat section of a grocery store and saw a giant rawhide bone, and then it hit me. I will drag him because he is a Dragon and the bone can do tricks to amuse the patrons in the lanes of the faire not to mention there were a million puns I could come up with. As things progressed that same faire season in 1998, I started to describe Richard my dragon "he's ten feet tall and green and yellow and purple and gold and puce." Suddenly people would ask me how my dragon was and I would say "dragon" they would laugh as they were walking away. After a while it got to the point that if Richard wasn't with me guests would ask me "Where's Dragon?" Over the years I have found it rather amusing that many people even say hello to Richard usually before they even say hi to me, Mad Maggie. It's amazing to me how my characters Mad Maggie and Richard the Dragon have become such a huge part of my life over 15 years, and it all stemmed from one season at faire a very long time ago. A little vintage Mad Maggie and Richard the Dragon
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April 2016
Notes from the AuthorWelcome everyone! I am so excited about my book series Mad Maggie's Adventures! I am very thankful for all of my friends and family that have helped me along the way. Please feel free to share my website with everyone you know. Dare to believe! Categories
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