Contact: Adam Cothes, Publicist, WinePress Publishing Group, 360-802-9758, adam@winepressgroup.com

ENUMCLAW, Washington, April 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- It all started on Halloween night, during a church fund raiser, when J. Michael Swinden entertained the children with a fantastic story while their parents bought pumpkins.

Swinden wove a tale of Sirgen, an enormous, ferocious dragon who destroyed villages, then napped atop the houses he'd just demolished. A nine-year-old orphan girl, undaunted by the dragon, demanded he move off the house so she could retrieve her doll from the wreckage.

The children at the Halloween party were entranced with Swinden's story, and an author was born. "Sirgen and Katheren," the first in Swinden's three-book series for readers ages 7 to 11, conveys the theme that "friends come in all shapes and sizes." This is evidenced by the budding friendship between the gargantuan dragon and his small young companion.

As Katheren grows to womanhood, her unusual friendship with Sirgen is tested many times. When tests come, says Swinden, "follow your heart, even if you don't know why. It's probably God directing you."

As dragon and girl adventure together, they learn about many facets of love: friend-to-friend, father-to-daughter and husband-to-wife. Most importantly, says Swinden, they discover God's love—even God's love for mythical creatures. "No matter how old or young you are, love can change you," says Swinden. "Especially the love of God."

For a review copy, or to schedule an interview, please contact Adam Cothes at 360-802-9758 or adam@winepressgroup.com.