Jordan Bernal

Jordan Bernal says she may have been born on the wrong planet. She's referring to the third planet in the Sagittarian Sector, known as Pern. So clear and descriptive was Anne McCaffrey in her Dragonriders of Pern series, Jordan was transported into the body, mind and soul of Anne's characters. Jordan came away knowing she was destined to be a dragonrider; to hop from one foot to the other on the hot sands of the hatching ground awaiting a dragon of her own. She fantasized about the air currents lifting the dragon she rode, soaring over cliffs and chasms, embracing the joy and freedom as together, they broke gravity's harsh leash. And most of all, Jordan knew she was meant to create stories of a new set of dragons and dragonriders.

Dragons first came into Jordan's life on her seventh birthday when she received a musical porcelain dragon from her mom. Her enthusiasm knew no bounds, and she immersed herself in dragon lore. As the years passed and her collection grew, Jordan sought an outlet to explore her vivid imagination. When the idea for a story bloomed in her mind, Jordan wondered where on earth dragons and magic could thrive. She wanted to share with readers the experience of letting their imaginations take flight.

Jordan's desire to write coincided with an intense yearning to learn more about her heritage. She discovered roots from both sides of her family tree anchored in two of the Celtic nations--Ireland and Scotland. In 2011, Jordan started her research in Ireland and became enchanted. She made her first transatlantic flight to Ireland and visited most of the places where her novel characters would face major obstacles. Jordan thrilled at the opportunity to meet new people, explore the mythical lands, and brave driving on Irish roads. She opted for an automatic, not wanting to find out if her hand/foot/eye coordination was up to handling all the differences. Getting lost was half the fun. Struck by the contrasts between the Republic and Northern Ireland, between the cities and the rural countryside, between the multitudes of differing coastline, Jordan was moved by the soul-affirming magic infused at the stone dances, both small and majestic. These locations proved a fertile landscape for her imagination.

The Keepers of Éire, the debut novel in her "Celtic Dragonriders" series took four years to research, write, and publish. With essays, short stories, and poems already published in local newspapers and various anthologies (Mission Works 2, Voices of the Valley: First Press, Voices of the Valley: Encore, All That Remains, Written Across the Genres, and Not Your Mother's Book...on Cats) Jordan knew it was time to take the next step and started Dragon Wing Publishing, her independent press. In November of 2013 The Keepers of Éire was released in print, and the eBook followed in February 2014. The Keepers of Éire is the 2104 Global Ebook Gold Award Winner. Her poem "Dreams", inspired by a writing from W.B. Yeats, won Booktrack.com's first poetry contest in 2014. In 2017, Jordan released a YA edition of The Keepers of Éire, and published her middle-grade, anti-bullying spin off novel, Reluctant Paladin. The Keepers of Alba, the second novel in her adult series, was published in 2020.

When Jordan revisited the lands of her heritage in the summer of 2014, she realized how her Irish/Scottish soul and her inner dragonrider belonged to the mystical, magical places that refuel the flames of the fire that burns deep in her dragon writer's belly.

Jordan lives in the Tri-Valley region of Northern California. She enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with Roarke, her Pomeranian. She has been a member of California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch since 2010 and currently serves as president.

For more information on Jordan's current projects, visit http://www.jordanbernal.com or her blog http://www.1dragonwriter.wordpress.com.