Ummmm… excuse me, but DRAGONS, Baby! I never met a dragon I didn’t like. Today I’m welcoming the dragon lady… wait, that’s not right, but she is the author of three dragon books. Here is Nicole Conway talking about piecing together a bran new world.
A lot goes into creating a full and functioning mythical world. When I begin, I try to start with the basics of society before I even begin to fully flesh out the characters – because characters like people should be influenced by their culture. 
The roles of men and women are key. Is it male dominant? Female? Or neutral in gender roles? How are children viewed and what are there expectations as they mature? How are marriages performed? What influence do religious traditions have on daily life?
It seems daunting but I’ve found it’s rather fun to sit down and ponder it out. For instance, Maldobarian culture is very much like the standard Western European Medieval culture. Males are dominant, generally. People act and dress modestly. There’s a code of chivalry that one should adhere to. The gray elves of Luntharda, however, are very different. Their culture is more gender neutral, but with family lines being traced through the mother’s bloodlines.
People bathe together as a common social interaction because that kind of nudity isn’t viewed as scandalous. I suppose you could say that they almost have a “Garden of Eden” mentality where they don’t know they should be ashamed of their nudity. Children are raised by families and villages as a whole rather than only by individual parents.
I tend to focus more on the intimate details of a culture than the historical events. That’s not to say there’s any right or wrong way to do it. This is just my preference because it makes me feel as though I’m immersed in that world rather than reading a history book.
Want to read Nicole’s mythical world? You can find all the book at the links down below. Thanks for coming to hang today, Nicole!
Buy Links:
Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks
Click here for a chance to win one of Five copies of TRAITOR! Contest ends May 27, 2016
About the author
Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. TRAITOR is the third and final book.
Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school.
She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.
Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.
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Jennifer M Eaton 
I think paying attention to the culture – the social details adds much to the reality of a story.
Interesting post