March-April 2002 - Articles and Columns
Unleashing the Dragon - Talita Paolini
"I dream of dragons," my eighteen-year-old son, Christopher, will tell you. "Especially a brilliant blue dragon named Saphira" (pronounced suh-FEER-uh). Christopher will then explain that Saphira lives in the land of Alaga'sia with dwarves and elves and men, the evil King Galbatorix, a curious werecat named Solembum, and her Dragon Rider - a young man named Eragon.
Three years ago, Christopher decided to write a story. Not just a three- to ten-page short story. Oh no! My son determined to write a full-blown epic fantasy novel... and he did.
If he had not been homeschooled, I doubt that the book Eragon would exist. My husband Kenneth and I always made books an important part of our lives, so we naturally began reading to Christopher and his sister Angela when they were infants. We showed them how to carefully hold a book and turn the pages slowly so they wouldn't tear. We cuddled our children on our laps while we read to them. Reading was a pleasurable time when they felt loved, secure, and supremely happy.
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/192/mapaolini.html