What is Dragon’s Mind about?
Ten years ago, a human brain was created and installed into the city’s control centre. To most people, it is known as MindOpS, a non-living entity operating in the background of their lives. Only a girl named Myth knows better: his name is Dragon and he is very much alive. And after ten bodiless years, Dragon has a dream that will change everything and will put his mind and Myth’s life in mortal danger. There are powerful forces that don’t want the truth revealed and they’re coming for Dragon. But where do you run to when you’re already everywhere?

Tell us a bit more about Dragon. You say he’s alive – but bodiless?
Dragon is the organic part of an operating system that includes a brain (developed in a lab) plugged into a computer system. The artificially made brain is able to react and learn in ways that even an advanced computer cannot. Legally, Dragon is considered a non-living entity, but that’s something that both Dragon and Myth begin to question as the truth comes out about his real origin.

And I guess we need to read the book to find out what that is. But tell us about Myth.
Myth’s real name is Myranda Thalia Johansson, but she’s not crazy
about that mouthful, so she uses her nickname instead. Dragon
describes her as “seventeen years of attitude”, but a reader said “she’s tough on the outside but a real softie underneath”. Her mom is African, her dad European, so she likes to joke that she’s coffee with cream. She’s very bright, having worked in her mom’s lab since she was a young kid. Dragon thinks that persistence is one of Myth’s best qualities, and one of her most annoying ones. Myth’s response: “Not that I don’t approve of dragons, but I just wasn’t ready to have a
conversation with one.”

What genre is this book?
It’s light SciFi and YA Fantasy.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Quite a variety of different readers have enjoyed it, but I would say mainly young adults, and people who like YA or SciFi books.

Dragon’s Mind is the first in a series, isn’t it? We hear the next book is already available.
The second book, Dragon’s War is available in paper and Kindle and

follows off where the first book left off, with a war looming. Myth is a prisoner while Dragon is in hiding, hunted by the albino assassin and the city’s very systems that he once ran. As his backup reserves are depleted and the clock ticks down to the launch of a global virus, Myth must escape to save Dragon and together stop the war that they launched. But time is running out and the albino is watching.

Let’s go back to Dragon’s Mind for an instant. How long did it take to write?
The first draft was done in a couple of months. Then the editing started…

Why do you say it like that? What was the challenge?
Avoiding the temptation to edit while I write. That blocks the flow. Editing and writing are two very different activities, easily confused! Well, at least for me.

Tell us about yourself.
Here’s the stuff I’m authorized to tell the public: My name is Vered Ehsani. I wrote my first ‘book’ when I was 7 years old, and I’ve just kept writing since.

Other details: I’m originally from South Africa, grew up in Canada and have lived in Kenya for the past 12 years with my family and an assortment of animals. My work background is in engineering and environmental management. I’m the only engineer I know of who can actually string words together into a coherent sentence.

We recently interviewed an architect – is that close enough? Do you have a website where readers can keep up with your work? Are you on Twitter?
http://veredehsani.blogspot.com
@VeredEhsani.

What’s next?
Well, I’m setting up an online radio show – AfricaCreates.net – focusing on African writers, musicians and filmmakers. And I’m always writing something!

Our sister site, Miss Ojikutu writes…, is focused on African writers. Tell us more about your project.
Africa Creates is a project I’m really excited about. It’s an idea that I’ve been mulling over for a while, and finally it’s becoming reality. Africa Creates is a radio show focusing on African writers, musicians and filmmakers. Each week a different artist will be interviewed, their work highlighted and links to their website put on the show’s site. All interviewees will become members of an online community that promotes the show and each other. The show will launch in March. For more information, go to igg.me/at/Africa-Creates-Radio-Show.

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Enjoyed this interview? Then check out our conversation with Elise Stokes.