I am often asked to speak at schools, but many booksellers, educators, and students have been surprised to realize that when I do, I barely talk about my books at all.

That’s because I believe that there are reading groups, and dedicated librarians, and community-active booksellers, and best of all, excellent teachers who are more than happy to discuss the Dragons, and Myth, and Legend, and storytelling in my Imaginarium Geographica books with their students. But if I am given the attention of five hundred middle-school students for an hour, and only that hour, I’m not going to talk about my books – I’m going to talk about the things that I believe are most important in this life; about things I believe are True, and meaningful, and worth sharing.

I’m going to tell them stories drawn from my own life: examples about overcoming obstacles and adversity; stories about how making choices in their lives is like drawing a Dragon; vignettes about how I came to do what it is that I love most in the world for my job. But most importantly, I’m going to tell each and every one of them that they can make the same kinds of choices that I did – and that I believe in them.

Sometimes, being told that is the thing that we need most in our lives. And I think it’s the most important thing that I can say to anyone: I believe in you.

Until now, most readers could not experience that presentation unless they attended a school, or some signing event where I was speaking – and in part because of that, we have long considered putting those stories, those things I most believe, into a book.

A book that is, I feel, the most meaningful thing I’ve ever written.

Drawing Out The Dragons: A Meditation on Art, Destiny, and The Power Of Choice – This is not fiction, but stories drawn from my own life and experiences, which I hope will inspire and motivate readers all over the world. The back cover has a quote from my friend LeVar Burton, which reads, “In this book, James inspires and motivates both the young and young-at-heart with personal stories that share an important belief: that you can choose to lead an extraordinary life if you will just persevere, stay focused on your goals, and believe in yourself. James believes in you. And I believe in him.”

Presenting a special offer from James A. Owen and the Awesomist Revolution: you can download a PDF of the book Drawing Out The Dragons: A Meditation on Art, Destiny, and the Power Of Choice for free during the first 10 days of September. Then in October, all three Meditation books (Drawing Out The Dragons, The Barbizon Diaries, and The Grand Design) will go on sale in all ebook formats from all online distributors. Please pass this link along to friends and family any anyone else who might need a boost of inspiration and moxie. Then start reading, and make the choice: how extraordinary do you want your life to be?

UPDATE: the offer has been extended through the rest of the month of September, and perhaps after that as well. Some stories are too important not to share, and I want everyone who comes to this link to be able to download and read the book.