When 12-year-old George Goodwin leads his fellow Scouts deep into a mine where his father mysteriously died, he’s just hoping to clear his father’s name. But instead, the Scouts discover a hidden world of ancient beasts — and a lot more about themselves.
Available May 5, George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend is Book 1 of the three-part Order of the Dragon Slayer series aimed at kids and preteens. On Scouting caught up with the authors to learn more about the characters, their inspiration and how Scouting plays an important role in all of it.
On Scouting: What inspired you to launch this series, and why choose a Scouting theme?
Eric Newman: We were actually working on a different screenplay when the idea sparked. One of the characters was on a Little League team and earning a merit badge for baseball. It was just a quick aside during lunch when we realized we don’t really see Scouts represented in movies, and they’re incredible. Almost instantly, we both said, “We should tell a story about a Scout.”
At first, the project even had a different title — Boy Scout Dragon Slayer. That lightning-bolt moment gave us the core idea: a Scout taking on a dragon. We didn’t have the full story yet, but we knew we loved that concept.
We grew up on films like The Goonies, stories with high stakes, danger and adventure, where young friends are thrown into something much bigger than themselves. Scouts already do amazing things — wilderness survival, teamwork, earning merit badges — so it felt natural to put them in an epic story.
As we developed it further, the deeper theme came into focus, that universal question every young person asks: “Do I have what it takes?” That idea really carried us through the 15-year journey of bringing this story to life.
Candace Lee: One thing that really stuck with me was a conversation I had with my cousin, who’s an Eagle Scout. He told a story about a canoe trip where they had a close encounter with a bear. I remember asking if he was terrified, and he said, “Yeah, I was. But I knew what to do.”
That idea really captures the spirit of the story. The Scouts in our book face scary situations, but they’re prepared. We wanted readers to feel that same confidence — that even when something feels overwhelming, they have what it takes to face it. Scouts embody that mindset so well.
Authors: Candace Lee and Eric Newman
Illustrated by Leo Nickolls.
OS: The book blends real-world adventure — Scouts doing things Scouts would normally do — with fantasy. How did you balance those elements?
EN: We wanted the story to feel grounded and real, like it could happen to you. So we start in a very authentic Scout world with real kids, real places, camping, rank advancement and personal struggles. George, for example, is dealing with a recent family tragedy.
Once readers are anchored in that reality, we gradually introduce the fantasy elements, like the dragon. But in many ways, the dragon isn’t the scariest part. George is really grappling with internal challenges: self-doubt, peer pressure and identity. When those emotional stakes are strong, the fantasy fits naturally.
CL: It really comes down to creating characters you believe in. If readers connect with them, they’ll follow them anywhere, even into a story with dragons.
Each character is facing their own “personal dragon,” which makes the larger conflict feel relatable. We also framed the fantasy world in a way that mirrors Scouting. For example, the idea of a global order of dragon slayers connected by a shared purpose — that sounds like Scouts! The concept helped us tie the two worlds together.
OS: The story follows two patrols from the same troop, the all-girl Neon Ninjas and the all-boy Bacon Bandits. Introducing the Neon Ninjas patrol early in the story adds an interesting mix of characters and humor. When you first started writing, did you intend to make the mix of the Bacon Bandits and Neon Ninjas so funny?
EN: Absolutely. Humor was always a goal. The stories we grew up on balanced real danger with moments of levity, and we wanted the same here. There are high stakes in this story. Not everyone makes it out, so humor helps balance that intensity.
During development, Scouting also evolved, with girls becoming fully integrated. That allowed us to expand the story and introduce characters like the Neon Ninjas, who fit in naturally.
CL: Clementine is probably my favorite Neon Ninja. She’s funny, sharp and a little dangerous — in the best way. She’s not someone you’d want to cross. Writing her was a blast, and she brings a unique energy to the story.
OS: When readers finish Book 1, what do you hope they take away about George and his friends?
CL: We hope readers walk away seeing that there’s a hero in every character and a hero in themselves. That might not be obvious at the beginning, but by the end, each character has a moment of real heroism.
Whether the characters are facing a literal dragon or a personal struggle, they all grow in meaningful ways.
George Goodwin’s big question is “Do I have what it takes?” We think that’s a question so many of us ask. And our answer in this story is yes! You have what it takes to slay life’s dragons. But that comes with a warning: So often it takes a challenge or a “dragon” to draw out the hero inside you.
EN: We also want readers to see themselves in the characters. Each one approaches challenges differently. Artie is the rule follower. He knows every protocol and merit badge requirement. Skunks, on the other hand, is more improvisational and brings humor and heart.
Those different strengths come together to achieve something bigger. That’s something we love about both storytelling and Scouting.
OS: Without giving too much away, how does George evolve in the next part of the series?
EN: We pick up after a big victory. The group has accomplished something they never thought possible — they’ve “leveled up” in a sense. But there are hints that the story isn’t over. One of the key questions we’re exploring is how the world interprets your actions. You might see yourself one way, but others might see you differently. That tension becomes important moving forward.
CL: It also raises a bigger question: What comes after a defining moment? When you’ve done something extraordinary, how do you move forward? Will every moment feel as big as that one?
All the characters are wrestling with that in Books 2 and 3. And we can tease that the next installment takes place at a very special Scouting location, which we’re really excited about.
Want a sneak preview of George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend? Download the first chapter for free here, and learn more at ScoutingLegend.com. Candace and Eric would love your feedback! Connect with them on Instagram @thestoryslayers or send an email to authors@storyslayers.com.
Enter for a chance to win a free book!
We’re giving away a free copy of George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend to five lucky readers. Click here to enter and be sure to read an excerpt from this exciting new book in the May 2026 issue of Scout Life magazine.