Interview & giveaway with Deborah Cooke

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Deborah Cooke to the blog today to chat about her upcoming release Ember’s Kiss.

Deborah, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Hi. Thanks for inviting me to visit! I’m Deborah Cooke and I also write as Claire Delacroix. In fact, I wrote first as Claire Delacroix – I sold my first book in 1992, a medieval romance called THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE. That publisher preferred authors to use pseudonyms and I thought having another name sounded like fun. My editor and I came up with the name Claire Delacroix together. As Claire, I’ve written and published 23 medieval romances, 3 urban fantasy romances  and a bunch of novellas. Currently, I have one medieval romance that is a free read (THE BEAUTY BRIDE ) a new medieval romance out called THE RENEGADE’S HEART , and an upcoming urban fantasy novella called “No Halo Required”.

I also write the Dragonfire series of paranormal romances as myself , and wrote a spin-off paranormal YA trilogy called The Dragon Diaries . This summer, I republished some contemporary romances that were initially published under the pseudonym Claire Cross as Deborah Cooke books. The Coxwells are right HERE.

I’ve published almost 50 romance novels in a wide variety of sub-genres in the past twenty years – which is an amazing thing to me. I have a wonderful time writing these books. In 2009, I was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time TPL hosted a residency focussed on the romance genre, and in 2012, I was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America PRO Mentor of the Year Award.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I always loved writing and telling stories. When I was in school, I didn’t think it was practical for anyone to want to be an author. It was only after I finished college and started working that I began to write fiction and pursue publication. I was right – it’s not a practical way to make a living, but I enjoy it more than anything else I’ve ever done.

Are you a plotter or a panster? And can you explain the difference?

A plotter is someone who works out every detail of the story in advance, in a fairly detailed outline. Some plotters work in a series of outlines, beginning with a high level and short one, then working their way to a scene by scene outline. It’s like a map of the book before it’s written. Pantsers wing it. They put their fingers on the keyboard and start writing, letting the story flow as it comes to them. They may have a definite idea of their destination or the shape of the story, or they might not.

I am intuitively a pantser. I think that many writers who have been avid readers tend to be pantsers. But I have learned the value of having a plan in advance – there is nothing worse than having to chuck a scene or a passage or even a chapter after it’s written, especially if it’s written well. Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it belongs in the finished book. So, I work somewhere in the middle. I begin with a fairly solid synopsis of 8 to 10 pages which presents the structure of the story at a high level, like an executive summary. But as I write, I’m open to surprises. I often modify the plan for the middle of the book as I write – when the characters come to life and begin to defy the outlined action, they often have better ideas than my original ones. I’ve learned to listen to them!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

When I finish writing a book, I do my filing, clean my office and get a haircut. It’s a ritual so I can start the next day fresh, with a new story.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

My current Dragonfire release is EMBER’S KISS, the 8th book in my Dragonfire series of paranormal romances. In this series, the heroes are all dragon shapeshifters – they’re the good dragon shifters, called the Pyr, and are locked into a final battle with the bad dragon shifters, called the Slayers. The Pyr live a long time but are not immortal. They each have one chance to make more dragon shifters. When a Pyr meets the human woman who can bear his child, he experiences a firestorm – sparks literally fly between the pair. So, each of the Dragonfire novels focusses on the firestorm of one of the dragon guys. They’re action-packed romances, because all of the dragon shifters can feel the burn of the firestorm, even if it isn’t their own – inevitably, the heroine is targeted by the Slayers. She may be reluctant to be seduced by a dragon shifter, let alone bear his child, but the flames burn until their match is consummated – and a child is conceived that first time, every time.

The issue with writing a long-running series is that the books can start to seem the same. I really don’t want that to happen with Dragonfire and have been determined from the outset to make each book distinct. This year, my two dragon shifters have been reluctant Pyr. They are outsiders by choice, who are drawn into the circle of the Pyr as a result of having their firestorm, and meeting a woman who changes their minds about many things. (I like heroines like that!) In January, in FLASHFIRE, we met Lorenzo, who actually had a plan to ditch the dragon side of his nature because he hated it so much. Cassie changed his thinking on that, and his evolving relationship with her brought him into closer alliance with the other Pyr.

In October, in EMBER’S KISS, we meet Brandon, who is living in denial of his dragon nature. He’s estranged from his father, from whom he inherited the power to shift, and blames his father for his parents’ divorce. The last thing he wants is any common ground with his dad, or to be like his dad in any way. When Brandon has his firestorm, he’s awed and amazed, and isn’t quite sure how to proceed. What I like about this story is that Liz is the first of the Dragonfire heroines to have any paranormal powers of her own. Once I realized that one of them had to have an understanding of such inherited powers and the logic of magic, Liz’s magical past made perfect sense to me. (I knew she had a secret, right from the first time she showed up on the page. Only Brandon convinced her to tell me about it, though.) I love how these two change each other’s perceptions and how they become a powerful team together.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Currently, I have a couple of projects in the works. I am polishing “No Halo Required”, the urban fantasy romance novella mentioned above. I’m writing THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE, which is the next Claire Delacroix historical in the True Love Brides series. I’m also writing a trilogy of Dragonfire novellas, which star Drake and the Dragon’s Teeth Warriors. They’ll be published in 2013, initially as digital novellas, then bundled together as a print and digital anthology.

There will be a post on my blog on November 1 about the 2013 plan for Dragonfire. It’s not live yet, but here’s the permalink

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Most of the authors I’d love to meet are (unfortunately) dead. I’d love to meet J.R.R. Tolkien and Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Chaucer and Bocaccio. I’d love to meet them because they were great storytellers and intuitive storytellers.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

If you want to be a writer, you need to read a lot. Most writers I know were avid readers, even when they were kids. Those who read a lot become intuitive storytellers – they develop a sense of when something needs to happen in the story, or what kind of thing needs to happen next. That’s an invaluable instinct and it’s one you can develop. You also read to read a wide variety of work, not just focus on one specific genre. When your reading takes you all over the bookstore (or the library), your ideas break free of the notions of specific genres. You’ll have richer ideas, and more original ones, which is a big part of becoming a successful writer.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to visit Australia and New Zealand. One of these days!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

My TBR pile is enormous and constantly growing – it’s also well-aged. Let me go poke at it and see what’s near the top today.

CITY OF ASHES Cassandra Clare

ZORRO Isabel Allende

BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason, Susan Krinard and Janet Mullany

I’m just going to put these back on top and tiptoe away, before I start an avalanche!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

How could anyone just choose one? I don’t think anyone should die without having read 1000 books, maybe 10,000 books. Books are the ultimate adventure – and addiction. I can’t imagine reading just one or choosing a favorite.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I love all the seasons, but autumn is my favorite. I like how the air becomes crisp, the colours of the changing leaves and the energy surge that I get in September. It might be a learned response from going back to school each year, but it’s invigorating.

Deborah Cooke’s Bio

Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honours degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over forty romance novels and novellas. She has also been published under the names Claire Cross andClaire Delacroix.

Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn’t writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns.

Connect with Deborah:

Deborah’s Blog /  Deborah’s Listserve / Deborah’s Facebook Page / Deborah’s Amazon Page

Deborah’s Smashwords Page / Claire Delacroix website

EMBER’S KISS Blog Tour Giveaway

Deborah will be giving away a paperback of EMBER’S KISS for each blog stop –

They will be coming straight from the publisher so the giveaway is limited to

US and Canada winners only. 

To Enter please leave a comment or question for Deborah along with your EMAIL

*giveaway ends Oct 1st*

 GRAND PRIZE:

There is a Grand Prize drawing of an autographed set of the DRAGONFIRE series, (that’s all 8 Dragonfire novels) over on Deborah’s blog.  To enter, click the link below: http://www.delacroix.net/wordpress/?p=4483

Want more chances to win?  Check out Deborah’s other stops

Deborah Cooke’s Blog Tour for Ember’s Kiss

Tour runs from September 24 – October 10

9/24 – RCJReZine Blog – http://rcjrezineblog.blogspot.com/

9/25 – Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies Oh My  – http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

9/26 – Books-n-Kisses – https://books-n-kisses.com/

           The Reading Café – – http://thereadingcafe.com/

9/27 – All The Fun Starts After Dark – http://allthefunstartsafterdark.blogspot.com/

9/28 – Riverina Romantics – http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

9/29 – Reading Between The Wines – http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

9/30 – Book Lovin’ Mamas – http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//

10/1 – My Keeper Shelf – http://mykeepershelf.blogspot.com/

10/2 – United By Books (Interview) – http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

10/3 – Under The Covers (Interview) – http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.ca

10/4 – Book Monster / Literal Addiction –

                Book Monster – http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com/

                Literal Addiction – http://www.literaladdiction.com/

10/5 – The Book Nympho – http://thebooknympho.blogspot.com/

10/6 – Book Reader Addicts – http://bookreaderaddictsgiveaways.blogspot.com/

10/7 – Cocktails & Books – http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

10/8 – Paranormal Haven –  – http://www.paranormalhaven.com/

10/9 – Grave Tells – http://gravetells.com/

10/10 – I Smell Sheep – http://www.ismellsheep.com/