Deborah Cooke-Interview and Giveaway with the Author.

Deborah Cooke-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to introduce the author of the DRAGONFIRE series and THE DRAGON DIARIES Young Adult series: Deborah Cooke

TRC:  Hi Deborah. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer a few questions for your many fans. It is always a wonderful surprise to read about the author behind the books. We would like to start with some basic background information.

Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Deborah:  I’m either a writer who knits or a knitter who writes. Depends on what day you catch me!

TRC:  When did you first become interested in writing? Did your parents encourage you as a young child?

Deborah:  I always loved stories, and my parents read to me quite a bit when I was little. There’s an old picture of me “reading aloud” to all of my toys when I couldn’t possibly have been able to read yet. I think it’s a natural development for avid readers to become writers, and I wrote my own stories as soon as I could. Although my parents encouraged me creatively, they thought it would be impractical to try to make a living as a writer and thought I should get a real job. I tried that but wanted to write stories instead. It turns out that they were right about the practicality of it all, but I love being a writer more than I like being practical.

TRC:  You have an honours degree in history, specializing in medieval studies. Has you education helped with the research behind many of your novels, including those written by Claire Delacroix– medieval romance series?

Deborah:  Actually, those two items – writing medieval romance and getting a second degree in history – developed out of my fascination with the Middle Ages and happened almost concurrently. So, they fed each other but one didn’t directly lead to the other.

TRC:  Have you ever attended the Medieval Times Theatre in Toronto, Ontario? If so, what did you think about the over all show and dinner?

Deborah:  I have attended that show, but it was a long time ago. I don’t remember specifics, just that we had a very good time that night.

TRC:  You have many different series under 3 different names including paranormal, romance, history and YA (young adult). Which genre do you find the most difficult and the easier to write, and why?

Deborah:  I like switching between genres and sub-genres as I think that keeps my writing (and my ideas) fresh. It’s best in my opinion to step away from a series before writing the next book, ideally to work in an entirely different subgenre for that interval. Then, when I return to the continuing series, I have to familiarize myself with it again, and that break always gives me new questions about the world and the characters, as well as new story ideas. I never want to tell the same story twice, and this strategy helps.

TRC:  Coven of Mercy is your first attempt at a vampire novel. What was the premise of the story, and do you think you will continue in the paranormal vampire genre?

Deborah:  I’m more familiar with vampires in the fantasy genre than in romance, and while they are interesting characters, they’re not my romantic fantasy. “Coven of Mercy” (which is only a short story) came out of an invitation to me to participate in a vampire romance anthology. My impulse was to decline, but then I started to wonder what would make a vampire be a romantic hero to me. I think of them as predators, so “Coven of Mercy” reflects my idea of heroic predators. I like the story a lot, mainly because it does defy expectations a bit, and would like to write more in that vein – or maybe it’s better to say that series. Time is always an issue. There aren’t enough hours in the day to write all of my ideas.

TRC:  Dragonfire series is one of your most popular paranormal series–about dragon shifters protecting the humans on earth from all sorts of nasties. Along the way, each male dragon suffers or experiences his ‘firestorm’—the call to mate. How did you come up with the premise for the series and the firestorm?

Deborah:  I’ve been interested in dragons and dragon stories for a long time, and have actually been proposing the notion of dragon shape shifter heroes in romances for a long time. Most of my editors have thought the idea was weird (I’m sure some people still do think it’s weird!) but to me it’s a natural connection. For me, dragons are heroic, noble, intelligent, beautiful, powerful. A hunky hero who could become a dragon is a great romantic fantasy, IMO. So, when paranormal romance became so popular, I thought this was chance to tell stories of dragon guys – the big difference is that Dragonfire is a contemporary series, reflecting contemporary concerns, while my original dragon shifter ideas were medieval romances.

TRC:  The loss of a scale is an interesting concept—one that makes the dragon vulnerable to injury and death-yet reparations can be made using the elements of fire, air, water and earth, as well as jewels etc, given freely by the mate- a true gesture of love and commitment. How did you come up with the concept and did you have to research alchemy or the history of elements in lore?

Deborah:  The loss of a scale creating vulnerability for a dragon is an old idea. It’s part of the story of Sigurd, the first dragon slayer, in the Saga of the Volsungs. Of course, my interest was in love healing the wounds of my dragon guys – they lose a scale when they fall in love, because their emotional vulnerability is mirrored in their physical form. It only stands to reason that the heroine’s love has to repair that weakness. I was already using the four elements in the storyline, so developed the healing ceremony using that and the gift which symbolizes the emotional commitment. In a way, it echoes our marriage ceremony which features the exchange of rings, but dragons had to have their own ceremony and symbols. One of the things that I enjoy about writing the series is that the focus of each book changes, letting me research different elements and different stories of dragons. With dragons, there are always more stories to unearth.

TRC:  Rafferty is one of the oldest and most respected dragons, and only recently experienced his firestorm-Darkfire, yet his mate is unable to bear a child due to what appears to be cancer or a hysterectomy. Why Rafferty and his mate, when he was one of the few dragons that actually wanted his firestorm? What was your decision behind choosing Rafferty and not one of the other dragons?

Deborah:  I don’t think I’m the only one who was already crazy for Rafferty, even before he had his firestorm. There’s something about a powerful dragon being a romantic that really worked for me. And I was afraid that Rafferty’s desire to have a firestorm would make him completely irresistible to the woman who sparked the flame. I thought his book might be ten pages long! So, I needed to put some challenges in his path, some obstacles that would make him question his own assumptions and desires. As mentioned, I like to mix up the variables in each story. Melissa intrigued me from the start, especially when she folded her arms across her chest and told me that it was impossible for her to fulfil the firestorm’s promise. I find their story both powerful and romantic, both because Rafferty heals Melissa’s emotional wounds and because she’s the one who can help him turn the darkfire to the advantage of the Pyr. In the end, although it wasn’t my initial plan, I realize that Rafferty is one dragon who be able to see beyond biology and that family is where you create it.

TRC:  Will you tell us about the premise for Ember’s Kiss (October 2012 release Dragonfire series)-who will get his firestorm?

Deborah:  EMBER’S KISS is the story of Brandon, who is the son of Brandt. Brandt is estranged from the Pyr – we met him for the first time in DARKFIRE KISS – and has alienated his son. We met Brandon in FLASHFIRE, when we saw Chen closing his talons around this dragon who is unaware of the range of his abilities. I like this book a lot, again because it is different, and I love the heroine Liz.

TRC:  Zoe Sorensson is the first female dragon born in centuries, and thus the Wyvern. Your new YA series-The Dragon Diaries- is about Zoe and the other children from the firestorms in the Dragonfire series. What was your decision to venture into the YA genre using the children of the firestorms (15 years later)-when the Dragonfire series is still on going and creating more children?

Deborah:  Zoë’s journey was always interesting to me, and it raised a number of intriguing questions. How would one learn to become a Wyvern? How much of it was intuitive? Who would answer questions? When I realized that Zoë would come into her powers as a teenager – just as the male Pyr come into their powers at puberty – I was excited by all the challenges she would have to balance simultaneously. I also realized it would be a fun paranormal YA series and my editor agreed. I simply told Zoë’s story in the format that best suited it, which happened to be YA.

TRC:  Nick and Isabelle-will you ever reveal the ‘heritage or origins’ behind Isabelle (Rafferty’s adopted daughter) and her unusual abilities, as well as her connection to Nick?

Deborah:  😉

TRC:  As with many YA storylines, there is always a three-way love triangle, and it appears to be with Zoe, Jared and Derek. Was this always your intent to match these 3 characters?

Deborah:  N/A

TRC:  hmmmm…..I am sensing a pattern 😉

TRC:  In Winging It, Zoe comes to realize that she and Nick will never be a couple, yet there is still some ‘tension’ between the two. Yet as the Wyvern she will never be able to mate with another dragon, lest she lose her abilities as both the Wyvern and Oracle. Was this part of idea when Jared and Derek were introduced-neither a dragon, but still a supernatural?

Deborah:  *stares straight ahead and goes to the next question*

TRC: You have introduced some shape-shifter and mages into The Dragon Diaries  storylines. WE have seen the mages throughout the Dragonfire series-will we see a connection between the two series involving the mages e.g. the next generation?

Deborah:  I think these four questions will be answered for readers in BLAZING THE TRAIL. No spoilers from me! 🙂

TRC:  Yes, a definite pattern 😉

TRC:  Blazing the Trail is the next instalment in The Dragon Diaries series—will you please tell us something about the storyline? (see our review below)

LINKS to purchase:
Amazon Books
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
The Book Depository

Deborah:  BLAZING THE TRAIL is the conclusion of Zoë’s trilogy and coming of age, which is why so many questions will be answered and conflicts resolved in that book. At the end of WINGING IT, there is an alliance of shifters that has been created by Zoë with the teenagers of the four respective and surviving kinds. They have a plan to finish off the NightBlade and the last of the Mages, but are waiting for the next eclipse to do it. Zoë meanwhile is trying to choose between her relentless attraction to Jared – even though he’s not very encouraging – and Derek’s desire for a greater commitment from her. What’s the smart thing to do? Things escalate right before the Valentine’s Day dance when Derek demands an answer, Zoë’s ability to see the future begins to manifest, the apprentice Mages make a final play for world domination and Jared returns.

I had a lot of fun with the big finish in this book. 🙂

TRC:  What are you working on today?

Deborah:  Today, I am writing blog posts. 🙂 I’m also going to work on my upcoming medieval romance, THE RENEGADE’S HEART. I’m crazy in love with Murdoch, and with writing medievals again. I just can’t leave that story alone. It’s a medieval with paranormal elements and is linked to my Jewels of Kinfairlie series. (Yes, Isabella finally gets her HEA.)

TRC:  What do you do to relax?

Deborah:  I knit. A lot.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything?

Deborah:  Thank you for your thoughtful questions! I enjoying doing the interview.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Dessert
Lemon tart

Favorite Food
Fresh sourdough bread

Favorite TV Show
Downton Abbey

Favorite Movie
All That Jazz

Last Movie you saw
Excalibur (Again. I should quit renting it and just buy it already.)

Where did you go on your last vacation
Paris France – in February. It was wonderful.

Red or White Roses
I like all roses (all flowers, really!) but my favourites are the ones that shade between colours.

TRC:  Deborah, we would like to thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. Please keep up informed as to your upcoming releases, and of course, as always, we are very happy to read everything by Deborah Cooke.

Deborah:  Thanks very much for inviting me! You can always keep track of what’s coming from me on my blog:

LINKS:

Deborah’s BLOG
WEBSITE
Facebook

**********GIVEAWAY*********

Deborah Cooke is offering a copy of her latest DRAGONFIRE novel-FLASHFIRE to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1.  To qualify, you must be a member at The Reading Cafe.  If you are not a member, please register using the Log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins on the right side.

2.  Giveaway open to Canada and continental USA only.

3.  Please leave a comment and say hello to Deborah Cooke.