Author Spotlight: Andrea R. Cooper

1.  Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a wife and mother to three kids: two boys and a girl. I live near Houston, Texas. It’s not the weather, which is HOT 362 days a year, that keeps me here, but family and the food—especially Tex-Mex (which is the right kind of hot ) J For all of those who live in the north, a can of cheese soup is not Queso or Tex-Mex – you will have to try it if you are ever down this way.

When I was growing up, I wasn’t much of a reader. The books that I craved were not allowed in my house—anything with magic, mythical creatures, paranormal, etc. Seriously, I wasn’t even allowed to watch Disney movies. During my junior year, I found and enjoyed Historical Romances by Beatrice Small, Julie Garwood, Sandra Hill, and others. But it wasn’t until my late twenties that I found fantasy stories. I devoured these novels. Then I added paranormal and even YA to my list.

I love writing…let me correct that, I love writing fiction. Make me write nonfiction and I want to do anything else…even stuff I hate like cleaning house and laundry. I think I’d break out in permanent hives if I couldn’t write fiction.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
In Elementary school, I always got wonderful comments and grades on anything fiction that I wrote. As a teen I wrote poetry until my late twenties. Then I started reading more. I read Christian books, historical romance, paranormal, and my husband introduced me to fantasy. Yet, I still didn’t write novels or even consider myself a writer. After reading some frustrating books in my early thirties, I decided to write books I would enjoy reading.

However, I’ve always been a story teller. As early as I can remember, kids on my street would ask me what we were going to play that day. I set the plot and characters. Once, I had us playing ‘space vampires’, but so that the ‘vampires’ didn’t bite each other, I said their first two fingers were their fangs and used to ‘bite’ the others.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
I write fantasy, paranormal and historical romance. I love these genres—reading, and writing them. The most enjoyment I get from writing is creating new worlds and characters. Since I don’t outline, I discover things at the same time as the characters.

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4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
My latest fantasy/ paranormal book is The Garnet Dagger. This is the first book in a trilogy. I’ve already written books two, Son of Dragons, and book three, War of Darkness. I’m working on revisions of the latter and the former is with a beta reader. I hope to have Son of Dragons out before the end of the year.

5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
The world of The Garnet Dagger is full of magic and mythical creatures. Here you’ll find elves, witches, dragons and magical beasts like the bergone and shints who do the Warloc’s bidding. If you look into a Troblin’s eyes, it can weave whatever vision it wants you to see—and with three hearts they are hard to kill.

6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Brock is the hero of The Garnet Dagger. He is an Elvin, who has been bitten by a vampire. Instead of craving blood, he must live on the kajh—or life essence of others. Trouble is, he cannot touch another without killing them. What I like most about Brock is his compassion for other species, and his sarcasm.

Celeste is a witch. She has been imprisoned by monks and her magic kept dormant except for her gift of healing. The monks twist her magic to their malicious purposes. Even though she has seen the worst in people, she still has hope. And she’s not short on comebacks when bantering with Brock.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
Nivel, in The Garnet Dagger trilogy, is more than he appears to be. In fact, he could have his own book.

8. Blog/site link, and where your book is available.
My website is www.andreaRcooper.com
The Garnet Dagger is available from:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Or at www.crimsonromance.com

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