Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: J.K. Coi

Interview with J.K. Coi:

Hi J.K.. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is my first book. My Immortal is being released by Linden Bay Romance on May 15, 2008. It’s the first in a paranormal series about a band of immortal warriors who are bound to protect humanity. Rhys is their reluctant leader, and he has spent hundreds of years on the front lines fighting a deadly war against evil, trying to keep humankind safe. Amy is the woman who brings light and love back to his life after an eternity of darkness, but she brings a terrible destiny as well—of pain and blood—a destiny that Rhys glimpses in his dreams. He knows that of all the humans he’s saved throughout his long life as an Immortal, if he should fail this one woman, it will destroy him like nothing else has been able to.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

The series continues, telling the tales of more of these irresistible Immortals, with the second book, Immortal Kiss (scheduled for release in July, 2008) and the third book, Dark Immortal, which is also coming later this year.

I’m also fleshing out a storyline for a really exciting futuristic romance. It is set in a harsh society, on an earth that has been ravaged by environmental disaster. We’ll see how that comes along, but I’m really pumped about it!

- Who would you say has influenced you the most?

I think I’m mostly influenced by my childhood reads, which included a LOT of Stephen King (but of course). I’m also a big fan of everything Joss Whedon—Buffy and Angel and Firefly—maybe that’s where my black sense of humour comes from.

- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Yep, I’m mostly a go with the flow writer, or a pantser. I tend to know how I want to start, and roughly how I want to finish, but along the way somewhere in the middle I need to actually have a story. It usually means a pretty rough writers’ block at some point, where I hash everything out in my head before I can get back in front of the computer, but I’ve tried making more detailed outlines, and it just doesn’t seem to work for me.

- What is your writing routine once you start a book?

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been lucky enough to go down to a four-day work week at my day job, which has helped a lot in terms of my writing. It means at least one full day of intense focus for me, where before I was writing exclusively in the evenings after the dinner dishes had been done and my son was off to bed for the night. I do still write in the evenings and on weekends, but I feel more able to take an evening off without getting the shakes.

- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

I have a five year old boy, so it’s safe to say that there is no such thing as uninterrupted time. Real life intrudes no matter where I am, or what time it is. I have a full time day job and when I get home from that I have a demanding family to take care of. But I try to take time whenever I can, and my one day off per week has helped me find some more quiet time.

- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

When I need to relax, I jump on over to the other side of the fence and read. I like to read everything and anything, from horror and suspense, to mysteries, fantasy and of course, romance. I’m also pretty crafty. I like to paint and do stained glass. I like taking my son to soccer practice and watching my husband play hockey.

- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

I think I’ll always love My Immortal the best, for obvious reasons. It’s my first book and the first set of characters that I felt I really lived. They became real to me like nothing else I’d ever written before. But my favourite hero has to be Gideon. He’s the brother of Amy—the heroine of My Immortal. His book is coming too, and I think I love him best because he’s a lot like my husband. He’s a brilliant science geek type with a smart mouth and a pure heart. And boy is he hot.

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

I can’t say exactly because it differs a little bit depending on the situation. For My Immortal, it was definitely the characters who came first. Rhys just kind of elbowed his way into my life and said “This is what we’re doing.” Who am I to tell him any different? LOL. In the first book, I introduced the other Immortals and got into their heads, learned who they were and what had brought them to me, so their stories are playing out differently from start to finish than My Immortal did.

- What are the elements of a great romance for you?

A great romance should be like a battle, sometimes against each other, and sometimes standing together against the world. I know that sounds bad. But in a great romance, the path should be hard and sweaty and in the end, you stand victorious in love.

- How do we find out about you and your books?

You can find out more by visiting my website at: www.jkcoi.com I also have a myspace page: www.myspace.com/jkcoi and you can find me on Facebook.
The books are available from Linden Bay Romance at: Linden Bay Romances and trade paperback copies will be available shortly from Amazon.com.
I also blog twice a week with three of my writer friends at www.vauxhallvixens.blogspot.com, so come on over and visit. We’re always having loads of fun.

Thanks so much for everything!
J.K. Coi

Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

J. K. Coi's Web Site Vaux Hall Blog J.K.'s Myspace Email J.K.
Buy Author's Books at Linden Bay Romances