Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I have a special guest today being interviewed by me and I hope that you enjoy reading the interview as much as I had doing it. J.K. Coi contacted me to review her latest novel in her Immortal series and in the process we scheduled an interview as well as a guest blog. So keep a look out for a book review of her 4th book in her Immortal series called Forever Immortal, which is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 16th by Linden Bay Romance. And also remember to come back here on Thursday, June 4th to read her guest blog about how she came to write Forever Immortal after writing the first three books in her Immortal series. Now onto the interview:
* * * * * *
Phoebe Jordan: When did you know that writing romance was going to be the thing that you would do with your life? Which author inspired you to start writing romance?
J.K. Coi: Well, I’d love to say that I made a conscious decision to move my life in a certain direction and that writing romance was it. In reality, I was working full time and in the evenings after my son was in bed I was getting...bored. I’ve always read books—any kind, all kinds—but I’ve never been one for television. After cleaning out the closet one night (I was REALLY bored), I found some of my stories from when I was in school, and the juices started flowing. By the end of that night I’d already written my first scene. Even though it was horrid and no longer exists, it started me on the path.
Phoebe: Did you know what type of romance you wanted to write about or did you experiment with different genres before you chose the one that you felt was for you?
J.K.: I don’t think there was ever really any doubt about the genre I would write. Paranormal/urban fantasy comes most naturally to me, and fits my voice the best.
Phoebe: What was the first fiction you ever wrote? And do you still have it with you?
J.K.: LOL, I don’t know if it was my first work of fiction, but I wrote a short story in high school entitled “Martians in the Kitchen”. Man that was bloody. I was in a Dean Koontz/Stephen King phase, I think. Here’s to a very open-minded Gr.10 English teacher.
Phoebe: How much research do you have to do for your novels and does it take you a long time to gather that research?
J.K.: Hm. Research, eh? What’s that? No, seriously I do quite a bit of reading for my Immortal books, all about demonology and ancient theology, etc. My university background helps me a lot in this. When it comes to writing though, I take everything else that I’ve read and mush it all together to come up with what I want. Because my world is my own, I can twist history and reality to suit me—and that’s one of the main reasons I love writing in this genre as well.
Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your latest release, Forever Immortal, which is the fourth book in your Immortal Series?
J.K.: Forever Immortal wasn’t always going to be book four. In fact, when I came up with the original idea for Gideon’s book, it was going to be the second in the series. When that changed, I had to re-think how things were going to work, and I was very glad that I did. I have loved Gideon’s character since I was first introduced to him in Book 1, and even though he never returned in books 2 and 3, his story was always in the back of my mind. Being the fourth, I wanted this book to be more. More emotional. More explosive. More conflicted. More dangerous. And I think it’s got all of that in spades, while at the same time it also leads in to the next phase of this series.
Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your Immortal Series and how many books did you plan to write when you started the series and do you plan to write any after Forever Immortal?
J.K.: The concept for the series evolved gradually. When I started writing the first book in the series, My Immortal, I was really just finding my voice and seeing where an idea could lead me. After I finished it and spent a long time editing, fixing and rewriting, I understood that I had serious potential and ideas for the other books started to take shape. The series as a whole really took on a life of its own at that point. After writing book 2, Immortal Kiss, I had uncovered still another facet of the greater plotline, and after Dark Immortal, I think I had pretty much worked out the rest. That’s another reason why I like Forever Immortal so much. I was able to write it without fighting to figure out its place in the series.
Phoebe: How do you come up with each of your characters for your novels? How do you choose their names out of so many names out there?
J.K.: Character names are just something that come to me. Besides once, I’ve never had any trouble naming characters, and the names tend to stick. But Rhys from my first book started out as a Julian. Yeah...that didn’t last long. Great name. It just didn’t fit. The characters themselves—their personality traits, baggage, conflict—I honestly don’t know how to explain where that comes from. I usually start a book with a character. Maybe a visual of him/her, or a phrase of dialogue. It spurs a little burst of writing, and I come up with a scene that will hopefully inspire more writing and eventually, a greater understanding of the character. Sometimes it means going back after I get to about the half-way point of the book and reworking some things to make it fit better, but I don’t mind.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your novel Forever Immortal?
J.K.: Gideon is a character I’ve always loved. I’ve been looking forward to his story from the very beginning. I like that he is more than what he seems. He’s more than a warrior. He’s also brilliant and compassionate. He takes his responsibilities very seriously, but he has a sharp sense of humor as well. He doesn’t shy away from conflict and won’t give up on what he wants—especially when what he wants is Lyssa.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your previous Immortal Series novels?
J.K.: I love all of my Immortal characters. I work really hard to make them live and breathe, to give them the full range of emotions and desires. But one secondary character who took me by surprise was Karnage from book 3, Dark Immortal. I started out writing an evil demon—and I certainly succeeded. But at the same time, he’s not quite all bad. Karnage is also really sexy and interestingly conflicted. He has a depth to him that I wasn’t ready for and it has gotten me to thinking about what else might be hidden beneath those horns.
Phoebe: Do you have a process of how you start to write your novels?
J.K.: Almost always, I write from start to finish, word by word. It’s that first scene that I need to figure out before I can really get a groove on, so while I’m thinking on that, I tend to do a lot of staring into space, prompting my good hubby to wonder if I haven’t finally fallen off of the deep end.
Phoebe: Which do you like best, writing a series or writing stand alone novels? How is writing each different for you?
J.K.: I have written standalone novels as well, and I currently have one in the early-WIP stage that I’m looking forward to getting into soon. I don’t think I prefer one or the other, the writing depends on my mood. I love revisiting characters in a series, and I think that sometimes a series lets you go deeper than you would in a standalone novel. But at the same time, a standalone novel gives you an opportunity to try something new and different and gives your brain a change of pace. I couldn’t have written all of my Immortal books one after the other. I found a few times along the way that I just had to give my brain a different focus and when I went back to my series I felt refreshed and eager again.
Phoebe: What process did you have to go through to get your first book published and did it take you long?
J.K.: My first book took about nine months to write. Then another year to re-write. I learned A LOT in that year, after which I submitted the book for a number of months before it was accepted by Linden Bay Romance and they asked me to put together a proposal for two more books. I’d like to say it was fate, but in reality I’ve never worked so hard in my life.
Phoebe: Do you ever get writers block? What do you do to get rid of it so you can get back to writing your novels?
J.K.: Unfortunately, I get writer’s block all the time. It’s a pain in the a$$, but because I write so linearly and I’m mostly a pantser**, I’ll get stuck frequently. Usually, I’ll take a day or two off from writing and read a book, watch a few movies. Then I’ll sit back down and go over my WIP as it is, so that when I come back to the part where I stopped I have hopefully rekindled my muse and can keep going forward. If that doesn’t work, then at that point I’ve wasted enough time and I force myself to write something anyway—even if it’s crap, which it usually is.
Phoebe: What is your biggest reader pet peeve, if you have any? (stock characters, unresolved endings, predictability, everything wrapped up hurriedly in the end, etc.)
J.K.: As a reader, I want to see something a little different, with a bit of a twist. But mostly, I’m reading for the emotional rush. I want the characters to feel everything—from happiness, need, anger, frustration, hopelessness, guilt, love, etc.—and I want the writer to make me feel it as well.
Phoebe: Which aspects of writing do you enjoy the most and why? And what is your biggest writing pet peeve? (overuse of exclamation points, adverbs, bad guys named Wayne, etc.), if you have any?
J.K.: I like when a writer can use the first person approach effectively. I think there’s a knack to writing in first person and it can really blow up in your face if you don’t understand this. I also love a really well written alpha male, but one who has a lot of depth underneath that crust of testosterone.
Phoebe: What is the one writing tool can you not live without?
J.K.: I need coffee. Yes, it’s a writing tool.
Phoebe: How do you handle your writing schedule and your personal life without going insane?
J.K.: I’m already insane, didn’t you know? Since I still work full time and I’d like to try to have a relationship with my family and not just their blackberries, I keep my writing to a very strict schedule. I write in the evenings once my son is in bed and only one day of the weekend.
Phoebe: What do you do to relax after having spent a long while writing? Do you have any hobbies?
J.K.: I love to do stained glass. From drawing the design out myself, to cutting the glass and soldering everything together, I find the process very relaxing and I do it as often as possible (read: hardly ever *sigh*).
Phoebe: Is there any advice that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?
J.K.: I think one of the best things that I did as a new writer was to join my local RWA chapter. The monthly in-person meetings have given me so much, not the least of which is a solid critique partner, a chance to meet people who have become great friends, and an overwhelming well of advice and knowledge to draw upon when I need it.
Phoebe: Is there any writing tips, research tips, promotion and marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?
J.K.: I think it’s really important to take your time and make sure that what you’re writing is polished and perfected to the best that it can be before you send it out into the world. Then, when you think you’re ready, expect to be rejected—often. This is just the way our industry works. What one person believes is amazing, another will find dreary. That doesn’t mean your book isn’t amazing, though. Just don’t let that rejection get to you. Keep writing, keep submitting. If you work hard, learn your craft and really believe in yourself, then you’ll find your place soon enough.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read? Who is your favorite author(s)?
J.K.: When I can find the time, I will read anything. Everything. So much that I couldn’t possibly name favorites that would be like a call to arms that might get me killed.
Phoebe: What are you reading now? And what do you plan to read after that?
J.K.: I’m currently reading Adrian Phoenix’s A Rush of Wings, and after that I’ve got a few great e-books I’m looking forward to.
Thanks so much for having me today! I enjoyed this very much.
I’ve put together a FREE READ that is being showcased in three parts starting June 1. It’s a collaborative effort of JK Coi, and author buddies Kimber Chin and Leah Braemel, so make sure to stop by and check it out. There’s PRIZES:
Part 1 is on Kimber Chin’s blog on Monday, June 1st.
Part 2 is on JK Coi’s blog on Tuesday, June 2nd.
Part 3 is on Leah Braemel’s blog on Wednesday, June 3rd.
Bio:
J.K. Coi writes dark and edgy paranormal romance, where love is all consuming, the stakes are always high, and the immortals are to die for. She lives in Ontario with her amazingly supportive husband and son. She graduated university with a degree in history and in law, and has worked for many years in the legal field, with a current focus in litigation. Writing has always been an important part of her life, and when she leaves the office, she leaves it all behind to immerse herself in a world of fantasy—of demons and magic, fascinating warriors and the women strong enough to love them. Visit her at her website to find out more about her and her Immortal series as well as her other novels.
You can purchase Forever Immortal, which comes out on Tuesday, June 16th by Linden Bay Romance, or her other previously published Immortal series books as well. You can find out more about her and her books at her website, you can also find her at her blog, MySpace and on Twitter.
**"Pantser" means—someone who writes by the seat of their pants, as opposed to someone who plans every step of their book in advance.
J.K. Coi: Well, I’d love to say that I made a conscious decision to move my life in a certain direction and that writing romance was it. In reality, I was working full time and in the evenings after my son was in bed I was getting...bored. I’ve always read books—any kind, all kinds—but I’ve never been one for television. After cleaning out the closet one night (I was REALLY bored), I found some of my stories from when I was in school, and the juices started flowing. By the end of that night I’d already written my first scene. Even though it was horrid and no longer exists, it started me on the path.
Phoebe: Did you know what type of romance you wanted to write about or did you experiment with different genres before you chose the one that you felt was for you?
J.K.: I don’t think there was ever really any doubt about the genre I would write. Paranormal/urban fantasy comes most naturally to me, and fits my voice the best.
Phoebe: What was the first fiction you ever wrote? And do you still have it with you?
J.K.: LOL, I don’t know if it was my first work of fiction, but I wrote a short story in high school entitled “Martians in the Kitchen”. Man that was bloody. I was in a Dean Koontz/Stephen King phase, I think. Here’s to a very open-minded Gr.10 English teacher.
Phoebe: How much research do you have to do for your novels and does it take you a long time to gather that research?
J.K.: Hm. Research, eh? What’s that? No, seriously I do quite a bit of reading for my Immortal books, all about demonology and ancient theology, etc. My university background helps me a lot in this. When it comes to writing though, I take everything else that I’ve read and mush it all together to come up with what I want. Because my world is my own, I can twist history and reality to suit me—and that’s one of the main reasons I love writing in this genre as well.
Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your latest release, Forever Immortal, which is the fourth book in your Immortal Series?
J.K.: Forever Immortal wasn’t always going to be book four. In fact, when I came up with the original idea for Gideon’s book, it was going to be the second in the series. When that changed, I had to re-think how things were going to work, and I was very glad that I did. I have loved Gideon’s character since I was first introduced to him in Book 1, and even though he never returned in books 2 and 3, his story was always in the back of my mind. Being the fourth, I wanted this book to be more. More emotional. More explosive. More conflicted. More dangerous. And I think it’s got all of that in spades, while at the same time it also leads in to the next phase of this series.
Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your Immortal Series and how many books did you plan to write when you started the series and do you plan to write any after Forever Immortal?
J.K.: The concept for the series evolved gradually. When I started writing the first book in the series, My Immortal, I was really just finding my voice and seeing where an idea could lead me. After I finished it and spent a long time editing, fixing and rewriting, I understood that I had serious potential and ideas for the other books started to take shape. The series as a whole really took on a life of its own at that point. After writing book 2, Immortal Kiss, I had uncovered still another facet of the greater plotline, and after Dark Immortal, I think I had pretty much worked out the rest. That’s another reason why I like Forever Immortal so much. I was able to write it without fighting to figure out its place in the series.
Phoebe: How do you come up with each of your characters for your novels? How do you choose their names out of so many names out there?
J.K.: Character names are just something that come to me. Besides once, I’ve never had any trouble naming characters, and the names tend to stick. But Rhys from my first book started out as a Julian. Yeah...that didn’t last long. Great name. It just didn’t fit. The characters themselves—their personality traits, baggage, conflict—I honestly don’t know how to explain where that comes from. I usually start a book with a character. Maybe a visual of him/her, or a phrase of dialogue. It spurs a little burst of writing, and I come up with a scene that will hopefully inspire more writing and eventually, a greater understanding of the character. Sometimes it means going back after I get to about the half-way point of the book and reworking some things to make it fit better, but I don’t mind.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your novel Forever Immortal?
J.K.: Gideon is a character I’ve always loved. I’ve been looking forward to his story from the very beginning. I like that he is more than what he seems. He’s more than a warrior. He’s also brilliant and compassionate. He takes his responsibilities very seriously, but he has a sharp sense of humor as well. He doesn’t shy away from conflict and won’t give up on what he wants—especially when what he wants is Lyssa.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your previous Immortal Series novels?
J.K.: I love all of my Immortal characters. I work really hard to make them live and breathe, to give them the full range of emotions and desires. But one secondary character who took me by surprise was Karnage from book 3, Dark Immortal. I started out writing an evil demon—and I certainly succeeded. But at the same time, he’s not quite all bad. Karnage is also really sexy and interestingly conflicted. He has a depth to him that I wasn’t ready for and it has gotten me to thinking about what else might be hidden beneath those horns.
Phoebe: Do you have a process of how you start to write your novels?
J.K.: Almost always, I write from start to finish, word by word. It’s that first scene that I need to figure out before I can really get a groove on, so while I’m thinking on that, I tend to do a lot of staring into space, prompting my good hubby to wonder if I haven’t finally fallen off of the deep end.
Phoebe: Which do you like best, writing a series or writing stand alone novels? How is writing each different for you?
J.K.: I have written standalone novels as well, and I currently have one in the early-WIP stage that I’m looking forward to getting into soon. I don’t think I prefer one or the other, the writing depends on my mood. I love revisiting characters in a series, and I think that sometimes a series lets you go deeper than you would in a standalone novel. But at the same time, a standalone novel gives you an opportunity to try something new and different and gives your brain a change of pace. I couldn’t have written all of my Immortal books one after the other. I found a few times along the way that I just had to give my brain a different focus and when I went back to my series I felt refreshed and eager again.
Phoebe: What process did you have to go through to get your first book published and did it take you long?
J.K.: My first book took about nine months to write. Then another year to re-write. I learned A LOT in that year, after which I submitted the book for a number of months before it was accepted by Linden Bay Romance and they asked me to put together a proposal for two more books. I’d like to say it was fate, but in reality I’ve never worked so hard in my life.
Phoebe: Do you ever get writers block? What do you do to get rid of it so you can get back to writing your novels?
J.K.: Unfortunately, I get writer’s block all the time. It’s a pain in the a$$, but because I write so linearly and I’m mostly a pantser**, I’ll get stuck frequently. Usually, I’ll take a day or two off from writing and read a book, watch a few movies. Then I’ll sit back down and go over my WIP as it is, so that when I come back to the part where I stopped I have hopefully rekindled my muse and can keep going forward. If that doesn’t work, then at that point I’ve wasted enough time and I force myself to write something anyway—even if it’s crap, which it usually is.
Phoebe: What is your biggest reader pet peeve, if you have any? (stock characters, unresolved endings, predictability, everything wrapped up hurriedly in the end, etc.)
J.K.: As a reader, I want to see something a little different, with a bit of a twist. But mostly, I’m reading for the emotional rush. I want the characters to feel everything—from happiness, need, anger, frustration, hopelessness, guilt, love, etc.—and I want the writer to make me feel it as well.
Phoebe: Which aspects of writing do you enjoy the most and why? And what is your biggest writing pet peeve? (overuse of exclamation points, adverbs, bad guys named Wayne, etc.), if you have any?
J.K.: I like when a writer can use the first person approach effectively. I think there’s a knack to writing in first person and it can really blow up in your face if you don’t understand this. I also love a really well written alpha male, but one who has a lot of depth underneath that crust of testosterone.
Phoebe: What is the one writing tool can you not live without?
J.K.: I need coffee. Yes, it’s a writing tool.
Phoebe: How do you handle your writing schedule and your personal life without going insane?
J.K.: I’m already insane, didn’t you know? Since I still work full time and I’d like to try to have a relationship with my family and not just their blackberries, I keep my writing to a very strict schedule. I write in the evenings once my son is in bed and only one day of the weekend.
Phoebe: What do you do to relax after having spent a long while writing? Do you have any hobbies?
J.K.: I love to do stained glass. From drawing the design out myself, to cutting the glass and soldering everything together, I find the process very relaxing and I do it as often as possible (read: hardly ever *sigh*).
Phoebe: Is there any advice that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?
J.K.: I think one of the best things that I did as a new writer was to join my local RWA chapter. The monthly in-person meetings have given me so much, not the least of which is a solid critique partner, a chance to meet people who have become great friends, and an overwhelming well of advice and knowledge to draw upon when I need it.
Phoebe: Is there any writing tips, research tips, promotion and marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?
J.K.: I think it’s really important to take your time and make sure that what you’re writing is polished and perfected to the best that it can be before you send it out into the world. Then, when you think you’re ready, expect to be rejected—often. This is just the way our industry works. What one person believes is amazing, another will find dreary. That doesn’t mean your book isn’t amazing, though. Just don’t let that rejection get to you. Keep writing, keep submitting. If you work hard, learn your craft and really believe in yourself, then you’ll find your place soon enough.
Phoebe: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read? Who is your favorite author(s)?
J.K.: When I can find the time, I will read anything. Everything. So much that I couldn’t possibly name favorites that would be like a call to arms that might get me killed.
Phoebe: What are you reading now? And what do you plan to read after that?
J.K.: I’m currently reading Adrian Phoenix’s A Rush of Wings, and after that I’ve got a few great e-books I’m looking forward to.
Thanks so much for having me today! I enjoyed this very much.
I’ve put together a FREE READ that is being showcased in three parts starting June 1. It’s a collaborative effort of JK Coi, and author buddies Kimber Chin and Leah Braemel, so make sure to stop by and check it out. There’s PRIZES:
Part 1 is on Kimber Chin’s blog on Monday, June 1st.
Part 2 is on JK Coi’s blog on Tuesday, June 2nd.
Part 3 is on Leah Braemel’s blog on Wednesday, June 3rd.
Bio:
J.K. Coi writes dark and edgy paranormal romance, where love is all consuming, the stakes are always high, and the immortals are to die for. She lives in Ontario with her amazingly supportive husband and son. She graduated university with a degree in history and in law, and has worked for many years in the legal field, with a current focus in litigation. Writing has always been an important part of her life, and when she leaves the office, she leaves it all behind to immerse herself in a world of fantasy—of demons and magic, fascinating warriors and the women strong enough to love them. Visit her at her website to find out more about her and her Immortal series as well as her other novels.
You can purchase Forever Immortal, which comes out on Tuesday, June 16th by Linden Bay Romance, or her other previously published Immortal series books as well. You can find out more about her and her books at her website, you can also find her at her blog, MySpace and on Twitter.
**"Pantser" means—someone who writes by the seat of their pants, as opposed to someone who plans every step of their book in advance.
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It was great interviewing you J.K. and it was so interesting to know more about your writing process as well as getting to know about how you came to write your Immortals series.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me visit with you today! Your interview was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to come back and blog later this week!
ReplyDelete