We are
delighted to be here today on The Snarkology interviewing Caliente D. Cooper,
the co-author of the Books of the Kindling series, the first of which, More
Than Magic, is being released by Samhain Publishing on February 4th.
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| Caliente D. Cooper, co-author of MORE THAN MAGIC |
Melissa: Donna shared just a little bit of your background
with me. You're a Jack Russell Terrier, correct?
Cali: You bet. *tosses head* Purebred. Of the
Terrier-ific JRTs.
Melissa: Absolutely. And how did you meet Donna?
Cali: Well, I met Donna in 2008 and we bonded almost
immediately. She was visiting the kennel where I was employed – I produced some
gorgeous work there, but I was ready to retire from the dog-hump-dog business
world and when Donna made her offer... I just couldn't refuse! I mean, what a
life, producing words about dogs instead of producing, well...dogs. It's a
dream come true for me.
Melissa: I bet. So, do you participate in writing the entire
books, or just the portions with the dogs?
Cali: I co-author every word. If it weren't for me, Donna
wouldn't even get up in the morning...or remember to eat or even go to the
bathroom. I mean, how can you forget about that?
*wiggles*
Melissa: She forgets to go to the bathroom?
Cali: Well, yes, when she's really into the actual
writing – not the plotting. When she's plotting, she's up and around and wants
to go walk outside and fidgeting and drinking coffee and going to the bathroom
a lot. But when we are into actually
writing the rough draft, she forgets sometimes. I remind her. I'm right there
in the office with her and if she really
gets forgetful, I stand behind her chair and tell her so. I never bark in the
house – that's reserved for when I go to the bathroom myself – but I talk to
her. I use the same voice I use when I wake her up in the morning...only I'm
not standing on top of her in the office.
Melissa: That's...interesting. So Donna is a plotter then?
Cali: *growls*
Melissa: I’m sorry! Of course, Donna and you are plotters not pantsers?
Cali: Well, I don’t wear pants, so it’s a good thing
we're plotters. Donna is so
left-brained that she does a log line for every scene. *wags tail* See, I know
the lingo, even though we're really new to this. She tends to plot while I am
walking her. She carries this little recorder thing and talks out loud a lot.
The neighbors’ dogs have asked me repeatedly
if she is on medication. One little Rat Terrier got horribly insistent and nosey. I mean, really! Mostly they are mutts, but there’s this purebred Belgian
Malinois and this Rottie, and then there’s this Norwich Terrier who is built...
Melissa: *clears throat*
Cali: Hey, you have your cover models, I have my
neighborhood hunks. Sadly, no JRTs. Anyway, if it weren’t for me, these books
would not exist at all.
Melissa: I’m beginning to get that idea.
Cali: Exactly. And you know... *jumps into Melissa’s lap*
...I helped her deal with losing her sweetheart. She had this big hole in her
heart where her husband had been and I filled a little bit of it for her. A lot
actually. There’s still a hole, but I’m here to remind her that real love
stories never end. The hole isn’t really
empty. Not when you can remember love and write about it.
Melissa: *sniffs* Can I pet you?
Cali: Absolutely. The ears need lots of attention and I
have this itch...
Melissa: *laughs* So...*clears throat*...does Donna...Do you
and Donna include dogs in your books?
Cali: Are you kidding? I mean, seriously? With the kind
of relationship we have, and all the ups and downs we’ve been through together,
Donna would never write a love story without one of us in it somewhere. And the
dogs play key roles too, although her editor is always telling her to watch
overdoing it with the dog scenes. I like him, but he’s clearly not a dog
person. *growls*
Melissa: Uh huh. So, are these Jack Russells?
Cali: Not in this book or the next. But there is this fabulous JRT in Book 3 that she modeled
after the father of my beautiful pups. He plays a key role. *grins* And I
actually gave her the idea for one of her best scenes, in my opinion. It’s in
Book 3 and involves a rescue. She’s still working on that one, or I would read
it to you.
Melissa: So, can you tell us about the dog in More Than
Magic, the current book?
Cali: Oh yes! He’s a Plott Hound named Pooka. He is very important to the plot. That was a
pun! Anyway, you might say that bumper sticker about “Who Rescued Who?” was
written about him.
Melissa: So, what do you two do for fun?
Cali: Oh, well, when I can drag her away from the
computer screen, we go visit my cousin Rocky – he’s a Boxer, we go to the park
and feed the ducks, and we watch movies.
Melissa: Movies. So, do you have favorites?
Cali: You bet. Homemade Parmesan popcorn and “The
Artist”. I mean, Uggie cannot make a
bad movie. Seriously. And “Water for Elephants” is a brilliant piece of work. Then
there’s Cosmo. Be still my heart. Wasn’t he the best in “Hotel for Dogs”? And
“Beginners”? I have to admit, I’m partial to JRTs, but I enjoy watching other
terriers too. Like the one in “Best in Show”. That one makes Donna laugh, a
lot.
Melissa: What about “Marley and Me” or “Hachi”?
Cali: Oh, we don’t ever
watch movies with sad endings. Happy ever after, that’s us. Just like our
books!
Melissa: Well, it seems you two are a real team.
Cali: *grins* It’s kind of a love story. And real love
stories...
Melissa: ...never end.
Cali: Exactly!
Melissa: Thanks for your time, Cali.
Cali: No problem. Now, could you let me out? It’s time
for me to check out the back yard and talk to that Pittie across the fence.
He’s got it bad for this Mastiff up the street, but she won’t have anything to
do with him. I’m coaching him on how to talk to bitches.
Melissa: *laughs* Right. Certainly. Thank you again!
Title: More Than Magic,
Book 1, Books of the Kindling
Publisher: Samhain
Date Published: February
4, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Word Count: 96,671
Blurb:
Book 1
Books
of the Kindling
A malignant secret could turn her mountain sanctuary
into their tomb.
DEA agent Nick
McKenzie is sure magic exists—a dangerous drug called Smoky Mountain Magic
that’s wreaking havoc in Atlanta. He’s also sure that locating and eliminating
the source will kill him.
When he
arrives undercover on Woodruff Mountain, the beautiful owner’s awkward attempts
to scare him off tell him something’s afoot, and it’s not her secret patch of
ginseng.
As her dream
of seeking medicinal plants in the Amazon fades away, Grace Woodruff struggles
to come to terms with a magical gift she didn’t want, and searches desperately
for the meaning behind her late grandfather’s final, cryptic message.
The last thing
she needs underfoot is a handsome enigmatic writer recovering from a recent
illness. Until an accidental touch unleashes a stunning mystical force and
Grace senses the wrath of a malicious blight at the heart of the mountain. Now
Grace must choose between her need to hide her gift from the world…and her
desire to save Nick’s life.
Warning: This
book contains a fiery redhead whose magic cannot be contained and a handsome
DEA agent whose final case might give him a second chance at life.
Excerpt:
"Don't worry," she cut in. "The gun's for other dangerous critters that might wander in, not you. Can't be too careful up here."He looked around and lowered his hands. "I see. Well, sorry for the late hour. The trip up here took a bit longer than I expected."His smile broadened as he spied Pooka. The hound looked up at Grace for permission, and she nodded. She watched Pooka advance, tail wagging slowly. Instead of sticking his hand into Pooka's face as most people would, their guest stood still, inviting Pooka to approach. Well, he got some points for knowing how to greet a strange dog, anyway."What breed's this fellow?" he asked as he stooped to greet the dog."Plott hound.""Plott hound?""The state dog of North Carolina. Bred to hunt bear and wild boar," she replied. "Which still wander by now and again.""Bear and wild boar, huh boy?"Pooka grinned as only Pooka could and nearly wagged off his tail as Mr. City Man ruffled first the fur on his shoulder and then his back.Mr. City Man's smile was bright and genuine. And there was at least one dimple too, hidden in a slight shadow of stubble. Coal black hair, now that she saw him a bit closer."And what do they call you, boy?"It was a nice voice, Midwestern, or perhaps further north than that. Cultured and metropolitan, for all that he was trying not to sound citified. But a nice voice nonetheless. Pooka liked him too, butting his head against the man's hand for more stroking."Oh, he gets called all kinds of names, some of them not repeatable in decent company, but he goes by Pooka most of the time," she said. "Although some of our youngest guests insist on calling him Poo."There was a stifled snort of a laugh and she realized she was failing miserably at scaring him off.
Available for purchase:
Author Bio:
When she’s not being dragged down the sidewalk by her Jack
Russell (if you know Jacks, you understand), Donna June Cooper is belly
dancing (shiny!), reading (three books at once), writing (of course!) or
complaining about the heat (no matter the temperature). A child of the
Appalachians who was transplanted to Texas by her Italian husband, Donna
returns to her mountain roots as often as possible, and takes us with her in
her debut novel More Than Magic.
Author Links:
Email: donnajune.cooper@verizon.net
Good morning Donna & Cooper. Welcome to the Snarkology! It's wonderful having you here today.
ReplyDeleteCali, I've never seen a white Jack Russell. I didn't even know they existed. You've quite pretty. :)
We are delighted to be here!
ReplyDeleteCali wants you to know that she isn't really solid white. That photo just makes her look that way. She has a big black circle around her tail, like a lot of JRTs, and one side of her face and an ear are brown, underneath. But that overcoat is SO white, it just overwhelms everything else.
At 14, she is absolutely overjoyed when someone calls her pretty! :)
Well, she's a very pretty pooch. :-) I've always loved Jack Russells. They're such smart dogs.
DeleteYou're cover is gorgeous also. Can I ask who designed it?
Sure. Here name is Nathalie Gray (aka Kanaxa). Here's her page - http://www.kanaxa.com/. She's also has a Twitter account as Nathalie Gray. She's wonderful to work with and we're working on the cover of the second book in the series right now.
DeleteLOL That is one dog with an attitude. I think he has you well trained :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your release.
Indeed, Shelley, my sister insists that Cali is the alpha dog at my house, and that is probably true. But all the better. She is more disciplined than me and keeps me in shape, physically, mentally, and emotionally. She's a cool little lady.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the congrats! And thanks for visiting. Your name is in the pot for a copy of More Than Magic!
Plott Hound! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI loved this. If only our pets could really talk. lol My dogs also make sure I get up in the morning and take regular breaks.
ReplyDeleteHey Amber! I saw your Tweet about my Plott Hound. Glad you like him. He's pretty much a character in More Than Magic. They are really interesting dogs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'll win a copy of More Than Magic and enjoy Pooka the Plott Hound's story.
Kelley, there are times when I wish that Cali COULD talk, but she practically does. I know exactly which sound she makes means what. There's one that means "scratch my back" and there's another one that means "get up NOW". She keeps me hopping!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting on Cali's interview!
What a fun interview! Donna, your cover is gorgeous and your excerpt certainly reeled me in. Now I'll have to buy the book.
ReplyDeleteCaroline, thanks so much. I just gave the cover artist for More Than Magic, Nathalie Gray, my last input on the cover for Mostly Magic, the next book in the series. She is so talented!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'll win a copy! Either way, I hope you enjoy it!
Just letting all your commenters know that I'll draw for the giveaway tomorrow morning! Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteCaroline Clemmons - No, actually you won't have to buy the book because...tada...you WON a copy!!
ReplyDeleteI will do my best to get in touch, but if you come back here, please let me know your email address at donnajune.cooper@verizon.net. And let me know what format you prefer - Mobi, ePub, or PDF.
CONGRATULATIONS and thanks for commenting!!