Incredible Indies interview with Jeffrey Cook!
What better way to celebrate #IndiePrideDay than with an interview with a fantastic Indie Author. Jeffrey Cook talks to us about his writing and what he's got planned next.
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written
I'm a full-time author living near Seattle, WA. I'm also 'dad' to three large rescue dogs, and a passionate advocate for a local rescue - to the point of heading up a series of charity anthologies to help support them.
I have 10 books and 2 novellas out, with #11 and #3 respectively coming soon. I've written across multiple genres, starting with steampunk and YA sci fi, and moving, with the recent series, to yA fantasy and a non-YA urban fantasy series, plus one non-fiction targeted at authors.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?My most recent book is A Fair Fight, book 3 of my Celtic-mythology based YA Fantasy series. The series started out with a waking dream about the lead character and one of the supporting cast, a Seattle-area teen with ADHD who discovers she's half sidhe (Irish fae), and a pixie with tattered wings who rides a crow, acting as the lead's guide. It grew from there.
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Foul is Fair (Fair Folk Chronicles Book 1)
Lots of girls play Fairy Princess when they're little. Megan O'Reilly had no idea the real thing was like playing chess, guitar, and hockey all at once. Megan had known for a long time that she wasn't an entirely typical girl. But living with ADHD—and her mother's obsessions—was a very different thing from finding out she wasn't entirely human. Somewhere out there, in a completely different world, her father needs help. There's a conflict, revolving around Faerie seasonal rituals, that could have consequences for humanity—and if Megan's getting the terminology straight, it sounds like her family aren't even supposed to be the good guys. As she's further and further swept up in trying to save her father, Megan may be getting too good at not being human.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I've been a voracious reader since an early age. Biggest influences include the Chronicles of Narnia, Frankenstein, Lord of the Rings, Clavell's Shogun, and Terry Pratchett in general.
'm working on the final rewrites for book 4, the finale of the Fair Folk Chronicles, and a science-fiction novella about genetically engineered dragons.
After that, I'm taking this Summer to mostly focus on promotion and a cross-country promotion tour to a few conventions in August.
This Fall, I'll be starting on a YA Dark Fantasy called Unchosen, playing with the 'chosen one' trope of fantasy. Subverting it, really.
When new ideas come up, do small outlines, get the basic ideas down on the page, then put them away in a folder for later.
When that's over, I'll have one more local event, then we go on the road to do Gencon in Indianapolis, Malcon in Denver, and Worldcon in Kansas City in 3 consecutive weeks on the road....
And then home for 3 more conventions in a row.
Then starting Unchosen, and back to work-as-usual.
Every writer has tons of ideas. It's important to learn not to shift to the shiny new thing. Finish what you're working on.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
"The most important thing you can be is someone you can live with."
This Summer is going to be exciting. My business partner and I (with Clockwork Dragon books) will be doing several local fairs and conventions, filling almost every weekend. In July, we're putting on our own indie book fair/networking event, with about 60 Northwest Authors in attendance.
