Contest & Spotlight Post: Dragons, Dragons EVERYWHERE! by Deborah Cooke

Dragons, Dragons EVERYWHERE!

by Deborah Cooke 

I've always been a big fan of dragons but over the past few years, a lot more of them have taken up residence in my office. Even better, these dragons are dragon shape shifter heroes, known as the Pyr. So, they're gorgeous hunks in human form, and powerful dragons in their other form. This works for me in a big way!

So, come over to my Dragonfire world and let me show you around.

First of all, those dragon shape shifter heroes in my Dragonfire series of paranormal romances. My dragon shifters are an ancient race called the Pyr, who are long-lived but not immortal. Once in his lifetime, a Pyr will have his firestorm - this is the moment he meets the human woman who can bear his son. Sparks fly when they meet and the firestorm gets them both all hot and bothered. The firestorm is all about biology, but it's seldom that simple for my dragon dudes. Each one has to explain the firestorm to the heroine in question, seduce her and simultaneously defend her from the bad dragon shifters - called Slayers - who are drawn to the firestorm, like, well, moths to the flame. These books are action-packed and sexy. There's also an over-arching storyline because the Pyr and the Slayers are in a battle for control of the treasure that is the earth. The Pyr see humans as part of the treasure (the firestorm might affect their thinking) while the Slayers - who do not get firestorms - see humans as a threat to the earth. Slayers would be just as happy to eliminate both Pyr and humans, and keep Earth for themselves.

This month, FLASHFIRE, which is Dragonfire #7, was published. Lorenzo is my first "bad boy" dragon - the Pyr who have had firestorms to date have been pretty noble guys. Their issue was with permanent commitment, or with joining the other Pyr, or with the sharing of their big secret with the woman who was stealing their heart away. Lorenzo, in contrast, has no desire to be a dragon shifter anymore. He has a plan to ditch that side of his nature for good - as a stage illusionist, he's planning on a last big disappearing act. Of course, Lorenzo isn't counting on the firestorm, and he isn't counting on the passion and persistence of Cassie Redmond, his destined mate. These two were a lot of fun and I enjoyed writing about their battle of wills. Next up for Dragonfire is EMBER'S KISS, coming in October. (You can read more about Dragonfire on my website http://www.deborahcooke.com)

I also have a spin-off YA paranormal series called The Dragon Diaries. Although most of the Pyr are male, at any given time, there is one female dragon shifter. She's called the Wyvern and has special powers. Small spoiler alert right here, just so you're warned. The Wyvern at the beginning of the Dragonfire series died in book #3, KISS OF FATE. You'll have to read the book to find out how and why. The point here is that the child conceived during that firestorm turned out to be a girl. Her dad, Erik (who is the leader of the Pyr) assumed that she must be the new Wyvern. The male Pyr, though, come into their dragon powers at puberty - until then, they're indistinguishable from human boys. Once I realized that Zoë would come into her dragon powers right when she was already in the midst of wrestling with school and mean girls and keeping the faith with her best friend forever, I knew her story would be amazing to write. Zoë's coming-of-age is complicated by the fact that no one knows much about the Wyvern's special powers or how she develops them, and the only Wyvern she's heard of is dead.

Just to keep Zoë's life complicated, Erik invented the Covenant, which forbids all of the Pyr from revealing themselves in both human and dragon form to any human, without prior authorization from him. This means Zoë can't confide in her friend Meagan when her powers start to reveal themselves. I also reinvigorated an old enemy of the Pyr, one that only Zoë and the other teenage dragons believe is a threat. Again, there's a lot of action in these books - it seems to come with the territory when there are dragons in the vicinity! - and there's a hot guy with a motorcycle named Jared, who runs hot and cold with Zoë, kisses like a god, and somehow knows more about dragons than she does.

WINGING IT, the second book in Zoë's trilogy, was published in December and book #3, BLAZING THE TRAIL, will be out in June. You can read more about the Dragon Diaries on my website http://www.thedragondiaries.com

So, tell me, do you like reading stories about dragons? Have you ever imagined being a dragon - or a dragon shape shifter? What do you think would be the best thing about being a dragon? Me, I'd like to be able to fly. I have that in common with Zoë - but she also has an Incinerate Now list.

~CONTEST~

All this week OTER will be spotlighting award-winning author Deborah Cooke.  Today we have Spotlight Author, herself, Deborah Cook dropping by to chat about Dreagons, Dragons, EVERYWHERE.  Please make her feel welcome. =)  

THE PRIZE: Two lucky reader will have the chance to win the either first two titles, FLYING BLIND and WINGING IT from Cooke's The Dragon Diaries or FLASHFIRE and KISS OF FIRE book seven (7) and one (1). 

To enter contest you will need to stop back each day, read the excerpt posted and answer the question or questions of the day.

Monday Question: Dragons by nature are what?

Tuesday Question: Who is the Keeper of the Covenant?

Wednesday Question: Who is  Megan (Zoe's best friend) massively crushing on?

Thursday Question: Do you like reading stories about dragons? Have you ever imagined being a dragon - or a dragon shape shifter? What do you think would be the best thing about being a dragon?

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*Connect with RCJR eZine at:

Contest is open to ALL readers.

Contest runs until January 22, 2011.

I will contact winners directly on January 23, 2011.