| Jennifer Russell: I would like to extend a nice warm welcome to new author, Kresley Cole. We are thrilled to have you join us as July's Author Of The Month. Can you tell readers a little more about yourself?
Kresley Cole: Thank you for having me!
I was born in L.A. (lower Alabama or Mobile to be exact). I grew up on a river there, fishing and crabbing and water-skiing with my best friend, Ginny (we've been best friends for 25 years now). We both went to the Catholic high school that my dad went to. I loved it there but still made the tough decision to skip my senior year in high school so I could start skiing collegiately (not show-skiing, but distance jumping and slalom skiing). I don't have a G.E.D. or high school diploma at all. I eventually got my B.A. in English from the University of Alabama and my M.A. in English from the University of Florida.
I'm married to the man of my dreams. I had to go to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to find a big, strapping Swedish husband. After we got married, we moved to Florida to pursue competitive water skiing. We trained and coached for four years, but the constant traveling was tough and we both wanted to go back to school. We moved to Gainesville for two years, got an MA and an MBA and then came right back to the same house in Orlando. I started writing my first book, THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES, within a month of defending my thesis.
No kids yet, but the biological clock is ticking more frequently. Now I get a tick every few months instead of biennially.
JR - How long have you been writing?
KC: I've been writing fiction for a little over 2 1/2 years, but have been writing research papers and articles for what seems like forever.
JR - What do you consider the most important thing to learn about writing a romance?
KC: To never forget that you're writing a romance! The setting is significant and adds texture to the story, and the plot is important, but nothing is more critical than the growing relationship in a romance novel. I've talked to a lot of writers who say that reading romance fuels their writing, especially if they've been stuck in a rut-I think that's because reading romance reminds writers of what's key: when the hero and heroine realize their love for each other, when they make a commitment, etc.
JR - Do you have any authors that have inspired you?
KC: There's so many that it's hard to narrow down. I think there's a cumulative layering of influence and inspiration that takes years to form.
JR - Your debut novel, THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES, is a steamy, hot romance set upon the high seas. What was it about ships that inspired you to set your romance on one?
KC: When I was first deciding to write a romance, I read a book on the genre with tips on getting started. The author emphasized the need for conflict between the hero and heroine. She suggested pitting them against each other on two sides of an issue or making them competitors. Since I am very competitive, this option appealed to me. But to compete in what? What forum was available, in the time period I wanted to write in, where a man and a woman could be equal? What competition would be most exciting? So I started looking in the direction of a race. It hit me that the clippers were the perfect vehicles-exciting, dangerous, and fast, the Concords of the day.
JR - The Great Circle Race of 1858 takes our hero and heroine around Africa's Cape of Good Hope toward Sidney, Australia. Was this a real race and how much fun did you have researching it?
KC: The race was fictional, but was based on actual events. During that time period, captains raced their clipper ships from China to London to get their tea cargoes to port first so they could set the tea market. The design of these ships sacrificed everything for speed-cargo room, living quarters, even safety. Instead of a race from China, I decided to stage the race from London to Sydney, which placed the hero and heroine in these barely-controlled vessels in the South Atlantic where some of the worst weather on earth manifests itself. They must sail, and sail quickly through violent seas that generate "rogue waves"-waves up to 60 feet in height with completely unpredictable paths-and innumerable ocean storms.
JR - Captain Derek Sutherland is cold, aloof and formidable, so how important was it that Nicole be just as strong (or stronger) to get him to warm up over the course of the book?
KC: Very important! Derek is a powerful man, and I think he would be incompatible with someone who couldn't challenge him. Nicole is a resilient young woman, with an amazing inner strength. On top of this, she's wily with a swaggering confidence, a clever intellect, and a big heart. She has assets that she's not afraid to use, and by the time Derek realizes what kind of effect she has on him, it's too late. He's already fallen hard.
JR - You have THE PRICE OF PLEASURE, the sequel about Derek's brother, Grant, coming out in June 2004. Is this one also set upon the high seas?
KC: Partly, but a great deal is set on a tropical island in the South Pacific. Grant undertakes a search and rescue mission to Oceania to find Victoria Dearbourne, a girl lost at sea a decade before. One problem: Tori doesn't want to be rescued from her Edenic home. Finding her ends up being the easy part as Grant tries to convince the stubborn young beauty to leave with him. He doesn't realize he has all the qualities needed to tempt her away.
JR - THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES was a joy to read for me. How has the response been so far?
KC: Thank you! I've been overwhelmed by the reaction. Every day a new reader puts a smile on my face by writing in and telling me how much they enjoyed The Captain. I *love* getting letters and e-mails! This whole experience has been thrilling, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity.
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. We wish you the best of luck with THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES and look forward to THE PRICE OF PLEASURE!
Jennifer Russell
(Click
here for a review of THE CAPTAIN OF ALL PLEASURES)
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