Friday Fav. Interview and Giveaway with Kristie Cook

Today I am thrilled to have Kristie Cook here at Book Crazy as my Friday Fav. Kristie is an amazing talent, you might have caught my review of Promise earlier this week as well as my WoW on Purpose, which as you can see below DOES have a cover!! (So exciting!) 

Thank you Kristie for taking the time to answer a few questions, I am beyond excited to have you hear!

First off, I would love it if you could tell us about Promise?
Promise tells the love story of how the main character of the series, Alexis, meets and falls in love with her soul-mate, Tristan. They were created for each other and their union brings promise to their society and all of humankind. But they each have internal demons to overcome to be together and the enemy has other plans. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell. Promise is like a prologue for the rest of the series, introducing several characters and sharing what happened to get them to where they are in the rest of the series.

Promise, took us on a thrill ride, with paranormal creatures we have all read about before, twisted and turned them, until they are nearly unrecognizable. What gave you the idea for such an unexpected, yet amazing story line?
It didn’t just come to me in one nice package with a bow on it. A pivotal scene that now appears in Purpose (book 2), [EAK she's talking about Purpose!!] although drastically changed, came to me first and I worked my way out from there. I was blessed with all these ideas that wove in and around each other, eventually coming together to form the story in Promise and Purpose and creating new paths for the rest of the series.

The characters in Promise are intense, and well, simply amazing; what makes you and Alexis alike? In what ways are you different? 
Like Alexis, I was raised by a single parent, but unlike her, sometimes it was my mom and sometimes it was my dad. With the changing of households, in addition to my dad being in the Air Force, I moved around a lot, so I know what it’s like to be the perennial new kid. Although I was – and still am – shy, I’ve never been a total loner and was never called a freak (at least, not that I know of! lol). I’ve had good friends everywhere I lived. Oh, and we’re both writers. Although…she’s much better than me and that’s for a very good reason that you’ll have to read Purpose to find out! :) (HMM, better than you Kristie, not sure if that's possible!)

I know some writers tend to map out exactly what happens in each book, others let the characters lead them. So, I am curious, the shocking twist at the end of Promise, really caught me off guard, in an alarmingly good kind of way, was that planed or something that the characters themselves brought about?
Promise’s ending has everything to do with that first scene that came to me, which I mention above. I can’t say it was really planned because I do let the characters tell me their story. I can’t outline because when I know too many details about what happens, I lose interest. But I did know that somehow, that final event would happen…because it leads to where Alexis is mentally and emotionally in Purpose. I just didn’t know how it would all go down until I wrote it.

Is there ANYTHING you can tell us yet about Purpose?
It’s better than Promise, in my opinion. :) If you think there are lots of twists and turns in Promise, you’ll really enjoy the next ride. Let’s see…if you look at the covers, you can get a couple clues. The crocus on Promise’s cover is just beginning to open – that’s Alexis just beginning to learn who she is and what her life has in store for her. The leaves on the front represent important characters. On Purpose’s cover, the crocus, representing Alexis again, is fully open and the leaves have changed. (You can see Purpose’s cover here: http://www.ihavepurpose.com/). You can make your own predictions from there, because that’s all I’m going to say. :)
(By the cover I am a little scared to read Purpose...but can only hope things are not totally what they seem.)

I can only imagine the feeling of having a book published, what's it like to see your book in bookstores and to have people emailing you telling you how much they enjoyed your story?
It’s indescribable. When I first decided to dabble in fiction again, I really had no idea it would come to this. I thought it would just be something fun for me to do that was more constructive than TV or World of Warcraft. Once it became something more and I dared to dream of publication, I tried to imagine what it would be like to get fan mail and I had no idea. Every time I get a good review or an email from a new fan, I float around on cloud nine for a while. And then I just feel really blessed to have been given this story.

Speaking of publishing how was that process for you?
When Promise and Purpose were one book, I pursued traditional publication. I garnered interest, but nothing solid. I realized the big problem: too much going on in one book. I mean, I couldn’t even describe it well because there were two different plots. So I split it, rewrote, revised and edited for many more months. By that time, I’d done so much research on publishing, I had so many people on my support team and I saw all these opportunities for going indie. So my business partner in our first business joined me in starting a second business – a publishing company.

If you could live the life of any paranormal personality out there, which would you choose and why? Hmm…I’m not nearly as well-read as you book bloggers. While you get to explore countless other worlds, I’ve been immersed in my own made-up one. So there’s probably someone better, and this may be a little tongue in cheek, but all I can think of is Bella Swan. LOL I mean – two guys falling all over her (and not the smelly, greasy, gross kind!) and then she becomes this perfect vampire with no murderous tendencies, gets to still be around her dad and all of her loved ones with no sacrifice at all, and gets to live happily ever after with her Mr. Perfect…and “ever” means forever. Can you ask for anything better? (I don't think so Kristie!)

Favorites:
Music? 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, many more – I can’t pick just one.
Song? Depends on my mood.
Color? Now that one’s easy! Purple!!!! LOL
Book? Again, can’t pick just one, except maybe Purpose. :) Seriously, I have so many favorites and then another one comes out. You know how it is!
Paranormal personality? Tristan :) (Tristan is the main HUNK in Promise) Harry Potter and the whole crew
Place to read? Bed or by the pool
Place to write? In a very quiet room by myself – usually my bedroom

Is there anything else you might like to tell our readers?
Just that readers rock! Because of you, I and other writers have a purpose for our passion. Knowing there are people out there wanting to read the stories I have to tell feeds the flames within. I would write anyway, but probably not with as much focus. Also, readers have so much power to help their favorite authors. Write and post reviews on the major retailer sites, donate books to the library, talk your faves up to everyone you know, request libraries and bookstores to stock the books… No advertising and expensive marketing can compare to the power of readers’ word of mouth.

Thank you again for taking the time to share with us, I am honored! Thank you, Jenn, for having me! I think I’ll be around again soon. After all, Purpose comes out soon and I’ll be doing some blog touring and lots of giveaways! :)

To find out more about Kristie Cook:
Kristie Cook Online
I have a Promise...Do You? (Blog dedicated to book 1)
I have a Purpose (Blog dedicated to book 2)
Twitter and Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Because I LOVED Promise so much, I am giving away a copy!!! It's an eBook copy, so it's INTERNATIONAL! Just fill out the FORM to enter to win - winner will be chosen the 10th of October!