PNR: Welcome Cynthia, can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

Cynthia C.: According to my mother, I’ve always written.  Though I can’t remember back that far.  I started writing romance after I had my first child.  I was an avid reader and found myself addicted to that feeling of being lost in a really good book and not wanting the book to end.  I discovered if I started writing, I would go to that same zone where I was completely absorbed with my characters, and what a great place to be! 

PNR: Readers are very excited about Nocturne’s new DARK ENCHANTMENTS series from Silhouette, the premise is very intriguing. How were you approached to join the project?

Cynthia C.: Nina Bruhns, Michele Hauf, Pat White and myself have been great friends and critique partners for over ten years.  We wanted to do a project together to celebrate our friendship and Dark Enchantments was born!!

PNR: RISING DARKNESS, book two of the series will be released in September 2007. Could you tell us about your contribution to the Dark Enchantments series, where does your story fit into this world?

Cynthia C.: All the books in the Dark Enchantments series are stand alone books.  They are all unique in tone and style, but we have several of the same elements.  For instance, Damien, my hero, is a member of the CADRE.  The CADRE is a hermetic order dedicated to maintaining the delicate balance between the mortal and dark realms through research and observation of otherworldly entities.  Damien’s goal in the story is to capture an evil and very powerful demon into a crystal to be stored in the CADRE’s really cool castle.  Unfortunately, the demon has plans of his own and isn’t making Damien’s job easy for him!  What’s really cool about my demon is that he shows up every year at the time of the equinox in the form of wolves. 

PNR: Whose concept was the Dark Enchantments world? What is your unique take on this world as it relates to your book and characters? 

Cynthia C.: The world came together as we each shaped out individual stories.  It’s been an awesome collaboration.  My unique spin is probably centered on my demon, Asmos.  He is different in that he’s not corporeal and he comes from a different realm than the demons in the other books.  I see him as being very primitive.  He was summoned by a gypsy curse to possess the women of a certain family line.  If my heroine, Emma, finds love and consummates that love – her soul is his!  This makes Asmos very determined to do whatever he can to entice Damien and Emma to fall and love and get together!  Though they know what’s at risk, Damien and Emma find temptation very hard to resist!

PNR: How much freedom were you given in developing your installment of the series? Were you given an outline, names, etc. or just the concept to develop?

Cynthia C.: Since this is an author-driven series, we came up with the concept completely on our own without any directives from the editors. 

PNR: Though each book is a stand alone taking place within a common “world”, did you brainstorm with the other the authors for continuity within the Dark Enchantments world? What has been your experience collaborating with so many talented authors?

Cynthia C.: We developed a bible for our series to help us with maintain the integrity of secondary characters and settings.  For instance, the threshold guardians outside the Cadre Castle are mutually used characters as well as the castle itself.  We had a great time coming up with the unique characteristics of the settings.  It was a lot of fun!

PNR: What was the biggest challenge you faced working on the series? The most rewarding aspect? Would you do it again?

Cynthia C.: The biggest challenge was probably the way we each viewed the paranormal world.  I hadn’t really thought about how we could all view something so differently, which helped give us insight into how our readers might see it.  The most rewarding aspect has been the positive response to the series from the editors and those who have had a chance to read the books.  I would absolutely do it again, and am playing around with some ideas now!

PNR: What advice would you give to an author looking at being part of a series like this?

Cynthia C.: Be open to everyone’s ideas and viewpoints, and go for it!! 

PNR: Will Nocturne be revisiting the Dark Enchantments world in the future? (we can drop this question if the answer is no or you don’t know)

Cynthia C.: I hope so!!  But there is nothing under contract at this point.

PNR: Could you tell us about your current projects, what can readers expect to see in the coming months? Do you have any additional series in the works? Single titles?

Cynthia C.: I have many projects in the fire, but nothing solidified and under contract yet.  Hopefully soon!

PNR: Thank you Cynthia, for giving us a peek at this exciting series, where can readers find out more about you and your work? 

Cynthia C.: I’m afraid I’ve become addicted to myspace!  My page is at myspace.com/cynthiacooke. 

My website is cynthiacooke.com

Michele Hauf has set up a great blog -- Darkenchantments.blogspot.com where the characters come on board to speak. 

Buy it now! 

 

Will the Dark Seduce You?

Can the love Emma McGovern found in vampire and demon hunter Damien Hancock’s strong arms help her fight a powerful demon? Or will their love feed the demon’s quest for Emma’s soul and bring forth a Rising Darkness?

 

 

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