Release: Blazing The Trail by Deborah Cooke + giveaway

Make Mine Dragons, Please!

By Deborah Cooke (http://www.deborahcooke.com)

There are lots of paranormal series out there in the world of books. A great many of them feature vampires, and another considerable number feature werewolves. I’ve been much for either of these kinds of creatures.

I like dragons. Dragons would be my ideal pick of all mythical creatures, and the notion of them being real works for me in a big way. Dragons are smart; they have long memories; they breathe fire; they collect hoard; they are beautiful and powerful; they are loyal. This is all good. The notion of a hero secretly being a dragon shape shifter is an even better idea, as far as I’m concerned. Dragon shifter heroes have to be the sexiest paranormal heroes ever. (And they’d be hot lovers, too.)

My Dragonfire series was the result of this perspective. In the Dragonfire world of my dragon shape shifters, all of the dragon shape shifters are male. They’re called the Pyr. The Pyr mate with human women and always have sons who develop their dragon shape shifter powers at puberty. Because Dragonfire is a paranormal romance series, each book features one dragon shape shifter and his meeting with the woman who can bear his son. Their meeting is marked by the firestorm – sparks fly between them until their match is consummated and they conceive that son. These romances have a lot of action and I have fun with the dragon fights (and yes, the love scenes too!)

But here’s the wrinkle. There is always one female dragon shifter in the Dragonfire world. She’s called the Wyvern and is supposed to have additional powers – like the gift of prophecy and the ability to take additional forms other than dragon and human. At the beginning of my Dragonfire series, the Wyvern was named Sophie. She was elusive and mysterious, and the male dragon shifters were pretty awed when they saw her. In book #3 (KISS OF FATE), though, Sophie died. (You’ll have to read the book to find out how and why.) The child conceived in that book was a girl, who was named Zoë. Her dad has believed from the beginning that she must be the next Wyvern and has been anxious for her to come into her powers to help the Pyr in their battle against the Slayers.

I realized finally that Zoë would come into her powers as Wyvern at puberty, just like the teenage guy Pyr come into their dragon shifting powers then. The idea of a teenager dealing with all of this change, while juggling school and friends and interest in hot guys, is like another fantasy. I could easily imagine what it would be like to be fifteen and have these incredible powers, powers that weren’t quite under control.

The Dragon Diaries trilogy is set in the future (which is a whole lot like the present, but with better gadgets). The series begins with Zoë finally getting her period at fifteen and the resulting explosion of changes in her body and her life. She’s got more on her plate than most teenagers, but is supposed to keep her developing powers secret from her best friend. Never mind that the hottest guy on the planet turns up to mess with her mind, and apparently knows more about dragons and Wyverns than Zoë does. Dragons are supposed to be good at solving riddles – can Zoë figure out the mystery of her powers in time to save the Pyr from the evil plan of the Mages?

So, in Dragonfire, I get to imagine what it would be like to fall in love with a dragon shape shifter. In the Dragon Diaries, I get to imagine what it would be like to be a dragon shape shifter. Both choices work for me! Would you rather be a dragon shape shifter, or fall in love with one? Why?

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“Flying Blind” – Book 1

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal – well, as normal as a girl with an obsession with drawing dragons can be. The thing is that she’s always been told she’s special and destined for great things. It’s not just because of her good grades, either. Zoë’s the Wyvern, the one female dragon shapeshifter with special powers. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL. Worse, there’s no reference book to consult and the l

ast Wyvern is dead…
Everything changes when Zoë’s best friend is bullied and Zoë reacts. Before she can blink twice, her inner dragon is loose, she’s suspended from school and headed to a boot camp for thePyr guys she’s known all her life. But soon she’s doubting her powers—and even some of her friendships.
Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday – the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line—unless Zoë and her friends can solve the riddle, work together and save their own kind…
Buy Links: Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

“Winging It” – Book 2
Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.
Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets…
Buy Links: Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

“Blazing The Trail” – Book 3
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next.
Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power – they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what – and who – she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…
Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

Official Giveaway Info:

you do NOT have to be a follower
there are extra entries available
all entrants must be at least 13 years old or older
giveaway deadline is June 19, 2012
giveaway is International

This GIVEAWAY will run from 12:01 AM June 11, 2012 through 11:59 PM June 19, 2012. Prize: 1 copy (paperback) of Blazing The Trail by Deborah Cooke. Book sponsord by Author.

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Deborah Cooke’s BLAZING THE TRAIL Blog Tour

May 28 – June 15

May 28 – Lori’s Book Blog (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

May 30 – United By Books(Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 1 – Pimpin’ Reads YA(Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 2 – Book Monster Reviews (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 3 – Delicate Simplicity (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 5 – Paranormal Haven(Q&A Interview & Giveaway)

June 6 – I Smell Sheep(Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 7 – All Things Books(Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 8 – Page Flipperz(Interview & Giveaway)

June 9 – Writerspace(Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 11 – Paranormal Cravings (Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 14 – Books N Kisses – (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 15 – One A Day YA – (Interview & Giveaway)