C.B. Cook

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a home school graduate, and I started writing when I was in fourth grade. Granted, my first story was three pages long and had talking animals, piranha-eating cheese curls, and an otter whose head fell off several times, but it was a start. I was a bookworm long before then, though, and my dad read me The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia before I could read on my own.

I’ve written many books over the past eight years, but I’ve only published two. My first is an inspirational novella, and my second is a superhero Young Adult novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book released on July 4th of this year, and it’s called Twinepathy. It’s the first book in the IDIA series, which are Young Adult superhero novels, centering around twins with telepathic abilities. It’s a fun, clean adventure filled with quirky characters, interesting settings, and mystery.

I was inspired to write this novel after reading a few superhero novels by other authors and realizing how dark a lot of the stories were. Superpowers are fun! Why not have a lighthearted story, exploring neat superpowers and just enjoy it, instead of adding in angst? That spawned the idea for Twinepathy, and it caught on really well!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In one day, I tend to either write a ton or write almost nothing. Sometimes I’ll write a chapter in a few days, and not write again until the next week. Other than that, I like to write while eating things, and I’ve found I work pretty well when there are a ton of people talking around me. Writing in crowded restaurants or in the airport works really well for me. I also tend to use way too many notebooks for each story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There have been so many. I never would have started writing if it weren’t for all of the books I’ve read. The authors that inspired me the most for Twinepathy were J.R.R. Tolkien, Ally Carter, Brandon Sanderson, and Marissa Meyer. Tolkien inspired me to use detail, and to put in little hints of what was to come that would really reward readers when they reread the book. Ally Carter’s Heist Society books were impossible for me to put down, and that influenced my desire to make books that people couldn’t stop reading. Brandon Sanderson inspired cool superpowers and plot twists with his book Steelheart. And Marissa Meyer’s characters in The Lunar Chronicles were so quirky and fun!

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I’m working on Lightporter, the sequel to Twinepathy. It’s going really well so far! I’m also planning the third book in the IDIA series, along with getting some plot points together for a different kind of superhero story, that’s more of a fantasy style. I’m very excited about all of them!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found that have a blog is soooo helpful when it comes to promotion. Yes, it takes time to set it up and to post on a schedule, but it’s one of the most valuable tools I have found. Another amazing tool is Goodreads. I’ve found so many readers through there and connected with authors, bloggers, and readers. It’s a great way to get more reviews! Having online blogging or Goodreads friends is also really great for blog tours and promotion in general.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing, and don’t give up! I’ve seen so many promising authors go down, just because they were stuck on their story. The best advice I can give you is to find other writers, either online or in real life, who can help motivate you and can show you new tips. You’ll never stop learning, even if you get as famous as J.K. Rowling or Tolkien.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have two! One is something one of my mom’s friends said. She’s a nonfiction writer, and she told me, “Write what you know. Write what is true. Write what is in your heart.”

The second is more of a formula, used by Joss Whedon, who directed The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. To keep up your pacing in a book, use the acronym FASTER: Funny, Action, Suspense, Tension, Emotion, Romance.

Both of these have been very helpful when it comes to my writing.

What are you reading now?
Right now I am rereading The Lord of the Rings and reading Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis. I’m also helping beta-read Lady Dragon Tela Du by Kendra E. Ardnek. I’ve been in a fantasy mood lately!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to keep writing and growing my talent. I write for my readers and for God, so I’m always listening to them. But I’m planning on continuing the IDIA series for a while (Four books? Five? More?) and I have plans for some spinoffs and another superhero series as well… we’ll just see how it all works out!

 

Author Websites and Profiles
C.B. Cook Website

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