Cooper, Astrid - Australian author for "Crystal Dreams"
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
DM) What was the first story you ever wrote?
GC) I have been writing stories since I could hold a pencil. I honed my
writing skills by writing, editing and publishing fanzines (Star Trek, and
S.F./fantasy). My first published story was a romantic erotica short story
called "Birthday Surprise", and the same publisher has taken many
S.F./fantasy and paranormal romantic erotica from me. My first published
novel was Crystal Dreams, which has been nominated as a finalist for the
"Romantic Book of the Year" award (Romance Writers of Australia), and it was
also a finalist in the Sapphire Award of USA for best S.F. romance of 1998.
DM) How is your readership outside of Australia?
GC) Most of my books are obtainable through bookstores or mail order. My two
fantasy romance novels can be ordered through my publisher's agency in the
USA. The Australian erotica publisher does mail order outside of Australia.
They are also branching out into electronic publishing, and one of my stories
(so far!) is available this way. My latest sale is to an e-publisher in the
USA, so between hard copy and e publishing, my work is accessible. The
publisher of my two fantasy romance novels is also planning to launch an
"interactive'' novel with a CD containing music, graphics, and a lot of
information about the worlds and characters, etc... that her fantasy romance
authors create, so when people read the book, they can click on to the
computer and read background, see pictures, and listen to music.
DM) I've heard a lot of criticism on e-publishing. What is your take on it?
GC) First, what my publisher is planning to do with the fantasy romance line
is not e publishing; it's interactive/enhanced novels -- big difference.
There will still be a printed book, but also a CD to supplement what happens
in the book (pictures of characters, explanations of the worlds, etc.), with
music written especially for the book. Now, on to e publishing. It's in its
infancy, but already it has started to change the face of writing and
publishing. There must be something to it, because one of the biggest
publishers of category romance in the USA has started to produce on-line
books. One of the major complaints about e-publishing is that "anyone" can
get published. I've seen some terrible examples of e-books (just as I have
read some real clangers in "print" form); but to say that all e-books are
substandard is completely false. The reputable e-publishers are as selective
of the proposals submitted to them as any "print" publisher is. I know some
excellent writers, best-sellers among them, who are published in print and
are also going to e-publishing. Authors who have their book rights back from
old works can now embrace the new technology and reach new readers. I've sold
two stories to e-publishers for anthologies, and all but two of my works have
been in best-seller lists. Best-selling authors are moving towards
e-publishers, just as new authors are being taken up by the e-pubs. But where
the e-publishers are coming into their own is in the fact that they are
willing to listen to reader demand. The difficulty which some writers find
(as I do) that if we write something that is too different, it is hard to
sell. I write cross-genre romance (S.F./fantasy/myth) where there is a story
above and beyond the romance. The "otherworldly" elements constitute 50% of
the story, and the romance is the other 50%. This is not strictly "romance''
in the traditional understanding, wherein the romance is THE story and
everything else is sub-plot. So, it's hard to sell my kind of stories, but
the e-publishers - for many reasons - are willing to look at work that pushes
the envelope. They give readers what they want to read, whereas some of the
other traditional publishers are more concerned with markets and profits and
re-releasing back titles of best-selling authors, rather than promoting new
authors and taking a chance. I understand that writing is a business and
businesses must make a profit to stay in business, but the tightening of the
markets has cut many outlets for writers; and we are now turning to the
e-publishers as a viable alternative. My dealings with e-publisher editors
have been excellent. Reports from friends published electronically indicate
excellent ethics, and practices and great working relationships with editors.
However, before submitting to any e-publisher or signing a contract, as with
any editor/author arrangement, get testimonials.
DM) A lot of your stories are crosses between romance and science fiction. I
thought that most romance stories were about women on Southern plantations.
How did you start in this genre?
GC) Romance fiction has come a very long way since those early days when
stories were set on Southern plantations. Romance novels can be set on
distant worlds, or time-travels, or about ghosts or reincarnation, as well as
contemporary and many historical epochs.
How did I get started in writing romance? Because I love the way characters
develop and change and interact and how relationships develop, etc. The
romance genre allows me to fully explore these ideas and themes. But the
books I write and the books I love to read have to have more than a romance
and a conflict to interest me. The books have to have a plot just as
important as the romance. I started writing S.F. and fantasy romance nearly
20 years ago because I love these elements, and at the time there were no
fantasy or science fiction or futuristic romances.
DM) What was the reader's initial reaction?
GC) Every reader has been enthusiastic about the combination of fantasy and
romance -- both the fantasy and the romance are equally important in my
books. Some readers have never read romance before, but they love the way I
combine the fantasy/S.F. and the romance. I have also had male readers who
love the combination of genres. They would never read a romance, they tell
me, but they liked the blending of fantasy and romance ... without the
cliches. (You can see these reader reactions on the reviews/letters posted at
my web site.) I have more letters that aren't on my web site which reflect
this enthusiasm and surprise that the genres of S.F./fantasy and romance can
combine successfully.
DM) What authors do you read?
GC) I read a lot of fantasy/science fiction ... my favorite authors are: Guy
Gavriel Kay, Tannith Lee, C.J. Cherryh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Anne
McCaffrey, Bram Stoker, Mercedes Lackey, JRR Tolkien, and Sara Douglass. I
also read Anne Rice and "classics" such as Bronte and Dostoyevsky.
For romance, I like Dara Joy, Justine Davis, Laura Kinsale, Maggie Shayne,
Penelope Williamson, Nora Roberts, and Loretta Chase.
I also read a lot of non-fiction -- New Age and metaphysics, history and
biographies.
DM) Who are some of the authors you're reading now?
GC) Tom Holland, Bram Stoker, Guy Gavriel Kay, Maggie Shayne, Susan Carroll,
and Tannith Lee.
DM) Do you ever find their styles creeping up in your writing?
GC) No. I have my own voice/style that remains constant. My publishers tell
me that my writing "voice''' is very strong, so I doubt I will ever be in
danger of losing it! I enjoy the way other authors write and sometimes I
think -- "Wow! I wish I could do it that way!" but I never do, because, in my
humble opinion, mimicry cannot be sustained, and certainly not for a
100,000-word book! By the time you reach "publication standard" in your
writing, you have developed your own style and voice. To try to emulate
another style or voice will cramp your writing to such a degree that you
cannot write! I found this once. I was asked to write a short story "in the
style of ..." and I could not do it, because that author's style was not mine.
DM) When did you feel that you reached "publication standard"?
GC) I reached publication standard four years ago -- when I sent out my first
short stories and the editor accepted them. You know your standard
instinctively. If you can't tell, then I suggest giving the work to a
reputable manuscript appraisal service, or to a freelance editor. Your
critique partner is also a good judge. Once you've started to shift words
around in a sentence, rather than re-writing and polishing, then this is the
time to send out the work. You can tell how close you are to publication by
the rejection slips you get. If an editor takes the time to write to you
personally on why he/she has rejected your proposal, take heart! But as to
"when" I felt I had reached publication standard -- I began to objectively
compare my work with what was on the book shelves. When I felt that my books
were as good as what was being published, then I felt I had attained
publication standard and it was only a matter of time before I made my first
sale. But the only way to reach that standard is to write and write and
polish and edit and then send out work.
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