Friday Fun- Meet author Cora Blu

Please help me welcome the talented CORA BLU to the blog today! She's brought her newest release, DAGGER, which is Book 1 of the BROTHERS OF ELEMENT SERIES. Cora has offered to give away 1 free e-book to a lucky commentator so be sure to include your email for the drawing. 
You can learn more about CORA at http://corablu.com/blog/


Welcome to the blog, Cora!

Thank you Jennifer for hosting me today.  

You’d asked how I came up with this story about six tiger shark brothers protecting their power to shift while finding their lifemate?

Depending on the age of your audience some may or may not remember,  but here goes.

My Brothers of Element Series evolved from two places. Having a love for Jacque Cousteau as a little girl, I was fascinated and scared of the water. Probably why I can’t close my eyes underwater, I like to see what’s going on at all times. Then there is my love of nature. Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom.

We have three ponds in our yard (hence the Series taking place within different bodies of water around the world) the largest pond has the largest koi with a blue spot on his back and a red spot on his head, like Jacque Cousteau’s knit cap he wore. My imagination took off watching the other fish follow him around. He would dart around the pump as if protecting it. (Where the idea of protecting their power to shift in the story came from.)

Once I married years later, we went to the Atlantic on vacation.  I fell in love with the vastness of the ocean and the wheels began to turn. The tiger shark was supposed to be my villain but at the aquarium, I became fascinated with him. Back home, reading up on koi food, my husband found out that blueberries would enhance their color (Blueberry koi food), this brought on the color of my main character, Dagger is blue.  Then to my horror, one morning I came out side and my seventy-five pound German shepherd was swimming in the pond and my nine year old was trying to fish the koi out with her Mickey Mouse rod and reel. (This added the anglers and poachers to my story). I’m glad to report Jacque survived the fishing expedition. In addition, Gunther, our dog, found out he wasn’t a bear, regardless of all the hair, and they weren’t salmon swimming upstream. (The pond filter worked overtime that day) From there evolved, Dagger, A Brothers of Element Series.

The brothers are named after a part of a weapon. Their legacy is to protect their power to shift. (Blade, Dagger, Ridge, Tipp, Edge and Dirk) Each brother receives a vision of his mate and he must find her and mate with her. In book one Dagger has to convince Drew a human what and who he is. The tiger shark she’s played with off the pier for ten years. She is the answer to their power to shifts survival.

Research was fun. The story centers around the power to shift (spoiler if I tell you how they shift) and its effect on the environment. If it dies, the ocean will begin to boil. In reality, the ocean is heating by a rate of two degrees a year killing vital organisms by the thousands.

Writing a love story, I had to learn the reproductive cycle of tiger sharks—can you say Oouch!! They have barbs or claspers.

Well, I put it through my sensuality filter and I’ll just say if my heroine had government secrets…she’d tell for a trip through clasperville.

Drew Hamilton, my heroine and marine biologist, is human and after losing her parents and fiancé to the ocean she’s looking for revenge or at the very least closure. For ten years, she’s made the tiger shark that visits her pier her pet by default. He wouldn’t leave so she started talking to him then tossing a beach ball out to him, which he would promptly return. When he shows up on her doorstep, seeking her help in saving the ocean, revenge may not hold the same allure as when presented with her heart’s desire—a family.  

Now what do I read for personal enjoyment: I love regency. Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick. I listen to Diana Gabaldon on audio.

I’ve met some truly wonderful writers, who guided me, along this highly subjective road, to not let the popular become my story, and tell the story keeping me awake at night. 

What I’m working on now? The novella (Max) to come out in late April. He’s a character in book I and also working on my Contemporary line, Midnight Moanings.

What music am I listening to? For my hero, it 2 Sides of Me, by Hinder. My heroine, Fallen, by Mya.

What did I do to celebrate being published? My husband bought us a new mattress and pillows. I had been up for two years writing this story, I needed a good night’s sleep.

Thanks you Jennifer for having me.

Dagger Brothers of Element can be found @ Amazon http://amzn.com/B007748JTG, (B&N)@http://is.gd/mbcktE , http://www.allromance.com http://www.smashword.com/books/94942 .

And until the end of the month it’s on sale for $3.99.

Thank you again, Cora. I would love to hear from your readers.