Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.
Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.
Website
Goodreads
The only way to save her life is to resurrect the dead…
Julian Darke was only a newborn when he was abandoned on the doorstep of a gentleman doctor. Though raised with love, he is driven to discover his true origins.
Convinced Sir Thaddeus Ormond knows something, Julian shadows him one night—and is shocked to see a young woman thrown from Ormond’s carriage and accosted by a thug. Julian manages to save her life, but not her face and hands from horrific injuries.
Nellie Barchester doesn’t recognize the scarred, disfigured stranger in the mirror. Though the gifted doctor and engineer has done his best to repair the damage, scars ravage her body, and chill her soul with the realization that her own husband may have plotted her death.
Julian’s tenderness is a balm to her soul, and Nellie is drawn to the edge of passion by a man not repelled by her deformities. But as their pursuit of the truth draws them into London’s underbelly, they cross the path of a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to fulfill his schemes.
Warning: Can a brilliant but troubled doctor find happiness with a woman scarred both inside and out? A hint of the supernatural plus a night of passion spice up this Uncanny Chronicle.
Q) What inspired you to write this story?
I’ve always been intrigued by Victorian London with its foggy, gaslit ambience and its seedy, larger-than-life characters both rich and poor. I wanted to write a romance set in this atmosphere with a supernatural twist, something a little bit different. I liked the idea of teaming a young, idealistic doctor searching for the truth about his birth, and a young woman who has to learn how to trust and love again following a terrible assault which leaves her permanently scarred. So I came up with my hero, Julian Darke, and my heroine, Nellie Barchester, and together they plunge into the heart of London to seek the answers to their questions.
Q) How long did it take you to write?
It took me about two months to write Darke London. Then there was editing, which took about another three weeks in total.
Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I love beginning a new story when the concept is bright and fresh and my mind is teeming with ideas. I also like writing the ending where everything is (hopefully) tied up and the hero and heroine find their HEA.
Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
Sometimes I get bogged down writing the middle part of a book. If I’m not sure of my characters or how their story should progress, it can be very frustrating! Usually I find going for a walk or doing some mindless task (like housework) can do wonders for unlocking fresh ideas.
Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
That’s a difficult question because I’m generally not envious of famous people! But if it was just for one day, I’d like to be the yellow jersey rider of the Tour de France on the final day of the race. I’m a very un-athletic person, so it would be fantastic to be an elite sportsman, and it would also be an unbelievable experience to cycle around Paris wearing that yellow jersey and celebrating with my team.
Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Eek! I don’t even want to think about this question! I think I have some very ancient curry paste at the back of the fridge that would be about six or eight months old?
Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
I have a contemporary romance coming out in October called Baiting the Boss. I’m very excited about that one. I also have plans to write a second book in the Uncanny Chronicles series (Darke London is the first book) just as soon as I find the time.
Thanks for the great interview!
Coleen Kwan
