Christy Cooper-Burnett

Christy Cooper-Burnett is an award-winning author based in California with a degree in Administration of Justice. After retiring early from the new home construction industry, she now divides her time between norther and southern California. She has one grown son who inspiredher to write her multiple award-winning debut novel, No Way Home. She began her writing career later in life, but once she began, she couldn’t stop. Her work focuses on creating Relatable stories and characters that transcend genres and encourage readers to imagine what they would do if thrown into the unique, imaginative situations her protagonists end up in.

Christy’s debut novel was the recipient of the 2020 California Author Project award in the adult fiction category, the 2020 PenCraft Award for science fiction, and a finalist in the International Book Awards in science fiction.

christycooperburnettbooks.com

Welcome to Uncaged! You have a time travel book, Passport to Terror releasing September 15th. Can you tell readers more about the book?

Passport to Terror centers around Madison Taylor, who owns the rights to the world’s only time travel technology. She operates a vacation company that escorts clients to the past to witness historical events or sightsee. Madison is thrilled at the prospect of increased business and her staff have stars in their eyes when a popular director backed by a large motion picture company books a tour for nineteenth-century London with two popular movie stars.

Things don’t go as planned when the leading lady ignores all the rules set in place for traveling through history. She unknowingly meets Jack the Ripper and convinces him to take her on a midnight tour of Whitechapel where she replaces Mary Jane Kelly as his last victim—but not before confessing to him she is there from 2032 on a time travel tour.

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tion from the actress to his advantage, to slip through the time portal into 2032 Los Angeles. But he finds himself unable to control his urge to kill, even in the unfamiliar time and place he is struggling to adapt to.

When Madison and movie director Derek Porter miss the call out for home while searching for the starlet, they are temporarily stranded in the past after discovering Jack the Ripper has made his way to modern-day Los Angeles. Once home, and with Jack the Ripper having the advantage of a two-day lead, the hunt is on as they track him through the city with the help of two detectives.

Passport to Terror presents a fresh alternative to explain why Jack the Ripper disappeared without ever being caught.

What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest?

The most difficult scenes to write were by far the murder scenes with Jack the Ripper. Horror is way out of my comfort zone in terms of what I typically write. However, I knew those scenes had to believable and real to keep the reader in the storyline. He is one of history’s most ruthless killers, and the mystery surrounding his murders is still alive one hundred thirty-four years after his killing spree ended. I constantly kept that in mind.

I wrote the starlet Alysha’s death from both Jack and her perspectives. They naturally each have very different takes on her death, and I knew it was a pivotal point in the storyline and I had to get it right. with Alysha Beck, the entitled starlet. She is so over the top, the epitome of what I envision any spoiled Hollywood actress to be. It was tricky to write the evolving friendship between Madison and the Derek, but definitely one I enjoyed the most. They were not fans of each other when they met but forced into an impossible situation together, their relationship evolved into a friendship with a strong bond.

Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?

My all-time favorite character I’ve written is Christine Stewart, the protagonist in my first series, The Christine Stewart Time Travel Adventures (No Way Home, Finding Home, Escaping Home). She is not your typical young, gorgeous, sword-wielding heroine. And that’s what I love about her. She is a normal, 40-something year-old mother who isn’t a people person by nature. An ordinary woman who finds herself in extraordinary circumstances. She is gutsy and outspoken with a tender side we get to see from time to time.

While Christine Stewart is my favorite character, she was also the hardest to write. Even more difficult than Jack the Ripper. I knew what I was getting into with Jack the Ripper. Christine’s personality had to mature and unfold across three very different storylines. She had to be sufficiently tough and capable, but likeable enough to carry the protagonist role throughout the series.

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Honestly, that’s probably the easiest part of writing. 90% of the time I wind up using my work-

ing title. I obsess over several other titles while I write the book, and in the end, I go with the one that feels right. Which is almost always the first title I came up with.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I had never written anything before my first novel. Becoming a published author was never a goal of mine, either. I had a dream about the story, and it evolved from there. I never expected to get four offers on my first novel, but I found I enjoyed writing it so much, I considered novelist as a career option. I took the next two years off and wrote two more books to complete my first series. It’s a huge part of my life now, and I have no intention of ever giving it up!

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

as things materialize and scenes and character traits come to me. By the time I’m in the right head space to start writing I usually have a good idea of where the story is going. Although I write characters as I go along. And strangely, I never know how a book is going to end. I let that develop organically as I write. I feel the story leads me where it needs to go, and I know when it’s done.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

It probably comes as no surprise that I am a voracious reader. I blurb at least five author’s books a year and write reviews for many more. I typically have two or three in the que waiting to read. I love live music and never pass up the chance to see a band or a show. I love a good movie, too. Traveling is my dream, and I hope to do that one day soon.

Definitely the plot for me. I have a basic outline in my head and then I begin to take notes

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

I am all about the winter. I love a cozy fireplace. I love the rain and the cold. The list goes on and on. A cabin in the mountains when it snows is my happy place. We don’t get snow in Southern California except the mountains, and I’m a lifelong So Cal girl. So any chance I get to be in the snow, I jump at it!

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

I will always prefer a physical book over everything else. The weight of a book in my hand gives me a nostalgic feeling from childhood. I do read a lot on my kindle app, though. In fact, most of my reading is done there strictly for convenience purposes. I have never been one for audiobooks. I think that is because I like to hear the character’s voice inflection in my own mind, and I enjoy seeing the words on the page and anticipating what’s coming next.

I am currently reading Silver or Lead by James Cox, a fellow Black Rose Writing author. It’s such well written mystery thriller, I am jealous! Next on my list is The Red Brick Road by Levi Bronze, a new Black Rose Writing author. I am also eagerly awaiting an advanced reader copy from my dear friend, Tom McCaffrey, of his fourth installment in the Claire Trilogy (The Wise Ass, An Alien Appeal, Kissing My Ass Goodbye). Everything Tom writes is magical.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

for reading my books! Thank you for the feedback and reviews. Nothing spurs an author on more than hearing someone enjoyed your story or your characters. I get email through my website and messages on social media often. I read every message and answer every one of them. If someone takes the time to message me about my book, I absolutely think they deserve a response. I also read every review, even the not-so-great-reviews. Every author gets them, and I am no exception to that. I only read the less than stellar reviews once and then move on, but I do try to take something away from them. Sometimes they make a valid point, and that can only improve my writing. So I consider that a win.

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Enjoy an excerpt from Passport to Terror

Passport to Terror Christy Cooper-Burnett Time Travel Thriller Releases Sept. 15

What really happened to Jack the Ripper?

They always say, “Be careful what you wish for.”

I wish I had been careful.

I could’ve easily sold my time travel machine for billions and walked away. Instead, I opened The Taylor Travel Group where I take the elite on vacations into history, to a time and place of

But when a big-time movie studio hired my company, I sold my soul.

What was supposed to be a few days of methodactor immersion in nineteenth-century London went horribly awry. Now America’s hottest starlet is dead, and Jack the Ripper is on the loose in modern-day Los Angeles. And it’s all my fault.

I was careless enough to let history’s most ruthless serial killer slip out of the past. Am I smart enough to match wits with him and send him packing before he vanishes forever?

Excerpt

We ran like our very lives depended on it. And honestly, we thought they might. We didn’t let up until we hit West London, where we slowed down to a fast walk. There were a few people out readying businesses to open for the day, and we didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves. Two people sprinting at top speed through the city streets was a sure way to do that. We picked up a brisk pace as we maneuvered our course to the park. When I saw the hill, I had a burst of energy. We were close. I had no idea what time it was, but I prayed we were going to make it. We didn’t dare stop to look at Derek’s watch. That would burn too much precious time when every second counted.

We crested the hillside and caught sight of the familiar clearing near the benches. The outline of the portal was unmistakable from where we were, shimmering in the distance. What was unexpected was the man facing the energy field, hesitating as if he was undecided whether to step through or not. Was it Tyler waiting for us until the last possible minute?

“Tyler!” I shouted. “We’re here!” And when he turned, it stopped me in my tracks. Derek was behind me but caught up to stand next to me. He was bent over, hands on his knees, dragging in air like a fish just pulled out of water.

Who the hell was that?

The stranger dropped his cape, then tossed something he was holding in the same direction. He smirked at me, and despite being overheated from running, chills engulfed me. He was a striking man, but something in the way he grinned at me conveyed that he was anything but the charming gentleman he appeared to be. Every fiber in my being shifted to alert as the warning bells went off in my head. He took a step toward the portal.

Don’t do it. Please don’t do it, I silently pleaded with him. I held my hands up, trying to warn him.

His hesitation was suddenly gone. He turned away and walked through the portal as if he had done it a hundred times.

My God. Someone from this century just transported to 2032 Los Angeles.

I gasped and ran toward the fading portal. “Run, Derek!” I screamed at him.

To his credit, Derek matched my pace as we raced the remaining few hundred yards to the portal. But we weren’t fast enough. I realized we wouldn’t make it in time as I watched the portal disintegrate before me, mere seconds before we reached it.

Our way home was gone.