Busy author Danielle Aldcorn has three books coming out in as many months.
“It’s not that typical, actually. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” says Aldcorn, who lives in Tsawwassen and writes under the pen name D.R. Graham.
She describes her latest release, Rank, as a contemporary drama about two brothers who are bull riders on the Canadian rodeo circuit dealing with life in the aftermath of their dad’s death.
“It’s more of a family drama, actually, in a lot of ways,” she says.
There is also a romantic element to the book, which is published by HarperCollins.
“I’ve never written a book that didn’t have a romance in it. I think it would be boring,” she says with a laugh.
While Aldcorn says she grew up around horses and has been to the Calgary Stampede and Cloverdale Rodeo, she isn’t a rodeo expert by any means. The author says she had someone read through the book and make sure technical information was correct.
“Anybody who’s actually in the rodeo probably thinks I’m a poser,” she laughs.
Rank is sandwiched between releases of Aldcorn’s Noir et Bleu Motorcycle Club series. The first in the series, published by Entangled Publishing, One Percenter, was released in late February. It follows 18-year-old Tienne Desrochers, who grew up in the rough world of the Noir et Bleu Motorcycle Club and tries to leave it all behind. The second book in that series is due out later this month.
Aldcorn is a clinical counsellor as well as a columnist with the Richmond News, writing pieces on topics like communication, relationships and parenting. Looking for her next challenge, she started writing books about three years ago.
The most rewarding part is writing characters that are layered, she says, noting she spends so much time in her counselling practice trying to understand people on a deeper level.
“That’s what I like to bring to a book. I like to make the character seem more realistic, but also to have that insight into what’s really going on.”
She notes her job is somewhat stressful and that writing novels is a creative outlet and a way to do something artistic.
Aldcorn aims to write in a way that’s accessible and uses fairly simple sentence structure.
“I think the story, and the themes and the emotions in it are complex enough.”
Her novels are edgy and reflect the emotional rawness of the young adult psyche, her website states. It adds, “The novels contain coarse language and mature subject matter. They are intended for mature young and new adult readers.”
Aldcorn is having a launch party for Rank at The Bourbon in Vancouver tonight at 8 p.m.
“Because Rank is about two brothers who are rodeo cowboys, and it’s set in Canada, I chose a country bar,” she says.
Visit her author website at www.drgrahambooks.com.
