Interview with Jeff Dawson, author of the vampire thriller "Occupation"...

 

		Thanks so much, everyone, for your patience. The last couple of months, I had a number of family events and professional to-do items that made it difficult to man my forum post, but I’m excited to be back and to introduce the author of Occupation, one of the most brutal and enthralling vampire novels that I have read in a long while.  Let’s get started J
Tim Greaton: It’s great having you here in the forum, Jeff. You and I could talk for hours about various aspects of crafting stories, but in the interest of everyone else, I probably should take some time to concentrate on your personal history. I especially love how writers can come up from the most unlikely circumstances. I understand your first career didn’t involve a lot of typing. Could you tell us about that?    Jeff Dawson: When I was sixteen, I took a job flipping burgers for $2.15 an hour. Wow! After six months I realized I was doing the same thing every day and only had a measly little paycheck to show for the endless hours of smelling like a Wendy’s burger. Even Lava soap couldn't cut through that wonderful aroma. Did I have a girlfriend back then? Doubtful. So I decided to do something where my toils were rewarded: road construction. Great money, great hours and great fun. Two out of three ain't bad. For the next twenty-five years I was one of those guys on the side of road with a smoke dangling out his mouth barking orders and baking under the fine Texas and Oklahoma summer suns. Yeah, I was the typical road hand. Hot (not in looks), sweaty, hard drinking and woman chasing. Again, four out of five ain't bad. Tim Greaton: Going back even further, I heard you were injured while making a different kind of art? I assume you remember what I’m talking about.    Jeff Dawson: Yeah, I sure do. Back in junior high and high school, some of my friends and I were making war films. While filming one of those fine masterpieces, I was shot as I attempted to flee over a wooden fence. For realism, we thought it'd be a good idea if I just fell off the fence. How did that work out? Let me think, twenty-five years of pouring concrete. Brain damage could have been a real possibility.    Tim Greaton: In a little bit, we’re going to talk about your fiercely imaginative WWII novel Occupation, which is going to be a lot of fun, but in the meantime I was hoping you could tell us a little bit about a related hobby that you and your sons share.    Jeff Dawson: When I have the space, I have miles of HO (model railroading equipment) boxed up just waiting to be unleashed in the correct environment. To go along with that, my boys and I really enjoy building models from WWII. One son builds the Russian and American vehicles, while my oldest and I work on the German ones. The boys decided early in the game that maybe Dad shouldn’t paint the men. They accused me of giving the soldiers doll eyes. "Fine, you do it then." Our arrangement has worked out pretty well. I take care of the heavy lifting, the big stuff, while my boys handle all of the intricate details.    Tim Greaton: What kinds of books do you read? Are they in the same genres in which you write? Jeff Dawson: My bookcase is filled with WWII books, mostly non-fiction. Do I have any books on the current genre I'm pursuing? Not a one. If someone would have told me ten years ago I would write a WWII/Vampire thriller, I probably would have shot them. Figuratively speaking.    Tim Greaton: There was a place from your past that you’ll always remember. How do the memories of it influence your life/writing?    Jeff Dawson: In my second book, Love's True Second Chance, I wrote about many wonderful memories and events from high school ‘til July of 2009. I remember hundreds of great places from back then, but if I had to pick the most special place and time it would be in February of 2009. McAlester, Oklahoma was receiving a ton snow one morning, so I woke Debbie up and asked her if she would like to go for a walk. I can still envision us walking in the snow, she in her read peacock coat, me in my OSU jacket. I can still see the love in her eyes. That is a site I will never forget.    Tim Greaton: As a writer who also tends to cross genres probably a little too often, I understand how odd it is to receive different types of feedback on different types of books. What various kinds of reader comments would we find in your email box?    Jeff Dawson: This is where we have to keep clean, right? With the autobiographies, many of the readers thank me for sharing the story of Debbie and me. Most of them have also suffered a tragic loss in their life and others have thanked me for reminding them that love is worth a second chance. Occupation tends to get a completely different response. Most readers thank me for not letting my vampires sparkle in the twilight. The characters in Occupation are blood sucking, emotionless creatures who are stalking an enemy even more vile than themselves.    Do you have a closet or drawer full of old projects? If so, will any of them see the light of day?    Jeff Dawson: Nothing hiding in the closets or drawers that I know of. However, do not despair, it appears a sequel to Occupation is in the works along with a sci/fi novel, a book of poetry/short stories and eulogies and I have one book that is percolating: it revolves around the largest tank battle in the 20th century. Wait a minute, let me open this door. Hm, nothing. I think that's about it.    Tim Greaton: Because we writers tend to start out telling real life stories, I bet you have at least one story you often retell at parties. Would you share one with us?    Jeff Dawson: As a matter of fact, when I was 19 or 20 my father informed me we were going to re-roof the ridge line of the house. Correction, I was going to do the re-roofing, in July, in Oklahoma. Like I wasn’t already getting enough of the cool sun. Nevertheless, I accepted the task and went to work and finished the first two lines in a couple of hours. Climbing off the roof, I popped a top and examined my handy work as did our neighbor. When I asked him what he thought, he took a long drink from his cold Budweiser, smacked his lips and said, "Well dumkopf, I guess if you like snakes for a straight line, looks pretty good. Think I'll go get your dad." Sure enough, it looked like a snake died on the ridge. The rest of the house went much smoother, but every time I saw Mr. Bill he would remind me of my fine craftsmanship. At least the beer was cold.   Tim Greaton: Who was the strangest or most memorable character you ever met in real life?   (Jeff gives me one of those grins. I know something is coming.) Jeff Dawson: Other than myself, no one jumps out.   Tim Greaton: So that’s the way it’s going to be, huh? Let’s try this one: so were there any books or stories—NOT YOURS—that truly impacted your life in a huge way?    (The grin is still there). Jeff Dawson: None that come to mind. (After threatening to withhold any further caffeine from my smirking guest, I return to our questions.) Tim Greaton: What is your writing “system” like, and how has it evolved over the course of your career?    Jeff Dawson: System? I wake-up. That is number one. Number two, pour a cup-of-coffee. Number three, turn on the computer. Number four? Seriously, I don't have a system. Each day is different. Some days I might crank out 6,000 words while others I blankly stare at the screen and play solitaire. For me, there is no set formula. I have found that whichever genre I'm toying with often dictates how much work I get done in a day.    Tim Greaton: I hear you have a fabulous group of beta readers. Is that true?    Jeff Dawson: You better believe it, and that is especially important since my mind types faster than my fingers. I have about four friends who gladly accept the manuscripts and provide critiques. They don't sugar coat or rave about what a great read it is. They point out the flaws and inconsistencies. However, even they don't catch everything. If I trusted my own instincts, I'd still be learning how to spell "I." Did I get it right?    Tim Greaton: Which author do you model your work after, or do you not see any parallels with past works you’ve read?    Jeff Dawson: It would have to be Bram Stoker. I love the way he transitions his scenes while mixing in the dialogue. He was a true master.    Tim Greaton: Do you think of yourself as a particular type of writer?    Jeff Dawson: You mean other than one who can't spell very well. Seriously, I would classify myself as a WWII novelist. I love the history of WWII. I believe that is why I enjoyed writing the vampire work. I was able to mix in my knowledge of that era in history along with something a little different; evil versus evil.    Tim Greaton: It looks like we’ve managed to circle back to Occupation, a novel which I read and enjoyed. I especially appreciated the obvious author knowledge behind the fiction. You managed to truly make me feel as though I was there in that stark and terrible place. Could you tell us more about the story?    Jeff Dawson: Occupation is about Germany’s invasion of Poland and of Hitler’s attempt to ship off the population to cleanse the lands for German settlers. What the German soldiers don't know is they are stealing the food supply of two warring vampire clans that detest one another. Yet as the Germans keep thinning out the population the clans are forced to make a decision. They can continue to fight amongst each other for the meager souls still inhabiting the land, or they can combine their forces and take on an enemy more vile than themselves. I believe readers will root for the vampires to forge an alliance and rid the country of the current menace. I know I did when I wrote it.    Tim Greaton: What led you to tell this particular story?      Jeff Dawson: Believe it or not, the idea came from two women. The one who took care of my mom suggested I write a love story about WWII. Not happening. I read "Ratenkrieg and then went to see the movie, "Enemy at the Gates," and was very disappointed. Seriously? A love story in Stalingrad. Ah, no. I called Debbie's oldest daughter and asked her if vampires were still big. That was a big thumbs-up. She also agreed to help write. I spent the next weeks trying to figure out if could actually work: Vampires/WWII. I wrote a preface and let it simmer for a few weeks. Once I figured out how to start chapter 1, the book wrote itself.    Tim Greaton: Which character most resonated with you?    Lord, you want me to relate to one these characters. It would have to be Kirilli Boirarsky. He is the most likeable character I developed. He is the patriarch of the Boirarskys and usually keeps a clear head and open mind as plans are drawn-up and implemented against the SS. Granted he has a lot of flaws (then again, he is a vampire) but is the only one still possessing a human characteristic or two.    Tim Greaton: You mentioned a possible sequel earlier. How is that progressing?    Jeff Dawson: What was the line in the 80's movie with Patrick Swayze:  REFUND!? REFUND!? . Sequel!? Sequel!? I know sequels are a big thing today thanks to Twilight, Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of Grey and so on. Yes, there will be a sequel to Occupation. Why? I left a lot of unanswered issues in the first one. Some were intentional, other were not. In fact, I found out not long ago that there was someone that I—no, excuse me—that the clans never killed. I was shocked. Why is he still alive? I have no idea, but I like the path his character could possibly take. "Very interesting." Thank you Artie Johnson.    Tim Greaton: Do you plan on exploring other realms or even more genres anytime soon?    Jeff Dawson: Other genres and realms? Anything is possible. Film at eleven.    Tim Greaton: Which part of Occupation was the most difficult to write? Why?    Jeff Dawson: That's easy. The chapter entitled "Melding" was the most difficult by far. Why? You try and have two vampires mate while everyone has to watch and not kill each other and yet still make it sensual. I had one reader asked me to demonstrate how Dmitri and Nicole performed one of their acts. I declined, because even as a young man, I couldn't have performed that gymnastic feat.    Tim Greaton: Now that Occupation is complete, do you wish you could have changed something?  Jeff Dawson: Other than letting a German live who should have died, nothing. There is one chapter (I forget which one) where the characters weren't behaving at all. They were all, and I mean all of them, arguing with each other. Veins were popping, fangs were showing, claws were growing and the whole time I kept telling them to shut-up. They refused to listen. I was not happy to say the least. I fought with both clans for two days until I woke up one morning, woke them up from gigabyte world and told them in no uncertain terms, "I'm in charge and it's time for this foolishness to stop!" It was the first time in a long time Nikoli and Svetlana Romanov backed down. I thought about changing some of that chapter but decided against it. We've all been in fruitless arguments, just waiting for them to end so we could take a break and get a drink. I know I was ready.    Tim Greaton: If you were to be stuck at the top of Mount Everest, which character from Occupation would you want to have with you? Why?    Jeff Dawson: Are you kidding me? My characters would suck me dry and hide the body in Noah's Ark. No thank you. I'll stay at the base camp and let the snow cover me up. But if you want to join them be my guest. I'm sure they would love a little extra rations when the reach the summit. Before you go, leave that bottle of Crown, you won't be needing it.    Tim Greaton: It would be great if you could share your website/blogsite and links to where our audience could directly communicate with you and purchase your stories.    Jeff Dawson: The website/blog can be found at www.lddjenterprises.com                          Facebook: Love's True Second Chance, Occupation, Why did Everything Happen.                          The books are also available at Smashwords and Amazon.                  Tim Greaton: Thanks for taking the time today, Jeff. I suspect there is an army of readers getting ready to search out copies of your books right now.    Jeff Dawson: I want to thank you, Tim, and all who took the time out of their busy schedules to stop by and say hi or just stop by to take a look. This has been a lot of fun and hope to see you all on the boards, emails or blogs.

 

Interview with fascinating fantasy novelist Marsha A. Moore, author of the "Enchanted Bookstore Legend" series...

		I’m excited to spend some time with fantasy novelist Marsha A. Moore in the forum today. She is not only talented, she is also quite busy, so before she runs off to a yoga class or to meet her editor, we better get startedJ.
Tim Greaton: Thanks so much for being here with us, Marsha. We’ve talked about doing an interview for a while, and I’m really excited that our schedules finally meshed. I’m willing to bet our readers would be surprised at your journey to become a novelist. Could you tell us a little about that? Marsha A. Moore: I’ve followed a circuitous path to end up as a fiction writer. I graduated with a degree in Biology, minoring in English. I wanted to pursue Literature and Fine Art, but my parents encouraged me to study Biology, so I might eventually find a reliable job. That was fine, since I liked that subject also. I wrote essays as a fun break from my full load of Science. Yes, weird that I thought writing essays was fun…still do! Then, I headed into grad school studying Dentistry. Four years later, I decided although I was excelling, it just wasn’t my calling. I changed gears and taught high school Biology for seventeen years, getting my Masters in Secondary Education. Along the way, I picked up a hobby of writing music reviews for record companies. During that time, I was inspired by some of those experiences and tinkered with fiction. Initially, I wrote fiction based on the world of rock music. Through a lucky happenstance, a man who worked for a major book publishing house read my first attempts at fiction, which were posted on a music forum. He repeatedly encouraged me to submit my creative writing. Over time, I came to believe him and did. After that, a new world opened up and it’s been a wonderful time. Tim Greaton: Quite a few years ago, I read a series of biographies about Teddy Roosevelt, and one of the most memorable things about him was how he seemed to be torn equally and almost obsessively between physical and intellectual interests. You remind me a lot of him in that way. I’ll let you explain what I meanJ Marsha A. Moore: I have many hobbies and they often shift into part-time careers. I’ve been a yoga addict for thirteen years and just recently registered for a 200-hour year-long yoga teacher certification course. I’m thrilled to embark on learning more about one of my interests that has slowly become a huge part of my life. I’m excited to see what journeys will come from that training. My other active hobbies include kayaking and cycling, which I do weekly, year round. I live in Tampa, which makes that possible. I love the beach and do my best writing there. I have a host of creative hobbies: drawing, watercolor painting, knitting, jewelry making. I also manage to squeeze in reading time for books on fantasy, magical realism, and spiritual guidance.  I also make time to study Tibetan Buddhism. I took refuge in that faith many years ago and attend a wonderful local sangha. Tim Greaton: I understand that meditation is sometimes like plugging into pure creativity but you started tapping a creative vein long before your journey toward Buddhism. What’s that like? Marsha A. Moore: I get a lot of positive and amazed comments about my imagination, usually, “Where do you get these ideas?” or “You are talented storyteller,” or “How do you drive with all these wild ideas in your head?” I honestly have no idea—it’s just me and how I think. I see odd stuff in nature, like portals and strange creatures.  I’ve been this way as long as I can remember. It does make for some great tales though! Tim Greaton: I’ve heard rumors that you tap a strong well of reality when you write. Is that true? Marsha A. Moore: Reality always forms the framework of how my characters interact in my stories. Actually, since my current work in progress is book three of a five-part series, the more I look at this story, the more of myself I see. My heroine, Lyra, is very much connected to me. Even in the first chapter of the first book, the childhood memories brought to her mind by Cullen’s magical tea are actually all mine. How Lyra interacts with her Aunt Jean has been a way for me to work through my own issues with my mother’s failing health. Some scenes intentionally connect to my own experiences, like those, and others surprise me much later when I’m polishing my draft to send to my editor. I shake my head and hope no one other than my crit partners can identify the similarities. Tim Greaton: I know from experience that writing fantasy can be extremely time-consuming. Could you explain why that is and what your specific writing method is like? Marsha A. Moore: My process begins with a setting I find interesting, somewhere I’d like to spend some time. In writing fantasy, world-building is everything. Then, I create the main characters, appearance and personality. From there, how they will become involved goes hand-in-hand with developing the plot. I do outline a lot, since there are many interwoven subplots in this series. This series is epic in scope, and details would get lost if I didn’t plan. Outside of the key features on the outline, I do allow the in-between progress in each chapter to flow freely, which I enjoy a lot. Some of the most imaginative bits arise that way.  In terms of evolution, I tend to write more now in extended spurts, immersing myself in the story.  I find that works better for me than routine, short daily sessions. Perhaps because I’m writing a very involved epic tale, I need longer periods to keep the storylines straight. Regardless, it’s more enjoyable for me to feel like I’m in the world for several days, rather than popping in for an hour. Tim Greaton: Whenever I hear you talk about your critique circle, I remember how much I miss the local groups I used to attend many years ago. What’s your circle like? Marsha A. Moore: I love my critique group. My crit partners are my best friends. They keep me motivated, cheer with me for my successes, and support me when any hardships come along. My group is local, through the Florida Writers Association. I think it’s extremely important to find a local crit group rather than working only online. We benefit so much from collectively brainstorming how to solve everyone’s writing problems. Tim Greaton: Though I’d love to talk about your background and methods a lot longer, I know our readers are equally anxious to hear about your latest novel and the series it’s based in. Could you enlighten us? Marsha A. Moore: The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications. Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.  When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe. In Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two, Lyra McCauley receives an alarming letter from the coroner who evaluated her deceased aunt, originally thought to have died of cancer. The news causes Lyra to take leave from her job and travel from sunny Tampa to the frozen island community in northern Michigan. Questioning whether Dragonspeir magic was responsible for her aunt’s death, she resolves to learn the truth and accepts the Imperial Dragon’s appointment into the Alliance sorcery training. Additionally, becoming proficient in magic craft is the only way she can bridge the gap between her mortal human world and her lover’s. Cullen, a 220-year-old wizard, is dependent upon his Dragonspeir magic for immortality. He is her only family now; she cannot lose him. Evil forces block her and try to steal her inherited scribal aura. Riding a stealth dragon, a cloaked rider pursues Lyra. Both the Alliance and Dark Realm alchemists lay tricks and traps. Her aura equals that of the first and most powerful Scribe, but will Lyra’s novice training allow her to discover the truth…and find a life with Cullen? Or will the Dark Realm keep them apart? Tim Greaton: What led you to tell this particular story? Marsha A. Moore: The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are basically a fantasy lover’s dream, being able to step into a favorite book as a character. I know my initial inspiration came after watching the recent Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland movie. From that, I wanted to work with parallel worlds and have a heroine who must save the fantasy world from danger. But, I wanted it to be more adult in order to deal with more complex feelings. Beyond that, I just see fantasy stories all around me. It comes naturally. Tim Greaton: You’ve already mentioned that there will be five books in this series. What else can we expect on the Marsha A. Moore horizonJ? Marsha A. Moore: I’m currently finishing up writing the third Enchanted Bookstore Legen: Lost Volumes. I’m expecting a September release for that book. I’ve also been planning a new series. I like to think about my plans for a new book or series over several months, fitting the pieces together. I write epic fantasy with romantic elements and will likely do more in that subgenre.  I also enjoy reading magical realism, mythpunk, and mythic fiction—all subgenres that sit on the border between fantasy and literary fiction. I expect my writing will shift in that direction over time. I like the complexity of fantasy, the feeling of being transported into another world. However, most fantasy books are written for young adults. In my reading, I longed to find more fantasies written for adults. The element of romance I include is far less about adding sex than about adding deeper connections between the hero and heroine, allowing them to be more three-dimensional and work with more complex issues. Tim Greaton: Knowing you as the avid reader you are, I wonder which authors have influenced your work and why? Marsha A. Moore: I loved Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. The symbolism is amazing; the more you read, the more layers you find. Inspired by that, I like to hide things in my stories. From the present, picking one book is too hard. The Harry Potter series is one of my all-time favorites. Again, the layering of hidden plots, which spin to completion later in the series, really captures my imagination. The last few books that really pulled me in were Natasha Mostert’s Season of the Witch and Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus. In both of those, magic caused mental effects for both the giver and receiver. I enjoy the complexity of that theme and employ it myself in a very different way. My heroine, Lyra, must learn to mentally control her vast inherited powers as the new Scribe. That is something she struggles to master through the series. Tim Greaton: For most of us, getting the initial foundation of a story down is the biggest challenge. That hasn’t been quite true for you, though, has it? Marsha A. Moore: You’re right. I didn’t struggle with the first two books of these Enchanted Bookstore Legends, but had a difficult time finding what internal conflict my heroine needed to deal with in the third book. I actually had to live it, pass through a difficult experience in my own life with the recent passing of my mother, in order to see what the character needed to do. That was a real moment of discovery for me since I’d been too close to the forest to see the trees, so-to-speak. Tim Greaton: I understand if you could start breeding a certain species from your book series, you would have a very successful pet store. Could you explain to our readers what I meanJ? Marsha A. Moore: The Enchanted Bookstore Legends make a truly epic tale with a large and wonderful cast of otherworldly characters, including many talking animals. My main characters, Lyra and Cullen, must attempt difficulties that stretch their abilities over numerous quests. But, my secondary characters often bring laughter and lighten their loads, or encourage their strengths to persevere. I’m in the middle of writing the third book, Lost Volumes, so by now the personalities of my secondary animal characters really shine and they feel very real to me. I’m especially fond of my dragons, but one type stands out as a favorite—pseudodragons. Pseudodragons are not true dragons. They are much smaller, being only three feet long, including their tails. In my legends, we get to know the pseudodragon Cullen keeps as his wizard’s familiar—a typical role for this species. His name is Noba, and he’s a tiny burgundy-colored pseudodragon who has a heart of gold that makes people melt. He always manages to find some mischief. I smile thinking about him. He helped Lyra raise a dragon hatchling. She had no idea what to do with a baby dragon. Noba was great and made every minute fun! Lots of readers tell me they want a pseudodragon of their own now! Tim Greaton: It would be great if you could share your website/blogsite and links to where our audience could directly communicate with you and purchase your stories. Marsha A. Moore: Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38 Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/100564214132835514192/posts       Tim Greaton: Thanks, Marsha, for fitting us in your schedule today. I really had a great time. Marsha A. Moore: Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me about all things writing. It’s fun to share what inspires my creativity, and being here with you and your readers has been wonderful.