An Interview with Dana Cameron + Giveaway

Dana Cameron is the author of Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn #1), a cool and action-packed Urban Fantasy read. She also wrote the Emma Fielding Mystery series. Today she drops by on my blog for an interview in which I ask her about her books, pigs and more.


Photo by James Goodwin

Welcome to Pearls Cast Before A McPig, Dana.
Could you tell a bit about yourself for those people who don’t know you yet?

Sure! I live in Massachusetts and spent the first twenty years of my professional life as a archaeologist. My first six novels were mysteries featuring an amateur sleuth, who like me, was an academic arcaheologist who worked on colonial sites in New England and abroad. I've also written historical, noir, thriller, traditional mystery, and urban fantasy in short stories. It was in a short story, “The Night Things Changed,” in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (ed. Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner) that I first wrote about the Fangborn. I've been nominated for the Edgar Award, and have won multiple Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards. I'm married and have two Benevolent Feline Overlords, who are named Kaylee and Zoe.

How many books will there be in the Fangborn series?

There will be at least three novels. There will also be a number of short stories (in addition to the five already available; some are standalone (from my publisher, 47North), and some are part of collections with other authors. The next one story from 47North is called “The Serpent's Tale” and will be out in fall 2013.

You also have a series with another archaeologist: Emma Fielding. I tried hunting the books down on bookdepository.com, but could only find a few of them. Any chance they’ll be re-released? Or can they be found in ebook form somewhere?

Thank you! Yes, the books are on sale as e-books on Amazon.com, BN.com, and other sites, and I'm hoping to see them re-released in print form soon.

Are there any other projects you’re working on or thinking about starting in the near future?

Right now, it's nearly all Fangborn, all the time! However, I do have a thriller short story, “Dialing In,” that will appear soon in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and I'm working on another Anna Hoyt “colonial noir” story.


Where can you be found when you’re not at your desk writing?

I like going for long walks to clear my head, and I enjoy museums and traveling. We just returned from Japan, which was wonderful! I've been wanting to go since high school, and the food, the gardens, the people, the museums, the cities all surpassed my wildest hopes!

What did you do to celebrate the release of your first book?

I had a big party! These days, I still celebrate, either by going out some place special or getting together with friends—any excuse to have champagne!

What is the best thing about being a published author?

Getting to meet other authors whose work I've loved, knowing a reader has enjoyed my book, and and especially being given the chance try lots of different types of writing!

What authors have been an influence to you? And have you read any books lately that you want to share with us or have you been too busy with writing to read?

For story-telling and characterization, my three main influences are Shakespeare, Edith Wharton, and Dorothy Sayers. I often read non-fiction when I'm working, but because I was on vacation I just finished DEAD EVER AFTER by Charlaine Harris and loved it (though I'll miss Sookie). I also read and enjoyed PROFESSOR MORIARTY: THE HOUND OF THE D'URBERVILLES by Kim Newman, and I'm looking forward to INVITATION TO DIE by Helen Smith.

Are there zombies or pigs in any of your books or will there be any in future books?

There are some pigs in my forthcoming short story (“The God's Games”) in a featured, but not pivotal, role. Zombies...not so far, but I never say never. Zombie pigs, however, might be more difficult. :-)

Thanks so much for these great questions!

Thanks for dropping by!
I hope to meet you next month at WFC 2013 in Brighton :-)



About Seven Kinds Of Hell:

When archaeologist Zoe Miller's cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian kidnapper, she must come to grips with a haunting secret. Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She's a werewolf and a daughter of the "Fangborn," a hidden race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.

Zoe's attempt to rescue her cousin leads her on a quest for artifacts—including Pandora's Box, an object of world-ending power. With the fate of humanity in the balance, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against a dark and nefarious fo.

At once captivation, deftly worded, and character-rich Seven Kinds of Hell expands vampire legend and werewolf noir in both intensity and charismatic bite.



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Giveaway

Dana kindly offered a copy of Seven Kinds Of Hell to one reader of my blog.

The winner is Kim!

A winner will be picked at random on September 29th.
Open internationally to everyone who's legally allowed to enter this giveaway.

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Don't forget to leave a comment:
I decided to have an event wide giveaway on my blog for commenters.

At the end of this event I'll pick one commenter on any author post of this event at random and that person will win a book of his/her choice as long as bookdepository ships to where you live, you're legally allowed to enter, and the book costs no more than 10$

And drop by Between Dreams and Reality as well for more great author posts.