Ask the Author: Dawn Chandler
Answered Questions (11)
Dawn Chandler
Well, honestly, I am not sure that anything in my life would qualify as a mystery plot. I am not too sure if I lead that mysterious or interesting a life. I live on a small ranch, in a small southern Idaho town. I do intend to get an RV and start traveling the countryside soon though, so perhaps I can find some new mystery along the way.
Dawn Chandler
I do not really put books on my reading list, I just grab the ones that speak to me in the moment. I will read anything new by Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, as well as perhaps re-read some of the older ones. I am on the lookout for new and exciting historical romances, ones of the longer variety.
Dawn Chandler
I am working on book two right now. It should be out by early next year. I am sorry that you were upset about Dark Christmas. I wrote it for an anthology my publisher did with some of the other authors they represent. When some of the other authors asked to get their rights back I decided to put it out as a short story. At book signings I do give it out free with the purchase of The Dark Lady. It falls between The Dark Lady and book two, From Under a Dark Shadow. You can read the 1st chapter of book two at dawnchandler.net and enter to win a free copy. Please mention this in your entry and I'll give you extra entries. Thank you for your question and your support.
Dawn Chandler
Darkness slithered across the land like a wraith leaving a trail of smothering fog behind to envelope the dense and twisted trees in a blackness that bordered upon insanity, and Tom, cowering deep beneath the tangle of thorn bushes, barely held in a scream as movement and a soft, steady scraping sound, told him that he was not alone in the woods. The sound grew closer and began to slow even as his heart and breathing began to race, his chest screamed with pain and he pulled deeper into the bush, thorns dug into him leaving long jagged trails of blood along his naked skin and as the thump and scrape of footsteps stopped Tom's scream finally escaped as the bushes above him began to tremble.
Dawn Chandler
This is not an easy question as there are several places that pop immediately to mind. Middle Earth, of course, is probably the most popular of places, but other than the Shire I think that beautiful land is too full of war and strife. The characters and inhabitants are ones I would love to meet. I have to take some off the list fairly quickly, Neverland, though the idea of never growing up sounds good at first, I do not think it would be something I would really enjoy. Wonderland is just too creepy, love the story, but I don't think I would really like to go there. Same goes for Oz. Dreamlands is a good choice because one gets to live forever, but I think there are as many dangers there than there are pleasures. Narnia would be great, I would love to speak with the animals and see the mythic beasts. Utopia might be good, but I don't think it would really work, my ideal world would not be the same as someone else's and I see many problems arising as everyone tries to make their perfect world reality. Shangri-La from Lost Horizon by James Hilton would be one of my top picks. I already strive for the inner peace and sense of purpose that they find in Shangri-La, beyond the peace and harmony of this land that protects you from the dangers of the real world (which I suppose I am already trying to escape by making my own worlds) you get to live in this valley paradise for hundreds of years beyond a normal lifespan. You get health and happiness, the only downside would be you could never leave and join the outside world, for then age and death will find you quickly. I think for that reason I would have to count Shangri-La as nothing more than a quick stop on my way to somewhere else.
I think in the end I would probably go with the most popular. Middle earth and the shire. I would love to go on adventures and see the elves, hobbits, ogres, and magical trees. I think that something that is wonderful is worth fighting for and though there are issues with the place I think I would prefer to go to a place that I can come back from and rejoin reality, if only for a visit before heading off to another fantastic land.
I think in the end I would probably go with the most popular. Middle earth and the shire. I would love to go on adventures and see the elves, hobbits, ogres, and magical trees. I think that something that is wonderful is worth fighting for and though there are issues with the place I think I would prefer to go to a place that I can come back from and rejoin reality, if only for a visit before heading off to another fantastic land.
Dawn Chandler
The current book that I am working on, well one of several, is a western, Dragonfly Valley. The ideas for this book came in the form of a song. El Paso, where the guy dies to get back to the woman he loves. It started there with images of my main character and the bad things he has done. It evolved from there and where it will end up I am never sure until I get there.
Dawn Chandler
I love to do research on historical events and England is my favorite place to research. That was what inspired me to write the historical fiction about London and England, but as to what inspires me to write in general I could not say. I have been a writer since my first short story in middle school, through my first full length novel in High School and all the way though my life. I always have stories running though my head.
Dawn Chandler
I am working on a new series about 19th century London. The first book is called The Infamous A.H. and will be in to the publisher by the end of May. It is based in 1800 London.
Alex Hollister was always one step ahead of the rumor mongers. As the reclusive A.H. she was a successful horse breeder, an unbeatable jockey and a savvy businessman. As the fair Alexis she was a demure and proper lady. Her life was exactly how she wanted it and her plans were finally ready to be enacted. Everything was running smoothly until her temper landed her in a marriage with a man who didn’t want her, a man who could ruin everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
Marcus Clifton wanted nothing more than to outlive the falsehoods that had ruined his family’s reputation. He had worked hard to get back into the good graces of the elite and had even arranged a marriage that would make the past rumors disappear altogether. He thought he finally had everything that was important to him. His cozy and disciplined life came to a crashing halt when an act of uncontrolled temper ended in a marriage with a woman who could destroy it all.
Alex Hollister was always one step ahead of the rumor mongers. As the reclusive A.H. she was a successful horse breeder, an unbeatable jockey and a savvy businessman. As the fair Alexis she was a demure and proper lady. Her life was exactly how she wanted it and her plans were finally ready to be enacted. Everything was running smoothly until her temper landed her in a marriage with a man who didn’t want her, a man who could ruin everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
Marcus Clifton wanted nothing more than to outlive the falsehoods that had ruined his family’s reputation. He had worked hard to get back into the good graces of the elite and had even arranged a marriage that would make the past rumors disappear altogether. He thought he finally had everything that was important to him. His cozy and disciplined life came to a crashing halt when an act of uncontrolled temper ended in a marriage with a woman who could destroy it all.
Dawn Chandler
Never give up on your dreams. Do not ever let anyone tell you that you can not make it, but do not be too proud to take good advice and constructive criticism.
If you believe you can do it, you can. If you believe it impossible, it is.
If you believe you can do it, you can. If you believe it impossible, it is.
Dawn Chandler
My favorite part of being a writer is the stories. I never plot and plan so I do not know where my story is going when I start. I get the joy of learning my my characters stories as I go along.
Dawn Chandler
I have been very lucky in my work thus far. I don't often get writers block, but when I do there are several things that I do to fix it. First step is to go back several chapters and reread and edit the ones before it. That is usually the only thing I need to do, by the time I get back to the place that has me stopped the voices in my head are chattering again. Sometimes if they remain silent I lay the current work aside and work on another story until I can go back to the original. Keeping at it and not giving up is the best way to make it work. Get your mind off of it and it is like most problems, sometime in the middle of the night you will sit bolt upright and say "Oh yeah, I know where I left my keys"...oh sorry, wrong brain lapse.
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