Interview: Indie Author E.B. Dawson
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Today we’re being joined by the lovely E.B. Dawson, who’s going to share with us some of her writing goals for this year, her journey so far, and a few insights into why her cat is awesome.
Can you tell us a little about each of your published works?
In a nutshell, The Creation of Jack is a scifi series about overcoming brokenness. The first book, Out of Darkness is about a girl choosing her own path despite being manipulated and abused. The sequel, Into the Void shows her taking on responsibilities and eventually confronting her past. There is a lot of action, adventure, and fun futurist science in these books, but they really center around the characters and the complex emotional dilemmas they face.
The Traveler, on the other hand, is the first in my new fantasy trilogy Lost Empire. It’s about a young woman who discovers she can travel to another world in her dreams, and the physical/political dangers that result.
What inspired your completed books, and what are things you’re still hoping to write about?
Great question! These three books have all revolved around very personal issues for me, including: identity, PTSD, cross cultural colonization, and overcoming victimization. Although the circumstances are very different, Logan’s emotional journey is very much my own, and her emotional victories are my emotional victories. The Traveler, was just a chance to raise some interesting questions about international relations while having a remarkable adventure.
What do I still want to write about? Every day I seem to come up with more stories I want to write. I like examining all types of characters at their breaking point. I love posing difficult questions about morality and making the reader examine their own choices. But I also just like to have fun and let my imagination run wild. I would love to write a space opera and maybe a more traditional fantasy (The Traveler is a bit of a scifi crossover). But in all honesty, I really want to write literary fiction someday. I don’t think I’ll quit speculative fiction any time soon, because it’s just too much fun. But literary fiction and contemporary fiction are on my list.
You’ve traveled a lot. What’s the most interesting place you’ve been to?
Don’t make me choose! The world is so big, I still feel like I haven’t even chipped the surface. I’m going to pick two of my favorites:
Foz du Iguacu in Brazil is just awe inspiring. I love waterfalls, so this place is like paradise for me. I was lucky enough to go 3 times.
Borobudur in Indonesia is pretty impressive. There is so much history there.
As a proud cat parent, sing a few praises of your furry baby.
Maximus is the best companion. He is not a fussy cat. He loves belly rubs. He does parkour sometimes. Sometimes he likes to go off and be independent and chase the neighbor’s chickens. Sometimes he likes to cuddle my feet while I’m reading. He’s just a sweetheart. And if he doesn’t know where you are in the house, he will play Marco Polo with you until he finds you.
You’re an indie author who also has a day job. Tell us a bit about who you are in your other life.
Oh boy. I work for a non-profit that seeks to reach underprivileged and at-risk youth. We bring inner city kids and foster kids up to a camp in the mountains. And more recently we are launching mentor programs in the inner cities to support these kids in their day-to-day lives. It is so much work, but I love it. You wouldn’t believe what our kids have to deal with on a daily basis. We get to love on them, support them, mentor them, and show them a different way to live their lives.
You recently spearheaded the start of a new indie authors’ collective called Phoenix Fiction. Give us some more details!
I did, indeed. Because I am a mad woman who loves the indie author community! I love the fact that traditional publishing is feeling the heat from indie authors. I think indie authors have unique voices, and are perfectly capable of writing the same (if not better) quality books as traditionally published authors. But it can be really hard to attract readers in a sea of indie authors, especially when you do all the marketing yourself. Most people find new books because of the recommendations of family and friends. This marketing collective is another way to do that.
We have six authors, with a very similar writing philosophy who have banded together under a sort of “brand umbrella.” Not only do we support each other and help market for each other, but it’s an opportunity for our fan bases to cross over. The odds are that if a reader likes one of our author’s books, they will like books from our other authors. So our website is a virtual goldmine for our particular brand of speculative fiction.
It’s been going really well so far and we are looking forward to growing and offering some exciting, exclusive content for our fans.
Who are your favorite authors (traditional and indie, from your past and your present)?
You didn’t give me a limit, so I’m gonna go crazy!
C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Lois Lowry have all been huge influences on me as far as fantasy is concerned. I also love G.K. Chesterton, L.M. Montgomery, and Charles Dickens. Some of my favorite science fiction authors include Orson Scott Card and Ray Bradbury. If you put ALL of those authors together, you will have a taste of my writing style!
I love all of the indie authors on Phoenix Fiction (Kyle Robert Shultz, J.E. Purrazzi, K.L. Pierce, Beth Wangler, and Hannah Heath). Other indie authors I really enjoy include Nate Philbrick, Annie Douglass Lima, our very own Daley Downing, and Bethany Jennings.
What will 2018 bring your readers?
I am so excited for 2018! I cannot give you firm dates on anything, but I’ll share them in the intended order:
I have a stand-alone, dystopian short story coming out this spring.
The Creation of Jack Book 3 will hopefully be out by summer!
I have three Lost Empire short stories set to release over the summer, in anticipation of book two.
Lost Empire Book 2: The Citizen will come out in the fall.
Another stand-alone short story is slotted for late October.
Links:
Out of Darkness: http://amzn.to/2oqxJYX
Into the Void: http://amzn.to/2AZRGeQ
The Traveler: http://amzn.to/2zh6bsd
Website: http://www.ebdawsonwriting.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ebdawsonwriting
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ebdawsonwriting/
PFW: http://phoenixfictionwriters.com
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