Q&A with Dawn McCullough-White

Please welcome author Dawn McCullough-White to P.S. I Love Books today!


Dawn McCullough-White writes mainly dark fantasy and horror. Her novels tend to favor the use of anti-authority anti-heroes as the main characters, most commonly with a strong, female protagonist.


Dawn was born in 1969, in Rochester, NY, and began writing prose at age 14. Ms. McCullough-White is married and has a young son. She is fascinated by history and social psychology. She is a vegetarian and animal lover. Her favorite drink is Gewürztraminer. She's fan of Alice in Chains, U2, and Stabbing Westward, her favorite books include The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, and The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson.

 
 
 
   
 

 
Welcome Dawn! I appreciate you taking the time out to visit P.S. I Love Books.
Thanks very much for having me!

Can you tell us a little bit about your first book in the Cameo series, Cameo the Assassin?

Well, it's a Historical Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Fantasy novel that follows the life of Cameo, an unwilling assassin with some supernatural abilities. Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most formidable assassins in the employ of the Association. She moves from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing, until the day she meets two dashing highwaymen who unwittingly throw in with the dangerous and otherworldly Cameo. But that's really where the story begins...

What was one of your favorite and least favorite things about writing Cameo the Assassin?

My favorite thing was immersing myself in this world, creating the characters and watching them interact. My least favorite... hmm, rewrites I guess. At one point I ripped out a plot thread that I'd laid the foundation for, for several chapters, well, it didn't pan out so I had to go back and rip out everything that dealt with that concept and then rewrite. That was no fun at all.

Which of the characters did you enjoy working with the most?

Black Opal. He's just sort of full of life, and full of himself, and a joy to write about.

If you had the chance to do it all over again would you change anything in Cameo the Assassin?

No.

What do you think of the covers for your novels?

I love them! I worked with good friend and artist Kurt Hanss (http://www.hanssdesign.com/), who designed the original artwork (also designed my website). They were also recently touched up by artist Glendon Haddix (http://streetlightgraphics.com/), who gave them larger font and made them stand out a little more if viewing them on an ereader.

When did you first realize that you wanted to write?

I was fourteen years old when I first started writing novels.

If the Cameo series was made into a movie who would be your ideal cast for the main characters?

I like Rachelle Lefevre as Cameo, James Franco as Jules, Daniel Day Lewis as Haffef, and I'm torn about Black Opal... a young David Bowie type. Kyrian and Bellamy... no idea.

If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author (dead or alive) what would it be about and who would you choose?

I've thought I'd like to write something with David McAfee (who wrote 33 A.D.) because we both write sort of similar tropes, and he's a friend. I think that might be fun. I'm sure this will be news to David. What would it be about? I don't know, Cameo and Theron throw a tea party?

I’m always looking for books to add to my ginormous TBR (to be read) pile. What books are you currently reading or have read recently? Any goodrecommendations?

Have you ever read Kafka's House by Gabriela Popa? It's a beautifully written novel about a young girl growing up in Communist Romania. I also really enjoyed Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolution by Ruth Scurr.

What are some of your favorite things to do when given a break from the writing life and other work-related things?

The Sims... it's an addiction. I'm also constantly downloading new music which in turn inspires me to write. And admittedly I'm on Facebook more than a person with a life really should be.

Are you currently working on any projects that we may see from you in the future?

I'm currently writing the third book in the Cameo Trilogy- Cameo and the Vampire. If all goes well it will be released this summer.

Thank you so much for stopping by Dawn! Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

My Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dawn-McCullough-White/125763474137312

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3106563.Dawn_McCullough_White

My website is: http://www.dawnmccullough-white.com/

Be sure to stop by the next couple of days for reviews of the first two books in the Cameo series and an awesome giveaway!!