Dawn McCullough- White Interview

1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write? 

I write in the evening. Right now I have a pretty busy schedule so I squeeze time in from 10pm to Midnight. By the evening I've been up for a while and I'm fatigued so my mind is more loose, which makes it easier for me to imagine.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

These days it's all on my laptop, but years ago I used to write it all out in notebooks then go back and type it up on an electric typewriter. It was a bigger process then, I would just misspell words throughout the novel, and mark them because I knew they were misspelled, then I'd get out my dictionary and and a bottle of whiteout and fix them as I typed.

Rest assured nowadays I have an editor so the writing is pretty clean.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

 Life experience, family stories, and history.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

Never. I can't write when I'm forced to. To me the writing process is an expression of art, even the rewrites and editing- I enjoy myself when I'm writing and I wouldn't want to mess it up by forcing, or rushing the flow. One of the many reasons I'm an Indie author.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

I'm self-published.

Kurt Hanss does my cover art. Generally he wants to know what I'm thinking about for the cover, then I tell him and trust his artistic vision.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

Well, I've always created characters. Ever since I could draw, so when I was maybe six or so, I used to create characters, and write out comic books. As a matter of fact I sketched out characters, and ideas for scenes until about ten years ago, that used to be my method but I determined it was taking away time I needed for writing so I stopped. I don't really think I chose this as much as it's simply who I am. I've been writing novels since I was fourteen years old and I'll never stop- I can't. Writing is my release.
7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

 No, I don't. I've been thinking about buying one though. They seem very convenient.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

Lauren F. Winner, Anne Rice, Hemingway, Faulkner. I'm currently reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

I think the concept of them is really cool, and I've seen a couple that are amazing. Do I plan to have any? Um, well if I can talk someone into creating one for me, otherwise I really wouldn't know where to start myself.

10: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

The second book in the Cameo series, Cameo and the Highwayman is being edited currently, and is due to be released in the fall of 2010. Probably in October. I'm writing the third book in the Cameo series. It's presently untitled.

In Cameo and the Highwayman the story surrounding the co-main character “Black Opal” unfolds, and a new character is introduced who seems to have some of the answers to questions Cameo has been carrying, unanswered for years. Cameo's old nemesis turns up in the second book as well, seeking vengeance.

My novel Cameo the Assassin is available at Smashwords, and presently on sale with coupon code:SW100 : http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16637 

Also on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Cameo-Assassin-Book-One-ebook/dp/B003QCIQ3M/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 


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