Author Spotlight: Zoe Dawson

Today I'm pleased to host author Zoe Dawson, who writes a little bit of everything!

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Raleigh, NC but I'm originally from Burlington, Vermont, but the winters were much too cold, so I've been moving my way south. I lived in Fairfax, Virginia for 18 years before moving to Raleigh 8 years ago. I work a full-time job while writing on my off hours. I also enjoy watercolor painting and gaming. I have two grown daughters who are the best things I ever did and will ever do in my life.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
I started writing historicals which I loved to read and was influenced by the book The Sheik which my grandmother gave me. She was a huge Rudolph Valentino fan. I have been published since 1996, but have been writing since 1980. I started writing my own contemporary suspense stories because I couldn't find what I enjoyed reading.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
I write in several genres:

Romantic Comedy
I have seven books out in my Going to the Dogs series and one more to complete with Going to the Dogs 2 series planned to begin in 2015. These books are based on the friendship in Sex and the City with four friends who met at a dog park. They're light mysteries and include each of the heroine's and hero's dogs incorporated into the main storyline. I love writing romantic comedy because I basically have a lame sense of humor and it really translates into good comedy, sometimes even slapstick which has been quite fun.

New Adult Contemporary
I have three books in the new adult genre. One is a standalone Christmas novella. The other two are the first two books in my A Perfect Secret Series with the third book out this summer. They're set in the bayou in Louisiana, include three hot triplets brothers, and are mysteries. I love writing this angsty coming of age romantic drama stuff. I also really discovered that I love writing in first person.

Syfy/Fantasy
The debut of my Urban Fantasy series, The Starbuck Chronicles begins a heroine-centric journey. I also have a serial and a four-book paranormal romance series planned in this world. I'm also planning two three-book series in Syfy. I have always felt that my writing was lyrical and I have to curb that in my contemporaries, but in the syfy/fantasy genre, I can let my poetic mind free rein. I also thoroughly enjoy the totally awesome experience of worldbuilding. I’ve always loved magic and love writing about how it works and how it affects a character’s life. For syfy, I am a space geek. Loved Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate Atlantis, and Firefly. I can’t get enough space drama and when it’s mixed with romance...so deliciously yummy!

4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
I am working on A Perfect Dilemma that is slated for a summer release. It’s the third book in my A Perfect Secrets series – Three perfect girls, three perfect secrets, one unholy trinity. I will have my last  wedding and honeymoon novella, Captured, the eighth book and wrap up of my first Going to the Dogs series. And another new adult contemporary, Sk8er Boy, that begins a new series out in the fall with a robust 2015 writing schedule continuing series and beginning new ones.

5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
Reality was fractured by a rogue mage who used runic magic. Once this happened portals to other realms opened and supernatural beings flooded the Earth plane. Now humans have to learn to co-exist with supernaturals where reality is broken and video games leak monsters into the night, characters walk off the pages of books, demons roam, thirsting for more than just blood, people are not who or what they seem and a diabolical evil plots and plans to devour the world.

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6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Lily Starbuck – She is the main protagonist and has no memory of her past. She woke up three years ago and while working as a waitress met her Kitchen Witches partner, Olivia Vesta. She’s a witch, but has mostly honed her magic skills in the kitchen. What I love about her is her determination and grit. She does what she has to do for her own principles.

Nock Whisk – a cantankerous gnome sidekick who loves to be sarcastic, contrary and often goes invisible on her. What I love about Nock is his affection for Lily and his glee in pushing her buttons. He would do just about anything for her.

Talon Sunstrike – The lead agent from the Fairy Dust Administration (FDA) who is investigating Lily’s catering partner in the use of illegal dust. What I like about Talon is his passionate dedication to protecting his people and the human population. He’s devoted his very long life to it and he’s as sexy as hell.

Rayne Parrish – The tough Otherworlder Security (OS) warden that Lily meets and saves her life. She then works with her team. Rayne is a shapeshifter and part of a mysterious race that is a small part of the population. What I like about her is her direct, no-nonsense attitude and kick-butt personality.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
The Starbuck Chronicles came to me in a dream. I got the idea, woke up, and wrote a 22 page synopsis. It was great.

The Starbuck Chronicles:
The fine thread between reality and the fantastical has snapped. The mortal and supernatural must learn to co-exist in post-reality Minneapolis/St. Paul where video games leak monsters into the night, demons roam, thirsting for more than just blood, people are not who or what they seem and a diabolical evil plots and plans to devour the world.

Book 1 - AfterLife:
In this world gone mad......Lily’s biggest challenge is to survive.

Lily Starbuck, kick-ass witch caterer, knows that a day that starts with blood on the horizon is a terrible omen. The day goes downhill from there when a grumpy werewolf refuses to pay his catering bill, her partner cleaned out their bank accounts, and Lily finds her murdered in their kitchen. To make matters worse, the Fairy Dust Administration (FDA) is sniffing around. Fae dust hounds hot on her partner’s trail for dealing in illegal dust now turn their attention to her. Their sexy Fae leader takes a particular interest in her and is hard to shake.

Heartbroken, flat broke and with her very livelihood in jeopardy, she discovers that the formidable Otherworlder Security (O.S.) is being tampered with. With no active investigation and a missing body, she has no choice but to discover who killed her partner. Her only backup is a cantankerous gnome who delights in going invisible on her. Clues lead her to an open case being investigated by a tough O.S. warden shapeshifter. It seems a rogue mage has created a video game that is unwarded and game monsters are being released to terrorize the human and supernatural citizens of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Trouble is Lily has reason to believe that this mage killed her partner. Looks like Lily will have to make a deal with a vamp devil and battle wits with the Twin Cities most powerful leader all in the name of justice.

AfterLife is available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | itunes

Find Zoe Dawson at:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter

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