JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jeff Dawson, author of Occupation
(LDDJ Enterprises Publishing)

Are you ready for vampires to regain their standing and stop sparkling in the twilight? Are you ready for them to take on an opponent more vile, viscous and evil than themselves? Wait no longer!

These are the vampires that filled many nightmares of old. Meet the Romanov and Boirarsky clans. They have waged a war amongst themselves for centuries over feeding rights and inconsequential issues. All of that changes when Adolf Hitler decides to expand the Third Reich and invades Poland in 1939.

The Germans start shipping off their food supply to distant lands. The clans are unwillingly forced to decide if they are going to continue with their fruitless battle or combine their collective forces and take on an opponent worth of their sharpened fangs: The Third Reich!

Vampires vs. the Third Reich – evil never tasted so good.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “Occupation“?

Jeff Dawson: Inspiration to write “Occupation” came from two women. One was taking care of my mom in her final days and suggested I write a “love story” about WWII. Not happening…

I saw the movie “Enemy at the Gates”, and too say the least, it fell flat. Seriously? A love story in Stalingrad in 42, 43? Ah, no!

The vampire part came from my fiance’s (RIP 7-2009) oldest daughter. She said vampires were still a hot commodity and combining WWII with vampires of old might be a good idea.

JP: What sets “Occupation” apart from other books in the same genre?

JD: Let’s see. Humans falling in love with vampires and everyone lives happily ever after. Ah, NO! “Occupation” harkens back to the days of Bram Stoker when vampires were feared creatures that feed off humans for survival. That would be the main idea.

The second. “Occupation” is about evil versus evil, plain and simple. Some readers were quandaried on who to root for. The Nazis or the Vampires. Why, one might ask. Well, the answer isn’t completely clear cut until the Clans start tearing into the soldiers of the SS. In the end, the answer is obvious: the vampires.

But have no fear, women, there is a love story embedded. The clans must unite to defeat Nazi Germany, so they must mate to consummate the deal.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to “Occupation” getting out to the public?

JD: Well, of course there is social media, email and blogs. I’m still finding that the best way to get the word out is meeting and greeting the public, whether that be book signings, attending conventions or just striking-up conversations with strangers. People like to know who they are supporting.

The last and most important, is market, market, market. This is a business, and we are sole proprietors. No one else will do it for us.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish “Occupation”?

JD: Tim Greaton (Maine’s other author) asked me the same question a few months back, and I still don’t have an answer. System? I wake-up. That is number one. Number two, pour a cup-of-coffee. Number three, turn on the computer. Number four? Seriously, I don’t have a system. Each day is different.

Some days I might crank out 6,000 words while others I blankly stare at the screen and play solitaire. For me, there is no set formula. I have found out that depending what genre I’m toying with, it dictates how much work I get done in a day.

“Occupation” took about four months to write and five months to properly edit and proofread.

JP: What’s next for Jeff Dawson?

JD: I and a co-author will be releasing a Sci-Fi thriller in December titled “Gateway Pioche”. Four graduates from Standford decide to try their luck in Vegas and unlike most of us, do extremely well. In fact, they do so well the local mob decides the winnings need to stay in Vegas.

The ensuing chase find the kids at an abandoned military complex that houses a time machine. They will travel to see who shot JFK, what happened to Judas Iscariot, did we land on the moon in 1969 and can one of the characters correct the mistakes of Nazi Germany. Oh, her great-grandfather is Martin Bormann, HItlers personal secretary.

Also planning on publishing a book of poetry and thoughts with another co-author. Some of the material is very dark, but slowly lightens and provides the readers with hope.

http://lddjenterprises.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupation/231877123504847?ref=stream

http://twitter.com/JeffDawson59

You can catch me on Goodreads – Jeff Dawson and my blog http://jeff-dawson.blogspot.com/

For aspiring authors and writers, remember, writing is a true love and at the same time a business. You can have a great story, but remember, you must put yourself out there and enjoy meeting and greeting people. They are your audience. Best of luck to all.

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