1. Are you the Dawn Montgomery who plays College Basketball for A&M? (This was added at the top of the list b/c I get searches three or four times a day for Dawn Montgomery and A&M. You should search “Dawn Montgomery Basketball” to find who you’re looking for)

I wish! The only athletic bones in my body revolve around long distance runs and walks. I’m 5′ tall, (she’s 5’9″) but I’ve been following her career like a hawk. That woman can ball! I was a fan of her father’s when he played for the Bengals.

2. Is Dawn Montgomery your real name?

It almost was. *WEG* The name is an honor to my Grandmother (my cousin tried to call her grandmamie, but it ended up being Mamie) who introduced me to the Romance genre. We were both avid readers and I love and miss her more than I could ever tell you.

3. Do you ever feel embarrassed/shy about the things you write?

Honey, you only live once. If you’re not wiggling in a bit of lust and caught up in whatever mayhem my characters have fallen into, I’m doing something wrong. I tell stories. Hopefully well, and will continue to do so until the end of my life.

4. Where do you come up with your ideas/characters/storyline/etc?

Hard questions…well…everywhere. Walking along, listening to other people chat about their everyday lives. The news. Movies, conversations, my own imagination. For instance, I was watching a bounty hunter reality TV show the other day. One of the guys he talked to on the show ended up being a guy he had to go after later. That got my mind rolling. So the idea for Spaceport: Bounty was born. It should release from Changeling early ’08.

5. OMG did you try that sex position/scene/freaky move?

This question always cracks me up. I’m not going to divulge my sex life. LOL. I’m happily married to a wonderful man who supports me like crazy. I find it strange that this question is rarely asked of those who write horror or thriller novels, but I love the grin this question puts on my face.

6. No really, at least some of them, right???

*sigh* Okay, maybe. *WEG*

You tease.

As often as possible. It’s more fun that way. Besides, from my POV it’s foreplay. I’d never leave you hanging.

*snort*

Okay, not for long.

Alright, I’ll buy that. So back to the questions:

7. How long have you been writing?

Forever. I remember making up stories at four and Mamie writing them down for me. She’d reread them to me at night. I still have a lot of my stuff from highschool…that was about *cough* years ago.

So a long time then *WEG*.

*sniff* Yes. I’m like a finely aged cheese.

So you’re crusty and produce a foul odor.

Wet noodle for you! LOL. I should have known that was coming. No, I’m to be savored and treated with delicate attention.

ROFL. Delicate my ass. I’ve heard about you and your handball games.

*huge grin* I love me some handball, but I’m out of practice now.

8. Do you have any advice for those who wish to spin tales?

Fall in love with the story, not the words. Ultimately everyone you work with will want you to tell the story the best possible way. Unless you are attempting to stay true to your time period/slang/etc, let the editors and crit partners help you. It’ll save you heartache later when you’re slaughtered by reader reviews. If you just want to tell stories, without getting pubb’d, learn your craft. We have a family storyteller. She’s unbelievable and has no interest in going any farther than that. Back to my D&D days, the greatest DM I’ve ever had was like that. He loved to spin tales with no interest in taking it any farther. His storytelling skills were unparalleled.

9. What about new authors? Any advice?

Keep your friends close (don’t forget who helped you get where you are) and grow a thick skin. Unfortunately the thick skin only comes once its been flayed off your hide once or twice. And KEEP WRITING!!! If you’re promoing the hell out of one book and everyone you know buys it, they won’t have anything else to keep them interested. Write. Write. Write.