Carol: Who are you? Tell us about you.
Dani: Well, my name is Dani A. Camden. I am 25 years old,
an Army wife and a mother of three. I am originally from St. Louis,
Missouri. I “came of age”; I guess you could say, in
Farmington, Missouri. That’s also where I met my husband,
Chandler. And because he is in the Army, we lived for a few years
in Hawaii before recently moving to Central Texas.
Carol: What is your educational background in writing if
any?
Dani: Unfortunately, I am a statistic! I did take some
college but I didn’t finish! I took several specialty writing
classes in high school and two in college but that was it.
Carol: The name of your new novel is?
Dani: The name of the novel is Vampire Slayer: One
Foot in Darkness. I had actually wanted the title to simply
be One Foot in Darkness because I didn’t want anyone
to be turned off by the Vampire Slayer being in there,
I was afraid it was a little campy. But the publisher had informed
me that there was another book with too similar of a title so we
went with a meeting of the two.
Carol: Tell us about your novel.
Dani: This novel is very personal to me. It is in all
respects the metaphorical story of me. It tells of Emma and Jimmy
Hogan; how after suffering through the traumatic loss of their mother,
father, sister and also Emma’s right foot, they learn to adjust
to this new and dark life. Not only do they have to deal with this
terrible loss and the fact that Emma has become a Vampire Slayer,
Emma has to come to terms with who she is now: an amputee woman.
In a world full of superficiality and AWESOME SHOES (ha-ha) she
has to learn to come to terms with the hand of cards life has dealt
her. In the midst of all of the inner turmoil she is already facing,
a violent evil arrives and threatens our existence. It quickly becomes
apparent that if Emma cannot silence her own demons, she won’t
be able to find the strength or even mental cohesion to defeat the
corporeal demons.
This is where the metaphor lies. I myself am an amputee. Have been
ever since I was 14 years old. I actually had to make the decision
on my own. After being born with several orthopedic disabilities,
I was left with a choice and I chose the amputation. A decision,
that I once questioned yet now see that it was the best I ever made,
that has shaped my entire life. I fought, and I would be lying if
I said that it isn’t still a daily struggle, for years to
come to terms with this and learn to love myself for who I am, not
what I am made of. Plastic or flesh, it is all me. And so in my
novel, the three main characters are the three main facets of my
personality personified. Then there are the vampires who represent
the evils in me and the evils that tempt or influence me that I
want to “slay”.
Carol: Is this your first novel? If not, explain.
Dani: Yes this is my first COMPLETED novel! HAHA!
Carol: Tell us about your publisher?
Dani: PublishAmerica is the home of 20,000 talented authors.
PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary
goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered
writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its
authors advances and royalties, makes its books available in both
the United States and Europe through all bookstores, and never charges
any fees for its services. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal,
supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.
Carol: Do you have an agent?
Dani: No I do not.
Carol: Why did you decide to write?
Dani: That is a difficult question. To me it would be
like asking why do you cook? Well, I have to! If I don’t cook,
I don’t eat! I feel the same way about my writing. I can’t
let it sit in my head and fester, you know?! I HAVE to let it out.
It’s necessary therapy!
Carol: Give us some background on your journey to publication.
Dani: I just started sending it out to anyone and everyone!
I didn’t really care who! HA! I just sent it! I got rejection
after rejection EVERYDAY! My husband and I had a little joke about
it! “Ok when I am done getting the boys ready for school I
am going to go read my rejections!” and then one morning as
my husband was leaving for work and I had made the same sarcastic
statement, he kissed my head and told me this “You may get
500 rejects, but, it only takes ONE to accept!” And sure enough,
45 seconds after he left, I got an email saying “CONGRATUALTIONS!”
I swear, I don’t question him anymore! HA!
Carol: What was your reaction when you found out that your
book was going to be published?
Dani: Oh boy, elations, hysteria, disbelief?! It was crazy!
I ran next door to the neighbor’s while in a night gown and
with rollers in my hair! I looked like a loon!
Carol: Tell us about your one most important dream.
Dani: To be happy and fulfilled. And for my children to
have the same.
Carol: Are you married and do you have children?
Dani: Yes. I am married to Chandler Camden, an active
duty Army medic. We have three awesome children together. Ashton
is six, Kessler is 3 and Emma will be 2 on Sunday, June 11th!
Carol: Did you take any writing classes?
Dani: I did take a few and I enjoyed them.
Carol: Who is your favorite author?
Dani: Anne Rice. Plain and simple, no question!
Carol: Are you promoting your book?
Dani: Shamelessly! At EVERY opportunity! By the way GO
BUY IT NOW! HAHAHA!
Carol: Would you self-publish? Explain.
Dani: No, because I can’t afford it! HA!
Carol: Have you done any book-signings? If so, what was
your experience like?
Dani: I have not done a book signing yet, but I am about
to start pounding the pavement to BEG for one!
Carol: How many books to your knowledge have you sold?
Dani: That I do not know yet. It has just become available
for early purchase through my publisher’s site.
Carol: Who gives you inspiration to write?
Dani: My husband. Everyday. I don’t think he even
knows how much he really does inspire me. He handles, puts up with,
takes care of so much that it really inspires me to push through
and finish what I start.
Carol: What is your favorite genre of writing?
Dani: Thriller/comedy/drama/horror/action! HAHA! Whatever
you would call I write, that’s it!
Carol: What is your favorite voice of writing?
Dani: You know that’s really difficult to day. Because,
different stories, scenarios; they really call for a different voice.
Sometimes you need one, sometimes you need the other. So, I guess
I’ll just say MY voice! HA!
Carol: List the five books you have recently read.
Dani: Hmmm, Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon,
Blood Canticle by Anne Rice, Blackwood Farm by
Anne Rice, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (of course!) and
Blood and Gold by Anne Rice (SHOCK/SURPRISE)
Carol: What is your full-time job?
Dani: I am an admin for a finance/furniture company called
USA Discounters.
Carol: Are you currently in college?
Dani: No I am not.
Carol: What success has your book done for you?
Dani: Personal gratification really. It’s actually
an accomplishment for my whole family. My husband really took care
of everything while I wrote. Not to mention how supportive he was/is.
And man did my kids really put with a lot of “Please no juice
by the computer!” This is something for all of us!
Carol: Do you feel that your book isn’t selling and
you just want to give up writing?
If so, or not, please explain.
Dani: I believe it will do well. It really discusses the
importance of self-acceptance and love which is something we all
need.
Carol: What is your website for the readers to contact
you?
Dani: Or yes absolutely! www.daniacamden.com
GO NOW! Ha!
Carol: What is your email address for the readers to write
you?
Dani: Yes again!
Onefootindarkness@yahoo.com
Carol: What is your favorite voice to write in?
Dani: Emotional. Whatever evokes the reader’s sympathy?
Carol: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Dani: Yes, my very, very, very favorite quote! The art
of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat
of the chair. - Mary Heaton Vorse
Carol: Is writing your full-time goal?
Dani: Oh yes! But like Virginia Wolfe said: “A woman
needs a quite room and MONEY to be a writer!” So first I have
to get some money… HAHA!
Carol: Have you attended any book conferences? If so, tell
us about them.
Dani: No I have not.
Carol: Are you in any book clubs?
Dani: Yes! The one I am active in is moderated by a friend
of mine. An Author in Great Brittan by the name of Samantha Weaver.
She wrote a fantastic and inspiring novel called Saving Samantha.
Google it, seriously. Anyway, it’s a yahoo group. All Authors.
Great bunch of people, truly.
Carol: Do you have a support system with your writing?
Dani: Yes, My husband. He’s all the support I could
ever need!
Dani's book can be found at her website
or at Amazon.com
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