Press Kit for Dana Cameron

Contacts:

You can reach Dana by email: dana@danacameron.com

Or by snail-mail:

Dana Cameron

P.O. Box 3230

Beverly, MA

01915

Or via her agent, Josh Getzler, at HSG Agency (http://hsgagency.com/): jgetzler@hsgagency.com

Please don't send anything you want sent back without permission.  Please don't send stories or story ideas.

Author Photos (Please note: when using this author photo, the credit should read: "Photo by James Goodwin.") Download image below for full size.

Biography

50 Words:

Whether writing noir, historical fiction, urban fantasy, thriller, or traditional mystery, Dana Cameron draws from her expertise in archaeology.  Her fiction has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards and earned an Edgar Award nomination.  SEVEN KINDS OF HELL (a Fangborn novel) was published in 2013 (47North).

Learn more at: http://www.danacameron.com.

100 words:

Whether writing noir, historical fiction, urban fantasy, thriller, or traditional mystery, Dana Cameron draws from her expertise in Old and New World archaeology. Her fiction has won multiple Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards and has earned an Edgar Award nomination. In addition to "Pattern Recognition," other Fangborn stories include "The Night Things Changed," "Swing Shift," "Love Knot," and "Finals." The first of three novels set in the Fangborn 'verse, SEVEN KINDS OF HELL, was published in 2013 by 47North. Dana lives in Massachusetts with her husband and benevolent feline overlords.

Learn more at:   http://www.danacameron.com .

200 words:

Like her series protagonists, Dana Cameron was a professional archaeologist, working on Old and New World sites dating from prehistoric times to the nineteenth century.  She began writing fiction after an encounter with an armed site looter.  Site Unseen (2002) featured New England archaeologist Emma Fielding; this was followed by Grave Consequences, Past Malice, A Fugitive Truth, and More Bitter Than Death, and the Anthony Award-winning Ashes and Bones.  A series of short stories led her to explore other genres and subgenres, including historicals, thrillers, and noir ("Femme Sole" was short-listed for the Edgar Award). 

But it was her Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning urban fantasy short stories (including "The Night Things Changed" and "Swing Shift") that inspired Seven Kinds of Hell, the first of three Fangborn novels (47North).  The protagonist Zoe Miller discovers her identity as a werewolf and one of the Fangborn, a race of vampires, werewolves, and oracles secretly dedicated to protecting humanity.
Dana is a member of The Femmes Fatales, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime (she's a past president of the New England Chapter).  Dana lives in Massachusetts with her husband and feline overlords. Learn more at: http://www.danacameron.com .

Really long, personal bio (400 words):

Dana Cameron began her professional life as an historical archaeologist with a Ph.D and experience in Old and New World archaeology. She started her writing career with the Emma Fielding archaeology mysteries: Site Unseen, Grave Consequences, Past Malice, A Fugitive Truth, More Bitter Than Death, and Ashes and Bones (which won an Anthony Award in 2007). Her multi-award-winning short stories include the urban fantasy "Fangborn" stories ("The Night Things Changed," "Swing Shift," and "Love Knot"), the Anna Hoyt colonial noir stories (including the Edgar-nominated "Femme Sole," followed by "Disarming" and "Ardent"), historical mystery ("The Lords of Misrule"), and thriller ("One Soul at a Time"), as well as traditional mystery ("Mischief in Mesopotamia").

About her life, Dana says:

"I was born and raised in New England and live in Massachusetts with my husband and our benevolent feline overlords. Mine is a quiet, fairly ordinary life. I love that, because it's what saves me from an overdeveloped sense of paranoia and a tendency to expect the worst. Or the weird. Combined with an eye for detail and a quirky take on life, these traits give me a vivid internal life, one that's sometimes a little nerve-wracking, but very useful for writing all kinds of fiction.

"My interest in archaeology stems from childhood, where my interest in books and the opportunities I had to travel made me think about cultural differences. The thing I like best about archaeology is that it's a real opportunity to try and resurrect individuals from the monolith of history. I've always adored teaching, whether in the field, in museums, or in the classroom.

"Mysteries and thrillers, urban fantasy and historical fiction are all a natural extension of my passion for research and fascination with characters, historical or modern. Being able to explore--though fiction--the motivations behind criminal acts, extreme emotions, and action is just the icing on the cake. World-building is second nature to archaeologists, too. I also find genre fiction an excellent vehicle for discussing the big issues--like what is right, what is legal, and what is just--and for examining the nature of heroism."

Dana is a member of the American Crime Writers League, the Femmes Fatales, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime (she's a past president of the New England chapter). Learn more about her at http://www.danacameron.com .

Awards and Nominations:

2007 "The Lords of Misrule," Anthony Nomination, Best Short Story

Ashes and Bones, Anthony Winner, Best Paperback Original

2009 "The Night Things Changed," Agatha (2008) and Macavity Winner; Anthony Nominee, Best Short Story

2010 "Femme Sole," Edgar, Anthony, Agatha (2009), and Macavity Nominee, Best Short Story

2011 "Swing Shift," Anthony and Macavity Winner; Agatha Nominee (2010), Best Short Story

2012 "Disarming," Agatha (2011), Anthony, and Macavity Winner, Best Short Story

Seven Kinds of Hell
A Fangborn Novel

(47North, 2013) ISBN 1611097959

When archaeologist Zoe Miller's cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian "businessman," she must come to grips with a haunting secret:  unknown to even her closest of friends, Zoe is not entirely human.  She is a werwolf and the daughter of the "Fangborn," a secret race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.

"SEVEN KINDS OF HELL is a great adventure. Dana Cameron's supernatural heroes are refreshingly different, and the action is astonishing."
-NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHARLAINE HARRIS

"Dana Cameron can pull me into a story like few other writers. Wildly creative, thrilling and fun, the Fangborn series is one you won't want to miss!"
-NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR TESS GERRITSEN

 

"Finals" in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

January/February 2013

Gerry Steuben discovers high school can be even more complicated when you are a werewolf. 

"Pattern Recognition" in Murder and Mayhem in Muskego

edited by Jon & Ruth Jordan

Down & Out Books, November 2012, ISBN 978-1937495374

Gerry and his sister Claudia are confronted by a brand of supernatural weirdness even they've never seen before.

"Mischief in Mesopotamia" in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

November 2012

Emma Fielding is exploring the treasures of the ancient civilizations of Turkey, but can't help finding trouble on her vacation. 

"One Soul at a Time," A "Black Mask" selection in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

June 2012

Introducing Jayne, a "recovering" covert operative with unique skills, who leaves retirement to avenge the death of her mentor.

"Femme Sole" in Boston Noir

A collection of all new stories, edited by Dennis Lehane.

Nominee, 2010 Edgar Award, 2009 Agatha Award, and 2010 Anthony Award, Best Short Story

Akashic Books, October 2009, ISBN 1933354917

In 1740s Boston, Anna Hoyt owns a North-End tavern and all the local thugs--including her husband--want a piece of it.

"The Night Things Changed" in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

A collection of all-new stories on werewolves and the holidays, by an outstanding pack of award-winning writers, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner.

Ace Hardcover (October 7, 2008) ISBN 0441016332

"The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes..."

Gerry Steuben is an average guy, a PI living in Salem, Massachusetts. He's also one of the Fangborn, an ancient family of werewolves and vampires secretly dedicated to protecting humankind from evil. When a series of increasingly violent murders is committed, Gerry and his vampire sister Claudia must confront an unimaginable supernatural threat on Christmas Eve.

Winner, 2008 Agatha and 2009 Macavity Awards; Nominee, 2009 Anthony Award, Best Short Story

About the Emma Fielding archaeology mysteries: This award-winning and acclaimed series, featuring amateur sleuth and archaeologist Emma Fielding, mixes archaeological excavation with old New England history, mystery, and murder. Whether it's puzzles from the past or one body too many in the graveyard, Emma discovers that her skills as an archaeologist are custom-made for detective work.

Site Unseen

(Avon, 2002) ISBN 0380819546

"Dana Cameron knows archaeology inside and out, knows how to convey its joys and drudgery in an entertaining manner, and knows how to tell a rip-snorting good mystery. And on top of that she's witty. That's a pretty good combination, if you ask me." Aaron Elkins, Edgar^® Award-winning author of Skeleton Dance

Grave Consequences

(Avon, 2002) ISBN 0380819554

Past Malice

(Avon, 2003) ISBN 0380819562

A Fugitive Truth

(Avon, 2004) ISBN 0060554622

More Bitter Than Death

(Avon , 2005) ISBN 0060554630

"Intelligent... you'll understand why this series continues to win new fans."
Jan Burke, Edgar^® Award-winning author of Bloodlines

"[Cameron] delivers a unique, surprise-filled plot that's enhanced by mature, intelligent characters."
Florida Sun-Sentinel

Ashes and Bones

(Avon, 2006) ISBN 0060554673

Winner, 2007 Anthony Award, Best Paperback Original

"With plenty of twists, a well-developed supporting cast and just enough recap to bring readers new to the series up to date without sacrificing momentum, Cameron has crafted a fine suspense thriller."
Publishers Weekly

"Cameron portrays the field of archaeology and the rivalries of academia in vivid detail, and the ways her characters respond to events are realistic and well motivated. "
Romantic Times Book Reviews

About Margaret Chandler:

In several of Emma's adventures, she investigates the life of Margaret Chandler, an Englishwoman who immigrated to Massachusetts in the 1720s. Margaret first appears on her own in a short story, set at Christmas in London, in "The Lords of Misrule."

"The Lords of Misrule," in Sugarplums and Scandal

(Avon, 2006) ISBN 0061136956

Nominee, 2007 Anthony Award, Best Short Story

ASHES AND BONES

Just when everything is going beautifully for archaeologist Emma Fielding-- a position at a respected university, a beautiful home in New England, and the warm love of a devoted husband-- her world starts to crumble. What begins as a series of seemingly innocent gestures-- the anonymous delivery of gifts and flowers to Emma's family and friends-- soon progresses to secret, sadistic acts designed to destroy her reputation, her character, and her career.

Someone has instituted a brilliantly insidious campaign of personal terror against Emma Fielding, and she is certain she knows who it is: a cunning and dangerous enemy whom everyone but she believes is dead. But with no proof, no clues, and no allies, Emma will have to fight alone in the dark to rescue a life being rapidly reduced to ashes... if she can survive long enough to do so.

MORE BITTER THAN DEATH

In an historic, if isolated, New England hotel, some of the most respected names in archaeology are coming together to celebrate the work of Julius Garrison, a legend in the field. It's a conference Emma Fielding is determined to attend -- braving a furious winter storm to get there -- even though Garrison is no friend to her or her family. An when the honoree's lifeless body is discovered outside the snowbound inn, Emma suddenly finds she is a murder suspect, along with a surprising number of the other guests. The bitterness widely spread by a cantankerous old man has had fatal consequences, forcing Emma fielding to put her archaeological skills to forensic use to uncover the truth. But a strange series of thefts and attacks -- and eerie rumors about a ghostly prowler -- suggest that truth may be more deadly than Emma imagines.

A FUGITIVE TRUTH

The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.

But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange brutal demise of her colleague.

When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.

PAST MALICE

Asked to join a dig at the site of the eighteenth-century Chandler House, archaeologist Emma Fielding and her student crew have descended upon Stone Harbor, Massachusetts. But certain residents of the tiny coastal community are none too happy about Emma's arrival -- especially when her excavation uncovers a pair of freshly slain corpses. There are dark forces at play in this dangerously divided town, where a distrust of strangers wars with a desire for tourist dollars. And when a young local's life is snuffed out, Emma is determined to get to the twisted roots of the strange secrets buried in this killing ground. But a mystery that lies among the tumbled ruins of a once grand manor could change Stone Harbor forever. And for some murderous someone, one more death -- Emma's -- would be a small price to pay to keep it hidden.

GRAVE CONSEQUENCES

Archaeologist Emma Fielding is beginning to doubt the wisdom of spending her vacation in England helping friends excavate a twelfth-century abbey, especially when they uncover an all-too-modern skeleton in a nearby medieval graveyard. But it's the second discovery--of a murdered graduate student recently missing from the dig--that suggests to Emma that Marchester isn't exactly the quiet riverside town that it appears to be. There are dark passions and lethal secrets buried here, heinous crimes that shake the conflicted community to its core.  And it's up to Emma, an outsider far from home, to delve into a past that too many people--including her friends--would do anything to hide.

SITE UNSEEN

Brilliant, dedicated, and driven, archaeologist Emma Fielding finds things that have been lost for hundreds of years--and she's very, very good at it. A soon-to-be-tenured professor of archaeology, she has recently unearthed evidence of a 17^th century coastal Maine settlement that predates Jamestown, one of the most significant archaeological finds in years. But the dead body that accompanies it--a corpse washed ashore near the site--has embroiled Emma and her students in a different kind of exploration. With her reputation suddenly in jeopardy--due to the ruthless machinations of a disgruntled rival--and a second suspicious death, heartbreakingly close to home, Emma must unearth a killer among the artifacts. But that means digging deep into her past to dark secrets buried in the heart of the archeological community--which, in turn, could bury Emma Fielding.