All About Skyla Dawn Cameron
I have an "official" bio on the company site, but I figured I should have a little more here on my official site.So...what's there to say about me? Well, I've been writing since I could hold a pencil. My early years were spent telling stories with my many, many Barbie dolls (all of which I still own). I had a real love for Disney (I had a total Cinderella complex), and a real love for horror. That led to Barbie stories with princesses and princes, evil witches, and zombies.
Yes, I was a bizarre child.
My first poem publication came at age eleven. I had a few more pieces published in anthologies, tried my hand at journalism in tenth grade, then eventually decided to pursue writing full time straight out of high school. At age twenty-one, I signed my first book contract, which was with Mundania Press for the award-winning "River." By this point, I'd completed a few novels, but you know how everyone always says, "Never try to publish your first book, 'cause it probably sucks?" Well, they're right.
I'm twenty-seven and I live in Southern Ontario (near Toronto). I'm a vegetarian (and totally fab cook), secular humanist, feminist, and have no problem sharing my opinions quite loudly. I'm half Irish, and I'm afraid to say the stereotype is true: I love a good alcoholic beverage. Or a bad one, for that matter (it never pays to be picky).If I wasn't a writer, I'd want to be world dictator. Come to think of it, I'd like to be world dictator AND be a writer. One day, right?
I do a lot of volunteer and committee work, and I tell you this--gentle reader--not to impress you, but shock you because I'm hardly known for my charity work. I'm cynical, snarky, and fiercely loyal to those I consider friends. I like horror movies, Joss Whedon, Kettle Chips, and politics. I dislike know-it-all pricks, social conservatives, reruns, and people unable to follow simple directions. I'm pro equal marriage, reproductive rights, and kittens (yes, I think you can be 'pro-kitten'!). I have a low threshold for pain, little tolerance for stupidity, and nothing but contempt for the channel Fox. I have a special place in my heart for people who tell me I'm brilliant, but stay far, far away from Turkish guys who send me creepy emails (of which there have been two).
*The photo above was taken July 2008, when I was invited to visit Jungle Cat World in Orono. I'm pictured with Cheyenne, a fifteen month old timber wolf. Below, you can see me looking rather Juliet-ish.*
I spent several months as a blonde:
Then I was a sultry red-headed vixen:
See my Twitter or Facebook page for my current hair colour.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEW! Is River being made into a movie?
No. I've been getting a lot of google hits about this, but no--no movie. At least not yet. Catharsis is being made into a movie by some young filmmakers in Australia, but no one has bought the rights to River...so, if you want 'em, I'll sell. ;-) Unless you're Joss Whedon, in which case I'll exchange them for the chance to sit and talk to you for like an hour.
NEW! Can you give me a free book?
Um, no. Unless I can go to where you work and take your products without paying. ;-) Really, please don't ever, ever ask authors to give you one of their books free unless you won it in a contest. We're not rich. We can't afford to give a book to everyone who wants one and it makes us very uncomfortable when you ask for free stuff. So please don't.
Will there be another River book after Wolfe?
No.
Why do you have some books available free under the serials section?
I write a lot. Fifteen books in nine years, so far, so the idea of having serials to build my fanbase didn't scare me. And they're mostly free because many were my own experiments and stuff I wanted to do for fun.
Mostly free?
Mostly.
I'm a newbie writer. Can you give me advice?
Sure. Write. A lot. Learn to read your work like a reader, not the brilliant writer who wrote it. Remember that no one cares about your book as much as you do. Write some more. Try not to whine a lot. Next?
Can you read my stuff and offer me suggestions?
No. Conflict of interest--if I'm working on something similar, I don't want you to sue me for stealing your idea. Get a crit group if you want help.
Can you read my to-be-published book and give me an advanced review?
Sure. Unless you write for PublishAmerica.
What's wrong with PA?
Don't get me started.
I have this really great book--can you introduce me to your publisher?
No.
I heard you work in acquisitions. Can I email you, butter you up, and then stand a better chance when I submit my novel to you later?
If you want to, but the odds of me remembering your name are slim to none. Also, if I *do* recognize the name of someone submitting something to the acquisitions department, I outsource the slush reading. I don't work for the company to help my friends.
Can I add you as a friend on Facebook?
I'd rather you friend my fan page (link to your right). Occasionally I get stalkers.
Can I stalk you?
Please don't, unless you're Dina James (she has exclusive stalking rights).
Can I send you fan mail?
Please do.
NEW! Is River being made into a movie?
No. I've been getting a lot of google hits about this, but no--no movie. At least not yet. Catharsis is being made into a movie by some young filmmakers in Australia, but no one has bought the rights to River...so, if you want 'em, I'll sell. ;-) Unless you're Joss Whedon, in which case I'll exchange them for the chance to sit and talk to you for like an hour.
NEW! Can you give me a free book?
Um, no. Unless I can go to where you work and take your products without paying. ;-) Really, please don't ever, ever ask authors to give you one of their books free unless you won it in a contest. We're not rich. We can't afford to give a book to everyone who wants one and it makes us very uncomfortable when you ask for free stuff. So please don't.
Will there be another River book after Wolfe?
No.
Why do you have some books available free under the serials section?
I write a lot. Fifteen books in nine years, so far, so the idea of having serials to build my fanbase didn't scare me. And they're mostly free because many were my own experiments and stuff I wanted to do for fun.
Mostly free?
Mostly.
I'm a newbie writer. Can you give me advice?
Sure. Write. A lot. Learn to read your work like a reader, not the brilliant writer who wrote it. Remember that no one cares about your book as much as you do. Write some more. Try not to whine a lot. Next?
Can you read my stuff and offer me suggestions?
No. Conflict of interest--if I'm working on something similar, I don't want you to sue me for stealing your idea. Get a crit group if you want help.
Can you read my to-be-published book and give me an advanced review?
Sure. Unless you write for PublishAmerica.
What's wrong with PA?
Don't get me started.
I have this really great book--can you introduce me to your publisher?
No.
I heard you work in acquisitions. Can I email you, butter you up, and then stand a better chance when I submit my novel to you later?
If you want to, but the odds of me remembering your name are slim to none. Also, if I *do* recognize the name of someone submitting something to the acquisitions department, I outsource the slush reading. I don't work for the company to help my friends.
Can I add you as a friend on Facebook?
I'd rather you friend my fan page (link to your right). Occasionally I get stalkers.
Can I stalk you?
Please don't, unless you're Dina James (she has exclusive stalking rights).
Can I send you fan mail?
Please do.
