Drake's Lair - new cover

Release January 2012
Dorchester Publishing
Tradesize and e-book

Drake's Lair

new cover for Under the Faery Blue Moon

New cover for Ravencliff Bride

Dorchester has create a new version of Raven Cliff Bride for Trade and e-book release.

Dawn's foreign covers - Spain

These are the Spanish translation covers - the top one is for Ravenscliff Bride and the bottom one is for her MacTavish penname, The Privateer. Dawn would have loved them.

Does piracy of books hurt? It destroys lives.

Does piracy of books hurt? It destroys lives.

I knew a lovely lady. She became one of my closest friends. Our friendship was formed on the internet. Likely, we would have never known each other without that magic connection. But that link, while bringing the world to your home, also offers you a mask. Dawn hid herself from the world. Few knew Dawn Thompson was a paraplegic. She could stand, take a step or two, but otherwise, she was trapped in a wheelchair, day in, day out, for the last years of her life.

It was always Dawn’s dream to be an author. The power, the gift of storytelling was in her heart, in her soul. Dawn would have written even if she never was published because the magic was a part of her. Just as she was about to make it in publishing, she was nearly killed in a car accident. It left her with legs that no longer served her, and hands that had not been properly cared for during hospitalization, thus were curled back, useless. She only had use of her index fingers and her thumbs. But oh did she make use of those remaining digits! Dawn wrote dozens of books, most were published by Kensington Books and Dorchester Publishing.

While it was her dream to be published, it also was her necessity to sell her novels. It was one of the few ways left to her where she could raise money to support herself. She was left with a very small disability check, not enough to allow her to survive. She needed that money that would come from her books. In 2007, Dawn was on the verge of being a bestselling author, and her plans were not to buy a second home in Florida or Hawaii, nor buy that yacht we laughingly hear so much about. Dawn’s plans were to have a roof over her head, an apartment in a reasonably safe neighborhood, food for her and for her cat and medicine, the basics that many of us―most of us―take for granted. In the final years of her life, she expanded that drive to want to protect her sister. Her younger sister Candy is also disabled. Dawn thought she could write, sell lots of books and she, the cat and Candy would get by. Nothing fancy, just to be safe, have medicines and decent meals.

My heart broke when I called Dawn one day and she was crying. I finally got the story out of her―what the proud Dawn was trying to hide―just how dire her situation was. She barely had money for food, a condition that had been going on for months. She knew if she could make it until the end of the year, the royalties from her books would actually be giving her the means to survive. She was crying because she was rationing her tea. Tea was a luxury she couldn’t afford, so she allowed herself ONE teabag each Sunday as a treat for herself. Dawn had a helper supplied by the government that came in for a couple hours five days a week. And the aid just went into the kitchen, helped herself to the last tea bag. Dawn wouldn’t have her tea on Sunday. I sat and cried. One teabag per week? How sad was that?

Dawn was so close to making it, but because of the lack of good food she grew weak, and after a long day of work finishing a book, she collapsed as she tried to move from the wheelchair to the bed. As she battled for her life in hospital, she took steps to protect her sister. She gave Candy several of her remaining unpublished books outright, and assigned the rights and royalties of the ones already published to Candy. If the worst came, she wanted Candy taken care of.

The worst did come. We lost Dawn in February 2008, but she died with the belief Candy wouldn’t face the horrible circumstances of choosing between medicine and food, that her pain and hard work would provide the means to take care of her sister. Only Candy is not secure. Her fate is very dire, as bad as what faced Dawn. Maybe worse.

Sad, you say, but how does this relate to piracy?

Simple. Dawn wrote for two publishers, but the one that has control of most of her books is Dorchester Publishing. Recently, they informed the public they were restructuring their business, dropping the mass market line, and moving to only e-book and trade size. Why? Because they are not selling mass market paperbacks on a level to stay in the black. Why should people pay for books, when they can get on the net and enter a name of a book or author and find dozens, hundreds of places where they can download books free. Illegally. People are giving away books, or even more heinous, selling them. They are making money off the hard work of others. When I put in Dawn’s name in a search engine, I shall find her books listed on so many pirate sites it’s sickening. One place selling one of her books illegally had over 4800 downloads. Just ONE book on ONE site. Yes, all those downloading the book might not have ever bought it. But many probably would have. People who professed to love her books would have bought her next book, and her next. Now, why should they pay, when it’s minutes to locate a novel, second to download? To steal it.

These criminals ―yes, THAT is what they are ―make money off Dawn’s works. They are stealing. Dawn used to arise at 7am and would work all day and night and finally struggle into bed around 1am. SEVEN days a week. The whole time she was in agony from metal rods and pins in her body, along with sitting in a wheel chair eighteen hours a day. Those thieves are making money off her agony. The money venues/handlers such as PayPal are making money off Dawn’s pain.

And now they are stealing from Dawn’s sister. They say they aren’t hurting anyone, justifying their criminal activities, because each book is only the “price of a cup of coffee.” But multiply that by two dozen books, multiply that by thousands of downloads, multiply that by dozens, maybe hundreds, even thousands of sites stealing from Dawn’s sister. Suddenly, you are talking about a lot of money. Candy is on very limited means. She gets disability, but is too young for Medicare so she has no medical treatments for dangerously high blood pressure and arthritis. She cannot drive, cannot walk but a few steps with a walker. Currently, she is rooming in a place, and the situation is dangerous to her health. Every penny matters to her simply surviving.

So the next time someone says they can get a book offline cheap, and they aren’t hurting an author because, after all, they all live in big, fancy homes and have a yacht, think again. You are stealing food from people, medical care, a decent place to live. You are stealing people’s hard work. The next time you search out your favorite author on a torrent, before you push that button know you are stealing from people’s children, and you hurt people’s ability to support themselves. Ask yourself, if you would work at your job when people refused to pay you and yet expected you to perform anyway? Could you survive in a job where you might not get money for months, years?

You are stealing. Plain and simple. There is no justification for that. You are hurting people, and none of the blithe rationalizations can whitewash that bald fact.

Dawn's first and last gets a 4 star

	RENEGADE RIDERS by Dawn MacTavish RT Rating: Category: HISTORICAL Setting: Post-Civil War Arizona Publisher: LEISURE Published: March 2010
Published posthumously, this was actually MacTavish's first novel. It's a rugged tale in the tradition of Zane Grey, complete with an honorable cowboy, a headstrong woman and a cast of wonderfully detestable villains who fulfill western readers' fantasies. Summary: Trace Ord is a renegade rider, a wrangler for hire sent to reclaim rustled horses. When he finds someone stealing his horse, he shoots and asks questions later. The thief turns out to be a woman. Mae Comstock is fleeing her ruthless husband when she comes upon Trace. He vows to help her, not knowing how much she will change his life. Determined to get back to her family in Kentucky, Mae teams up with Trace to expose Comstock as a killer and a rustler. Drawing him into her life and without meaning to, they fall in love. With help from old and new friends, they find not only the means to justice, but a way to a new life. (LEISURE, Mar., 300 pp., $7.99) HOT —Kathe Robin

Remembering Dawn....

Today is 2nd Anniversary of the passing of Dawn Thompson. We who loved her quietly keep her memory close to our hearts. It's still very hard to believe she is gone, hard to believe it's two years.

Her last wish was for us not to forget her.

We remember, Dawn. Every day we remember....

Romantic Times review of Counterfeit Lady

COUNTERFEIT LADY
by Dawn MacTavish

RT Rating: ****
Category: HISTORICAL
Setting: Regency England
Publisher: LEISURE
Published: November 2009
Type: Historical

MacTavish switches gears from her most recent adventure romances to craft a charming, lighthearted Regency. She takes a simple plotline and charms readers with the mayhem that ensues. It's truly a joyous read.

---

Summary: As companion to Lady Clara, Alice agrees to attend a masked ball masquerading as her mistress to ascertain if the man Clara's sponsor wants her to meet is as hideous as the rumors say.

One dance and Nigel Farnham is entranced. But the lady flees before the unmasking, fueling his determination to uncover her identity. Though Alice is to pose as Clara for one night, Clara's disappearance forces her to keep up the charade and pushes her into Nigel's arms. Then a rival for Nigel's affections steps forward and Clara returns, determined to win Nigel and destroy Alice's reputation. But nothing can stand in the way of true love. (LEISURE, Nov., 320 pp., $6.99) HOT

—Kathe Robin

Cover for Renegade Riders

Coming March 2010 from Leisure Books - the only Western Dawn ever wrote.

Renegade Riders by Dawn Mactavish
[mass market paper: Leisure Books; March, 2010; $7.99; ISBN: 0843963220; ISBN-13: 9780843963229]

Prisoner of the Flames - Best Historical Nominee 2008

Dawn's sister Candy was informed that The Ravening had one the Romantic Times Award for Best Shapeshifter Romance.

She was so thrilled, as we all were. Dawn had three wishes 1) to be a bestselling author 2) win a RITA Award and 3) win a RT Award. She's accomplished two of these, though sadly not here to see her victories. The Counterfeit Lady will be the first of Dawn's books to have "Bestselling Author" on the cover and The Ravening was the RT Awards. She said of Milosh the hero, "If they don't fall for him, then I will give up! He's a hero for the ages!" Well, Milosh got 4 4 1/2 stars, TOP PICK and Milosh got the KISS Award from RT for being one of those heroes we cannot forgot. Sadly, the RITA has evaded her.

However, there was a small victory that was overlooked. Her MacTavish book, Prisoner of the Flames was also nominated by Romantic Times Magazine as one of the Best Historicals Romance of 2008. Dawn would have been so thrilled over this. She once confided that she knew this was one they would never publisher -- the hero's face was scared and the heroine was blind, and it was more old style historical fiction than historical romance. She was so thrilled with Chris Keelser bought it for Dorchester, but I am certain we would have been over the moon knowing it was selected for this honor. So while not a win, Dawn would have cried knowing her Prisoner triumphed through the flames!

Dawn Thompson Memorial Haunted Hearts Contest

August Contests

**Dawn Thompson Memorial Haunted Hearts Contest

Sponsor: RWA Gothic Romance Writers

Fee: $15 for Goth Rom Members; $25 for Non-Goth Rom

Postmarked Deadline: August 1, 2009;

E-Mail Receipt: Midnight, August 1, 2009

Eligibility: Not published in last 5 years by an RWA-approved publisher; not contracted by deadline.

Entry: First chapter (25 pages max), synopsis (one page max); must include Gothic elements.
Categories: Historical Gothic and Contemporary Gothic.
Final judges: TBA.
Top Prize: Certificate. FMI,

http://gothrom.net/contest.html or Lise Horton, lhorton@fkks.com.

new cover for Counterfeit Lady

Lord of the Dark featured on Publishers Weekly

Barbara Vey at Publishers Weekly Blog.  They just showcased it today

 

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288/post/1220041522.html

 

 

 

 

Lord of the Dark by Dawn Thompson

Read by Marie

Gideon was the greatest Archangel of the Arcan Gods until he was banished and punished for lusting after a mortal woman.  Now cursed and forced to live with his sin for decades, Gideon can’t hide his wings and he can’t fly with becoming painfully aroused with no way to ease the pain without punishment.  Rhiannon was on her way to her betrothed when was shipwrecked just off the coast of a desolate island.  After washing ashore, she made her way to what appeared to be an abandoned cave, since there was no one inside or any where around the area she took advantage of some of the items stored inside.  After bathing in the cave's pool, she came face-to-face with a towering naked man with massive silver wings.

I loved this book.  Dawn has written compelling characters in this series of banished heroes.  The pages sparked with fire.  I laughed the first time I saw the warning label on the back, but I found out quickly that it was appropriate.  This is the second book in the series but my first by this author and I will be going straight away to pick up the others.  I was very saddened to hear that she left us last year.  She was a magnificent storyteller.

 

Romantic Times Award for The Ravening.

The Romantic Times magazine just informed Candy that Dawn received the award for Best Historical Shape Shifter 2008.

From RT:

Our Awards Ceremony will be held in Orlando, Friday, April 24, 2009 form 4:30-6:30pm at the Wyndham-Orlando Resort and we will include Dawn in the Awards Presentation portion of the Program and also in the Awards Power Point Presentation which we are currently working on.

Dawn’s name will be in the Awards Program and will appear the June issue of RT BOOKreviews magazine as an Award Winner. It will also appear on our website awards' archives as a 2008 winner.  

Candy is so very thrilled and honored that Dawn's book is receiving this award.   Romantic Times gave this book 4 1/2 stars (they don't give 5 stars), was a TOP PICK and received the KISS Award from them for her hero Milosh.  Milosh was likely Dawn most beloved hero, so this would please her so much.

Remembering Dawn......

Today is the first anniversary of the death of Dawn. It's a hard day, because you reflect how empty the world is without this special Lady.

We remember Dawn.......

Miss Fuzz saying hello....

Miss Fuzz checking in....

As you can see I am doing well.  I eat several small cans of very expensive cat food each day, I get bottled water and I am sleeping on a king size bed wiht my big fluffy king size feather pillow.

I am not sure why DeborahAnne is sticking a flashy thingie in my face, but she insists I must say hello...

Rape of the Soul nominated for Best Horror 2008

Dawn would be so happy!

Dawn's epic saga - RAPE OF THE SOUL has been nominated for Best Horror novel 2008 at the P&E Awards.

You can vote for her book

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novelh.shtml

Barnes and Noble

Call your US Senator to see unemployment extended please

Date: Nov 18, 2008 12:06 PM Subject: Call your US senator to see unemployment extended Body: Unemployment Extension Legislation Update before US Senate
November 17, 2008:

The National Employment Law Project is asking for assistance in getting the Senate to pass an unemployment extension. They suggest calling 1-800-473-6711, asking to speak with your Senators’ offices, and telling them that unemployment is a national crisis and that you need them to pass the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008.



I personally know people who have been on uneployment and it's running out. They will be facing no Thanksgiving and maybe eviction from their homes in Decemeber unless unemployment is extended.


PLEASE CALL. - the number is US Capitol, ask for the senator of your state - you don't need to know his name - just your state. His office will answer.


Tell her to have the senator vote for unemployment extention as soon as possible, so families will have a safe holiday season.

5 hearts review for Lord of the Dark

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pub. Date: August 2008
ISBN-13: 9780758221803
304pp

Gideon, Lord of the Dark, Prince of the Air, winged arch angel that had fallen from grace because of his l

ust, was now cursed. Cursed to be eternally aroused, the slightest touch to his wings would about make him mad with need, a need to sink himself deep within a woman. That was also part of his curse, he was allowed no women in which to relieve himself, and the lightening bearing watchers/harpies of the gods made sure of that, striking him down if he even came close. A fallen angel, alone in the world without his soul mate but constantly aroused is about to pull one over on the gods…

Rhiannon was unwillingly on her way to meet her betrothed when their ship crashed because of the angry sirens song. Shipwrecked in the ocean and not a strong swimmer, Rhiannon did all that she could think of; pray to the gods. Washing ashore, she found a small cave and entered taking the liberties of a bath only to be surprised by this beautiful winged man. He was amazingly gorgeous, even when he tried to frighten her away, it awakened cravings neither had ever known before. Rhiannon still an innocent and virgin, Gideon Lord of the Dark, frenzied with need… the watchers hadn’t seen her, so could he keep her? After that first kiss, he knew he could never let her go, but there are other powers and entities out there that must be overcome. Fate can be a cruel and evil thing.

Lord of the Dark by Dawn Thompson is an enthralling erotic historical that will awaken the need in every woman! I’m telling you this book was on FIRE! The sexual scenes were intense but tasteful, there was not a moment that went by that Rhiannon was not getting into trouble, strong willed, or falling deeper in love with Gideon.

I can not express how enamored I am with Dawn Thompson’s Lord of the Dark. I know there are more books in the series, this was the second. I have to have those other books! I know Da

wn is not her with us, but her words will continue to live on. I really loved this book! 5 Hearts - Crystal Book Reviews

Purchase any of Dawn Thompson’s books on Amazon. com, Barnesandnoble. com, or at your local bookstore.  

Book 3 of The Elements, Coming December 30, 2008

Book 1 available in bookstores and online, in it's second

printing

Romantic Times - 4 1/2 start and TOP PICK for Prisoner of the Flames

PRISONER OF THE FLAMES
by Dawn MacTavish
RT Rating:**** ½ - TOP PICK
Category: HISTORICAL FICTION
Setting: 1562 France
Publisher: Leisure
Published: November 2008
Type: Historical

MacTavish melds the dark and sensual mood of Phantom of the Opera with the historical detail and intrigue of Les Miserables to deliver an enthralling, non-stop read. Looking for depth, emotion and history? You'll clamor for more.

Summary: Scarred by fire when he was an infant, Robert Mack, the Laird of Berwickshire, wears a mask to hide his deformity. He believes that the famed healer Nostradamus could cure him, but that means traveling to Paris, where intrigue runs high and a civil war looms.

In Paris, he rescues Violette Cherier, a blind flower girl, from attackers and makes some powerful enemies. Trying to navigate the labyrinth of politics while keeping Violette safe and his dreams of a new life as a whole man alive is difficult, and one false move means imprisonment. Soon Robert learns that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, it's in the heart.

(Leisure, Nov., 380 pp., $6.99) HOT—Kathe Robin

Romantic Times mention of Dawn and her books

The Romantic Times has a nice spot about Dawn and her works.


It was a reader asking questions about the status of Dawn's series The Elementals. (Click on the image at left and read the articlce with comments from Kensington editor, Hilary Sares.)



Here is the current information on Dawn's remaining works:







Rape of the Soul (Highland Press) was released in July 2008 - this is not Dawn's current style of writing, as it's Historical Suspense - Horror, not Romance. It's an amazing saga, of evil, passion and and the quest to understand the past. And Epic novel.











Lord of the Forest - (Kensington Aphrodisia) will release the third and final work in The Elementals Janurary 2009.







Lord of the Fire was proposed, Dawn outlined it completely from her hospital bed, but it was never full started. Kensington elected to publish the third book in the series, but returned the rights of Lord of the Fire. There are hopes by Dawn's family this book someday may be written for Dawn as an honor to Dawn's hard work right up to the time of her death.


Prisoner of the Flames -- with her writing at Dawn MacTavish, was just released by Dorchester's Leisure Books. It's currently out and selling very well. It's not a true Romance, but Historical Fiction. This was the first book Dawn wroter after her car accident, that left her confined to a wheelchair for the next 11 years. Amazing work of historical period writing.

The Bride of Time (Dorchester Love Spell), possible Dawn's best romance, this time travel is an amazing work. It was release last month by Dorchester.

Reprints of Children of the Wind and Odin's Daughter will be done by Highland Press and out in 2009. These were books that Dawn had done in small press, and saw very limited release. Odin's Daughter is currently selling for $500-800 by collectors. Hang on and do not pay that! They will be reprints by Highland Press under the Legacy Imprint.

There are still remaining books to come:

Ranks of Death - and IRA novel

The Counterfiet Lady - a Regency Romance - from Leisure Books, Sept 2009

Drake's Lair - a Regency Paranormal Romance

Renegade Rider - a Western - from Leisure Books, 2010

Besides the books contracts before Dawn's death, there remains a missing box of typed manuscripts that her sister hopes will turn up as they sort of out Dawn's personal belongings in storage. We will keep you posted on that status of releases as they are firmed up.