Interview with Dawn Hemmings: The Story Behind My Dark Secret

About Author: Outside of her day job, Dawn Hemmings loves exploring new places and going on adventures. She’s a true wanderer, whether she’s traveling around the world or driving through the beautiful roads of the UK in her campervan named Freeda.

Dwan grew up in North Lincolnshire and lives with her two Maine Coons Banjo and Presley. She has been working in health and safety for more than 27 years. She’s achieved academic success with an MSc in Environmental Health and Safety and an MBA. Dawn has also been a hairdresser and a skilled personal assistant.

In her books, she weaves in stories inspired by her diverse travels and her fascination with mysteries and murder.

1. You had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Passionate, Motivated, Creative

2. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and What made you want to start writing?

Was there a moment that made you think, “I want to write a book”? One of my passions is to travel.  I’ve currently been to 65 countries.  I just love to experience different cultures and to see places you wouldn’t normally see on a normal holiday. I don’t like beach holidays, so I go on holidays through Explore which are all organised for you.  My job is in Health and Safety, and I have been doing this job for over 28 years but started of my career as a hairdresser.  I never wanted to write as I only obtained a CSE 3 in English Language and Literature so never thought I had it in me, but as the saying goes there is a book in everyone.  Then one day 6 years ago I started conducting research for a book and it wasn’t until last year when I was working with a Personal Trainer who gave me the confidence to write the book.  The book is dedicated to him – Ryan.

3. What inspired you to write My Dark Secret? How did you come up with the idea for Isla’s story?

I have been wanting to write a murder book for a long time.  I was driving round a roundabout near Tesco’s in Scunthorpe (this is in the book) and thought you could hide a body in there and no one would know.  So, it was going to be called the Roundabout Murders but then I would drive past places where I thought the same things so started to keep a list of places where you could hide a body, and so the book evolved from there.

4. Isla is fascinated by true crime. Do you share that interest? Did you draw from real-life cases when writing the book?

I do very much so.  Most of the fascination in the book is me, my curiosity which is why I wanted to write a murder book.

5. Your book is known for its meticulous details in Isla’s planning. How did you balance giving enough detail without overwhelming the reader?

That was hard.  I’ve read books where there it had too much detail and I got bored and skipped pages.  I wanted to make sure there was enough detail that the reader can form the pictures in their mind but not enough that it switched them off.  I am all about keep it simple and to the point.  

6. What’s the most important thing to keep in mind when writing a psychological thriller like this?

You need to do your research that is key.  I did the diploma in Forensic Science and the two A Levels in Criminology and Criminal Psychology.  I wanted to make it believable

7. Did writing My Dark Secret affect you in any way? How did you feel after finishing such an intense story?

No not really as most of the fascination of why people kill comes from me.  I have read a lot of true crime novels and watched true crime programmes, so this book was kind if autobiographical. I didn’t get excited about the book until got a copy of the book and then I sat and read it like it was someone else’s book.  I love it.

8. Tell us about your Maine Coons, Banjo and Presley. How do they fit into your daily life?

My boys are my children, I couldn’t imagine my life without them and my house feels empty when they are not there.  They both like being around me and wherever I am they are too.  Just like Apollo they look at me and judge me or that’s what it feels like, especially Banjo. If I am watching TV, they are there with me even if I go to the toilet they follow me.  So, when I am at home I am never alone, and I love that. I wouldn’t be without them.

9. Are there any challenges you faced while writing “My Dark Secret,” and how did you overcome them?

I think I was the challenge, getting out of my own way to write the book.  I needed to find the confidence that the story was a good one.  One day I just started writing and two months later I was finished

10. The book explores the line between what’s right and what’s wrong. What do you hope readers will take away from Isla’s story?

I think that they would take away that’s this kind of behaviour isn’t normal and that there is only a very small amount of people in the world that would go through with Islas plan

11. With such a busy career and love for adventure, how do you find time to write? What does your writing routine look like?

Everyone asks me that. I guess not having kids or children helps, but I need to keep busy otherwise I get bored.  I don’t really have a routine I just write when the mood takes me.  I do record a lot of voice notes about ideas I have for the book as I am out walking on a train or driving.

12. Do you have other writers in the family and friends?

No, I am the only one however my sister is a very good proofreader.

13. Are there any specific authors or books that have influenced your writing style?

No not really but I do read Patrcia Cornwell and Kathy Reich’s.

14. Do you see yourself writing more books like My Dark Secret, or are you interested in exploring other genres?

Yes, this is one of three.  The next one will be called My Even Darker Secret and the last No More Secrets.  I also have a plan to write a non-fiction about my Grandad who was a POW during the second world war in Italy

15. What advice do you have for aspiring authors, especially those interested in writing thriller novels?

It doesn’t matter if you are not good at English it’s the story that counts.