Urban fantasy, mystery writer to discuss works at Lafayette memorial program
Norwich — Award-winning author Dana Cameron was working as an archaeologist at a dig site in Maine about 20 years ago when she and a co-worker confronted a potential looter with a metal detector. He pulled a handgun on the two women.
Not knowing what to do, Cameron said she quickly tried to memorize everything — his looks, clothes, car, license plate — in case he started shooting. The man's girlfriend intervened, quelled the tensions, and the two eventually left the site.
Months later, a friend told Cameron she should write it all down.
“Boom!” Cameron said. “I had one of those inspirations that told me I needed to write fiction. I had an archaeologist, a site in Maine, and a looter with a gun, and that was the start of 'Site Unseen,' the first of my six Emma Fielding mysteries.”
Emma Fielding, the central character of the series, is a trained archaeologist as well as an amateur sleuth.
Two friends once asked Cameron to write a story about a werewolf at Christmas. She wrote several stories with the unlikely superheroes being werewolves and vampires. These became the basis for her Fangborn series of novels.
Cameron has since branched out into other genres of fiction — thriller, urban fantasy and horror — writing both short stories and novels.
Cameron, 50, will be the guest author at this year's Eighth Annual Jim Lafayette Memorial Series of Writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy, at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at Otis Library in Norwich.
The series is funded by the Lafayette family of Norwich in memory of their teenage son, Jim, who was an aspiring writer and avid fan of science fiction and fantasy genres.
The program brings guest authors who discuss their writings, offer advice and answer questions from the audience.
The Lafayettes also donated Jim's extensive collection of science fiction books to the library.
Faye Ringel, retired professor of Humanities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, coordinates the series each year, selecting the guest author and serving as introductory interviewer at the start of the session.
That won't be difficult this year, Ringel said, “She's a very dynamic speaker.”
Ringel — a literary critic of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing — met Cameron two years ago at Boskone, the annual Boston science fiction convention. The two served on a panel together.
“She's a very good speaker with a wide and varied background,” Ringel said. “She has a doctorate in archaeology. She has written in many genres.”
Cameron's mystery writings have won Anthony, Agatha and Macavity awards, all literary awards for mystery books.
Ringel said with Cameron's notoriety as a mystery writer, she expects members of The Usual Suspects, a mystery book club from New London Public Library to attend on Aug. 10.
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Editor's note: this version corrects the start time of the event.
Science Fiction/fantasy author discussion
Jim Lafayette Memorial Series of Writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Monday, Aug. 10, 6 p.m., Otis Library.
Guest author: Dana Cameron
Admission: Free. Refreshments will be served.
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