Meet author Dawn Ford

Dawn Ford is a fellow Scrivenings Press author who writes amazing middle-grade and young adult fairytale fantasies! I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but her Band of Unlikely Heroes series caught me and kept me reading. I can’t wait to get to know her better!

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Jen – Hi Dawn! I’m so happy to have you on my blog. Will you tell us a bit about your background before we dive into you as a writer?

Dawn – Sure! I grew up on farms in Western Iowa along the Loess Hills. Besides a few stints of living outside of Iowa, I have lived there all of my life. I am a small-town girl at heart. I have been blessed with wonderful church families along the way wherever I’ve lived.

One church in particular, the church of Christ in Yankton, SD, has a special place in my heart for supporting me and my family when my husband and I moved there to run a business. We’d purchased an old bank building that had been turned into a restaurant. It was my husband John’s dream, which didn’t end quite as we’d hoped when we ended up bankrupt from the experience. After having weathered several blizzards with a faulty furnace that was a money pit, our church family helped support us through it all. They were truly an example of Jesus to us that I will never forget.

Dawn Ford’s journey as a writer

Jen – You can’t beat an amazing “family” like that! What about you as a writer? How did that start?

Dawn – My journey in writing started with writing non-fiction, but quickly turned to fiction stories after my best friend, Lorna Seilstad, encouraged me. I settled on fantasy stories after several agents and publishers mentioned how much more my fantasy stories attracted their attention. It would take more than a dozen years to find a home for my stories when I sent the first of my Firebird series, The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, to Linda Fulkerson of Scrivenings Press after I’d finished a major overhaul of the manuscript. I was so blessed that Linda loved the manuscript enough to offer me a contract. The rest, as they say, is history. I would not be where I am without Linda taking a chance on me and publishing my strange tales of twisted fairy tales.

Jen – Linda is a blessing! She took a chance on me, too, so I understand what you mean and I’m forever in her debt. Here’s something I always ask writers – are you a plotter or a pantser?

Dawn – Truly, I am a panster when it comes to writing. However, once you have contracts and deadlines, you learn quickly to become a plotter. I will never be a true plotter, but I have learned quickly that it’s better to have a plan, especially when it comes to series where all of the threads have to be tied off in the end. 

Jen – I agree. I’m a pantser pretty much all the way, but I’m working toward at least having the major plot points established.

Dawn Ford’s bio:

Winner of the 2016 ACFW Genesis Award, the 2024 Scrivenings Press Speculative Award, and Finalist in the 2023 Carol Awards and 2024 Realm Makers Realm Awards, Dawn Ford has been recognized for her published and non-published works.

As a child, Dawn often had her head in the clouds, creating scenes and stories for anything and everything she came across. She believed there was magic everywhere, a sentiment she has never outgrown. Nature inspires her, and her love for the underdog and the unlikely hero colors much of what she writes.

Dawn adores anything Steampunk, is often distracted by shiny, pretty things, and her obsession with purses and shoes borders on hoarding. She lives in Iowa with her husband, a chef and food service business owner.

Dawn & research

Jen – What about research? If you write fantasy, is there much research to do?

Dawn – Research is important for many aspects of my stories, but I rely mainly on my imagination to craft a deeply rooted story world and characters. My Band of Unlikely Heroes story has a big element based upon an old Norwegian fairy tale, Katie Woodencloak, which lent a basic detail to the series: the woodencloak. All of the characters are twisted versions of fairytales, Horra Fyd after Snow White, who was the fairest in the land; however, Horra is not so fair—she’s green and warty. Glory Toppenbottom is the reverse of the fairy princesses since she’s vain and selfish. Rowan is the Pinocchio wood boy of the story, but instead of telling lies, he only tells what he knows to be the truth. And Grendel Largeness is the beast in the Beauty and the Beast, only she’s cowardly, a real scaredy cat. I love twisting what is expected into the unexpected.

Jen – I love Horra! She’s amazing and my hero! 🙂 Let’s talk about your series – Woodencloak (book 1), Mossycoat (book 2), Tatterhood (book 3), and Shadowcape (book 4) is your latest! Tell us more about that.

Dawn – Here’s the blurb for Shadowcape:

Four heroes. One dark enemy. A battle that could change the Wilden Lands forever.

After the Erlking’s latest attack, Queen Bearer Horra Fyd searches desperately for a way to end his evil schemes once and for all. But when the rats destroy the hidden books that may hold the answers, hope begins to slip away.

An experiment gone wrong throws their newest ally—Grendel—into chaos, just as children begin to vanish and the elves abandon their secret kingdom. Shadows gather. Secrets surface. And time is running out.

Now Horra, Rowan, Glory, and Grendel must summon courage greater than their fears and faith stronger than their doubts. If they fail, the Erlking and his wicked minions will seize the Wilden Lands—and destroy everything they love.

Fans of epic sagas like The Lord of the Rings will be swept into this breathtaking world of magic, peril, and unlikely heroes.

Will the band rise to face the darkness … or will their world fall into ruin? Read this exciting series conclusion to find out.

Dawn Ford’s goals

Jen – I can’t wait to read it! It’s such a fun series. I know you have another series too – The Firebird Series, beginning with The Girl with Stars in her Eyes. I haven’t started that one yet! What would you say your goal is with your writing?

Dawn – My goal is to reach children and teens who love fantastical stories like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series with a story that gives them hope and inspiration. I grew up in the 80s and read VC Andrews at way too young an age, though I’m unsure if any age should read her Flowers in the Attic series. It was horrific to my young mind. As a mother and now a grandmother, I want good stories for children and teens to read that will enlighten and not darken their mindsets. And if I can point them toward our Creator with my words and stories, my mission is complete.

Jen – I so agree! Our world, our society, needs GOOD books to read – ones that offer hope, peace, and God’s love. What do you enjoy reading?

Dawn – I love to read and seem to go through genre cycles. I am currently reading mainly Victorian Romances. I love historical fiction, but don’t know that I could ever write it. The work these writers have to do to get the details correct is beyond me. It’s easier for me to create a world than try to recreate the finer details and get it correct. But my true love is for fantasy stories. The quirkier the better! One of my favorite authors and a friend of mine is Carrie Anne Noble. She writes some amazing fairy tale spin-offs. I absolutely adore the Hansel & Gretel tale with her Gingerbread Legacy series! It’s so adorable and fun.

Keep in touch with Dawn

Jen – How can readers find you?

Dawn – Anyone can find me on Facebook and Instagram. I also have a Pinterest page. All of my books are listed on Amazon, Bookbub, and Goodreads, and you can find me on Barnes & Noble as well. I send a newsletter out, which readers can find on my website. I’m not a spammy newsletter sender, but I do offer giveaways from time to time.   

Social Media Links: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads 

Bookbub, Website, Amazon author page

Dawn’s favorites

Jen – Okay, time for my last questions! Give us all of your favorites – drink, Scripture, animals. Tell us more about you!

Dawn – I cannot live without my espresso-strength coffee each morning. Mornings are not my time of day, as I am a night owl. Summer is my favorite season, though Spring is a close second. Though I am an Iowan at heart, someday I hope to have a nest in the south to hibernate in when Winter comes to call.

Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite scriptures, “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s also a song I sing to myself all the time. I have found that in the most turbulent times of my life, just to stop and be still. Then I will feel His presence and know that I can trust Him with what I am going through.

If I were to choose between dogs and cats, it would definitely be dogs. My beloved beagle passed away two years ago, and I still grieve his passing. I do like cats, but from a distance.

Advice for new authors

Jen – Dawn, what advice would you give new authors?

Dawn – My advice for new authors is to keep writing and surround yourself with a strong circle of writing friends. The outside world will not understand the internal struggles we as writers go through. Having friends who can empathize helps to remain focused and know you are not alone in your struggles. And when you build a strong base of friends, it’s easier to network, which can be the difference of getting a foot in the door when you might otherwise be passed by.

There were many things along the way that helped inspire me to write. I think God gifted me with it before I was born—Him being omniscient and everything. He gave me vivid dreams and such an active imagination that I had to be creative. Writing is one way I express this gift, but I also love to do crafts and other creative things. However, writing is one way I can plant seeds of hope and belief in God. That’s truly incredible.

Thank you, Dawn Ford!

Jen – It truly is! Thank you so much for being on my blog and telling us more about you and your books!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024, and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)