I’m excited to host D.M. Cain on my blog today for the Dec. 11 relaunch of her novel, The Phoenix Project. Learn more about this amazing person and author, as well as the events leading to the re-release below.
You first published The Phoenix Project in May 2014. What events led up to the re-release?
I initially released this book myself through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. I never expected, or even wanted, it to be a success – I just wanted to take pride in finally holding my baby in my hands! But the book received a lot of praise and some excellent reviews, so I decided to take writing and publishing more seriously. I wrote and released my second novel, A Chronicle of Chaos, later the same year. In January 2015, I approached US publisher Booktrope who, much to my delight, accepted The Phoenix Project. Thus began the eight-month long process of re-editing and re-designing the entire book.
I put the whole thing through a thorough developmental edit and two rounds of proofreading, plus had a whole new front cover designed. Now it is better than ever and ready to be re-released. 🙂
Could you give a quick description to readers new to the book?
The Phoenix Project is a dark and gritty psychological thriller that is designed to question the way you view justice. This book has brutal violence and ‘edge-of-your-seat’ tension where prisoners are forced to fight to the death for the public’s entertainment. However, beneath all the action the real message of this book lies in the protagonist’s journey as he struggles to overcome his guilt and remorse from the crime that landed him in prison.
When did you first start writing?
I’ve always written stories, for as long as I can remember. I planned my first books when I was around 11 years old but never actually got to writing them until I was 18. That’s when I started working on The Phoenix Project, and it took me 10 years until I finished it! My writing process is now, thankfully, much quicker as A Chronicle of Chaos took 3 years, and The Shield of Soren (due next year) only 1 and a half.
What is your primary genre?
My favourite genre to write is fantasy. My first novel, The Phoenix Project, and a short story that I published in the Awethology Dark entitled ‘The End’, were both dystopian fiction and I did thoroughly enjoy writing both of these. However, I feel that my real passion lies in the epic fantasy genre and the next 10 or more books that I have planned will be within this genre as part of my Light and Shadow Chronicles series.
What do you hope to communicate to your readers?
I feel that my writing is less about communicating something from myself and more about drawing things out of my readers. Yes I poured a lot of my own thoughts, feelings and opinions into my work, but my dream as a writer is to be able to lock onto a reader’s innermost emotions. The Phoenix Project in particular features a lot of emotionally and morally taxing issues which readers have responded to in a multitude of different ways. My main aim is to make my reader feel, no matter which direction this is in.
Do you have any quirky writing habits?
I do almost all of my writing through two distinct methods. The first and foremost way that I get my words down is through weekly #Writestorm sessions with my fellow #Awethors (a Facebook group of other authors that I run.) These intense weekly writing sprints have helped me to write a large number of words in a short amount of time and more than anything they have continued my writing momentum, which sadly gets pushed aside when most of my focus is upon marketing, editing etc.
The other way that I write is by heading to a cafe or restaurant alone, hiding myself in a corner, plugging in my headphones and hand-writing up a frenzy! I get very attached to certain beautiful notebooks and particular pens as well!
Do you keep a regular diary or journal?
I always used to, from the ages of twelve to around twenty. I used to write in it religiously and I have around thirty old notebooks packed full of my daily thoughts, experiences, concert tickets, love letters etc! Then adult life got in the way and I stopped writing my daily life and started writing my make-believe life instead!
Where’s your favorite place to read?
I love to read in the bath. With a very busy and hectic day job and a four-year-old child at home, it’s very difficult to find the time (and quiet!) to read and the bath is one of the few places that I can find some peace and solitude.
If you could spend one day in the life of one of your characters, who would it be and why?
I’d love to be Callista Nienna, the matriarch of the Children of Light in A Chronicle of Chaos. I’m not sure that it would be totally pleasant as she has a LOT of responsibility, but she is amazing – beautiful, immortal, intelligent and one of the strongest warriors the world has ever seen. It would be incredible to walk in her shoes for just one day.
Author Bio
D.M. Cain is a dystopian and fantasy author working for US publisher Booktrope. She has released three novels: The Phoenix Project – a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future, Soren – a middle-grade fantasy, and A Chronicle of Chaos – the first in a dark fantasy series. She is currently working on the next novel in the series, ‘The Shield of Soren’, and a novella to accompany it.
D.M. Cain is also a member of the International Thriller Writers and is one of the creators and administrators of the online author group #Awethors. Her short story ‘The End’ was published in Awethology Dark – an anthology by the #Awethors.
Cain lives in Leicestershire, UK, with her husband and young son, and spends her time reading, writing and reviewing books, playing RPGs and listening to symphonic metal.
Connect with Cain online at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMCainauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMCain84
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/XevZH
Website: www.dmcain84.com
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DMCain/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7888430.D_M_Cain
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzt_E8st1pyfkoTiA4E5jNg
For more information on her work, check out her books on Amazon:
The Phoenix Project –
US: www.amazon.com/D.M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/D.M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/
A Chronicle of Chaos –
US: www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Chaos-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NJ89B8M/
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Chronicle-Chaos-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NJ89B8M/
Soren –
Chess Desalls 
Thank you so much for your help with this 🙂
Happy to! Happy launch week!
Reblogged this on and commented:
I had the chance to talk to the amazing Chess Desalls today about my upcoming re-release of The Phoenix Project on December 11th. Check out the interview here!