Prolific UK writer Mark Dawson is the bestselling author of the John Milton, Beatrix Rose, Isabella Rose, and Soho Noir thriller series. He’s currently ranked among the top 50 hottest-selling “Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense” authors on Amazon, and his remarkable self-publishing success story has been featured in Forbes, The Financial Times, and on the BBC.
Dawson was bitten early by the writing bug. He finished his first novella while still in middle school. Later, he went to law school and practiced for a few years before deciding it wasn’t for him. Other jobs along the way included stints as a DJ and selling ice cream in Chicago.
In 2000 he released his first novel, “a literary thriller” titled The Art of Falling Apart, issued by a major publisher. It didn’t sell well, though, mainly because the publisher failed to promote it. Dawson spent a decade in the British film industry, but his desire to write persisted.
When he heard about self-publishing ebooks on Kindle, Dawson decided to give it a try. He uploaded a WWII-era serial-killer thriller, The Black Mile. Then, he began to experiment with various promotional techniques. He watched in amazement as tens of thousands of copies were downloaded onto Kindles.
Galvanized, Dawson immediately set to work on his John Milton series. Making every moment count, he typed them on his laptop while commuting to and from his London job. To date, the seven books — including The Cleaner, The Driver, and the just-released Headhunters — have sold well over 300,000 copies. Dawson then branched out into the highly successful Beatrix Rose thrillers (beginning with In Cold Blood), as well as a series of “noir” period titles and several stand-alone tales.
After several attempts to schedule an interview with this busy writer, husband, and father, I finally caught up with him for this fascinating chat.
Note: You can receive a free selection of Mark’s ebooks by clicking this link to his website.
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The Vigilante Author: Mark, as a fellow self-published author, I have to tell you that your success is an inspiration to me. Before we get down into the weeds, why don’t you first describe your two most popular series for us?
Mark Dawson: The John Milton and Beatrix Rose books are fast-moving thrillers with interesting characters in the lead. Milton, for example, is not the stereotypical good guy. He has a dark side and a lot of blood in his past. Fast-moving, page-turning, propulsive thrillers for Beatrix Rose. Slightly slower and more character driven for Milton, but with big action sequences.
The Vigilante Author: Let me ask you the familiar question that all authors get from their fans: Where did these unusual characters come from?
Mark Dawson: They are, of course, amalgams of my experiences and the art that I have been exposed to. Milton, for example, draws on James Bond, Jack Reacher, and — especially — Robert McCall from “The Equalizer.” Beatrix Rose is influenced heavily by Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films.
The Vigilante Author: “The Equalizer”? Mark, I loved that TV series of decades ago. I now suspect that the McCall character subconsciously influenced me in developing my Dylan Hunter vigilante character, too. Joel Surnow, McCall’s creator, also was the brains behind Jack Bauer and the hit TV thriller series “24.”
Anyway, to date I’ve read your novella 1000 Yards and your novel The Cleaner, and I am well into Saint Death — all John Milton stories, and all riveting. I’m especially impressed by your unique “voice,” as well as your extensive research into settings and topic backgrounds. The details lend so much realism to your tales. And Milton is a fresh, interesting protagonist, too. In 1000 Yards, he was still working as an assassin for the British government. Am I correct in assuming that this tale preceded the events in The Cleaner?
Mark Dawson: You are correct.
The Vigilante Author: The Cleaner opens with an assassination committed by Milton, in which there is the shocking loss of an innocent life. I found that morally disturbing, as I’m sure a lot of readers have. I interpret the rest of the story, and the entire series, as chronicling Milton’s efforts to make amends for this crime and for other sins in his career. Clearly, he is a flawed, damaged man. In other words, The Cleaner is a redemption tale. Did you intend that?
Mark Dawson: Yes, that’s it. He’s got a lot of blood on his conscience. I don’t want him to be 100% sympathetic, although he is striving to make amends. His journey through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a key part of his development as a character, particularly the steps on taking a personal inventory and then making amends to those who have been wronged. I see him as a ronin, wandering the wilderness without a master, seeking to atone for past sins.
The Vigilante Author: Are you trying to say something about the world with the Milton stories? Is something represented by the character himself?
Mark Dawson: I hate neat, happy endings. The world isn’t like that. I’ve had bad reviews because — spoiler! — The Cleaner doesn’t end well. Well, that’s life. Sometimes — often — it doesn’t.
The Vigilante Author: In that respect, you and I are different. I’m more Old School, in the Alistair MacLean tradition. My Dylan Hunter stories put the hero through living hell, but in the end, justice prevails.
Anyway, as I said, I’m extremely impressed by the richness of detail you provide in both the settings of the stories, and about the topics of the stories themselves: life inside the closed society of North Korea; the atmosphere and activities of young members of urban gangs; the violent activities of Mexican drug cartels; and so much more. Obviously, you do extensive research, because the pictures you paint are so vivid and persuasive. What do you do to gain sufficient knowledge to conjure such “you are there” realism?
Mark Dawson: A lot of research. And Google Streetview is pretty amazing.
The Vigilante Author: I use Streetview myself, a lot, especially to avoid having to wander into dangerous places. But to pursue this a bit, how much advance preparation, research, and outlining do you undertake before starting to write? Or are you a “seat of the pants” writer who goes back to research only after the first draft?
Mark Dawson: Minimal. I research as I go along, usually, because I don’t always know where it is going to go. I’m not a “pantser” — I know roughly what is going to happen — but the color is added as I write.
The Vigilante Author: I’m also amazed at your prolific output. What is your work schedule like?
Mark Dawson: Hectic. I write whenever I can. The first five Miltons were written on a ninety-minute commute when I was working full time. Since I left to write for a living, it’s been harder to find time, weirdly. The business is demanding.
The Vigilante Author: What prompted you to leave the John Milton series and work on other series and stand-alone novels?
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Photo (c) by Debbie Scott
