Page Created: 05/12/25. Last Updated: 06/21/25.
RANDEE DAWN
ONLINE
Website: <https://randeedawn.com/>
SOCIAL MEDIA
Bluesky <https://bsky.app/profile/randeedawn.com>
FaceBook <https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRandeeDawn/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/randeedawn/>
Linked In <https://www.linkedin.com/in/randeedawn/>
TikTok <https://www.tiktok.com/@randee.dawn>
Meeting Date: May 10, 2025.
Meeting Site: Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Attendance: 25 + 20.
Meeting Program: Talk / Q & A w/fantasy writer.
Notes:
Eight people attended the pre-meeting Ice Nine discussion and chatted about a group trip to the American Museum of Natural History, the Chiller Theatre convention, a number of movies (KRAVEN THE HUNTER, THUNDERBOLTS*, WICKED), and other matters. Six people went out to the diner afterwards.
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 2025 Philip J De Parto:
The May 10, 2025 General Meeting of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County was held at the Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Fantasy author Randee Dawn was our speaker.
Our guest is the author of two books, TUNE IN TOMORROW, about a reality show for mythical creatures, and THE ONLY SONG WORTH SINGING, about Irish faeries doing rock and roll in America. Both novels have sequels coming out later this year.
Randee grew up in Maryland in the 1980s and was an eclectic reader when she was young. She wrote stories about her stuffed animals as a child. Her mother encouraged her to think about a career in journalism ("That way you can write and make money"), discovered STAR TREK reruns, and became a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, believing that the world was going to blow up in a nuclear war.
Our speaker attended Boston University and New York University School of Continuing Education, earning a BS in Broadcast Journalism from the former and a Paralegal Degree from the latter. She specialized in entertainment and lifestyle, appearing in publications as HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, E! ONLINE, and VARIETY during the day and writing fantasy and science fiction at night.
Randee made a number of useful contacts at science fiction conventions including the women of Borad Universe, Shahid Mahmud and Lezil Robin of Arc Manor Press, and authors Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman.
TUNE IN TOMORROW was the author's first published novel. It started out nas a text-based game, but Randee decided that the game format was not for her. There was an amiable parting and she was able to rework the material as a novel.
More information can be found at the club website under 2025 - 05/2025 Meeting. Our thanks to everyone who helped out at the event.
Meeting Notes:
ABOUT RANDEE
Entertainment Journalist - TV, Music, Entertainment
Eclectic reader when she was young
Grew up in the 1980s
Interested in post-apocalyptic fiction
The Girl Who Owned a City by O T Nelson was the first book that really grabbed her
...Plot - Everyone over 12 dies
Became Star Trek fan due to reruns
Grew up in Maryland suburbs
More rural then - took animal husbandry class in 7th Grade
Mom: What would you like to do? Randee: Write. Mom: You can be a journalist.
As a child wrote stories about her stuffed animals
Irish Fairy & Folk Tales by Yates was an influential book
Legitimacy is now questioned
Shows faeries as capricious and malicious
Did deep dive into Irish folklore at Dublin College
Self-rejected her work for many years
Met Shahid Mahmud & Lezli Robyn at Capclave
Met ladies of Broad Universe
Met Ellen Kushner & Delia Sherman who supported her
Agent is Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Agency
Originally tried to be a literary writer
Regarding feedback - Beta readers / editors might give you a better idea
Takes time off between books refuel the Muse
Likes short stories as long as they have a strong idea
Journalism - Not fond of doing Reviews but did them
Loves doing interviews, especially with screenwriters, directors, & producers
Enjoyed interviewing Radiohead
Had 5 minutes with George Clooney
Interviewed Duran Duran a couple of times
Dad died of leukemia while she was at college
Worked on High School Newspaper
Worked on Journalism & Guitar in Middle School
Degree in Communications from Boston University
Worked on all aspects of doing a television show there
Wrote for the alternative press while in college
Also tempted and freelanced
Has an idea for a funny superhero
E C Ambrose is her developmental editor
TUNE IN TOMORROW
Pop Reality Show for otherworld creatures
Two more books in series planned
Book Two is We Interrupt This Program
Book Three is in same universe but is not a sequel
Trope Town
Started out as a text-based game
Had to create outline for the game
There is a difference between rules, tropes, and cliches
Given choice of three narrators for audio book
Starr (protagonist) - be the Mango
THE ONLY SONG WORTH SINGING
Set in 1990s
Galic Poet / Vampire Life Force was inspiration
Ireland was very poor when Randee visited there in the 1990s
People were not allowed to speak Irish
How would fae deal with Rock & Roll Music
Sold series, then the pandemic hit
Concerts & music are the closest thing we have to magic in this world
Did Short Reading from book