No matter how out of control life feels, you can always pull it back together
when she was pregnant with their first son, Art, who is now two. She has already handed over the manuscript for the next novel, and is expecting her second child this summer.
But she wasn’t always intent on having children, she reveals.
“I wasn’t that bothered. I didn’t have this romantic dream about marriage and babies,” she admits.
“I always loved kids and loved my nieces and nephews; I just didn’t know I wanted to do it myself.
“Then I fell in love and it just all happened.
“I took to motherhood really naturally. I find it a complete pleasure being a mum,” she adds.
“There’s a lot of messages in the book – the main one is that no matter how out of control your life feels, you can always pull it back together. You are in control of your own life.”
She and Chris live a pretty regular family life in LA. They hardly ever go to red carpet events, aren’t so famous that they’re hounded by paparazzi or hoards of fans, and aren’t fazed by fame.
Dawn moved to Hollywood at 29 to make a series of documentaries for Channel 4, but when a second series was not commissioned, found herself floundering.
“I didn’t work for a couple of years, which is completely normal for someone who has a career in the media. It dented my confidence, but then it all turned out OK in the end.”
During this time she met Chris, who had seen her on TV and asked her out on Facebook.
“I invited him to my 30th birthday party and that was where we met – and that was it.
“I guess it was love at first sight. I definitely fancied him and I really wanted to pursue it.”
She bristles when asked if his high-profile status helped get her career back on track.
“I don’t think it’s helped my career, because I’ve worked really bloody hard, and when someone says that to me I instantly get defensive.”
She adds: “I like to think that if you are willing to sit down and write 100,000 words, then you are helping your own career.
“But I’m sure more people know who I am because of him.”
Born in Scotland, Dawn’s parents divorced when she was one and when her mother died, she was looked after by her grandparents and then by her aunt and uncle – whom she calls her parents – who took her to live in Guernsey.
She studied acting at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and made a name for herself making documentaries in the UK, along with her various columns for women’s magazines.
Dawn has put her vintage fashion business, BOB, on ‘maternity leave’, to give her time with the imminent new arrival. Meanwhile, TV rights to The Cows have already been sold, but she’s realistic about her novel ever reaching the screen. “It doesn’t mean it’s going to be on TV – all it means is that I have to write a script and hopefully someone will buy it. But before the book was even published, a production company loved it enough to buy the rights, which was amazing.”
She has another three books to write within the next few years – and there’s seemingly no shortage of inspiration.
“I always knew I wanted to stand out and have a career in journalism,” says Dawn, “and to do that, you need to be willing to not follow the herd and write what you feel.”