Evette Davis's Blog

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If you could have dinner with another author (alive or dead), who would it be?

I would love to chat with William Shakespeare over a pint or two! I would ask him what he was up to during his “lost years” and whether or not he was a crypto-Catholic as some speculate, and I would ask to read his lost works. 

What is the first book that you really remember? The one that left an impression.

The first books that really made an impact on me were the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary. If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, then Beverly Cleary is the most flattered author in history, because as a kid, I shamelessly imitated Ramona’s plot lines in my own stories. In fact, to this day, they continue to influence the kinds of stories I like to read and write – stories about ordinary people and families who nevertheless harbor a spark of brilliance. 

Ideas for books can come from just about anywhere. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

One of the things I love about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is that we get occasional glimpses into the mind and heart of Mr. Darcy. When I started writing The Catch, I wanted to make it a “Dual Point of View” novel. I wrote the majority of each chapter from Julia’s POV, but I included a paragraph or two at the end of each chapter from William’s POV, separated by a section break to avoid “head hopping.”

However, back then, I received feedback that I should revise the manuscript to be from Julia’s POV only. I took that advice, which is unfortunate because since I published The Catch, countless dual-POV romance books have become bestsellers. 

Another thing I adore about Pride and Prejudice, as well as Persuasion, is how deeply I feel for the characters because of their missed opportunities. And then they get this beautiful second chance, dropped into their laps like a jewel. It’s poignant and exquisite. I wanted to make people feel that way when they read The Catch. 

Do you use music to help with your writing? Are there playlists for your books?

To save someone in Hollywood a ton of work, I already put together the soundtrack for the movie version of The Catch! I have a 63-song playlist on Spotify to pick and choose from. I’m not even joking; there are songs on there that I associate inextricably with scenes from my book. For example, and without giving away any major spoilers, the soundtrack to the scene where William rushes Julia across the Golden Gate Bridge on his motorcycle is set to “King and Lionheart,” by Of Monsters and Men. I’m planning to write a blog post soon with music suggestions for every scene! Like most authors, I might be a little obsessive…

Which character was most challenging to create? Why?

My female MC, Julia, and her sister Alison were both challenging to write because their personalities and interests are so different from mine. My male MC, William, was challenging because I wanted to create a male character that feels authentic to readers of any gender, and I come from a decidedly cis-female perspective. But honestly, it’s challenging to create any character. I’m not trying to create characters who are carbon copies of myself or people I know, and that takes imagination, research, empathy, and intuition. 

What is something about your hero/ine that only you know?

Before Julia decided to become a marine biologist, her original childhood career ambition was to be a ballerina. She will talk about this, and why it didn’t happen, in the upcoming sequel to The Catch. 

Were there scenes you ended up cutting you wish you could've kept? Describe them and the decision-making process.

There was a gargantuan amount of material I ended up cutting because it didn’t move the plot forward in any meaningful way. One example is a scene where William comes to the restaurant where Julia works for his eighteenth birthday. I freaking loved that scene, and it’s always excruciating when you have to “kill your darlings.” Luckily, I was able to include it in a flashback scene in my upcoming “midquel” to The Catch, which is from William’s perspective. In this case, it does move the plot forward by shedding light on William’s crippling anxiety, and how that impacts his choices and behavior later in the story. 

What is the most difficult part of your writing process?

I tend to write the scenes that I find most interesting first, just to crank out as much as possible, as quickly as possible. The slog comes at the end of drafting when I flesh out the scenes that I personally find less interesting, but that is still necessary to move the plot forward. It’s hard not to rush through those scenes because even if they aren’t as fun to write, they’re still indispensable, and I still need to make them interesting to the reader. 

Also, see my comment in question 7 about “kill your darlings.” ;-)

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t listen to people who tell you to pursue a more “practical” day job or treat your writing like a side gig. Sure, being a financially successful author is like winning the lottery, but someone has to win that lottery. So go ahead – live in a Harry Potter broom closet with no health insurance and eat ramen noodles three times a day. Do whatever it takes, but put in the time and effort every single day. It won’t come fast or easy, and it may never come at all. But take it from your forty-seven-year-old future self – it’s better than regretting that you didn’t try when you still had the chance. 

Is there anything else you wish to tell our audience?

I genuinely love to hear from people, so don’t be shy! You can find my website and all of my social links at linktr.ee/jennamileswrite. (That’s also where you can buy The Catch.) Or you can just email me at [email protected]. One final thing: the single most helpful thing you can do for any author (besides buying their books) is to leave a review on the platform where you bought it. 

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If you could have dinner with another author (alive or dead), who would it be?

LP: F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby is my favorite book. I have hundreds of questions for him regarding partying in Paris in the 1920s. I would also love to know what he thinks about social media and influencer culture.

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What is the first book that you really remember? The one that left an impression.

LP: I remember loving Dr. Suess's books and Curious George as a child. But in terms of bonding with a book and author, throughout middle school and some of high school, I gravitated toward the works of Joan Lowry Nixon. It was through her books that I really understood what it means to enjoy a specific writer’s style and storytelling. I have read all of her books.

Ideas for books can come from just about anywhere. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

LP: I came up with the idea for Love and Mardi Gras while walking around the French Quarter of New Orleans during Mardi Gras 2012. I remember thinking that I had never read a story or seen a movie about everything I had experienced and I decided to be the one to tell it.

Do you use music to help with your writing? Are there playlists for your books?

LP: Yes, I love listening to all types of music when I write. Classical, jazz and certain types of electronic music have always been what helps me study and write. Music plays an important role in Love and Mardi Gras as well. Various songs are referenced and do play a role in the story. I had a DJ create a Spotify playlist with all of the songs referenced in the book so that readers can get even more immersed in the Love and Mardi Gras world.

Which character was most challenging to create? Why?

LP: Mike was difficult to write. He was hard because he isn’t a bad guy, he’s just immature. I didn’t want to give him too much of a story since the story is about Lisa learning how to love herself. Mike is not the goal he was just a bridge to it. I didn’t want to have too much of her journey tied to him. But I also wanted him to have depth and have the readers bond with him. Also, Love and Mardi Gras isn’t for everyone and it was never supposed to be. It’s supposed to be fun and take you away to a fun experience that I hope readers are able to go and enjoy themselves when they visit New Orleans.

What is something about your hero/ine that only you know?

LP: I want readers to know that the heroine Lisa is meant to be a bit of a blank slate because I want readers to be able to find themselves in the story.

Were there scenes you ended up cutting you wish you could've kept? Describe them and the decision-making process.

LP: I had originally intended to put both Mike's and Lisa’s thoughts and perspectives in the book. But it took away from the goal of the story. My beta reader recommended to just take away his entire perspective to achieve the goal. I don’t regret taking it out since my beta reader was right.

What is the most difficult part of your writing process?

LP: The most difficult part of my process is/ was finding the conflict. Love and Mardi Gras is a hero’s journey without supernatural or thriller-type elements. I wanted it to have a realistic conflict that doesn’t seem outlandish. I’m also encountering the same issue while trying to write the sequel.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

LP: Nope. My PR manager does that for me.

Is there anything else you wish to tell our audience?

LP: Don’t be afraid to tell your story. Publishing a book is cooler than you think it is. There is also no moment of pleasure or accomplishment that I have had in my life than when I saw my book on the shelf at Barnes and Noble. I wish that everyone who has the dream of writing a book can experience the same feeling.

Keep an eye out on Lauryn's Instagram (@laurynep and @loveandmardigras) for Evette's answers to Lauryn's Q&A about writing fiction and more!

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Hello everybody! In celebration of the new year and 48 States getting named one of the Best Indie Books in 2022, I'm hosting a giveaway! 20 lucky winners will be sent a copy of all 3 of my books, a Flesh & Bone Publishing tote bag, and two pins that feature characters from my books! You can register to win the giveaway by signing up for my newsletter on the Contact page of my website (www.evettedavis.com) and by commenting on my Instagram post (@evettedavis.author) with a book that’s on your list to read this year! Make sure to register before the end of the day on February 3rd, and good luck!

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I meant to write this newsletter in December, but things took an unexpected turn, and what was shaping up to be a triumphant end of the year was overshadowed by sudden grief... 

It’s astonishing how you can experience tremendous happiness and heart-wrenching loss in almost the same breath. When it happens in a novel, it’s an epic plot twist.  When it’s real life, it stops you in your tracks.

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Just a few weeks ago, I was excitedly preparing to spread the news that my novel 48 States has been selected by the influential Kirkus Reviews as one of the Top Indie Novels of 2022. It’s a tremendous honor and cause to celebrate. Unfortunately, within days of the Kirkus announcement, my 92-year-old mother caught a cold that turned into a serious lung infection. She died on Christmas Day, with my sister and I at her bedside. 

My mother was born almost 100 years ago in a house in rural Tennessee with no running water or electricity. She lived through more changes than I may see in my lifetime. She knew tremendous joy in her life, and also devastating disappointment. As a teenager, I didn’t understand many of the things she said or did. Years later, as a mother and a wife, I came to understand with clarity the wounds she worked to heal. In her later years, she was unfailingly optimistic and never lost her sense of humor or humanity.  She would have scolded me for being even slightly maudlin and insisted that I remember her at her best. Over the years, she became one of my biggest supporters and best friends.

Life is a series of beginnings and endings. That’s it. An oversimplification? Perhaps. But at its core, that is the essence of things. How we manage those stops and starts determines our future and our happiness. 

Don’t give up! That’s what my mom would say right now, and she’d admonish me to get back to work. You have no time to lose.”  My father, who died in April 2021, would have agreed. Both my parents left this world too soon, but they will never truly disappear. I hear their voices every day, urging me to carry on. 

And so, reluctantly, I am back at my desk, writing. Writing for them and writing for me, because that is how I process things. I put the words into the hands of my characters, and I ask them to figure out how to grieve, how to heal, and how to forgive and live again. If they can do it, I can too. 

2023 is going to be the year of swag. My assistant Trinity has been hard at work designing tote bags and pins to use as part of a giveaway to help kick off the new year. Keep an eye out for an announcement. Twenty readers will win a tote bag, two pins, and my three novels, and the first five of those 20 will be registered as beta readers for Death Wish, the final installment of my Dark Horse Trilogy. 

A first draft of the novel is written, and I will use the rainy weeks ahead to create a second draft with the expectation that Death Wish will come out later this year. 

I’ll end this newsletter with a request. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to rate my book on Amazon or Goodreads. I've heard from many readers that they enjoyed the book. If you count yourself among that group, please take a few minutes to register your view. It’s important and would mean a lot. Thanks in advance for your help, for reading my newsletter, and for supporting my writing. 

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My blog entry about our recent election cycle is up on my website- Click here to read more!

Thanks for reading Evette’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

It’s becoming increasingly challenging to one-up reality as a fiction writer. I’m trying to write about unimaginable situations, not front-page headlines, yet every day, I see the lines blurring. Halloween is today, but if you want to think about a real horror show, circle November 8th on your calendar and hope for the best. We’ve got a zombie mob of election deniers and Kremlin sympathizers oozing their way toward Washington, DC. Let’s hope good triumphs over evil. We need a HEA ending like nobody’s business.

Oh yes, Happy Halloween! A year ago, I asked you to try something that scared you, hoping it would push you out of your comfort zone. (Note to self: where did the year go?)  Did it work? You don’t have to tell me, but please do DM me on Instagram or send me an email if you want to catch up. I have continued to challenge my comfort zone – sometimes unintentionally – my most recent task was moderating a panel of science fiction authors earlier this month as part of Litquake, San Francisco’s much-beloved month-long literary festival. Little known fact: I get nervous speaking in front of crowds.

“Evette, how is this possible? You host public meetings for hundreds of people for a living.” True. But there is something about work that makes it easier to muster the courage.

But I digress.

I was invited to speak at the “Welcome to the Mothership: A Night of Sci-Fi” with Charlie Anders, author of Victories Greater Than Death and Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak, and Annalee Newitz, author of  Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age and Scatter, Adapt and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction.

A fun evening was had by all as we read excerpts of our books – some of us by the light of an iPhone – on the patio of the Mothership, a bar on Mission Street just at the lip of Bernal Heights. The audience was enthusiastic, and somehow, as we got going and began to discuss why we write, I forgot 100 people were watching us. I sold most of my books, which later paid for my bar tab. Success! But I had to get out of my comfort zone to do it, which is something we all need to remember. Being a writer is about conquering fear. Novels are tricky beasts, unwieldy and unpredictable. We do our best to tame our prose and get it into fighting shape, but it’s not until the curtain is pulled back and readers have the story that you know for sure whether your creation will survive in the wild. I’ve been fortunate that 48 States has been well received since its publication in June. Here are a few more reviews for you to check out.

Daily Mom- 19 Great Books To Cuddle Up And Read This Fall

Bonnie's Books- 2 Books with Birds on the Cover

WE Magazine for Women- Fall Worth Reading List

And stay tuned in December when we’ll be back with more exciting news and a fun holiday giveaway. For those of you waiting for the 3rd book in the Dark Horse Trilogy, I am set to start work on a second draft of the novel in a few weeks. I recently ran into a colleague who said, “It’s been three novels since I saw you; what do you have coming next?” That is music to a writer's ears. I’m grateful you’ve all decided to join me on this journey. More soon…

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I’m excited to announce that as part of Litquake 2022, I will be moderating an authors’ panel called “Welcome to the Mothership: A Night of Sci-Fi.” I hope you can join us!

When: Friday, October 14, 6pm - 7:30pm

Cost: Free, click here to register

Where: Mothership, 3152 Mission Street, San Francisco

What: Join Litquake at San Francisco's sci-fi-themed bar, Mothership. Evette Davis will moderate a panel of science fiction writers including Charlie Jane Anders, Mike Chen, Annalee Newitz and Randy Ribay.

August 27 - Book Signing at Barnes & Noble, San Jose, noon.

September 13 - Book Launch Party, 620 Jones, 6-8 p.m.

October 14 - Litquake, time and location TBD.

Hello! 

The dog days of summer—those sultry middle days of the season—are behind us as we enjoy what’s left of our vacations. Reluctantly, I left the comfort of my red Adirondack bench where I’d been watching thunderheads form over the mountains of Idaho to return to San Francisco to gear up for a busy fall. 

A lot has been happening since 48 States was released in June. Kirkus awarded the novel a starred review and now has gone one step further by including it in its fall print edition catalog for booksellers around the world. I’m thrilled to tell you that less than 10% of indie authors are selected, and 48 States is one of only eight novels highlighted in the Indie section of the catalog. Sales and positive reviews are happening on other platforms, but you can help by doing the following:

Contact your local bookstore and ask for 48 States. 

If you bought the book and liked it, please take the time to post a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Target, or wherever you prefer. 

Come to one of my events and let me sign your book.

Post a picture of yourself and the book on social media, and let others know you enjoyed it. 

Finally, in case you missed it, here are some recent book lists and interviews I’ve participated in:

The best science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian stories for the bada** feminist in all of us

The best books to read if you enjoy being scared of the future

Author Evette Davis On How To Create Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories

Becoming a Writer When You’re a Busy Career Girl and Mom (Picked up on Medium)

I hope to see you at one—or all—of the upcoming events between now and October! 

Evette