Ask the Author: Tom Davis
Answered Questions (7)
Tom Davis
I patterned the relationship in the book between Carter and Katherine from the ones depicted in the films of Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn -- two strong and independent individuals. That would also explain where the name "Katherine" originated. I also liked the relationship that Herman Wouk developed between Byron Henry and Natalie Jastrow in "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance." Despite the obstacles, and her past relationship, one somehow sensed that at some point they would be together. So, I was drawn to those relationships where the couples were very interesting as individuals, each having strong personalities, yet somehow their relationship provided a complementarity that made the whole larger -- and more interesting -- than the sum of the parts.
Tom Davis
As I say on my "The Author's Show" essay of "50 Writers you should be reading," which I hope you'll look up and give me a vote, writing is in my family. My oldest son, Nate, covers the NFL for USA Today and is a gifted sports writer. A younger son, Nick, is an English professor at Northwestern specializing in film studies. I've written some previous studies, and one book assessing the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, "40 Kilometers Into Lebanon." I also write occasional opinion pieces for various newspapers. So, to prove to my family that I do read things without footnotes, I decided to try a novel -- and thoroughly enjoyed the process. Modern technology for writing, editing, and researching makes it easy -- I have no idea how Herman Melville handled it. So, craft a story and jump in! Tomorrow, October 25th, I'll be interviewed on "The Author Show", where I’ll discuss the book. You can hear that by going to www.theauthorsshow.com and clicking on the title, Conclave, which should take you to the interview. It’s 15 minutes long, but should be repeated all day. I hope you'll find it informative.
Tom Davis
Fortunately, nearly everyone who has read Conclave has sent me a note asking, "Where are Carter and Katherine going next?" That has happened more than enough times to have me working on it. And, of course, Conclave is structured so that you meet them as the story progresses, but you also know how they'll end up in the future. So, I feel an obligation to fill in the middle, and have had more than enough experiences between 1978 and 2014 to provide the material. Tomorrow, October 25th, I'll be interviewed on "The Author Show", where I’ll discuss the book. You can hear that by going to www.theauthorsshow.com and clicking on the title, Conclave, which should take you to the interview. It’s 15 minutes long, but should be repeated all day. I hope you'll find it informative.
Tom Davis
To look around and think back. How many times have you witnessed or heard of something, then said to yourself, "That would make a good book." We all have experiences in life that can be crafted into something entertaining and readable. That is what I did in Conclave, but let me suggest you don't wait thirty years to take the first step! Build an outline of a story, then slowly massage it, adding a twist here and there, inserting a new character, adding a new venue. On occasion, you'll think of a new direction, and on other occasions you'll ask, "But, how would that work." Some of those can just be dismissed if you write fiction. Tomorrow, October 25th, I'll be interviewed on "The Author Show", where I’ll discuss the book. You can hear that by going to www.theauthorsshow.com and clicking on the title, Conclave, which should take you to the interview. It’s 15 minutes long, but should be repeated all day. I hope you'll find it informative.
Tom Davis
I enjoy the creative side, taking an idea and working through the process of turning it into a story. After a long professional life in both the Army and corporate America, having the chance to be creative has been a rather welcome change -- along with running my own schedule. And, it has given me a chance to meet, either personally or through social media, many new friends, and to enhance the connection with old friends who are seeing a new side to me! Tomorrow, October 25th, I'll be interviewed on "The Author Show", where I’ll discuss the book. You can hear that by going to www.theauthorsshow.com and clicking on the title, Conclave, which should take you to the interview. It’s 15 minutes long, but should be repeated all day. I hope you'll find it informative, and I believe it will touch a bit on why writing is both enjoyable and inspiring.
Tom Davis
I haven't actually experienced it yet, so I have no personal experience with overcoming it. But, I am constantly looking for newsworthy events and personal experiences that I think one could combine into an entertaining story. The current world situation provides plenty of material. It also helps to have lived many experiences, as I have, which provides a chance to combine them into a story, as seen in Conclave, and described on u author page at www.tomdavisauthor.com. Tomorrow, October 25th, I'll be interviewed on "The Author Show", where I’ll discuss the book. You can hear that by going to www.theauthorsshow.com and clicking on the title, Conclave, which should take you to the interview. It’s 15 minutes long, but should be repeated all day. I hope you'll find it informative.
Tom Davis
As time has passed, I think the significance of John Paul II’s election as pope has been under-appreciated. It was a turning point in the Cold War – not recognized then but worth recognition now. Since having heard the old story while I was at State that the US played a role in his election, I thought it would make a good story. So, when I retired from corporate life, and had the time, I researched and wrote it.
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