Ask the Author: Denna M. Davis
Answered Questions (5)
Denna M. Davis
Turn on some music and dance. Walk away and give time for the characters to speak--rather than force them into dialogue, scenes, or situations.
I remind myself that...this is "their" story--I simply have the honor of chronicling it!
Denna M. Davis
I remind myself that...this is "their" story--I simply have the honor of chronicling it!
Denna M. Davis
Denna M. Davis
Yaaas! Love this question. Cue Lion King music please...
No one saying, "do this"
No one saying, "be there"
No one saying, "stop that"
No one saying, "see here"
Free to run around all day
Free to do it all my way....
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm
Standin' in the spotlight
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait.......
To be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
dmd
No one saying, "do this"
No one saying, "be there"
No one saying, "stop that"
No one saying, "see here"
Free to run around all day
Free to do it all my way....
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm
Standin' in the spotlight
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait to be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
Oh, I just can't wait.......
To be 'queen' (of the bestseller list)
dmd
Denna M. Davis
In the words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggart (from Galaxy Quest):
"NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER... ARM THE RESONANCE CANNONS, AND FULL SPEED AHEAD!"
Oh, and don't be stubborn like me and make my mistake. Buy some books on writing, plotting, etc. before sitting down to actually WRITE! LOL! This will save you a lot of time, sweat, tears, and blood!
dmd
"NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER... ARM THE RESONANCE CANNONS, AND FULL SPEED AHEAD!"
Oh, and don't be stubborn like me and make my mistake. Buy some books on writing, plotting, etc. before sitting down to actually WRITE! LOL! This will save you a lot of time, sweat, tears, and blood!
dmd
Denna M. Davis
I was inspired to write (1) because I LOVE books: fantasy, sci-fy, horror, and (2) my dreams--yes, there are many--kept lending themselves to stories.
Of course, in this process that I started in 2007, I've learned the following crucially important TRUTH: standing in a garage does NOT make you a car, anymore than loving books makes you a bestseller! Dear God, this is a tough lesson, but one any potential writer must etch in their heart.
Writing books is WORK. It's so much fun when you're in the throws of writing, but it's tough work to clean it up. And then you have to expose yourself to criticism and judgment. Not so easy. Down right depressing, sometimes. But you MUST persevere. The end will justify the means.
I'm not the best at grammar. I struggled in school too. My professors would give back my essays with so much red ink, I wondered if the pen broke! But they all had the same statements, "You're such a good writer." That inspired me, but not enough to choose writing as a career. My degree is in Technical Management (Project Management)...LOL! But, finally, I'm making true strides to pursue my destiny.
Like Amanda, I've been a reluctant heroine--refusing the call to be a writer. "I'm not equipped. I'm too grammatically challenged. I don't know enough about writing." Those were my early excuses to remain simply a fan. Today, I've learned to put in the work to get better. And every book I read, conference I attend, and writer's group I be a part of sharpens my talent to help cover my shortcomings. The book I started with, is not the book it became with much practice, training, and determination.
My inspiration to keep writing is in knowing that (1) I have SO MANY books to get out, (2) I'm getting better with each one, (3) my editor is a miracle worker--when I can afford to hire her! I'm focused on what I do best--spin a wonderful tale in strange new worlds. Eventually, I'll be able to have a team behind me, covering my faults even more...and helping me improve all the more!
So, look out world--now I'm learning how to become a bestseller!!
Of course, in this process that I started in 2007, I've learned the following crucially important TRUTH: standing in a garage does NOT make you a car, anymore than loving books makes you a bestseller! Dear God, this is a tough lesson, but one any potential writer must etch in their heart.
Writing books is WORK. It's so much fun when you're in the throws of writing, but it's tough work to clean it up. And then you have to expose yourself to criticism and judgment. Not so easy. Down right depressing, sometimes. But you MUST persevere. The end will justify the means.
I'm not the best at grammar. I struggled in school too. My professors would give back my essays with so much red ink, I wondered if the pen broke! But they all had the same statements, "You're such a good writer." That inspired me, but not enough to choose writing as a career. My degree is in Technical Management (Project Management)...LOL! But, finally, I'm making true strides to pursue my destiny.
Like Amanda, I've been a reluctant heroine--refusing the call to be a writer. "I'm not equipped. I'm too grammatically challenged. I don't know enough about writing." Those were my early excuses to remain simply a fan. Today, I've learned to put in the work to get better. And every book I read, conference I attend, and writer's group I be a part of sharpens my talent to help cover my shortcomings. The book I started with, is not the book it became with much practice, training, and determination.
My inspiration to keep writing is in knowing that (1) I have SO MANY books to get out, (2) I'm getting better with each one, (3) my editor is a miracle worker--when I can afford to hire her! I'm focused on what I do best--spin a wonderful tale in strange new worlds. Eventually, I'll be able to have a team behind me, covering my faults even more...and helping me improve all the more!
So, look out world--now I'm learning how to become a bestseller!!
Denna M. Davis
This is a great question. I'm currently working on Book 3 of the Emaji Nation series (The Barrow), along with the final plotting of a second Christian Fantasy. I'm so excited to get both books out, and hopefully I can achieve a double-header in one year!
The idea for the Emaji Nation Series books came from a dream. I was like Amanda, walking through this valley, a twilight sky full of millions of stars. I came upon this hill, where I saw a tree with blood-red bark and long white claw-like leaves (the Tree of Beginnings in the books.) A man was standing there. He was not just silver but reflective, like a mirror (although I made Solomon not-so-mirror like) and he had gold, black, and silver wings. In my dream, the stripes were horizontal, but I made the vertical for Solomon.
Essentially, I was told that the dream meant the person before me was a "mirror" that represented everything I wanted to be. No...not a man! LOL! But strong, confident, unashamed, and FREE (hence the wings)! And the tree had meaning too. As I woke from that dream, all those years ago, I remember hearing these words, "The blood purifies." So you see...my imagination (Emaji-Nation) is not that extreme, after all. I simply expounded on a truly amazing dream I had YEARS ago. BTW, it took almost 3 years before I sat down to write this book! Writing was not my forte--and it's still a learning process--but I've stayed the course, because these characters and this story will NOT let me sleep or leave it untold.
The second book I'm working on...hmmm. I can't really say too much without giving my story away. The premise is based on this question, "What would happen if someone ran from the call of God?" I'm so very excited to bring this book to life, and it's actually getting more time than book 3: The Barrow. But, don't worry, I will make sure I get Book 3 out first. I hate it when authors make me wait on the next book, and then they finally put something out...and it's a completely different story!! Ugh!
dmd
The idea for the Emaji Nation Series books came from a dream. I was like Amanda, walking through this valley, a twilight sky full of millions of stars. I came upon this hill, where I saw a tree with blood-red bark and long white claw-like leaves (the Tree of Beginnings in the books.) A man was standing there. He was not just silver but reflective, like a mirror (although I made Solomon not-so-mirror like) and he had gold, black, and silver wings. In my dream, the stripes were horizontal, but I made the vertical for Solomon.
Essentially, I was told that the dream meant the person before me was a "mirror" that represented everything I wanted to be. No...not a man! LOL! But strong, confident, unashamed, and FREE (hence the wings)! And the tree had meaning too. As I woke from that dream, all those years ago, I remember hearing these words, "The blood purifies." So you see...my imagination (Emaji-Nation) is not that extreme, after all. I simply expounded on a truly amazing dream I had YEARS ago. BTW, it took almost 3 years before I sat down to write this book! Writing was not my forte--and it's still a learning process--but I've stayed the course, because these characters and this story will NOT let me sleep or leave it untold.
The second book I'm working on...hmmm. I can't really say too much without giving my story away. The premise is based on this question, "What would happen if someone ran from the call of God?" I'm so very excited to bring this book to life, and it's actually getting more time than book 3: The Barrow. But, don't worry, I will make sure I get Book 3 out first. I hate it when authors make me wait on the next book, and then they finally put something out...and it's a completely different story!! Ugh!
dmd
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