Ask the Author: Mary Davis
Answered Questions (10)
Mary Davis
A contract with a looming deadline is a very strong inspiration to write. When I don’t have a contract, a new idea inspires me. Things I learn while researching can spark a story or character, and I imagine what the story would be. I have had dreams inspire me, things people say, even the dude crossing the street while I’m waiting at a red light. Who is he and where is he going?
I find inspiration pretty much everywhere. Often, but not always, my characters drive me. The only way I can get them to stop pestering me is to
write their stories. They can be quite demanding.
I find inspiration pretty much everywhere. Often, but not always, my characters drive me. The only way I can get them to stop pestering me is to
write their stories. They can be quite demanding.
Mary Davis
I used to know the answer to this. Over a two decades ago when I was first getting published, I would tell aspiring writers to be persistent and not give up, because a contract could be just around the corner and you wouldn’t want to give up on the eve before that happened. But now, that answer is obsolete in light of self-publishing.
So what would I tell an aspiring author now? Know your craft. Have others read your work to see if what you think you are saying is how others understand it. Have your work professionally edited so you can present your best work possible. Your mother is often a good person to read your work when you need a pep talk but not as constructive feedback. Unless you’re my children, then the pep talk is off the table. If they are serious about writing, I want to help them make their stories shine.
So what would I tell an aspiring author now? Know your craft. Have others read your work to see if what you think you are saying is how others understand it. Have your work professionally edited so you can present your best work possible. Your mother is often a good person to read your work when you need a pep talk but not as constructive feedback. Unless you’re my children, then the pep talk is off the table. If they are serious about writing, I want to help them make their stories shine.
Mary Davis
Having so many friends who live in my head. I’m never alone, and I can manage the expectations they have of me. If I don’t like what one character is saying to me, I can visit with another.
Mary Davis
One of the perks of being an author is it allows me to live in any story world I want all the time. But I would love to go to Pixie Hollow and fly with Tinker Bell. Because if I’m going to the world of fairies, I’m gonna have wings to fly. Or why bother going?
When I was ten or so, we went to Disneyland. Tinker Bell was scheduled to fly from the Matterhorn ride to the top of Cinderella’s castle. For me, that was the highlight of the entire trip. The sun set, the sky started to darken. I watched and waited with baited
breath. I wasn’t so delusional to think someone would actually be flying but knew they would be zipping along on a rope or something. Even so, I knew it would be special.
I waited.
And waited.
Finally, we were given the bad news that Tinker Bell wasn’t going to
be flying that night. There was some sort of technical difficulty. I was so bummed. We weren’t going to be back in the park, so that was my only opportunity to see her fly. When I returned to Disneyland on my honeymoon, she wasn’t flying then either. *Big
Sigh*
So if I went to Pixie Hollow, not only would I get to see Tinker Bell fly, but I could fly with her!
When I was ten or so, we went to Disneyland. Tinker Bell was scheduled to fly from the Matterhorn ride to the top of Cinderella’s castle. For me, that was the highlight of the entire trip. The sun set, the sky started to darken. I watched and waited with baited
breath. I wasn’t so delusional to think someone would actually be flying but knew they would be zipping along on a rope or something. Even so, I knew it would be special.
I waited.
And waited.
Finally, we were given the bad news that Tinker Bell wasn’t going to
be flying that night. There was some sort of technical difficulty. I was so bummed. We weren’t going to be back in the park, so that was my only opportunity to see her fly. When I returned to Disneyland on my honeymoon, she wasn’t flying then either. *Big
Sigh*
So if I went to Pixie Hollow, not only would I get to see Tinker Bell fly, but I could fly with her!
Mary Davis
I am woefully behind on reading with my recent writing schedule, coupled with a learning disability. However, I do have my sights set on a few novels I hope to read soon.
At the top of that list is Jen Turano’s The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series, starting with book 1, To Steal a Heart. This series promises mystery, laughs, and romance in a historical setting. It sounds wonderful!
At the top of that list is Jen Turano’s The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series, starting with book 1, To Steal a Heart. This series promises mystery, laughs, and romance in a historical setting. It sounds wonderful!
Mary Davis
Not really a mystery but an adventure of sorts. I was in high school, and it was a dark and stormy night. The rain pelted down in sheets, making it difficult to see. I was driving—alone—and got the wrong road. When I went to turn around, I slid off the road, down an embankment, and into a ravine. I was trapped in my car all night with the creek rising— Uh, wait a minute. That’s not how it happened.
It was night, but the rain had stopped. When I went to turn around, one of my front tires dipped slightly into a ditch. I rocked the car back and forth from reverse to drive, reverse to drive. Once free of the ditch, I headed home.
No grand mysteries in my life. One of my sons once accused me of having a boring life. I told him I liked it that way. If I want excitement, I’ll read about it or write about it.
It was night, but the rain had stopped. When I went to turn around, one of my front tires dipped slightly into a ditch. I rocked the car back and forth from reverse to drive, reverse to drive. Once free of the ditch, I headed home.
No grand mysteries in my life. One of my sons once accused me of having a boring life. I told him I liked it that way. If I want excitement, I’ll read about it or write about it.
Mary Davis
My agent asked if I had a WWII story idea that might fit in with Barbour’s Heroines of WWII series. I had to tell her I didn’t. At the time, I was writing one book and proofing audio chapters for another. My time was strapped, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tackle war, but I told my agent I would think on it and pray. If the Lord wanted me to write a WWII era story, He would have to give me an idea. So I prayed.
I knew women had done some military flying but didn’t know the details, so I jumped into some quick research. An idea started forming with a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). I wrote a brief one-page outline of my rough idea. I knew I couldn’t take too much time away from my contracted project to write a whole proposal if I was going to be told the publisher already had a story in the series about a WASP, which I assumed they had. Because who wouldn’t want to write about lady pilots?
Well, they didn’t and wanted to see a full proposal. I wrote it up as quickly as I could, and well…as they say, the rest is history.
I knew women had done some military flying but didn’t know the details, so I jumped into some quick research. An idea started forming with a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). I wrote a brief one-page outline of my rough idea. I knew I couldn’t take too much time away from my contracted project to write a whole proposal if I was going to be told the publisher already had a story in the series about a WASP, which I assumed they had. Because who wouldn’t want to write about lady pilots?
Well, they didn’t and wanted to see a full proposal. I wrote it up as quickly as I could, and well…as they say, the rest is history.
Mary Davis
I allow myself to write poorly for a bit.
I just write. Anything.
Whether it's related to my current story or not.
This helps get the mental ink flowing, and ensures I don't just sit staring blankly at a screen. Sometimes it gets me back on track! And I whole-heartedly believe that there isn't any writing that is a waste - it doesn't matter if I actually use it in a story or not.
I just write. Anything.
Whether it's related to my current story or not.
This helps get the mental ink flowing, and ensures I don't just sit staring blankly at a screen. Sometimes it gets me back on track! And I whole-heartedly believe that there isn't any writing that is a waste - it doesn't matter if I actually use it in a story or not.
Mary Davis
I am currently editing and rewriting the novel my first cousin once removed wrote in the 1990's before she went blind. She has since passed away. It was gifted to me by her sister who said I could do anything I wanted with it, including throwing it away. I can’t do that! It is a very different process to edit a story that I didn’t write and one where I can’t ask the author for clarification. I’m trying to figure out how much editing I’ll do to make the story shine and how much to keep from the original.
Mary Davis
I saw a spider in the corner of the bedroom.
When I came back with a shoe to squash it, it was gone.
When I came back with a shoe to squash it, it was gone.
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