Inside The Indie Author: A Conversation with Jean Davis

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?

I do use a pseudonym, not because I’m hiding behind a faux name, but because I wanted to do something fun a positive with my middle name. Most of my generation will agree that a middle name was only used when you were getting yelled at.

What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?

Either I skip to whatever happens after the scene I’m stuck on or I hop to another project entirely until I can figure out why the first one was being obstinate. The main message here is don’t stop writing, instead, go write something else.

From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?

At the core, a story has to have characters people care about, whether they are good or bad people and an interesting plot. Everything else is frosting.

What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?

The characters. I have to have someone to tell the story through before I’m willing to sit down and figure out the setting and the plot. If I’m not excited about the characters that I’m going to be spending time with, that story is going nowhere.

What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?

Getting through the rough draft is my least favorite. It’s hard slog to go from nothing to a full story. Editing and revision are where the story shine. Making all those tightened connections is, by far, my favorite part.

What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?

My first drafts tend to be dialogue-heavy with very little setting or use of senses, though now in the double-digit novel territory, I’ve gotten better about fleshing out a fuller story from the beginning rather than having to add so much in later revisions.

What was the inspiration for your most recent book?

That’s a tricky question because I’m working on three projects and just releasing another. Let's go with the one I’m releasing. While out signing books, I saw that there weren’t many indie authors writing for early middle-grade readers. I consulted my local bookstore owner and learned that fantasy and sci-fi were something that there wasn’t a lot of on the shelf for readers just out of picture books but not yet ready for full chapter books. So I wrote one, and it’s the first of a series. It was a lot of fun to write and my daughter did the illustrations.

What is a “darling” you’ve killed in a book that you’d like to resurrect in a future book?

Oh boy, I’ve killed so many darlings. Most of them were in the early drafts of the first book of my Narvan series. Fortunately for several of those darlings, I wrote a lot more books in that series and was able to slip the redeemable bits back in as opportunities arose. Having to go at that mammoth early rough draft with the gusto of a chainsaw-wielding madman, I’ve learned keep my writing more on track from the get go.

Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing.

I do 95% of my writing from the comfort of my writing chair where I can kick back and put my feet up. It’s fairly quiet in my office, though I can hear everything going on in the house so I know if I’m needed and I’m not missing out on anything. My writing zone is stocked with a beverage, chocolate, and a warm, fuzzy blanket. Also, a dog, and sometimes a chicken or three depending on whether I have chicks that need socializing.

If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?

I’d love to do a Narvan follow-up novella with Jey. He got a voice in "The Minor Years," a companion novel for the series and I really enjoyed writing him. I have notes for a novel that takes place after what is currently the final book but I haven’t decided which character(s) will get a POV. He’s been there since the beginning but rarely got a chance to shine and I kind of owe him some redemption after the hell I put him through.

What risks have you taken with your writing that made the book better?

As of writing this, I have eighteen books out so it’s safe to say I’ve taken a various risks over the years. I’ve tried a lot of different things and sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t. You never know until you give it a try. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things with your writing.

What’s the best monetary investment you’ve ever made with regard to your writing practice?

A new tent for my outdoor shows, which I do a lot of. The old one was heavy and aggravating to put up. The new one goes up quick with one person and has walls that have kept me and my books dry through thunderstorms and even hail. If were talking strictly writing: a proofreader.

When you first began writing, what was a common procrastination trap you encountered, and how did you overcome it?

The one thing I procrastinated about early on was ending the book. If I stopped writing, the story would be over and then what? But if I kept writing, I wouldn’t have to worry about everything that comes after: editing, publishing, marketing, having other people read it. Eventually I came the realization that throwing words on the page was fun and all, but it would be better to have an end goal, like other people reading it. So I wrote the end and got to work on the rest and now, many years and books later, here we are.

What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?

I like Word. It’s easy. The best feature: I know it, I don’t have to think about it. I can just write. Other programs have spiffy features, but I’ll stick with what works for me.

Do characters’ names come immediately to you? Do you add them in a final draft? Where do you find names, and how do you make a final decision about the names you’ll use?

Names come from one of three places. Usually the MC’s name(s) come to me when I’m coming up with the idea of the book, because hey, characters first. Some are from a key mash and I tweak the letter gobbltitygook until it becomes a name. Most often, the rest of the characters get their name from a list of names I keep next to my desk. Whenever I see or hear one that’s interesting, it goes on the list for future use. 98% of the time, once a character gets a name on the page, that’s who they are. I rarely change them.

Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.

I’m a huge fan of "Dune" and all the Dune related books. The worldbuilding and characters are so deep and come alive on the pages. The universe is vast and makes you think while also enjoying the story. Because the whole body of work takes place over such an immense expanse of time it’s really interesting to see how history plays into everything that comes after.

Think of the title of a hugely popular novel. What is one major thing you would change about the book?

Let’s not let young kids read "Watership Down" because we make a mildly traumatizing animated movie out of it that we constantly showed in public schools so the book should be fine, right? If there was one book that scarred me growing up, it was long before Stephen King. It was rabbits!

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently working my way though the immense tome of Neal Stephenson’s "Reamde," but I’m on writing kick right now so reading is on hold while I pound words out until I need a break again.

If you could take on the identity of a character in one of your favorite books for twenty-four hours and retain the memory of that experience, which character would you choose? Tell us the title, author, character name, and why you would want to be that character.

If I had to pick someone else’s character to be (which would probably be wise because I’m not very kind to mine), I’d go with Vlad Taltos from Stephen Brust’s "Jhereg" (and the rest of the series). Why? He’s snarky, witty, does a bit of magic, is an assassin, and has a little dragon familiar. How can you beat that?

If you could save five books from being destroyed in the apocalypse, what books would you choose, and why?

I’m going to have to be practical here because we’re all spoiled and dependent on too much technology. I’ll be saving five books on gardening, homesteading, wilderness survival, herbology, and a medical reference. As much as I like my leisurely reading, I also like to eat and stay alive.

Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?

I’m currently working on edits of "i9," a stand-alone sci-fi novel that takes place in the future greater Narvan universe. The characters were a lot of fun to write and I’m enjoying focusing on a few stand-alone novels after spending much of the past few years wrapped up in the main Narvan series. This snarky, fast-paced, sci-fi with a side of mystery and a dash of romance is slated to be out late summer/early fall.

22. What are the titles and genres of each book you’ve written?

Woo boy, you asked for it…

One Shot at the Sphinx – space opera
Trust – space opera
The Minor Years - space opera
Chain of Grey – space opera
Bound in Blue – space opera
Seeker – space opera
Tears of the Tyrant – space opera
Sahmara – fantasy
The Last God – sci-fi romance
A Broken Race – dystopian
Not Another Bard’s Tale – fantasy parody
Spindelkin – YA fairy tale
Frayed – YA urban fantasy
Everyone Dies – horror short stories
Destiny Pills & Space Wizards – sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal short stories
Dreams of Stars and Lies – sci-fi short stories
Kay-Kay the Littlest Chicken – children’s picture book
Laya’s Vacation – children’s picture book
Nugget the Space Chicken and the Dragon of Ishenor – Early MG chapter book

How can readers find you? Website, social media, amazon author page… share all the links!

You can find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeandavisauthor and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeandavisauthor

I’m also all over MI, IN, and OH in person at various art festivals, comic cons, and renaissance festivals throughout the year—sometimes even with a real chicken! You can find a full list of my appearances on my website: https://www.jeandavisauthor.com

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