An Interview with Author Jeff Davis

Welcome to Meet The Author! Today Jeff Davis has stopped by to give us a little insight into his life and his books.  So let’s get started.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m an artist - fine art, illustration, graphic design, videography. My professional career led me to be an art director for a major multinational tech company. In 2002, my division and my team of four artists and six programmers was surplused. I had the choice to go to NYC, (I saw the office… Madison Ave., 7th floor), or stay home and be Mr. Mom to my two-year-old and 6-month-old children. I chose to stay home.   Ten years later, I still see it as the best decision I’ve ever made. I never would have forgiven myself if I missed those years.

When did you start writing?

I started writing for customer websites around 2003. Copywriting is really like micro storytelling. You have to convey all of the emotion of a story in one or two lines… it’s very challenging. I didn’t really start, though, until 2011 and my first NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writers Month), Challenge. It was a daunting task, and I was really worried about it. Once I had gotten through that month, (I hit 50k words), I knew there was nothing else that I wanted to do as much as writing.

What projects have been published?

My first real novel, “The Seeds” was published in May of 2012. It’s a Young Adult fantasy work that I’m really proud to have completed.

Tell us about “The Seeds”

Mankind has destroyed the planet, and it is rebuilding itself. The grasses and plants have come back. So, too, have the insects and many of the animals. Along with them, the first children, the Tarols, have emerged from their long sleep. They have set up a society charged with maintaining the Balance.   When one of their own returns with a mind full of vengeance, it is up to the Queen’s children to protect the realm and the society they have built. And the bats… the bats don’t like them much.

How did you select the title of your novel?

There are actual seeds that play a pivotal role in the story. I tested a few ideas for a title among family and friends, but “The Seeds” was always the default. What was your inspiration?

I was watching a moth flutter by one day, and I thought to myself, “What would happen if that moth was too large to fit in a bat’s mouth?” The story grew from there. What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a bunch of projects. Along with this year’s NaNo, I’m writing a sequel to “The Seeds”. I’m also working on an unrelated novel directed at the Percy Jackson-Artemis Foul level audience regarding time travel and magic. I also have a non-fiction work underway about why people have such a hard time admitting that they don’t know something. I’ve done some interviews with experts on that one, so it’s really fun and interesting. What are you reading at the moment?

On my night table: The Game of Thrones four volume set, as well as a few other that are waiting. On my Nook: There’s an Artemis Foul book that I’ve been reading to my kids, and I’m reading “A Summer of Frogs” by Tressa Green. A very moving, soulful book by a wonderful indie author. As soon as that is done, I’m chomping at the bit to get to “Mockingbirds” by Chuck Wendig. I read “Blackbirds” and loved it. I think Wendig is a major player in the world of gritty realistic urban fantasy. Not for the timid!

What do you like to do in your free time when you're not reading or writing?

I paint, and I always take a few commissions around this time of year. I’m also getting ready to shoot a local commercial for a product launch, along with the video work I do with our local schools and church. I keep pretty busy.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

Write every day. Read as much as you can. Try new authors, but don’t be afraid to toss them if their work isn’t thrilling you. That said, don’t be afraid to try them again in the future. With so many indie authors out there, there is a wealth of talent just waiting to be discovered. They may not all be the writers they are going to be yet. Give them a chance, keep checking back, and learn from them. Did I mention writing every day? Yeah, do that.

And finally, can you tell us some fun facts about yourself, such as crossed skydiving off my bucket list.

Well, I have gone skydiving, which is easily the most thrilling thing you do fully dressed. My biggest accomplishment is having had kids for more than a decade and they still love me. The fact that my wife still wants to hang out with me now that she really knows me is pretty amazing too. After 35 years, I quit smoking four months ago. Cold turkey. I’d punch a nun for a cigarette right now. There are a few places on the planet I’d like to go, and I’ll get there… sooner or later! To find out more about Jeff and what he's up to, visit: www.jdsavage.com To purchase "The Seeds": www.smashwords.com/books/view/161223