Terrific Tuesday with Dyanne/F.D. Davis:)

Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.

Dyanne: Hi Molly, thank you for the opportunity to connect with your readers.. My name is Dyanne Davis. I write romance as Dyanne and paranormal as F.D. Davis. I’m debating whether to tell you about the latest release that came out a couple of months ago or about the one that’s coming out a couple of weeks from this interview. J I’ve decided to go with, To Live Again. This one is an F.D. Davis book.

The story is part paranormal part romance. It’s a story about reincarnation and the possibilities. When a married woman who has heard voices her entire life and dreamt of a husband and son comes face to face with the husband from her past many lives are thrown into turmoil.

This is the first and only novel I’ve ever written in first person. It was almost a book that was never completed because I found it sad, dark and emotional. One of my critique partners loved it and helped me to figure out that the first person pov was what was causing such an emotional response within me. When my editor who is definitely intone with me loved the book and said that readers would love it and would be getting two romances in one I was relieved. If I may I’d like to publicly thank my friend and fellow author Wendy Byrne for inspiring me to continue with the story. Actually this book turned into a trilogy. The other two were much lighter and easier to write.

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Dyanne: LOL. I’d have to answer yes to that. The first book in my vampire series, In The Beginning, Adam Omega my anti-hero I didn’t want to romanticize him, so intentionally made him evil. I had nightmares. I knew as much as I was loving the book in the daylight that I would have to write a romance in-between so the darkness wouldn’t overwhelm me.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

Dyanne: All the time. It’s never intended but snippets work their way in. I either rework history or tell it straight.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

Dyanne: The amount of research I do depend on the book I’m writing. Full Circle is the last of the Trilogy of the book I mentioned in the first question. With that book I did a ton of research because most of the book took place in India. I had to research everything from custom, mode of transportation, sanitation, Doctors without Borders, everything. I also used the Runes to write that book. Everyday I would pull a stone and would take the message it gave for that day’s scene. With that book I seriously felt as though the story was meant to be told and I was merely taking dictation. I didn’t know the answers to a lot of the things that happened in, To Live Again, until I was done writing, Full Circle. Then it all came together. With, “Let’s Get It On” part of the book took place in Pakistan so again a lot of research was required. I write first then do the research.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

Dyanne: I want readers to know that I’m trying to the story of characters that may or may not be likeable. I will always do my best to deliver a well written story. My editor will make sure it’s well edited. I don’t necessarily write characters that are likeable. I just tell their stories. Maybe in this I’m writing a little about people I know who don’t behave in a likeable manner.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

Dyanne: I am a definite pantser. I never know where the story is gong and I’m always surprised. That’s the part I love most about being a writer. “Full Circle” took on a life without me. If I told you the whole of it, you’d want to call my husband to have me committed. J

How long did it take for you to be published?

Dyanne: I could answer that by saying forty-three years. But I took a lot of detours from my desire to be a published author, marriage, being a mother, becoming a nurse. When I took a break from nursing for two years on the suggestion of Bill, (my husband) that I give writing a real try it took about three years before I became published. But I will admit I had been sending out mss and collecting rejections for about five years before that..

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

Dyanne: I would say: Dyanne, not everyone is going to love what you write. You must develop a think skin, you must learn marketing, you really, really, really have to learn how to sell yourself. And most important, Dyanne, you will retain the joy of writing even when it turns into a business.

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Dyanne: Both. There are no hard and fast must- haves’ for me. A peaceful center is what I work best in. But I’ve learned to work past the times of unrest until my soul finds the peace.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

Dyanne: I don’t generally answer this or I’ll say too many to name. Today I’ll say, All of the RWA Windy City authors, L.A. Banks and my all time favorite Anne Rice. Considering the Bible is my all time favorite books and has given me many years of internal debate I’d have to throw all those authors in for good measure.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Dyanne: I think my readers might be surprised that in order of importance my writing takes between 6-7 place. My family will always retain top billing.

For Fun:

What is your favorite love scene to write or read? (ie: First kiss, passion after a fight, reunion)

Dyanne: Hmm, I think my favorite love scene would be passion after a fight. Ooooh, GOOD one!

What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory?

Dyanne: If, Giving It Up makes it out as it’s supposed to this Valentine’s Day that will be my favorite memory. If not I guess I’ll have to say, Bill giving me flowers, candy and balloons one year.

Sweetest gift ever given to you?

Dyanne: The sweetest gift ever given to me was God giving me the gift of life. Okay, I’m not playing fair. This still may not be playing fair, but I think having Bill and the way our relationship just keeps getting better after forty years of marriage is indeed my greatest gift.

I’ll behave and give you a more expected answer. About thirty-six years ago when we bought our home, Bill, had purchased a push lawn mower. My in-laws came to visit. My father-in-law took one look at Bill cutting the grass, left and went and bought him (us) our first gas mower. The thing of it was it was totally unexpected. We could have afforded to get one on our own but this was what Bill said he wanted at the time. As a married coupe we’d not been accustomed to anyone giving or doing anything for us. I have always loved him for that and even though he’s no longer with us, I think of him often and with love.

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

Dyanne: Again Molly, thank you for having me. All of my books can be found at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel , www.genesispress.com parkerpublishing.com Most of my books are available at any bookstores, some are now on Kindle and eformat.

Blurb:

One woman. Two men. Both claim marital rights. When a past life collides with the present, chaos ensues. The result, an affair that unravels three lives. Her heart now torn, Michelle Powers must choose between husbands. Chance Morgan, Or Larry Powers. The time has come To Live Again.

Excerpt:

I met Chance when I was shopping for my husband’s dinner. Can you imagine the irony in that? In his name? Anyway, when I could malinger no longer, I at last paid for my groceries and made my way toward the exit.

The sky had been a beautiful cerulean blue when I went in, but now it was an angry gray. Fat drops of water began to plop down as I left the store and by the time I was halfway to my car, the rain was pouring down in buckets. The paper bag I’d opted for in the store quickly became saturated and collapsed, spilling my groceries under cars and into the greasy puddles.

I stood for a moment, soaked to the bone, watching my dinner scatter like so many pearls from a broken strand. I started to cry. It wasn’t so much the food or the wasted money, but in that moment those scattering groceries represented my life and my emotions.

I saw tomato sauce flying in the air, eggs breaking, though I had bought neither. I could no more escape my feelings of guilt for not going to see Viola than I could escape my own flesh.

So I did the only thing I could. I cried harder than I ever had in my life, in the rain, in the parking lot, my arms outstretched to the heavens. At first I didn’t notice the man retrieving my items and placing them in a double plastic bag.

When he handed the plastic bag filled with my groceries back to me, I saw sympathy in his face and his eyes and cried harder. For a moment he looked confused. Then he put his arms around me and held me, pressing my head into his chest.

I held on to him as if my very life depended on it. Despite the cold rain, I felt an electrical energy emanating from his body and twining around me. I felt as if I had come home at last. Strange, but it was how I felt.

For long minutes the rain poured down over us. I truly wanted to stop crying, but the fact that I was crying in the rain, in the parking lot, with a strange man comforting me, made me cry more.

At last I gained control and lifted my head from his chest and looked at him. There was an expression of awe on his face, of wonderment. “Do I know you?” I attempted to smile, but the intensity of his look prevented it.

“I’m sorry about this.” I waved my hand around attempting to convey to him that I was not usually a woman given to hysterics.

“Are you better now?” he asked.

“I think so, but I don’t want to be alone.”

I forced myself to look, really look, at the man standing in front of me. He was tall, almost as tall as Larry. That would make him close to six feet.

His hair was jet black, like a raven’s, and had the tiniest sprinkling of gray around the temples. The rain had plastered his shirt flat against his chest and abdomen, revealing that he was lean and muscular.

I examined his face. Strong chin, a mouth that was firm and inviting, tiny laugh lines etched into the contours.

But it was his eyes that gave me pause. I’d been attracted to Larry because of the beauty of his golden brown eyes. This man standing before me possessed without a doubt the most captivating blue eyes God had ever bestowed on a human. I’d never seen that particular color on any living being. I gazed into their depths and became lost. I pulled back to get a better look at the total man. His skin was the color of heated gold from his obvious tan. In spite of the cold rain his touch was hot and inviting. But none of those things were the reason behind my actions. There was something familiar about him and it frightened me.

I closed my eyes against the rush of unexpected emotions. I knew I needed to get a grip, yet my head was spinning and for no known reason, I felt a surge of pure joy overtake me. I was relieved when he spoke.

“You look as if you could use some company. Would you like to go somewhere and have a cup of coffee…maybe talk…a little?”