Fiona Davis's Blog, page 3

Kind words from BookPage on The Address

“With her nimble writing style, Davis makes pithy commentary on gender, social and economic in­equality in both eras. In the earlier setting, one fallen woman is carted off to an insane asylum, while an­other retains her status by dint of being in a respectable marriage. In 1985, Melinda dismisses servants without a second thought and treats Bailey just a little bit better. This thought-provoking book makes you wonder what Edith Wharton would have made of these Camdens and pseudo-Camdens. Thankfully, Davis is here to tell us.”
— BookPage

Family Circle on The Address

“Lively and detail rich—set against the backdrop of NYC’s infamous Dakota building—with a thread of mystery that makes it easy to enjoy, hard to put down.”

Southern Living on The Address & The Dollhouse

Did you read Fiona Davis’ debut novel, The Dollhouse? It is a stunning dive into 1950s New York City that you’ll be compelled to read in one sitting. Then you’ll be eager for the release of The Address, her new novel that weaves an unforgettable, centuries-spanning tale of life and love in The Dakota, NYC's most famous apartment house.

Ms. magazine on The Address

“For fans missing Downtown Abbey, The Address offers 19th-century household drama, though the book is ultimately more in the spirit of Sarah Waters’ novels, particularly The Paying Guests and Affinity, and Alexis Coe’s Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis. The Address is compelling, historically minded fiction with unexpected—and entertaining twists and turns…the novel delights…”
--Ms. magazine

Minneapolis Star-Tribune on THE ADDRESS

“Two women, connected but a century apart, find intrigue and hardship in the Dakota, New York City’s landmark apartment building. Its fascinating history — mixed with romance, family discord and murder — makes this a fast-paced read.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

POPSUGAR on THE ADDRESS

“Let this evocative novel sweep you away to another time and place.”
— POPSUGAR

Publisher's Weekly on THE ADDRESS

“Davis has folded together two historical eras in this breezy historical novel that jumps between Gilded Age and Reagan-era New York City… [she] overlays the two histories beautifully… The book, rife with historical description and architectural detail, will appeal to design and history buffs alike.”
— Publisher’s Weekly

Praise for THE ADDRESS

“An evocative and intriguing story of love, class, secrets, and pasts, The Address tells the tale of two very different working women who lived almost a hundred years apart and the mystery that may or may not connect them and link their fates. Set at one of the most historic and glamorous apartment buildings in Manhattan, the book is this summer's perfect beach read.”
— Wendy Lawless, New York Times bestselling author of Chanel Bonfire and Heart of Glass

"A superb tale, masterfully told, with splendid detail and historical accuracy."
— Andrew Alpern, author of The Dakota: A History of the World’s Best-Known Apartment Building

“The Address transported me through the grand doors of the Dakota building, and right into the hearts of its inhabitants. Rich in historic glamour and hugely enjoyable.”
— Eve Chase, author of Black Rabbit Hall and The Wildling Sisters

Getting Published

As I’ve been out and about promoting “The Dollhouse” these past few months, I’ve met a lot of readers who are working on their own books and want to know more about the writing/publishing process. Although I’d been working as a journalist for the past fifteen years, the switch to fiction wasn’t easy. Long before “The Dollhouse” got published, I was going to writers’ conferences, taking classes, and reading books on craft. (Two faves – Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird.”)

But no matter what, the best advice boiled down to four words: write a good story. I was used to writing every day and meeting deadlines, so I applied the same practices to the first draft of “The Dollhouse,” which involved hitting a daily word count and plugging along until I finished the last scene of my outline. After that, it was months of editing and revising, but at least I had something to work with and shape into a polished manuscript. For some great advice on the subject, check out Signature’s Writing Tips: http://www.signature-reads.com/2016/1...

Happy writing!

Inspiration Strikes

I’ve had a number of readers ask me about the inspiration behind “The Dollhouse.” A few years ago, I was looking for an apartment here in NYC where I live, and my broker took me to the building that used to be the Barbizon Hotel for Women, and is now called the Barbizon 63 Condo. While there, I learned that a dozen or so of the long-time residents of the hotel were grandfathered in to rent-controlled apartments on the fourth floor back in 2005, when the building went condo. I was curious about what it was like to live in the same building but see such dramatic changes. For example, back in 1966, a week’s stay at the Barbizon Hotel cost $6.75. Today, according to StreetEasy, there’s a penthouse apartment available now for $17 million! So I decided to write two timelines into the book – one in 1952 and one in 2016 – so that readers could take the ride with me back in time.

Learn more about my inspirations for the book here: https://blissbeautyandbeyond.wordpres...