Fiona Davis's Blog, page 4
September 15, 2016
Words on the Page
I know a lot of authors who sit down to write with no outline at all, just a strong sense of their characters and an open mind. But maybe it’s because I was a journalist first, I found I had to carefully outline the plot of “The Dollhouse,” just as I would an article for a magazine (a reaaaally long article!) Without a clear a through-line, I’m liable to stare off into space thinking about what I want to eat for dinner rather than get the words down on the page.
So first I brainstormed scene ideas, and because I was working with two timelines – 1952 and 2016 – I then carefully wove the stories together. Since there’s a mystery element to the novel, the trickiest part was making sure I dropped the clues and red herrings in the right place, neither too early or too late, and that they propelled both story lines forward. Exhausting, to say the least! But also exhilarating once I realized I could do it.
To read more about the process and the inspiration behind the book, check out my blog on the Penguin Random House page here: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blo...
So first I brainstormed scene ideas, and because I was working with two timelines – 1952 and 2016 – I then carefully wove the stories together. Since there’s a mystery element to the novel, the trickiest part was making sure I dropped the clues and red herrings in the right place, neither too early or too late, and that they propelled both story lines forward. Exhausting, to say the least! But also exhilarating once I realized I could do it.
To read more about the process and the inspiration behind the book, check out my blog on the Penguin Random House page here: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blo...
September 7, 2016
Editors and Writers
When I heard that Dutton would be publishing “The Dollhouse,” I was overjoyed. Dutton editor Stephanie Kelly had shown a profound understanding of the book and its themes in our first conversation, so I knew I was in good hands. But there was still work to be done, as is true with every manuscript.
As a journalist, I already appreciated the value of a second opinion. Using a fresh and seasoned eye, a good editor can see the big picture better than the author, and offer insights that improve the structure and storyline. And Stephanie made the story sing. Her suggestions were spot on and increased the conflict in the book (always good) while deepening the motivation of the characters. The end result was a more satisfying story on many levels.
You can read more about the journey to publication from Stephanie’s point of view on the Penguin Random House blog The Perch. Check it out here:
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blo...
As a journalist, I already appreciated the value of a second opinion. Using a fresh and seasoned eye, a good editor can see the big picture better than the author, and offer insights that improve the structure and storyline. And Stephanie made the story sing. Her suggestions were spot on and increased the conflict in the book (always good) while deepening the motivation of the characters. The end result was a more satisfying story on many levels.
You can read more about the journey to publication from Stephanie’s point of view on the Penguin Random House blog The Perch. Check it out here:
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blo...
August 30, 2016
Researching The Dollhouse
Since my novel The Dollhouse was released on Tuesday, I’ve had a terrific time communicating with readers and bloggers. One of the most popular questions I’ve been asked is about my research for the book, which takes place in 1952 and 2016. For the chapters in the 1950s, I had a grand time going through back issues of newspapers and women’s magazines to get a sense of what that time period was like. I wanted to know what people were worried about, what was the political and cultural climate at the time.
I learned that even though the economy was booming in those post-WWII years, the threat of the atom bomb and McCarthyism darkened the political landscape. Meanwhile, in New York City, thousands of Puerto Ricans were immigrating in what was known as the Great Migration, and were met with hostility and discrimination. Finally, a heroin epidemic was also flaring up, often blamed on the musicians who played in the jazz clubs of the day.
So while the Barbizon was filled with young women approaching their stay in city with optimism and enthusiasm, there existed an interesting mix of denial and danger at that time, and which I hoped to capture in the book.
You can read more about the research process and the writing of The Dollhouse in my Q&A with Book Club Babble – http://bookclubbabble.com/interviews/...
I learned that even though the economy was booming in those post-WWII years, the threat of the atom bomb and McCarthyism darkened the political landscape. Meanwhile, in New York City, thousands of Puerto Ricans were immigrating in what was known as the Great Migration, and were met with hostility and discrimination. Finally, a heroin epidemic was also flaring up, often blamed on the musicians who played in the jazz clubs of the day.
So while the Barbizon was filled with young women approaching their stay in city with optimism and enthusiasm, there existed an interesting mix of denial and danger at that time, and which I hoped to capture in the book.
You can read more about the research process and the writing of The Dollhouse in my Q&A with Book Club Babble – http://bookclubbabble.com/interviews/...
