Evette Davis's Blog, page 2

Happy Summer!

I wanted to let folks know that I’ve discounted 48 States as an e-book on Amazon for the next few weeks to ensure everyone can grab a copy for their summer reading. Once you’ve read your copy, all I ask is that you give it an honest review on a platform of your choice.

Additionally, I’ve pasted a list of links to other outlets that are selling the book below. If you have a favorite independent bookstore that isn’t listed here, that’s okay! Go in or call and ask them if they carry 48 States or to order it! Most independent bookstores are carrying 48 States!

If you haven’t seen it yet, here is my most recent author interview. All other interviews and reviews are on my website under the Press tab.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and responses to 48 States. Since the book launched last month, the reviews have been very positive. I’m gratified and hope you will enjoy 48 States, too. Happy reading and stay tuned for a calendar of events starting with a reading at Barnes & Noble in August. And if you’re not already, please follow me on my Instagram and Facebook and check out my website.

– Evette

Darvill's Bookstore, Washington

https://darvillsbookstore.indielite.org/book/9798985813302

Orca Books, Washington

https://www.orcabooks.com/book/9798985813302

Flying Pig Bookstore, Vermont

https://www.flyingpigbooks.com/book/9798985813302

Yankee Bookshop, Vermont

https://www.yankeebookshop.com/book/9798985813302

RJ Julia, Connecticut (I love this bookstore)

https://www.rjjulia.com/book/9798985813302

Changing Hands, Arizona (another fantastic indie!)

https://www.changinghands.com/book/9798985813302

Kew & Willow, New York

https://www.kewandwillow.com/book/9798985813302

Bronx River Books, New York

https://www.bronxriverbooks.com/book/9798985813302

Shermans, Maine

https://www.shermans.com/book/9798985813302

The Twig, Texas

https://www.thetwig.com/book/9798985813302

The Book Catapult, San Diego, CA

https://www.thebookcatapult.com/book/9798985813302

Amazon Prime Day Sale!

Hello and Happy Summer!  

I’m writing to let you know that Amazon Prime Day is today and tomorrow and 48 States will be available at a discounted price!  

(Such is the life of an indie writer.)

If you haven't yet, I hope you will buy a copy and if you’ve already read 48 States and enjoyed it, I hope you will leave a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, or another platform of your choice. Authentic reviews are important so thank you in advance for taking the time. 

Reviews continue to be positive. Here are a few more recent posts for your perusal. 

"So much more than just a well-written dystopian thriller... An adept and chilling cautionary tale—the narrative equivalent of brass knuckles to the skull." -- Kirkus, Starred Review

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a unique take on dystopian literature... Davis brings a fresh look with 48 States." -- Write Read Life blog

"48 States is a dystopian thriller that shows what can happen when greed and power take over. A strong beginning threw me into the story with amazing characters. I loved River's character from the beginning as she stood up for herself within the territory of mostly men. 48 States is an emotional, surprising, yet realistic dystopian thriller." -- Stephanie's Book Reviews

"Very engaging... If you enjoy a dystopian novel with a bit of espionage, then I think you may enjoy this one." -- Cozy Book Nook

Thanks as always for reading and being a part of my community. 

Evette

48 States Has Arrived!

"So much more than just a well-written dystopian thriller... An adept and chilling cautionary tale—the narrative equivalent of brass knuckles to the skull." - Kirkus, Starred Review

Dear Friends,

I never thought this day would come, but I’m thrilled to announce that my latest novel, 48 States, is on sale starting today. So far, the reviews have been positive including a starred review from Kirkus. This novel is five years in the making, taking me through a pandemic and the death of my father, which is plenty of fuel for a dystopian tale, but the genesis of the story comes from a much different place. It comes from my volunteer work for Swords to Plowshares and getting to know a handful of women authors who are also veterans. Their bravery was the spark that sent my imagination off and running. 

When I started working on the story I could never have imagined January 6,  or the shocking details that have been disclosed in the last few days. It’s fascinating, if not downright unsettling when fiction and reality intersect, but that seems to be the case for the last few years. 48 States is a meditation on a dystopia of an unfamiliar kind, one that doesn’t involve mass sickness or death. It’s about the more subtle and pernicious ways a place can lose its moorings. I hope you’ll be in touch if you decide to read the book and let me know what you think. Another exciting detail is that I published the novel using IngramSpark, which means you can ask for my novel at local bookstores. 

Given the virus’ unstable trajectory and the fact that travel season is already upon us, I plan on celebrating in late summer or early fall. Keep an eye out for an official launch party and other activities—I’ll send out an update when there are more details. 

For those of you who decide to buy the book—and like it—please remember to leave a review on whatever site you use. Reviews are incredibly important to helping me attract new readers, so thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to leave your thoughts. 

I wish all of you a safe summer. I appreciate you being a part of my community and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Evette 

P.S.  Here are a few more reviews, if you’re interested:

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a unique take on dystopian literature... Davis brings a fresh look with 48 States." -- Write Read Life blog

"48 States is a dystopian thriller that shows what can happen when greed and power take over. A strong beginning threw me into the story with amazing characters. I loved River's character from the beginning as she stood up for herself within the territory of mostly men. 48 States is an emotional, surprising, yet realistic dystopian thriller." -- Stephanie's Book Reviews

"Very engaging... If you enjoy a dystopian novel with a bit of espionage, then I think you may enjoy this one." -- Cozy Book Nook

Final Newsletter of 2021

Art from the Suzzallo Library, University of Washington. I hope the new year brings light to your house of stories. 

This is it. My last blog/newsletter for 2021. I’ve got to stop marketing myself and get down to writing, or I will never publish two novels in 2022.

Here are some final thoughts to ponder, until we meet again:

San Francisco Writers Conference Fiction Contest. I’m thrilled to announce that 48 States was chosen as a finalist in the 2021 San Francisco Writers Conference Writing Contest.

Flesh & Bone Publishing. 2022 is the year my sleepy publishing imprint releases two novels as ebooks on multiple platforms. We’re hard at work with a team of editors and designers to complete final versions of 48 States and Book 3, which still needs a title. I’m excited to see years of work finally come to fruition. Of course I have enough ideas for new novels to last another decade, but I may take a break from writing to try my hand at playing an instrument or relearning French. We’ll see what fate holds in store after we get both of these works published. 

Farewell, Arrivederci, Adios and Adieu. No joke, I am ready to say goodbye to 2021. This was the year when my family got COVID, and my father died. While I learned a lot about resilience and I adore my new tattoos, moving on to a new year has never seemed like a better idea.

Thank you. It’s been wonderful connecting with everyone. I love the reactions I receive to my posts and I  appreciate the support of my readers, friends and colleagues. All of our inboxes are overflowing, so it’s especially gratifying that you stop and make time to read what I publish. Thank you!  

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. Let’s hope that we all stay healthy and can enjoy seeing our family and friends for the remaining days  of the year. Look for us in early 2022, when we’ll restart the newsletter and hopefully have some release dates for the two novels.

Final Newsletter of 2021

This is it. My last blog/newsletter for 2021. I’ve got to stop marketing myself and get down to writing, or I will never publish two novels in 2022.

Here are some final thoughts to ponder, until we meet again:

San Francisco Writers Conference Fiction Contest. I’m thrilled to announce that 48 States was chosen as a finalist in the 2021 San Francisco Writers Conference Writing Contest. 

Flesh & Bone Publishing. 2022 is the year my sleepy publishing imprint releases two novels as ebooks on multiple platforms. We’re hard at work with a team of editors and designers to complete final versions of 48 States and Book 3 – currently enjoying the title Death Wish.  I’m excited to see years of work finally come to fruition. Of course I have enough ideas for new novels to last another decade, but I may take a break from writing to try my hand at playing an instrument or relearning French. We’ll see what fate holds in store after we get both of these works published. 

48 States on Kindle Vella.  I’m trying to decide if I should continue posting chapters or hold out until next year when we publish. If you’ve been enjoying the chapters on Vella, send me a note and let me know. 

Farwell, Arrivederci, Adios and Adieu. No joke, I am ready to say goodbye to 2021. This was the year almost my entire family got COVID and my father died. While I learned a lot about resilience and adore my new tattoos, moving on to a new year has never seemed like a better idea.

Thank you. It’s been wonderful connecting with everyone. I love the reactions I receive to my posts and I’m appreciative of the support I get from my readers, friends and colleagues. All of our in-boxes are overflowing, so it’s especially gratifying that you stop and make time to read what I publish. Thank you!  

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. Let’s hope that we all stay healthy and can enjoy seeing our family and friends for the remaining months of the year.  Look for us in early 2022 when we’ll restart the newsletter and hopefully have some release dates for the two novels.

New Blog Alert!

My next blog post has been published! This one explores the power of a great soundtrack. To what you may ask? Read to find out.

Choosing Your Soundtrack

I’m not sure what other people daydream about, but lately I’ve been obsessed with what the soundtrack for my books would sound like if they were ever turned into a television series or a movie. (I’ve also thought about directors – but that is a blog for another time.) 

I know you’re thinking, Evette, a movie or a binge-worthy television series, really? 

To which I say, “Hey a girl can dream!”

It’s also good to be prepared. I’m not getting any younger and should luck smile down on me, I want to be ready to go with a list of artists that would instinctively pair the right music to help narrate my novels. I don’t see these as films or television shows that carry an orchestral soundtrack, ala Star Wars. I envision more of a contemporary soundtrack using existing songs or works specifically written for the occasion. My musical tastes haven’t deviated much in the last few years. I tend to stay firmly in the indie-folk/classic rock n roll/new wave mashup that has been my happy place. 

48States is a dystopian romance set in the West against the backdrop of domestic civil war and the third book in the trilogy – tentatively entitled Death Wish – is the final installment of an urban political fantasy thriller. Both are fast-paced adventures, featuring heroines with a lot going on.  The playlists I curated to help inspire my writing offer obvious clues to the artists I would want to work on the soundtrack.  Not surprisingly, a lot of the artists I like for the job are female.  My top choice would be Aimee Mann.  I had the good fortune to see her recently at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga and although it was a short set – just an hour – she was as amazing as ever.  Aimee is a gifted lyricist and her songs are a kind of poetry that has touched my heart for close to twenty years. A fellow Virgo, she has an ironic, fatalist bent to her work that I think rightly fits the ethos of my novels.  But there are other female performers who would be wonderful including Larin Poe and Brandi Carlile who both possess a kind of grit and sensual nature that fits my work nicely.  

Of course this is an equal opportunity day dream and I’ve also thought about bands like the Devil Makes Three, as well as solo artists like Eddie Vedder, David Sylvian, and Neil Finn. Neil Finn is the male Aimee Mann for me. I adore Crowded House, but it’s his solo work that has caught my attention for years.  He is also someone with a gift for lyrics and an ear for melodies that break your heart.  

The truth is that any of these performers would create wonderful soundtracks should my novels ever hit the big (or not so big) screen.  These musicians – along with others – have provided the inspiration for my writing for many years. Listening to their words helped me find my own; so it’s only fitting I would want them to help me bring my books to life. 

If you had to pull together the soundtrack for your life or a piece of your art, what musician would you choose?

I DARE You to Read this Newsletter

While in my adolescence in the 1980’s - when there were no smartphones, Internet or WiFi - playing truth or dare was probably one of the first ways in which I was introduced to the thrill of being scared. Painfully shy, I dreaded the dare almost as much as the truth since it almost always involved having to kiss someone I had a crush on (or worse, admitting I liked them!) 

It can be exhilarating to be scared - when it’s the right kind of fright. 

Roller coasters, scary movies, bungee jumping - we all have something that stands our nerves on end, and although in that moment our hearts are in our throats, we love the adrenaline rush that comes later. With Halloween approaching, being scared is on my mind, but I’m not talking about ghosts, werewolves or other frightful creatures that lurk about in the night. I’m talking about trying new things that we’re usually too scared to act on that can advance us as people, professionals and artists.

This is a natural follow-up to me inviting you to get lost in my last newsletter. I’m asking you to do something that scares you and see if you don’t surprise yourself, and I don’t mean reading the Amityville Horror or watching the Exorcist, two things I did in my youth that still frighten me to this day. 

Have you ever wanted to learn another language but were worried you would sound funny or be bad at it? Maybe you’d like to learn how to cook or improve your skills in the kitchen, but you're afraid you’ll embarrass yourself. Have you walked by a piano or an acoustic guitar displayed in a store window and quickly said to yourself that you're tone deaf and wouldn’t be able to play? 

The list of things we tell ourselves we’re no good at and therefore shouldn't even start is endless, but now is the time to choose one and take the leap. I don’t mean literally if skydiving isn’t your thing, but I’m encouraging you to sift through your bucket list and choose one activity that you’ve always been interested in or wanted to do and give it a try. 

This is a theme the female characters in my novels grapple with repeatedly. Olivia in the Dark Horse Trilogy books, and River in 48 STATES are both forced to conquer their fears. Olivia is worried she can never take the place of her father as head of The Council, but eventually she learns to be a leader on her own terms. River has only known bad luck for so long she is afraid to be happy and allow herself to be loved. Both women are forced to do things they’ve avoided to get what they want. It might be fiction, but there is a grain of truth to what they must do to live their best lives. 

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that life is short. We hope to have years on this planet, but sadly we know that is not always the case. So don’t wait to do something you’ve had your heart set on because of fear of failure or a fear of the unknown. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you can make a souffle or play “Stairway to Heaven”, complete a century on your bike or even finish a novel. What matters is that you tried… yes, maybe with your pulse racing, certainly with your ambition and curiosity on display for everyone to see. In that moment when you cross over from imagining something to doing it, you will feel the thrill of conquering your fear, an experience vastly better than any bucket full of Halloween candy. 

I DARE You to Read this Newsletter

While in my adolescence in the 1980’s – when there were no smartphones, Internet or WiFi – playing truth or dare was probably one of the first ways in which I was introduced to the thrill of being scared. Painfully shy, I dreaded the dare almost as much as the truth since it almost always involved having to kiss someone I had a crush on (or worse, admitting I liked them!) 

It can be exhilarating to be scared – when it’s the right kind of fright. 

Roller coasters, scary movies, bungee jumping – we all have something that stands our nerves on end, and although in that moment our hearts are in our throats, we love the adrenaline rush that comes later. With Halloween approaching, being scared is on my mind, but I’m not talking about ghosts, werewolves or other frightful creatures that lurk about in the night. I’m talking about trying new things that we’re usually too scared to act on that can advance us as people, professionals and artists.

This is a natural follow-up to me inviting you to get lost in my last newsletter. I’m asking you to do something that scares you and see if you don’t surprise yourself, and I don’t mean reading the Amityville Horror or watching the Exorcist, two things I did in my youth that still frighten me to this day. 

Have you ever wanted to learn another language but were worried you would sound funny or be bad at it? Maybe you’d like to learn how to cook or improve your skills in the kitchen, but you’re afraid you’ll embarrass yourself. Have you walked by a piano or an acoustic guitar displayed in a store window and quickly said to yourself that you’re tone deaf and wouldn’t be able to play? 

The list of things we tell ourselves we’re no good at and therefore shouldn’t even start is endless, but now is the time to choose one and take the leap. I don’t mean literally if skydiving isn’t your thing, but I’m encouraging you to sift through your bucket list and choose one activity that you’ve always been interested in or wanted to do and give it a try. 

This is a theme the female characters in my novels grapple with repeatedly. Olivia in the Dark Horse Trilogy books, and River in 48 STATES are both forced to conquer their fears. Olivia is worried she can never take the place of her father as head of The Council, but eventually she learns to be a leader on her own terms. River has only known bad luck for so long she is afraid to be happy and allow herself to be loved. Both women are forced to do things they’ve avoided to get what they want. It might be fiction, but there is a grain of truth to what they must do to live their best lives. 

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that life is short. We hope to have years on this planet, but sadly we know that is not always the case. So don’t wait to do something you’ve had your heart set on because of fear of failure or a fear of the unknown. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you can make a souffle or play “Stairway to Heaven”, complete a century on your bike or even finish a novel. What matters is that you tried… yes, maybe with your pulse racing, certainly with your ambition and curiosity on display for everyone to see. In that moment when you cross over from imagining something to doing it, you will feel the thrill of conquering your fear, an experience vastly better than any bucket full of Halloween candy.

Spooky season is upon us

Halloween is coming up, so get into the spooky spirit with my latest blog post! Along with the origins of Halloween, there’s a fun little challenge in it from me to you. I think you’ll enjoy it… and hopefully, it won’t scare you too much;) Enjoy!