Thursdays of Sword & Sorceress 27 – the Linda Davis interview
This week’s interview is with Linda Davis.
###
1.) Tell us about yourself.
“I write speculative fiction from Pensacola, Florida where I also spend much of my time swatting mosquitos and sweating, or as we ladies in the South like to saying, glowing. Most of my fiction is science fiction or fantasy, but I do write mystery and mainstream now and again. I have a Master’s Degree in Communication Arts, so it was quite interesting to make the switch to fiction. My favorite sub-genres to read are first contact stories and coming of age stories. My all-time most loved book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and the book I’m reading right now is Blood on the Bayou by Stacey Jay.
I share my life with my husband, Steve, and our three dogs and three cats. My office is covered in animal hair most of the time which is awesome for my allergies, and I frequently find stray jigsaw puzzle pieces around the house after they have mysteriously disappeared. My daughter and her husband, Erica and David, are busy seeing the world with their own cat, courtesy of the US Marines. For anyone who ever wants to take me out to dinner, I crave hot and sour soup the most.”
2.) Why do you write?
“It’s not the actual writing that I enjoy. It’s creating the story. Reading a story for which I plucked the individual words out of my brain and put them together in an enjoyable sequence truly fascinates me. I think it rocks to be able to make something of out of nothing. It’s what I call art.”
3.) Sword & Sorceress is known for sword & sorcery centered around a strong female character. Is there any particular trick to writing strong female characters?
“I think writing strong females characters is the same as writing any other strong character, whether it be male, alien, dog or Djinn. Females are generally stuck with being perceived as the weaker sex when I believe it really boils down to the individual inside the casing. No, females aren’t historically known for their physical strength, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t smart enough to identify one of the strengths they do possess and use it to survive.”
4.) How do you think ebooks and the Internet will change the way we read & write?
“I believe they will change things definitely for the better. I see a world where more people read because it’s more convenient to read on the go. There’s an excellent potential for books to be less expensive to the reader while still rewarding the authors fairly. I’m envious of the young authors who have so many years left to take advantage of the technology.”
5.) Tell us about your Sword & Sorceress story.
“‘Jack in Black” is one of the few urban fantasy stories included here. I’d long had a vision of a dangerous entity creeping through neighborhood bushes on Halloween night as it watched the trick-or-treaters with a perverse hunger. When I decided to write my first Halloween story, I used this vision as the starting point.
This story is about Kiki, a woman who grew up in mysterious circumstances and doesn’t know a lot about her supernatural origins. Today, with a husband and child, she uses her ability as a shapeshifter mostly for convenience since she can only shapeshift to earlier versions of herself, nothing else. On Halloween night, she smells an evil magic riding the winds in her neighborhood. Reluctant to allow her daughter and young friend to go trick-or-treating alone, she decides how best to use her ability to indulge them and protect them at the same time. Then, when faced with the ultimate danger of losing her daughter, Kiki must draw upon her own inner strength and find a unique solution to saving them all.”
6.) Can you share an excerpt from your Sword & Sorceress story?
“Kiki took a breath and leaned against the table, knowing she would somehow, certainly, be sorry for what she was about to do. She comforted herself with the knowledge that at least she could be present to keep them safe. The girls would never know she was there.
“Fine,” Kiki said. “You’re right. You guys are getting older, and it’s time for you to start taking care of yourselves some.”
The girls grinned and jumped up, immediately ready to go. Bennita kissed Kiki on her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. We’ll be safe.”
“Yeah, Miss Kiki,” Jaz said. “All we’ll get tonight is candy.” She grabbed their little pumpkin bags, both pristine now but guaranteed to be grubby and torn upon return.
Kiki hugged each one and sent them on their way. She stood still for a moment, centering herself. She went to the kitchen and drank a full glass of orange juice. She’d found that some serious sugar before a shift made it easier. Liquid was the fastest way to get it.
7.) Recommend one other book or short story you have written that we should read.
One of my lesser known stories that I absolutely adore is “Rocket Girls Are Real.” It’s another story that features a strong female character, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s available on www.bn.com and www.amazon.com as a short story e-book for just 99 cents.
(Editor’s note: description of the story follows.)
“Lola is an imaginary rocket girl who lives in the closet when Kelsey doesn’t remember her. Lola wants out of that closet. She and Pinkalink, her elephant friend, escape to make their way to Kelsey so they can be Real for a while. On the way, they encounter Globbula Optimi, one of the few space species that can take Lola down. What are they doing on Earth? Can Lola defeat the enemy and protect Pinkalink while on their journey? Can she and Pinkalink ever be Real? What does it take?”
8.) Recommend one non-fiction book that you haven’t written.
I am so thrilled to recommend Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches From the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein. I consider it a must read for all parents of young girls. I was fascinated, and I wish I’d had it to read while my daughter was still young. The book is smart, easy to read, and amusing as all get-out in places.
###
Thanks, Linda, for the interview.
Check out our interviews with past S&S contributors – , , , Sword & Sorceress 25, and Sword & Sorceress 26.
And the novel featuring my Sword & Sorceress character, spy and assassin Caina Amalas, is now available for free in all ebook formats: Child of the Ghosts.
-JM
