Meniere's Disease Warrior

It takes a lot to rattle me when it comes to my disease because it's so damned predictable. Ear fullness and loud tinnitus before an attack, vertigo during an attack, balance issues and brain fog after an attack. But this latest was as severe as the first year I had vertigo and it scared the hell out of me. If I had been living alone, instead of having a wonderful husband in the house, I would have been stranded in bed for 2 days without even being able to use a phone to call for help. As it was, I could barely make it to the bathroom by myself to puke my brains out. Thank goodness for walls and trash cans.

The attacks are supposed to get less severe as the years pass, which they have until now, so I think something else was influencing this latest one. Maybe I picked up bug when I was out among people. Maybe I'm going bilateral - I truly hope not because one bad ear ruining my life is enough. Maybe it was all the excess stress I've had the past few months. Whatever caused it, I truly hope I never have severe vertigo again. Ever. And I plan to live at least into my 80's. #meniere'swarrior

2018 is a milestone year for me

2018 is a milestone year for me in many ways. 20 years ago, I received my creative writing degree and embarked on a new career. This year marks my 14th novel completed and 13th novel published. It's the 15th anniversary of my Meniere's Disease diagnosis, which came as a relief because they suspected a brain tumor. And the best one - Hubby and I moved in together 30 years ago and kept our engagement secret for several months until we could afford to buy me a ring. You can barely see the diamond chip in that little ring but I love it and still have it. It's a reminder of our love and how far we've come in life.

Free Kindle book!

For the first time since it's initial release - The award-winning novel, Desert Magick: Superstitions, Kindle edition is free! Ends December 25th so hurry over to get your copy. 

Happy Holidays!

https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Superstitions-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B077ZM16DM/

Teadai Prophecies trilogy sale this month only!

My publisher has put the Teadai Prophecies trilogy on sale for the entire month of December! Three fantasy books for just $4.99! What a deal! The price goes back up in January, so hurry over this month to get your copy.

https://www.amazon.com/Teadai-Prophecies-Books-1-3-ebook/dp/B00AY5EWBY/

Happy Holidays!

Lost Moon is the Wild Card winner!

I was just notified that Lost Moon is the 2017 Southern California Book Festival Wild Card Winner!

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Lost%20Moon.html

Halloween Kindle book giveaway is on!

Dana’s annual Halloween Kindle book giveaway is on! Get a free copy of the teen fantasy, Breach of Worlds, for a limited time only. 

https://www.amazon.com/Breach-Worlds-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B07644HM3F/ 

Yes, I'm still here and still writing

I'm behind on blog posts simply because life seems to be in the way a lot. I've released one teen book in paperback for the first time this year and am doing re-writes on a brand new sci-fi book for adults. We're pushing for a end-of-year release on the next book, so I'll keep everyone posted. Also, I just began writing a dark fantasy novel, which is a new sub-genre for me, and one I've wanted to try my hand at for some time. That one is in the very early stages, so I don't expect it to be ready for publication for at least a year. After that, I have another paranormal fantasy series planned, along with several stand-alone novels.

Meanwhile, a few family members are having a rough year, so we're helping them out as much as we can. We're also taking lessons from Houston and Mexico and have added earthquake coverage to our insurance here in SoCal, as well as scheduled seismic upgrades for our home. We want to protect ourselves as much as possible in case "The Big One" hits in our lifetime, which experts say is a matter of when, not if. Of course, this means putting off renovations on our original 1950's bathrooms and the bad kitchen remodel previous owners did, but safety is important. We have put off traveling because our elderly pets can't be left alone for more than a few hours. Once they're gone, we plan to travel again. It's not such a big deal, since we've been to every country on our "must-see" list, but we enjoy traveling and seeing new places.

I've continued with my family tree detective work, which keeps me busy on the side. And hubby was able to take early retirement this year, which has reduced stress for both of us. He's a great helpmate and does the housework whenever I need him to, so I can get more writing done. We enjoy walking to the beach, bike riding, or going to movies or grocery store on a weekday. Outings are much more enjoyable when we're not fighting traffic and crowds. I've cut back on my writing hours so that we can spend more time together, but I will never stop writing and publishing books. I don't think I could without my head exploding. All that creative junk in my brain has to go someplace. I am interested in writing stage plays again, something I haven't done in over 20 years, but I'm too busy at the moment.

So, that's about it from my little corner of the world. This weekend, we'll be decorating our house for our favorite holiday, Halloween! And the pets need baths. Feel free to pop over to my website for info on all my books and upcoming releases. http://www.danadaviswriting.com/ 

Just released - First time in paperback! Breach of Worlds, teen fantasy adventure. 

4 Suns by Aurora Reviews! ~ "...magic, evil, warmth and trickery. All the things to make you read to the end of the book."

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1974580989

City of Gods: Book Three of the Teadai Prophecies

Adelsik followed the others as they walked toward Mindona and prepared herself for what they might have to do to the errant woman. For my kin. For my sisters. I will kill if I have to. ~ From City of Gods: Book Three of the Teadai Prophecies.

 http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Teadai%20Prophecies.html

Lost Moon, a new fantasy novel

Her toes were black. Infection would soon follow and Kepriah cursed under her breath. She would have to sear her feet after she severed her snow-bitten toes, and she looked around for kindling with which to start a fire. She glanced at the journal that had fallen from her pack last night, and noted the markings and numbers that represented passing days, then looked at her feet again. Happy sarding day of birth to me.

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Lost%20Moon.html

Got cousins?

Quite often, I get genealogy questions from distant cousins and online friends. While I'm not a genealogist, I have been researching my family tree for 20+ years and am happy to share information. But if you wish to compare ancestors, my best advice is to upload your tree to a website like Ancestry. Even knowing an ancestor's name, birth date and other info, it still means searching our family tree software for the names and visually comparing each individual to make certain they are a correct match. For example: I have 5000+ names in my tree and those are just my direct lines, so you can imagine the time it takes to make connections without online algorithms helping us out.

And if you can afford it, also do a DNA kit because that will help confirm your research and any family tree connections. Believe me when I tell you it's so much easier now than it was back in the day. I remember having to send a snail mail letter to each city for each ancestor just to get birth, marriage, and death information. And you had to pay for each certificate, whether or not they could locate it. Either that, or you had to get on a plane and do the footwork yourself. So get those trees online if you want family connections! Good luck and enjoy the journey, wherever it may lead!

Got young teens?

Got young teens? Check out The Mask of Tamirella.
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, and Hollywood Book Festival Honorable Mention
Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards calls it "...a very well done book in a highly competitive category."
Available for Kindle, Nook, and in paperback.

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Teen%20Adventures.html

Desert Magick: Haboob (Bk 5) made the editor's eBook pick on my publisher's website! http://synergebooks.com/index.html

Summer is on the way! Time to start loading up your Kindle reader/app!

Summer is on the way! Time to start loading up your Kindle reader/app with beach and poolside books. The award-winning Desert Magick: Superstitions (Bk 1) is a great place to start. And it's just $3.99!

https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Superstitions-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B004X2WZX6/

Dana's St Paddy's Day Kindle book giveaway starts tomorrow!

Dana's St Paddy's Day eBook giveaway starts tomorrow! Get the teen sci-fi adventure Quest for Freedom FREE for the Kindle. 3 days only! 

https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Freedom-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B01BO9857U/

Uber-crazy-busy!

I hope everyone had a nice holiday season. I've been uber-busy the past couple of months, doing interviews and working on my next novel, while entertaining guests and taking care of a sick dog. I hope to be back to regular blog posts by late spring.

In the meantime, I invite you to check out my newest fantasy novel, Lost Moon.

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Moon-Dana-Davis/dp/1539142434/

Lost Moon excerpt

The glacial air bit through to Kepriah’s skin as she buried her partner’s body. The ground beneath the snow was so hard she could not dig into it. She had tried using her belt knife, then her sword, but the ground was too hard, even for steel blades. She could barely see through the scarf that wrapped her face, and her breath filtered through in steamy spurts. She had lost many friends over her lifetime, but this death left her as numb inside as she felt outside. Disconnected. Like part of her had been cut away. ~ From Lost Moon, a new fantasy novel by award-winning author, Dana Davis. 

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Moon-Dana-Davis/dp/1539142434/

Kindle book sale!

My publisher is offering the award-winning Desert Magick: Superstitions for just 99 cents in the month of December. That's an entire year of my work for less than a dollar! What a deal!

https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Superstitions-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B004X2WZX6/

Happy Holidays!

Catch me tonight on Off the Chain radio show!

Catch me tonight live on Off the Chain internet radio show! 8 PM - 10 PM EST.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yvonnemason/2016/12/08/author-dana-davis

Holiday Kindle book sale!

My publisher has put Desert Magick: Superstitions on sale for just 99 cents for the entire month of December! Happy Holidays!
https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Superstitions-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B004X2WZX6/

Lost Moon paperback is now available!

Lost Moon paperback is now available! Links on my website. 

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Lost%20Moon.html

My latest interview is up!

My latest interview is up now! Simply click on the link to read it. No need to join anything.

http://copyrightalliance.org/ca_post/5-questions-individual-creator-members-dana-davis/

Lost Moon Kindle book now available!

Lost Moon is now available for the Kindle! Paperback coming soon!

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Moon-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B01MQ49BJ8/

The Mask of Tamirella 10th birthday celebration giveaway begins today!

My firstborn is 10! My firstborn book that is. 

The Mask of Tamirella 10th birthday celebration giveaway begins today! Help me celebrate with a free Kindle download! 5 days only! In 2006, the very first edition of The Mask of Tamirella came out in paperback. Since then, the book has won 3 awards and is currently used in school classrooms as a teaching tool.

This free Kindle copy is my gift to readers for their support through the years. Nothing to sign up for and no hoops to jump through. Simply go to the Amazon link and download your free, latest edition copy during October 21st - 25th promo dates. Anyone can join so please share with you friends. Thank you and enjoy!

https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Tamirella-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B00IXQMZRO/

Coming soon - Lost Moon fantasy novel

Lost Moon trailer is out! Novel is coming soon.

eBook on sale for a limited time!

My publisher's latest special on my books. Phoenix Lights (Bk 4) eBook is on sale for a limited time only! Just $1.98 at SynergEbooks Publishing. Various formats available.

http://synergebooks.com/ebook_phoenixlights.html

My writing career so far

Being an author is a 2nd career for me (starting the fall of 1998) and every few years I like to look back at my writing accomplishments. This helps me focus on what I still need and/or want to do in the future.

Here's where I am so far - Several short stories and articles published, 14 novels written, 11 of those published (some are now 2nd editions), book 12 about to be published, book 13 set for publication next year, and a previously published book scheduled for a 2nd edition release. Not to mention the countless hours of marketing, speaking engagements, interviews, and book signings. And I can't forget the notebooks full of rejection letters. Those are accomplishments, too.

The perfectionist type A personality in me wanted to achieve a lot more in that time, but the realist in me has to remember this is a tough business and I have accomplished quite a lot. Now, if I can just get that movie deal... ;)

www.danadaviswriting.com

Desert Magick book 5 is now on sale!

Desert Magick: Haboob (Bk 5) ebook is on sale! $1.98 for a limited time only at SynergEbooks Publishing. Various formats available.

http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_haboob.html

Facebook and twitter and blogs, oh my...

Keeping up with multiple blogs and social networks is time-consuming but a necessary evil for authors. I have different followers on each so I’m trying to find a way to connect everything. Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads are connected so that’s a bonus. But I’m trying to figure out a way to connect my blogs to each other. 

Meniere's Disease - Have you heard of it?

When I was first diagnosed with Meniere's Disease back in 2003, there was so little information available. It took several years to get the diagnosis because doctors had never heard of it. It wasn't until I went to an ENT for tinnitus (ear noise) that I finally got a battery of tests to rule out other causes like MS and brain tumors. Yeah, that was fun. Fast forward to 2016 - I'm thrilled to see various websites and Facebook pages that are trying to bring more awareness of this awful and debilitating disease to the public eye. It's not a disease that kills, but there were times that I just wanted to die while having an attack.

Suicide rates are very high for Meniere's sufferers, so having support can make all the difference. Thankfully, I have a loving and supportive husband who helped get me through those dark early days. After all these years dealing with it, I know that each vertigo attack will eventually pass and I have learned to ride them out. I don't always ride quietly but I realize now that there is nothing I can do to stop them.

If you've never heard of Meniere's, please educate yourself. You never know when a friend or family member might develop it. Here's a brief explanation by the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/basics/definition/con-20028251

Show us the old dogs!

Two years ago, we walked into a local shelter and saw many people leaving with puppies. When an attendant asked if she could help us, I said, "Show us the oldest dogs you have." That seemed to perk her up and she began our tour. I would have loved to rescue all of them but we could only take home one.

We ended up with this sassy senior, who just celebrated her 2nd Gotcha Day. Little Miss Sophie is now between 10-14 years old. When she came to us, she had kennel cough and bad teeth and needed surgery. Today, she's a happy little dog who loves walkies, car rides, snuggles, and treats. We're so glad we can make her final years happy and comfortable.

Teadai Prophecies trailer is live!

The Teadai Prophecies trailer is live! Enjoy and feel free to share.

https://youtu.be/exoFja_gfeY

Desert Magick series trailer

The Desert Magick series trailer is up and running. Enjoy and feel free to share! https://youtu.be/i8VgolNT7Vw

I never had a single childhood home

As we get older, hubs and I find ourselves nostalgic for our youth, when we felt like we could do anything and had our whole lives ahead of us. Not that we'd want to be poor students working minimum wage jobs again, but something about mid-life makes youth very appealing.

I never had a single childhood home because my parents moved around when I was a kid. The closest thing I had was the house they bought when I was 10 years old, after we moved to different state than the one I was born in. I spent 8 years in that house, the longest I lived anyplace as a kid, so I do have quite a few memories. My beloved childhood dog died there and I still miss him. I still dream about him and the big backyard I adored, though not as often as I used to. My parents sold that house soon after I moved out way back in the 1980s, and I haven't seen the inside of it since. I was a little upset when they sold it, but that feeling soon passed. The outside has changed so much that I drove right past it the last time I was on that street.

My husband had a different childhood experience. He was lucky enough to be born here in Los Angeles and live in the same house from birth to college. We met during our college years and celebrated many more holidays and birthdays in that home with his family. His parents finally sold the house a couple of years ago and, other than a new paint job, it looks exactly like it did the first time I ever saw it. In fact, it hasn't changed much since he was a baby and we have photos that prove it.

Hubby and I met while working at a long-gone bookstore here in Los Angeles and had our first date at the movie theaters in that mall. The mall was remodeled and none of the original stores survived, but at least the building is still there. And we shop at some of the new stores so it's still like reliving our youth whenever we go there, even if it has changed a lot. Many of our dates took place at various L.A. icons, like Griffith Observatory and the history museum, which are still standing and look very much the same as they did all those years ago. He proposed to me on a boulder overlooking the beach. Surprisingly, that very boulder is still in the exact same place and we visit it once in a while, taking ourselves down memory lane, while enjoying the amazing ocean view. 

Several years after we were married, hubs and I moved to Arizona and built a brand new house there that we lived in for almost 14 years. It was very hard selling that house when we decided to move back home to Los Angeles. We made a lot of happy memories there and still miss it sometimes. I never realized how attached I had gotten and I grieved that home for quite a while. We've been back in L.A. for 4 years and now own a house within walking distance of hubby's childhood place. We rescued a senior dog and have begin making new memories in this home with her. Who knows if we'll still be in this house in our elder years, but even if we move again, memories of this wood and stucco building we now call home will always be with us.

Famous cousins!

You may know from previous posts that I have direct lineage to several royal families, but did you also know I have some interesting distant cousins in my tree? Example: Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery (aka Samantha Stephens) is my 15th cousin 4 times removed. We're both distant cousins to Elizabeth Andrew Borden (aka Lizzie Borden), whom Liz Montgomery played in a 1970s movie. Feel free to visit my Extras page for more cool and/or freaky relatives in my family tree. 

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Extras.html

Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2013

I’m a genealogy nerd and have been tracing my family tree for the past 14 years. I descend from many interesting people, including kings and queens, and I am so grateful for internet sites like these.

http://www.genealogyintime.com/articles/top-100-genealogy-websites-of-2016-page01.html

Happy St Paddy's Day!

Happy St Paddy's Day! Writers wear many hats and one of mine is that of family genealogist. Several years ago I located the cemetery of my great-great-great grandparents and 3 of their children in County Derry, Ireland.

Strange week of events

It's been a strange week. My father-in-law passed away last Thursday, so we were busy with those arrangements. Our senior dog was ill and on daily meds at the same time. Thankfully, she's doing well now. Then hubs and I had our 25th wedding anniversary two days ago. Talk about a mixed bag of emotions. I think at this point, we're both thankful for our work distractions, and hubby seems to be handling it okay. I think it helps that his father's death wasn't totally unexpected so we had made peace with the idea. But every year for the past 9 years, someone in our family has died, and several of them were young people, which is even harder. Hopefully, the rest of this year will be uneventful. 

Kindle sale one week only!

Award-winning teen Kindle novel, The Mask of Tamirella, is on sale for 99 cents. One week only! Also available in paperback.

http://www.amazon.com/Mask-Tamirella-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B00IXQMZRO/

First time in paperback!

First time in paperback! Quest for Freedom teen sci-fi adventure at Amazon. Coming soon to Kindle and Barnes and Noble. 

http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Freedom-Dana-Davis/dp/1523959339/

A name isn't just a name...

Though I descend from the Tudor and Plantagenet houses (really), my name is very common, so it's understandable when people on Goodreads and other book sites accidentally tag me as an author of a book that isn't mine. It's frustrating because I have to constantly check my book lists and fix those mistakes or message the admin to fix them, but I understand the mix ups. However, the news I got today about my name is the polar opposite of frustrating. My niece is having her first child and he will have my middle name as his middle name. Yippee!

This is especially touching to me for two reasons. One is that my sibs were named after my parents and I wasn't named after anyone in the family. And two is because no one has ever named a baby after me. And we have a large extended family. As the family genealogy detective, I see babies on our tree that were named after parents, grands, aunties and uncles in every generation. I will finally be part of this legacy and I'm looking forward to meeting my little namesake when he arrives.

Nag, nag, nag...

He-who-shall-not-be-named (I've been married to him for 25 years) promised to change the smoke alarm batteries by New Year's Day and I promised not to nag him about it. Last night we were snug in our bed when a loud beep roused us, followed a few seconds by another, then another. He-who-shall-not-be-named had forgotten about the batteries. 30 minutes later, we were still trying to coax a confused and trembling dog out from under our bed and into her own. When midnight rolled around, he-who-shall-not-be-named and trembling dog were fast asleep, and I was still wide awake. Next year, I'm nagging.

Happy New Year!

The new year is upon us. I have many plans for 2016, both personal and in my writing career, so please stay tuned for news updates. I am also the family tree detective and plan to continue my genealogy research. Below is a postcard sent to one of my ancestors, circa 1910.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years from Los Angeles! Be excellent to each other and if you're traveling, be safe. If you need last minute gifts, please consider eBooks from danadaviswriting.com

Holiday Kindle Book Specials!

Hello, readers! I hope everyone here in the states had a nice Thanksgiving.

I just wanted to let you know about two holiday specials my publisher is running. The following Kindle books are on sale for 99 cents now through December.

Desert Magick: Superstitions (Bk 1) - Award-winning paranormal fantasy
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Superstitions-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B004X2WZX6/

Deadly Fate: Book One of the Teadai Prophecies - fantasy
http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Fate-Book-Teadai-Prophecies-ebook/dp/B002SB8S6M/

Feel free to share this sale information with family and friends, and have a wonderful holiday season!

My personal "blessing in disguise"

People often ask how I started writing novels. In a way, I was pushed into it by devastating loss that ended up being a “blessing in disguise” –  I use that term because I think it applies to my story.

Years ago, I was teaching tap, jazz, acrobatics and theatre classes at a local dance studio to supplement my acting income. During that time, I had a problem with one of my knees that required surgery. I would be out on short-term disability for 2 weeks then back teaching, with one of my teen students as an assistant until my knee completely healed. Two days before I was to return, the studio owner informed me that she was moving to a new location and couldn’t accommodate any of my classes. My classes were popular and some of her largest, so it just didn’t make sense to me. I pressured her until she finally admitted that her insurance company thought I was a liability and they wanted me gone. I tried to reason with her but she said she already assigned my students to other teachers. Did you make that “whaaaat?” face? Well, I sure did.

Yes, I could have taken her to court, but I had just 2 days to find work before my disability ran out, so I let it go and moved on. Unfortunately, I didn’t find another job in time to save our townhome and we lost it to foreclosure. My acting career wasn’t doing very well at this time, either, and I was devastated about all the loss. But I was raised with “the show must go on” attitude so I cried and pushed on like a good little performer. We found an apartment in a much better location than our townhome. I found another teaching job and continued auditioning and performing but I just didn’t enjoy it. In fact, I was downright miserable. Something I had done my entire life and now I wanted out.

I faked enjoying my work for two more years until hubs got his MBA and a raise. He was now making enough money that I didn’t need to work 2 jobs any longer and he encouraged me to go back to school. I loved writing so I chose that major, and I loved being a student again and felt like I had gotten a new chance at life. I was happy again. I have been writing novels for 17 years now and I absolutely love it. As of today, I have published 12 books and am currently editing another for publication. And to think that it all started with a dance director who saw me as a nothing more than a liability for her studio. If I ever see her again, I’ll be sure and thank her.

Smaller paperbacks coming soon!

Just got word from my publisher that my books will be released in a smaller paperback size, so readers will have 2 sizes to choose from. I'll keep you posted!

Proof that I'm a proper nerd and geek

Let me put to rest any doubts you may have about me being a proper nerd and geek. I think this qualifies me for a guest spot on The Big Bang Theory.

Lunar eclipse - I got a few pics

Had to fight with clouds and marine layer but finally managed to get a few lunar eclipse pics. These are taken with my phone camera looking through our telescope. I love astronomy and don't get a chance to use my telescope as often as I'd like so it's always exciting when I can actually get to see something rare with it. Enjoy!

Well, I tried to be a "Superstar"

As you may know, my former career was in show biz. My very first TV appearance was a live kiddie show, in which I missed my entrance. I was 3 years old. I made another live TV appearance around age 5 or 6. After that, I focused on dancing and stage acting and moved to TV/films a few years later. Most of my Hollywood gigs were local cable shows, but I spent an entire season as a stand-in and photo double on a show called Rags to Riches (season 2). While most of my Rags work was off-camera, I was a featured dancer for one episode (Dear Diary), and did background work in many others when they were short of extras. Curious? The entire series is available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Rags-Riches-The-Complete-Series/dp/B007JNZYPM 

A writer's work is never done

Finished the current draft of my latest fantasy novel and it will go to my beta readers very soon. As I wait for their comments, I'll be working on a sci-fi novel. A writer's work is never done.

Entire Desert Magick series now available!

The entire Desert Magick series is now available in eBook and paperback formats! "Five-star excellent...characters are engaging, the writing proficient and breezy...You'll love it." Jacqueline Lichtenberg (author of Star Trek Lives!) 

You can check out the series on my website at http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Desert%20Magick.html

My introverted life

Writers tend to be introverts and I'm no exception. 

In my introverted life, I…

1. Prefer to go someplace else if a restaurant insists on table-sharing with strangers

2. Will wait for a booth against the wall, instead of taking the table in the center of the restaurant that is immediately available

3. Will wait for the next elevator because someone is using this one

4. Always scope out the far wall/corner spot when I have to be in a crowded room

5. Love being alone with my thoughts and working from home

6. Have just a few close friends

7. Have to call on my acting training to venture out in public

8. Am exhausted after being around a lot of people

9. Need serious alone time after speaking engagements/performances (I’m talking days)

10. Don’t enjoy talking on the phone or answering the door

11. Have to quell my annoyance when strangers want to chat, especially when traveling

12. Prefer traveling to places where the people are long dead (Ruins, yea!)

13. Love books more than people (Yeah, I went there)

14. Dread the words: block party and pot luck

15. Wholly believe awesome nightlife consists of me, hubs, and a scrabble board or a good book/movie

Anyone relate?

On draft 3 of my latest fantasy novel

My latest fantasy novel looks like it's going to be around 175,000 words when I'm finished with this 3rd draft. Next, it goes to my beta readers for their comments and suggestions. I have a sci-fi novel in the editing queue, and I'm getting chapters started for another paranormal fantasy series. I have idea kernels brewing for a dark fantasy, as well.

Forced to create a new website

Had to wean myself off FrontPage web maker because my hosting company and my new computer no longer support it. Believe me, it wasn't easy because I loved that program. But I built a new website in a new program and finally got it uploaded. A cleaner look for 2015. If you find any missing links, please let me know. Enjoy! http://www.danadaviswriting.com/

The final Desert Magick book is now available and has it's first amazon review. 5 stars!

http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Magick-Haboob-Dana-Davis-ebook/dp/B00X4XHHXI/

Real world setting inspirations

Every time I speak to an audience about writing, one question always comes up - Where do you get your ideas? Here are a few real world places that have inspired settings in my books.

It's a real office!

I'm finally getting a real office again, complete with door, window and closet. Crew is working like mad to finish by the end of the week. A quiet, private work space means more books written. And I'll have enough space for a craft area. I've really missed having one of those, too. 

I don't get writer's block. I get editor's distraction.

I don't get writer's block. I get editor's distraction - I really have to finish these edits. But wait, I want some of that new tea I bought. Okay, time to edit. Wait, is that a dust bunny? I'll just vacuum the house first. Won't take long. Okay, really need to edit now. Wait, did I just hear the mail carrier? Focus on edits! Okay, but wait, is that...

Busy with final edits

Yes, I'm still here. Just busy finishing up some final edits for my publisher. They want to release the next eBook in March, followed by the paperback. This will be the final book in the Desert Magick series. It's been a while coming but we're almost there.

New Year panic!

Had some stressful news come up about my final Desert Magick novel. My editor is taking a leave of absence for several months so she won't be able to finish, and the wonderful artist who did covers for the previous books in this series is no longer working for my publisher. Nothing like sheer panic to get the new year rolling along. After a bit of scrambling, we managed to get things taken care of and the book is scheduled for release this spring.

Please universe, no more delays, or my characters might just kick my a$$.

Happy New Year!