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!

The Longest Night of the Year

Winter Solstice is almost here. The longest night of the year brings with it an image of a quiet and very still snowy night, at least for me. Not something I've experienced personally, and definitely not something we get here in Los Angeles, but we have the ocean, which can instill the same wonder and sense of renewal. As the days get longer, we look forward to the new year and the promises a new start brings.

As a descendant from various Celts, I also love honoring my ancestors this time of year. And I'm a big geek. If you didn't know that, you haven't been paying attention, have you?  

Anyway, here's a Xena song I like to listen to this time of year - Solstice Night. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA8Q7NqVsEA

Free newsletter

My Nov/Dec free newsletter is now available. http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Monthly%20Newsletter.htm

We've moved!

Well, we're finally in the new house and getting settled. Of course, with these old homes here in LA, that means we've been doing repairs that the previous owners neglected to do, or possibly just ran out of the funds to do. The main thing is that it's very quiet and private and I have a sanctuary for my writing again.

I even went on another paranormal investigation. I hadn't been in over two years, the time we moved back to SoCal, and it felt so good to be in the field again. We investigated a famous theatre here in LA and got some great photos and even a couple of EVPs. We're still going through all the recordings so I'll have to blog about it later but it was the perfect venue to make my Halloween special this year. And the hubs was excited to see me get into my old hobbies again. He's been pushing me to get back into it.

I'm currently editing the final Desert Magick novel and gearing up to publish a new fantasy in 2015. I hope you are keeping busy with things you love, as well. If you haven't already, please check out my website at www.danadaviswriting.com

Happy Halloween and stay safe out there!

Selling, buying, and Bewitched! Oh my!

It's been almost a month since I blogged. In that time, we sold our house and bought another one. Crazy, right? Now, were 8 days from the move and are packing, while trying to keep our old dog calm. She's doing well, by the way, with us 15 weeks now.

Hubs also surprised me with a visit to the original Bewitched house! It. Was. Fabulous! I've wanted to see it since I was just a wee tot and in love with the TV show.

Once we're moved into our new home, I'll get back to my regular writing schedule and have more time to update my blog posts. Until then, be excellent to each other!

Our home is in escrow!

The real estate market here in SoCal is crazy and it's definitely a seller's market right now. Our home is now in escrow. Yea! Took a total of 1 day to get a sale. Not so lucky for us as buyers. We've lost out on 4 homes already due to multiple offers and bidding wars and now are waiting on word for a 5th home. . This is a special kind of stress. The kind that causes hives, sleep loss, and downright crankiness. I believe if couples can survive buying and selling a house at the same time, they can survive anything.

House chaos continues in the midst of finishing my latest novel.

Renovations are finished and we've cleaned up the landscape from all the construction. Now, we're in the staging phase and packing up anything we won't be using in the staging. Our little shelter pup has been with us just over two months now and is settling in, though she still has problems with other dogs. As soon as we can take a breath, we'll get a trainer to help us with that.

Meanwhile, I managed to finish the first draft of Desert Magick book 5, just when we're about to start marketing the house and looking for a new one to buy. I know, I'm crazy to try and do all this at once but writing helps to keep me sane when my home is in chaos.

That's all for now. Back to filling nail holes and doing touch-up paint before I hit the editing.

Writing - Not for the Faint of Heart

Writing as a career is a tough business. And if you think your family will coddle you, well, um, you might be in for some surprises. Some family members might read everything you write and support you no matter what - I have a couple of those in my life. But just because you're closely related, doesn't mean everyone will support your endeavors, enjoy your work, or even pretend to. A fact that just makes the writing life more interesting and gives you fodder for those characters you adore writing so much.

Most of my family don't bother to buy my books, much less read them (Not the hubs, of course - he reads everything I write because he's awesome). =) But when three close relatives finally told me they'd read my very first award-winning book, I expected, at the very least, polite, noncommittal and generic comments - "I liked it" or "It was good" - something along those lines. Instead, one just turned her head away and never actually committed to even finishing the book. Another said, "I found some typos" and proceeded to chat with another relative who was in the room. The third one frowned and uttered, "It's not my kind of book" then promptly walked away from me, giving me a nice long look at the back of her head as she retreated. As far as I know, these three relatives never read anything else penned by me, so I suspect I didn't make lifelong fans of them.

Was I distraught or livid? No. I worked in Hollywood for many years so I'm programmed to set aside rejection and move on to the next project. Was I disappointed? Sure. Even as adults, we hope our families will love our work, or at least offer supporting comments if they don't. But my disappointment didn't last long and I have to admit, these comments actually amuse me. They also reminded me that I was writing because I love it and not because I hope my relatives support my pocketbook and my ego by buying and cooing over everything I do. No matter who you are, how many awards you receive, or how many times some people tell you they love your work, there will always be someone who surprises the hell out of you. In my case, the someones just happen to share a whole lot of my DNA.

While the comments I received might sound harsh coming from family, I can assure you they're not unusual. I have spoken to many writers with similar experiences, so if you're looking for a career that coddles you, makes everyone an adoring fan, and pays you a boatload of money, writing is probably not for you. If you just can't help yourself and you have to write because your head will explode if you don't get all those ideas and worlds out of it and into a cohesive format, then writing sounds like the perfect career for you. Just remember to write because you love it, not because you're trying to attract a world of adoring fans. Although, that's probably a pretty good gig if you can get it. =)

I've been MIA for a while

I've been MIA for a while. My June/July free newsletter explains why.

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Monthly%20Newsletter.htm

Construction and sick dog means not much time for anything else.

Sorry I haven't posted much the past couple of weeks. Between bathroom construction delays and adopting a new dog with kennel cough and a bladder infection, we've been a little busier than usual. My writing has suffered and this is the first day our new pup has been content to stay in her playpen long enough for me to get a new chapter started. With construction guys in and out all day and making all sorts of noise, it's rough on us all. We'll be selling this house soon and then it's on to finding a new place. We hope to be in a new home by the fall, so all this stress will be over, and my writing schedule can get back to normal.

Meanwhile, please check out my award-winning Desert Magick: Superstitions (Bk 1). The eBook versions are currently on sale at SynergEbooks for just $1.98! Limited time only. Various formats available.  

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

Authors responding to bad reviews - Don't do it!

I like to add new authors to my personal reading list. Just today, I was looking at some book reviews and saw that an author responded to an unfavorable one for his own book. This isn't the first time I've seen this. As a writer, it screams unprofessional. As a reader, it's a huge turn-off. All of us authors receive bad reviews now and then, but it's very unprofessional to post a response. Go hit a punching bag. Yell at your computer screen. Cry. Whatever. Just don't post a response. Period. Trust me on this. You'll thank me later.

Meniere's Disease clinical trial

I received an email about a Meniere's Disease clinical trial and was asked to share this information with my followers. They're looking for unilateral (one affected ear) patients. Unfortunately, I'm bilateral so I don't qualify for this one. You can read all about the study here:

http://menieresdiseasestudy.com/50.htm

Construction zone

It's been very difficult to work in a construction zone but I'm plugging away at my next novel. If my characters suddenly build an extra bathroom onto their house, readers will know why. In fact, I'm tempted to write an entire novel that takes place at a construction zone. Maybe magically enchanted hammers. Or ladders that fly. Um, I really need the guys to finish before I totally lose it.

Writers inspiring writers.

This week, I received a touching message from a reader who said my work has inspired her to take up her own writing again, after many years away from it. A few years ago, a close friend and two acquaintances pursued publication and are doing very well right now. They said it was because I inspired them to keep at it.

I'm not sure I can take credit for their success, since they already had an interest in writing before they met me, but it's nice to know that maybe I gave them a little extra nudge in that direction. I can honestly say that I've been motivated throughout the years by many writers, so it feels great to think I can pay it forward through my own work and help others reach their goals. =D

Dana's free May 2014 newsletter

Dana's free May 2014 newsletter is available at

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Monthly%20Newsletter.htm

Free April newsletter now available!

My free April newsletter is now available! And SynergEbooks Publishing is offering a sale price on one of my books. Pop over to my website and check it out.

http://www.danadaviswriting.com/Monthly%20Newsletter.htm