Today is something a bit different on the blog. My all-time favorite author just released a new book, and I have the opportunity to participate in the blog tour. I’ll be doing two posts for it today. This is the first of them.
Bryan Davis is the author of the Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, the Reapers Trilogy, Dragons of Starlight, Tales of Starlight, and the Time Echoes Trilogy, fantasy/science fiction/dystopian novels for youth and adults. His first novel, Raising Dragons, was released in July of 2004, and several books in that series have hit various bestseller lists, including Eye of the Oracle, which hit number one on the CBA Young Adult best-seller list in January of 2007.
Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.
Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Industrial Engineering). In high school, he was valedictorian of his class and won various academic awards. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and voted Most Likely to Succeed.
Bryan and his wife, Susie, work together as an author/editor team to create his imaginative tales.
Let’s talk a look at the author interview that I did with him.
Me: How did you get into writing?
B: I began writing about 23 years ago as a way to get my children interested in the craft. We created a story together and added to it bit by bit until it became a full-length novel. I enjoyed the process so much and saw how my children were impacted by the story’s themes, I decided to get more training by reading books on writing and going to writers’ conferences
Me: Where do the ideas for your books come from?
B: I get ideas from dreams, my children, everyday life, and other stories. Several of my novels had their origin in dreams, including Raising Dragons, I Know Why the Angels Dance, and Let the Ghosts Speak. Regarding other stories, whenever someone else’s story really hits me hard, I analyze it to see what created the impact. I don’t want to copy the story at all. I just want to know what gives it that punch in the gut. What aspect reaches the heart? When I figure it out, I try to do the same in my story without copying the other story’s devices.
Me: What is some advice for new writers/authors?
B: Learn how to develop the characters and story world in the early stages. Some new writers jump right into the intense action before developing the characters and story world, which disconnects readers since they don’t know the characters well enough to care about them during the action.
Some new writers dump loads of information about the back story without progressing the main story at all. I see that problem most often with dialogue dumping, that is, having two or more characters talking for several paragraphs, thereby revealing past events. Yet, nothing really happens except for dialogue and maybe a smattering of interior monologue.
The best approach is to give the main character something to do, a goal to achieve no matter how small, then have that character go about the business of getting it done while giving readers clues regarding the back story and the story-world’s environment in a natural way.
Me: How fast can a dragon fly without any passengers (question courtesy of my younger brother)?
B: Of course, it depends on the dragon. Some are much faster than others. The average maximum flight speed of the dragons in my stories is about forty miles per hour.
Me: Do you ever use real people as inspiration for your characters?
B: I sometimes borrow specific character qualities from real people, but no character is completely modeled after an individual. For one character, I borrowed aspects of chivalry from one person and musical talent from another. For another character, I borrowed feminine traits from one person and physical toughness from another, and so on.
Me: What is your favorite series to write?
B: I have difficulty with some “favorite” questions. In this case, I have to decide if favorite means which series was the most fun to write (probably Time Echoes) or maybe which was the most impactful (probably Oracles of Fire) or maybe which was the most satisfying (probably Children of the Bard). In any case, I think I answered the question. ☺
Me: What is your favorite book to read?
B: I assume you mean novels. My favorite novel of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The writing is beautiful, the themes are expertly crafted and delivered through a young girl, making them unpretentious and non-preachy, and I love the unwavering, selfless hero, Atticus Finch.
If you meant any book, my favorite is the Bible.
Me: What would you want your readers to know about you?
B: I enjoy writing. Is that a surprise? Although I speak at many events annually, which might make people think I am extroverted, I am an introvert. I like quiet, peaceful activities, like hiking and one-on-one talks.
I enjoy meeting my readers and hearing from them via email or postal mail. I personally answer every message I receive, so feel free to contact me.
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For more details about his book, take a look at my next post.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the tour.
Friday, September 22nd
Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Story of Fire
Book Review @ Inkwell
Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Liv K. Fisher
Book Review @ writinganyone
Spotlight and YOU WRITE: About Superheroes @ Dreams and Dragons
Author Interview and YOU WRITE: About Bryan Davis @ March to a Different Drum
Book Spotlight @ Author Jaye L. Knight
Saturday, September 23rd
Author Interview @ Jessi L. Roberts, author
Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Book Lovers Life
Book Review and Character Interview @ Verbosity Reviews
Spotlight and YOU WRITE: Superheroes @ Fantuhseas
Book Spotlight, Author Interview and YOU WRITE: Superheroes @ Creature of Graphite
Character Interview @ Wanderer’s Pen
Book Spotlight and Author Interview @ Adventure Awaits
Here is the link to the giveaway
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