Authors Interviewing Characters: Evette Davis

THE OTHERS SUMMARY:

Olivia Shepherd is a political consultant with a secret: She possesses empathic abilities, the power to sense the emotions of those around her. Keen to keep her supernatural gifts hidden, Olivia’s world is upended when Elsa, an ancient time-walker, appears in her kitchen, unveiling a destiny she never knew she had. As Olivia delves deeper into the hidden world of the “Others” who lurk beneath San Francisco’s foggy streets, she finds herself drawn into the clandestine organization, the Council, and Gabriel Laurent, the enigmatic leader of a realm where vampires, witches, fairies and demons navigate a delicate balance of power. Caught between her burgeoning abilities, her new role within the Council, and her blossoming romance with the centuries-old vampire William, Olivia must confront shocking revelations about her own past and embrace the true extent of her powers.

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Given my background as a political consultant and public affairs professional, many people assume Olivia Shepherd, the female protagonist of my novel The Others, is based on me. While she is based on some of my experiences, she is also her own person. I decided to ask her a few questions so we could get to know her a little better. 

ED: Welcome, Olivia. 

OS: Thanks for the invitation, although I don’t have much time as you’ve packed my life with many responsibilities these days.  

ED: My apologies. I thought you might enjoy running a campaign in Silicon Valley during one of the most interesting political decades of our lifetime. 

OS: I do, but did you have to throw in being harassed by a political rival and starting off the story as a drunk? 

ED: I thought it would make life interesting since you seem to be the kind of person who hesitates to ask for help. You’re a talented professional but terrible at interpersonal relationships. 

OS: True. I blame my mother, India Shepherd. Her substance abuse and erratic behavior when I was growing up made it difficult for me to rely on anyone but myself. 

ED: I understand. But you have a great best friend and, eventually, add several other folks to your circle who make a difference in your life. 

OS: True! As you know, I inherited my grandmother Bella’s house near Golden Gate Park a few years ago. I like to take long walks in the park and practice tai chi. My best friend Lily, a librarian at the San Francisco Library, walks with me. I’m also working out quite a bit and learning some new self-defense techniques with my friends Elsa and Josef. I also love live music and have taken an interest in a local band with a sexy guitar player. 

ED: Do you want to tell readers about your campaign and who you’re working for? 

OS:  Well, you wrote it, but since you asked… I’m working for Levi Barnes. I worked for him previously the first time he served in Congress. Then, I returned to San Francisco to start my consulting business. A mutual friend reconnected us over lunch, and Levi offered me a job running his campaign for a newly created seat in Congress in Silicon Valley.  How did you come up with that idea anyway?

ED: I worked for a member of Congress before returning to San Francisco. Running political campaigns has never been a primary focus of mine professionally. I’ve done a few, but usually just the communications. When I was thinking about the plot for this story, a campaign seemed like a great idea since it’s such an unpredictable environment. 

OS: You’re telling me! And from what I can tell, my life gets even more interesting in books two and three. I see a ton of werewolves in my future. Why did you decide to put me in harm’s way so often? 

ED: Gosh, I thought I was asking the questions here! This trilogy is, first and foremost, supposed to be an exciting read, but at its core, it is about how women derive their power and figure out how to use it effectively. How do we get comfortable with our authority and stay connected to our feminine side? 

OS: You have me learning how to wield a sword! I fail to see how that can be considered feminine. 

ED: Oh, but it is. There is a ton of history where women are great warriors, and you are no exception, Olivia.

OS: Well, when you put it that way. But you also fixed me up with an almost 200-year-old vampire. What did you have in mind there? 

ED: Actually, I gave you one of the great loves of your life who is confident enough in himself to be hugely supportive of you and your journey. Not everyone can love a witch. 

OS: Wait? I’m a witch? 

ED: Yeah, I meant to mention that part to you…. But getting back to our discussion, how do you see the race going? 

OS: Well, politics is a grim business these days for voters. We have our work cut out for us. Most voters get their news from social media, which tends to focus on controversy. That makes engaging on the issues difficult; you need a compelling set of tricks up your sleeve to catch the electorate’s attention. And, of course, you need to be a mind reader. But hey – if I could actually read people’s minds, I would probably skip politics and head straight to Vegas. 

ED: About that. You can read minds or, more accurately, read their emotions. 

OS: Yes, I knew that. I was making a joke. Elsa and Gabriel, the head of The Council, have been helping me master that skill, but honestly, it’s all pretty overwhelming. 

ED: I’d apologize, but I think you’ll be pretty happy with the state of things by the end. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers before we wrap this up?

OS: The San Francisco Bay Area is a truly magical place. Honestly, you never know what is going to happen in this beautiful jewel box of a city. I’m so grateful to be able to live and work here. As for the election, politics is a crazy, unpredictable process. Any manner of things could be lurking around the corner, so I plan to stay sharp and be prepared for anything.

BUY HERE

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Evette Davis is a science-fiction and fantasy writer. She is most recently the author of “48 States,” which Kirkus named one of the Best Indie Books of 2022. The book was also a quarter-finalist for the BookLife Prize 2023 and longlisted in the 2023 Indie Book Awards.   

Davis is also the author of “The Others,” the first installment of The Council Trilogy, which will be released in September 2024 by Spark Press. 

Davis is a member of the Board of Directors for Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival. In 2023 and 2017, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library honored Davis as a Library Laureate. Her work has also been published in the San Francisco Chronicle. 

When she’s not writing novels, Davis advises some of the country’s largest corporations, nonprofits and institutions as a consultant and co-owner of BergDavis Public Affairs, an award-winning San Francisco-based consulting firm. Before establishing her firm, Davis worked in Washington as a press secretary for a member of Congress. She previously was a reporter for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

Davis splits her time between San Francisco and Sun Valley, Idaho. For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.evettedavis.com.

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing