Monday, September 5, 2016

Talking Books with Deborah Ann Davis, author of 'Fairly Safe'




DEBORAH ANN DAVIS has been writing since she was assigned to keep a Journal in her 5th grade English class. She began to look around for writing inspiration. Lo and behold, she found her world was full of funny stories just waiting to be told. As she grew older, occasionally she could manipulate one into some school assignment, but it never occurred to her to pursue writing, not even when she discovered her flare for telling stories at college parties.

After a string of college majors, she realized she could have a captive audience EVERY DAY in the public school system. As it turns out, teenagers love to laugh, and what could be more entertaining than Biology, Earth Science, and Environmental Science? Then there's the added bonus that once kids know you like to laugh, they want to make you laugh.

Go figure.

In addition to Writing, she is also an Educational Speaker and a Certified Personal Trainer. She taught for 25+ years, although somewhere in the middle of all that educating, she stepped out of teaching for 6 years to do the Mommy Thing, and run the office for their family construction company.

Even though they had followed separate paths, Deborah reunited with, and married her childhood sweetheart, twelve years after their first kiss.  Together they coached their daughter’s AAU Basketball Team, which swept States two years in a row. (Yay!) Then, for several years their daughter and their money went to college.

They currently reside on a lovely lake in Connecticut. She enjoys dabbling with living a sustainable life, writing novels for her Love of Fairs series, dancing, playing outside, and laughing really hard every day. She promotes increasing the amount of movement throughout your day via Wiggle Writer posts on Merry Meddling, her blog at www.DeborahAnnDavis.com. Follow her @DeborahAnnDavis.

Remember, you can do anything if you set your mind to it— including becoming an author at any age— but it’s way more fun if you are grinning back when the Universe smiles down on you.

For More Information


Title: FAIRLY SAFE
Author: Deborah Ann Davis
Publisher: D&D Universe
Pages: 356
Genre: New Adult

When Mistaken Identity collides with Secret Identity, who wins?

JACOB HAS COME A LONG WAY FOR AN ORPHANED FOSTER KID. He has a mentor, a great job, and has finally fallen in love. Granted, she mistook him for a stalker when they met, but every relationship has its little problems. Unfortunately, for the past few years, as the object of his affection pops in and out of his life, she has refused to share any personal info, like where she’s from, or her real name. Regardless, Jacob is ready to take their relationship to the next level. Now, if only he can locate her so he can tell her.

CASEY’S FAMILY IS IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. Safety has to be their only priority. Their cover has been blown before, so Casey knows at any given time they could be forced to disappear again. Obviously, a shy young man with hopeful eyes cannot possibly be added to the mix. You cannot build a relationship like that. Now, if only she can stop thinking about him.

JACOB’S AND CASEY’S WORLDS UNEXPECTEDLY COLLIDE when Jacob inadvertently helps hide her family. Exposed to their 24-7 vigilance, Jacob realizes he must come up with a plan to keep them out of harm’s way, because this time if Casey disappears, she will be taking with her Jacob’s heart, and his hopes of finally having a family of his own.

For More Information

  • Fairly Safe is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.



Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

Several times a week, I go to the gym with my husband, and then hang out at an outdoor breakfast spot for a while before we go our separate ways for the day. We traveled a bit this year (LA, DC, Miami, Houston, first cruise), but in actuality, I stopped teaching just two years ago, so I’m still defining how I spend my days.


When did you start writing?

Not until my 40s, and even then it was because I fell ill and couldn’t return to teaching until I recovered (Lyme disease can be really nasty). For a long time I only wrote during the summers…anyone who has lived with a teacher knows they have no free time to do anything else besides make lesson plans and grade papers.


As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

Receiving my first review was incredibly impactful. Up to that point I was not sure if I was a good writer, or if I just liked hearing my own voice, but the reviewer loved my debut book, Fairly Certain. The first 5 star review felt like a fluke, but my confidence spiked as the rest came in. My second book came out this August, and I’ve already received 5 star reviews. That calmed down my worries about whether I could do it again.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

I want to go to the Barnstable Fair on Cape Cod. I’ve been doing book tours on the Cape for the last two years, and I want to write a Love of Fairs book that takes place in the area where I used to vacation as a kid.

For my current WIP, I want to meet some Angels who work along the Appalachian Trail in the northern New England area.


If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Sleep! And paint my toenails red.


Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

The Grand Canyon or another National Park.


Back to your present book, Fairly Safe, how did you publish it?

It’s Indie Published, using a professional editor and a local printer of textbooks.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

The hero in Fairly Safe lives in Fairfield County, where we lived when my daughter was growing up. As for the fairs, I’d been to most of them as a child, but in the name of research, I felt compelled to revisit them to see how they’re set up. Ahh, such is life. One of my favorites is The Big E, the Eastern States Exposition in September.

Why was writing Fairly Safe so important to you?

Several of the characters have to cross social barriers to find their HEA. Alliances, friendships, and even love can come from places you least expect it. There is always hope that things will turn out well, and that’s what my books portray. Readers who wish to remember childhood excitement of fairs, or who revel in the experience of their children at their first fair will love my books.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

Nearly all of my great ideas come to me when I’m listening to a song. Fairly Safe was born from an image I had of children jumping on a bed, belting out a song by The Ting Tings, “That’s Not My Name.”


Any final words?

My stories also include something that nods towards protecting the environment. After years of teaching Environmental Science, I try to support good practices whenever and wherever I can.


3 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting the interview today! I just wanted to let you know that the teaser on your home page is messed up. Don't you just love technology? Happy Labor Day!

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  2. I noticed it too but I see it's fixed now. Thanks for hosting Deborah today!

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  3. I hope everyone had a wonderful picnic today!

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