Thursday, August 16, 2012

Dana Davis Remembers Her Dog and Inspiration



Welcome, Fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi author Dana Davis. 

I asked Dana back to talk about the canine in her latest book Desert Magick: Phoenix Lights. Dana, Tell us about Perky!
 

Thank you for having me back, Amber. I’m excited to be here again.

Amber asked me if I would share a little about a particular character in my Desert Magick paranormal fantasy series and I’m happy to do so. He’s unlike any other characters in the series. He has no unusual powers and isn’t much good when it comes to fighting off evil, but he stole my heart the day he burst into the room as I was making notes and preparing to begin the very first book. I’m talking about Perky, Daisy’s little terrier mutt, a happy, scruffy little guy with brown fur, who is eager to please. Daisy’s husband Noah got him from a shelter when he was just a puppy and gave him to her for her birthday one year.  

Now, I’ve written dogs into some of my other novels but never as a pet for any of my main characters. As soon as Perky showed up, I realized this was going to be a challenge, since having a pet means the characters can’t just run off and forget about him. Probably why a lot of paranormal fantasy characters don’t have pets or kids. I tried writing the scenes without him but he always showed up again, always under foot and looking for attention. He refused to go away so I had no choice but to accept him as another character in the series. Besides, I just couldn’t resist that little face that popped into my head each time he came around.

My main inspiration for Perky’s personality came from my best friend when I was growing up. When I was eight years old, my mother took me to a neighbor’s house for a surprise. There, I saw the most precious sight - A litter of new pups. I was thrilled when my mom told me to pick one out. They were all very cute but I chose the runt, the only male in the litter. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him all curled up next to his mother, so tiny even to my eight-year-old hands. When he was old enough, he came to live with us.

He cried the first few nights but eventually became used to his new home. I was a bit of a loner child with few friends, so my dog became my confidant and my best friend, someone who didn’t judge me or laugh at me. He was always thrilled to see me and could hardly contain his excitement when I came home from school each day. Although he liked my younger siblings, he was most definitely my dog. I fed and bathed him and he always chose to be with me over anyone else.

We played chase in the backyard. A few times he dug his way out and waited for me in the front yard. When I would get close, he’d run several feet away and stop and look at me again. We would repeat this several times before I caught up with him. Good thing I was a fast kid and able to leash him before he got into real trouble. Some days he sat next to me with his head on my leg as I read books on the old metal glider my grandparents had given us. Other times, we would lie on the picnic table and watch the stars together. I told him my troubles and secrets and he always listened. Always.

My precious pup lived for thirteen years. The day he died, I was devastated. I grieved for many years and felt guilty for a very long time that I wasn’t home with him that day. I was in college by then and very busy. I didn’t have much time for a dog so my mother took care of him. He came into my dreams often during those years, always happy and frolicking around, and I would wake up crying, heartbroken all over again. He’s been gone a long time now and doesn’t come into my dreams that much anymore, but I still think about him often and am grateful for the love and understanding he gave to that misfit child.

In a way, I’ve immortalized part of my beloved dog in the character of Perky. The fictitious pup who stormed into my series also has stolen part of my heart, and he appears in several scenes throughout each book in the series. I hope readers will see the love and happiness I had with my own dog in the way Daisy and Noah treat little Perky and the comfort he gives them after a hard day of fighting paranormal baddies. I’ve written Perky-poo into four Desert Magick books so far and he’s now part of my family, as well as Daisy’s.
  

Dana Davis is an award-winning and bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction and a paranormal investigator. She once worked for Hollywood and Disney. Genealogy fascinates her, and her ancestry includes Irish, Scottish, Dutch, British, and Mohawk Indian. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and uses her varied background, along with family stories, to aid in her writing.

Dana's Contest

Enter for a chance to win a free PDF or ePub copy of the newly released Desert Magick: Phoenix Lights (Book 4). To enter, leave a comment and email addy (Use AT in place of @ to avoid spammers). Dana's family members not eligible.The winner will be chosen at random and must have an email address that accepts attachments in order to receive the prize.

Contest ends Saturday, August 18th at midnight PST.

Dana will notify the winner within one week of that date. Good luck!


For information on the entire bestselling 
Desert Magick series, please visit Dana’s website www.danadaviswriting.com


Dana’s Blah Blah blog http://danadaviswriting.blogspot.com/

20 comments:

  1. Hi Dana,
    Thanks for sharing how your dog is still your inspiration!

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  2. Thanks so much for having me over today, Amber. It's a pleasure to share with your readers! =D

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  3. I've got chills and tears reading this!! (I'm sorry I'm so late, I was teaching CPR today). I've had dogs in my life, for ALL my life. There were several growing up and noteably, Moses was Mom's dog and Kori was my brothers. Not until 1997 when I moved to AZ did I finally get MY dog; Jessie. A mutt of mutts, she was the most adorable thing I've ever laid eyes on. And ears that just didn't fit her body!! The last couple of years have been rough with several major life challenges including almost losing my Hubby. Jessie was 15 years old but she kept going up until my Hubs came home from the hospital - healing and healthy. She knew. I came home from work one day and had to take her to the vet for the last time. Like you, I'm still grieving. It gets a little easier but I still miss her. Dogs are such precious loving companions. It's great that you've been able to immortalize your precious pup in your stories. I hope you gain comfort in the memories you two shared. Thanks for sharing such a personal memory with us!!

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  4. Um, I can't see to find the email to submit for entry into the contest? :)

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  5. Thank you so much for your touching comments, Cruzski. I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes, our pets are very precious and will stay in our hearts forever. Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you find comfort in your memories.

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  6. Just put your email addy here, Cruzski. I'll put you on the list right now.

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  7. Replies
    1. You're on the list, Cruzski. Good luck!

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    2. Sorry you didn't win this time, Cruzski, but I'll be having other contests throughout the year. Check out my website or Facebook pages for updates (listed below my guest blog).

      Have a wonderful week!

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  8. This is so touching...Dana...I have never had a pet...seems like I missed out on something precious...better late than never.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Priya. Thanks so much for stopping by. The contest runs until August 18th so if you'd like to enter the contest, please leave your email addy here. =)

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  9. Enjoyed the article very much. Thanks for sharing it.

    I'm enjoying the Desert Magick series and it's good to have background.

    I have had dogs and/or cats all my life. When I was small, we lived on a farm, far from others, and with no siblings, the dogs were my companions. To this day, I trust dogs more than people. They are constant.

    Thanks, again for sharing and thanks for writing good stories.

    kmkuhfeldtatgmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Sorry you didn't win this time, Karen, but I'll be having other contests throughout the year. Check out my website or Facebook pages for updates (listed below my guest blog).

      Have a wonderful week!

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  10. Glad you had some great canine friends, Karen. Thanks for stopping by. You're in the contest. Good luck!

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  11. I loved the article, Dana and I can hardly wait to read the whole series. I can relate so much. I love dogs, all animals, but dogs are so special. I had a small dog, like Perky, for 10 years. I lost her last year, when she was killed in a dog pack fight. I had her for 11 years and still miss her and she comes to me, in the dream world. I could imagine the relationship ya had with Perky, by readin' the article. It was super. I hope that some day, you find another Perky or Perky comes back to you reincarnated, as I know they do. I love sci-fi/fantasys and will be cruisin' your library. Cougar Martin. snakelady88ATq.com

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    Replies
    1. Congratulations, Cougar! You're the winner of the eBook contest. Please check your inbox for an email from me.

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  12. I'm sorry to hear about your beloved dog, Cougar, and hope you find comfort. Thanks for the kind comments. You're entered in the contest. Good luck!

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  13. Congratulations, Cougar! You're the winner of the eBook contest. Please check your inbox for an email from me.

    Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and thank you to those who entered the contest. Sorry you didn't win this time, but I'll be having other contests throughout the year. Check out my website or Facebook pages for updates (listed below my guest blog).

    Have a wonderful week!

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  14. Lucky Cougar, Thanks all stopping by. And thanks Dana for sharing.
    It was so much fun having you here.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for having me, Amber. I had a wonderful and warm time reminiscing about my beloved pup.

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