I would like to introduce Lee Davis, the winner of the BRAG Medallion. Lee, thank you for the opportunity to interview you, please, tell me about your book, Gross.
No-no-no,
thank you! First I’ll point out to
readers that this particular book is subtitled Doctor Deathworm Rises, which may help avoid confusion as there is
currently another entry in the series (in comic form), with another on the way.
This book picks up shortly after Donald, a very lost and confused child, has come
to understand the nature of his origins, which were covered in the previous comic
entry, Through Demon Skin. Donald was
sent to Earth by his father from his chaotic home world in hopes that Donald receive
a human upbringing, knowing that Donald is destined for great things in the
bridging of worlds. The same dimensional fissure through which Donald was sent
is also responsible for an alien corruption that has seeped into the land,
infecting it. Sensing Donald’s presence and the light of righteousness that the
boy defiantly seeks, along with the threat to the chaotic infection that he
poses, the corruption is constantly using its various forms in attempts to find
him and snuff him out. In this particular book, an alien parasite of a
deceptive and demonic scale, able to animate the long-dead and mutate the
living, has taken hold of an academic snob who has attained a doctorate, but
has never held a job and lives in his parents’ mansion—a catastrophic combination.
Donald is strong-willed, but only with the help of his friends, fellow orphans
themselves, with their ragtag unity does he stand a chance to push back this
new menace.
How did you come up with the idea for this story?
It was a
combination of cool circumstances that fated the book to be written. The Gross
series originally ran in Strange Aeons magazine in comic form. The story and
characters developed so that my mind was buzzing with new expansions that could
be explored, into origins as well as new developments on the mythology. Without
a series contract or a colorist and letterer as a basic staff, I simply don’t
have the time to embody all of the adventures that came to life in my head in
the comic format. It just happened as the comic chapters were coming to close,
I’d been very eager to finally sit down and make a book for young adults.
Originally I wanted to make a book that would stand alone, but it only made
sense to capture the formerly undocumented adventures in book form. Having a
demon-parasite from another dimension just seemed so right, and I wanted to
have zombies in it. I was also happy to explore this new chapter where those
that had previously bullied and tormented Donald are now his close friends,
having been more or less saved by the unlikely hero.
Did you design the book cover?
Yes. As Gross began
in comic form and as I took on both ends of writing and illustrating, and
furthermore because both facets of the creativity are very representative of
each other in my work, it only made sense to use my own art as the cover.
Is there a message in your story you want your
readers to grasp?
Probably more than
anything else, I want the readers, no matter how young or old, to look into
their hearts, and look above for the guiding light. I know personally how
difficult it can be when the only voices you hear are those that are ridiculing
and bullying you for not being what they think you should be, and I hope that
the tribulations faced in Donald’s adventures can stand as a reminder to rise
above any negativity that’s being dumped on you, whether it’s coming from
teachers or peers or family members or whatever. Donald constantly faces tragic
situations and the sort of foes that mean to destroy his will and take his
life, but in doing what is right and in helping others that mean to overcome
obstacles, he succeeds and grows stronger. If readers can take anything at all
beyond being entertained by my stories, I want them to remember that the gifts
that they came equipped with when they entered this life are special and can be
used to help others and the world at large, in any way, no matter how big or
small, regardless of any false, negative voices of defeat. Follow your heart,
make the right decisions, and you will rise above the negativity and gloom. I
also hope readers remember that if they ever come across a tree that somehow
resembles what he or she thinks a demon-worm from another dimension might look
like, don’t eat its fruits!
How many children's books have you written?
If we’re including Gross: Doctor Deathworm Rises, just one!
I want to write more children’s books along with the continuation of the Gross
series, but illustrating others’ writing really dominates my work space for
children’s books. I’ve illustrated four, with another in the works and three
more queued on my work table. I’m looking forward to being able to illustrate
my own children’s books when I can work more projects in.
What do you like most about writing?
I’ve been making
stories and conceiving of very outer fiction in my head since I was a child. To
me it’s capturing my spirituality and creating a vessel of communion, on top of
having fun through storytelling. Therefore, when I am creating a story, I feel
there is some meaning at the core of its creation, and the idea that maybe that
meaning will be felt and realized by others is very uplifting to me, and I feel
I’m not wasting my gifts. I love that I can capture these fun adventures that
unfold in my mind and immortalize them. I don’t like to think of creativity
going to waste, because imagination is a divine gift. If a songwriter has
amazing songs playing in his or her head, no matter how often, if they don’t
play or record the song for others to hear, that creativity will never be
realized in this world, and I think that’s a pity. Wrapping any work of art,
seeing it to conclusion and sharing it with others is the most satisfying thing
in the world to me.
You have illustrated books for Author Scott
Nicholson. Could you please tell me a little about that and how you got
started?
I was looking to
find an outlet for my work and came across Nicholson’s work. It’s ironic
because at the time I hadn’t read any of his work, but I would come to love his
fiction. He was experimenting by having illustrators apply their vision to his
fiction. It happened that he’d been looking to have a children’s book created,
and my art has a very fun and colorful element, so a book was destined to come
of it. We made If I Were Your Monster
and that book was received very well. Scott’s been a great friend and mentor of
sorts. I have appreciated from the beginning his outlook on the fiction
market’s shift. He is eager and is going to keep creating with full force no
matter what, and that’s always been my attitude, so you can imagine that
getting to know him and his work has been a true pleasure for me. I’ll tell
you, illustrating a children’s book is a ton of work, but it’s also a ton of
fun! The end product always makes every minute spent in my office worth it.
We’ve since released the children’s books, Too
Many Witches and Ida Claire, and
there will be another one out in due time. I’ll say for now that it will have
monsters . . . friendly ones.
What is your next book project?
There are a few.
I’m working on a new horror novel called Melissa
is Home. I’m hoping to get it released through a publishing house that has
released my work in the past and that I am very fond of for their catalog and
for the creative personalities that keep the house growing. If their roster is
full for the year, though, I’m going to self-publish. This book is very dark
and violent, and recommended for mature readers. The aforementioned children’s
books that are on my table: one is written by a friend of mine, and deals with
athletic chili peppers, and it’s very cute! There will come the new Gross book
as well, called The Mumdel Sisters.
What do you do with your time when
you're not writing?
I try to keep up
with exercise, and when I can like to get out and hike in the mountains. I love
to visit the beach, though that’s rare. I watch a lot of horror movies, and
occasionally I enjoy good horror video games. Lately I’ve been reading horror
with my Kindle while on the treadmill! I still listen to death metal and like
to catch the occasional concert with my good friend who also enjoys heavy music—it’s
been one of our bonding hobbies since we were teens. He and I also have been
trying to record a death metal album in our free time—for fun, nothing too
serious. I love spending time with friends, getting out and seeing the world
and feeling the culture, wherever and whenever. Right now I’m most looking
forward to this Friday when my wife and I will get coffee with some good
friends of ours!
How did you discover indieBRAG?
I received word
that Too Many Witches had received
the Brag Medallion, and right away I read up on indieBRAG, soon realizing that
this was a foundation that truly existed as a dedicated source for readers and
independent creators, with a discerning eye for quality in fiction. With this
in mind I wrote to them, and soon, Gross:
Doctor Deathworm Rises and the children’s book that my wife wrote and I
illustrated, A Guide to Kitties: How to
Find a Nice Home, were recipients of the Brag Medallion! This foundation
has a keen eye and is composed by thoughtful literary critics, and they are
finding and giving exposure to the real talent out there. They also are very hard-nosed
in matters of “sockpuppeting” authors that will promote their own work and
attack others’ work under false names, which I’ve always seen as very pathetic,
and I’m glad that they stand as a voice against such childish and unethical
behaviors. They publish helpful blogs and in general they just mean a lot to
indies who are doing what they love and will graciously accept a kind boost!
This is why I’m very honored to have received the support of indieBRAG!
What is your favorite quote?
I don’t know if I’ve
found the ultimate quote that defines my universe best, but right now I’d like
to go with one penned by a man whose fiction has meant a lot to my life: “Like
all of us in this storm between birth and death, I can wreak no great changes
on the world, only small changes for the better, I hope, in the lives of those
I love.” –Dean Koontz
Thank you Lee! It
is a pleasure!
Author Bio & Links:
A message from BRAG:
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Lee Davis who is the author of, Gross, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as Gross merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.
Thank you!
Stephanie
www.bragmedallion.com
Lee has succeeded with his artistic talents in this "cookie cutter" world where the different are considered anti-social. I know, 'cause I'm his Dad.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in a very conservative home, the Davis family fought with his educators and even the boy scouts who claimed their ways were the only acceptable ways for young men. Lee's artistic abilities were not understood by them or me.
As often times happens, the first kid in a family suffers while the old man tries to figure out how to "properly" raise a son. But Lee persevered and his Mom and I are so very proud of him, not just for his fantastic art and writing talents, but for being a wonderful human being.