Interview: Evette Davis about THE OTHERS
Author photo by John Cameron Photography
New urban fantasy takes readers on thrilling journey into Bay Area’s supernatural underbelly
“Expect drama, romance, steamy sex, and heightened emotions—with Democracy hanging in the balance!”
This time we have an exclusive interview with urban fantasy author Evette Davis about her latest novel, The Others, the first book in her The Council trilogy. Described as True Blood meets Supernatural, the novel takes readers into a dystopian San Francisco filled with empaths and vampires embroiled in political unrest. And this first volume is just the beginning...
A science fiction and fantasy author, Davis is the author of 48 States, named one of the Best Indie Books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews. In fact, The Others is already a winner in the 2024 International Book Awards in the Fantasy category.
Davis is also a member of the Board of Directors for Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival. When she’s not writing novels, Davis advises some of the country’s largest corporations, nonprofits and institutions as a consultant.
In our interview, Davis talks to Monster Complex about the challenges in writing The Others as part of a bigger picture, how her experience as a political consultant informs her fiction, and the mythologies that influenced the monsters in her book.
About the book
The Others (Book #1 in The Council Trilogy)
Evette Davis
SparkPress
Urban Fantasy
2024 International Book Awards Fantasy Winner
Much as she wishes otherwise, superstar political consultant Olivia Shepherd was born a powerful empath. It’s a legacy she walked away from long ago—but when she wakes up one morning to find Elsa, a tenacious time-walker, standing in her kitchen, she realizes she can no longer ignore her gifts. She is quickly plunged into the hidden world of powerful “Others” and drafted to work for the Council, a shadowy organization that summons the fog to San Francisco to obscure their involvement in human affairs.
Complicating matters further is Olivia’s new love interest, William. A centuries-old vampire, William is far too jaded to take an interest in human affairs—but Olivia no longer has the luxury of remaining impartial. As shocking details from Olivia’s own past emerge and her role in the Council begins to take shape, will she rise to the challenge of her destiny?
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Interview: Evette Davis about THE OTHERS
Q: The Others is the start of the series The Council Trilogy. When you were writing The Others, were you building up for future volumes—or focusing more on what’s happening to these characters right now? (What are the challenges for you writing one book that’s part of a bigger picture?)
I think I was about halfway through The Others when I realized that the story was bigger than one book. I just had so much for these characters to do, and it was going to take them a while to sort everything out. The challenge of writing for a series is tending to the short-term and long-term plot issues because you have to grab readers in the here and now and also sprinkle breadcrumbs for what comes next.
Q: The Others introduces readers to “a dystopian San Francisco filled with empaths and vampires embroiled in political unrest.” What inspired you to create this world? (What other series or movies or books or whatever inspired you? Were there real-life studies or experiences that also influenced how this came together?)
My work as a political consultant and former newspaper journalist does inform my writing. The whole world, in some ways, serves as fodder for my fiction, especially when you’re writing about using magic to impact politics positively. I’ve been a science fiction/ fantasy fan since I was old enough to obtain a library card in elementary school. Almost all science fiction is political in that it often pushes the boundaries of our imagination to contemplate how much change society can tolerate.
I’ve lived in San Francisco for more than twenty years, and the City itself is a significant inspiration for my work. This place has an old-world charm, enduring mystery, and exotic quality that continues to delight me. I guess that is my long-winded way of saying it's the combination of my professional experiences, my love of science fiction, and the City itself that serve as inspiration for the characters in The Others.
Q: What can readers expect as the epic continues to unfold?
For Olivia, it’s more near-death experiences and the continued evolution of her relationships with William, Josef, and other main characters. (I don’t want to introduce spoilers.) Olivia is on a quest to understand her power, and so is everyone else. The second book is a bit darker and will test the character’s friendships and endurance. The third and final book brings things full circle. Throughout it all, expect drama, romance, steamy sex, and heightened emotions – with Democracy hanging in the balance!
Q: What are some of your pet peeves with how others sometimes create urban fantasy stories? How do you avoid making the same mistakes with your own fiction?
I can’t really think of any pet peeves, and truthfully, I wouldn’t want to call out another writer’s habits, being a big ‘ol glass house myself, but I will say that when I’m writing, I am always thinking about the reader and whether I am taking them on a journey they will enjoy.
I have to be true to my characters and the story, but I also write to entertain and try to make my characters interesting, my settings unique, and the plot unusual enough to hold interest but not too absurd that it strains their patience to keep up. That may end up answering your question anyway…
Q: What different mythologies did you draw on when deciding what supernatural creatures to include in the book? Did you have to conduct any special research to help you write these characters?
I have a robust collection of encyclopedias and anthologies about supernatural creatures that inspired my thinking. First and foremost though, I read a lot about ancient women leaders, from Hecate to Boudicca. I was looking at traditions that place women at the center of a culture for their gifts as healers and seers. At its core, The Others is a meditation on women finding their power and making peace with it. I also have an impressive library of books about poisonous plants and weapons.
Q: How have your own political ideologies, as well as your work in politics and with governments, shaped this series?
I dislike extremists in all forms. When I first began my career, there was no email, no social media and cable TV was nascent. The ability to say anything you like, to anybody, at any time, with no way to reflect on it, is not a net positive for society. The chaos creates an atmosphere and the people who thrive, are often the ones who can survive the toxicity. In politics, that brings out interesting personalities.
Q: What’s the process like for a writer sitting down and creating scenes that are more romantic or erotic? Are those more or less difficult for you?
I love writing sex scenes. It’s so difficult because you have to find a way to engage people without being cliche—at least I do. I often prefer the flirty banter more than the actual mechanics of who does what to whom. I read a lot of other sexy paranormal books, so I get good inspiration.
Q: Can you talk a bit about your history with San Francisco and why you set the first book of the series there?
I’ve lived in San Francisco for 20-plus years. My husband and I raised our daughter here and have lived in the city near Golden Gate Park for most of that time. I grew up in Los Angeles but visited San Francisco with friends when I was in high school and decided it was going to be my home one day.
There is really no other city in the world where I want to live. Its combination of natural beauty, proximity to the outdoors and cool-ass residents makes it home for me. You have to be here to understand—even more so after the whole doomloop thing, which only made us more resolute to stay. It seemed like a no brainer to base my characters here.
Q: Why is this story important to you personally?
I am interested in how women become leaders. How they find their power, how they express it and what that journey looks like. I’m on the same journey of self-discovery, and it’s fraught at times, especially with social media and the false realities it lays out for us about what success looks like.
Q: What do you hope readers gain from this book or the series as a whole?
First and foremost I hope they are entertained and enjoy digging into a heart-bounding series full of danger, adventure and love. I also hope they enjoy Olivia’s journey to become a leader and have confidence in herself, which is something I think everyone can relate to.
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Exclusive interview with the author about her new urban fantasy that takes readers on thrilling journey into Bay Area’s supernatural underbelly. “Expect drama, romance, steamy sex, and heightened emotions—with Democracy hanging in the balance!”