Featured Interview With A.M. Davila
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Long Island and now live in upstate New York with my husband, two young daughters, and our dog. We live near the woods and a river which is a much less hectic way of life than either my husband or I grew up with, but still close enough to the city for activities and rendezvous. I’m a high school teacher by day, and I dabble in vegetable gardening when I find the time.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember! My mom is an avid reader and so was my paternal grandmother. They always read to us, took us to the library, and rummaged through garage sales for used books. It was something I realize now with my own daughters that I associated with love and warmth. As I grew older, reading became an escape as well and a way to travel through space and time without having to leave my house. As for writing, I distinctly remember having to write stories in school often in 2nd and 3rd grade. I even still have one from third grade about a butterfly, inspired by a science activity where we raised caterpillars in class. From there I just kept writing! I wrote in marble notebooks mostly, and when I was in high school I would finish work early so I could sneak some time to write in class. I had an English teacher in high school who encouraged me to keep writing…and I did! So many years later, but I did!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I don’t have a particular author that I can pinpoint as a favorite, but I do have favorite genres. Historical fiction is my usual go-to, and I’ve been able to actually use quite a bit of what I’ve learned in those readings in the classes I teach. My students might not think so, but I always think it’s pretty cool to connect a novel to my lessons! I also love YA books of different kinds. They can be so well-done, but sometimes overlooked. Within YA I love dystopian and apocalyptic works, but lately I’ve been reading more books involving kids of color or other marginalized groups. I think it’s important to understand different points of view.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Undoing is my debut! It’s the first in a 3 book series. I was inspired when I wad stuck in traffic on my way to work in the pouring rain one December. Essentially: the apocalypse arrives on Christmas morning, but few realize that’s what’s going on. They think the recent bad weather knocked the power out. It did! But it also didn’t 😉 . Our six characters happen to be alone or stranded on Christmas, and once they realize they can’t carry on like that, they each leave and their lives intersect. It’s an apocalyptic adventure, but it’s really a story about regular people. There’s no ex-military character or doomsday prepper to save everyone. These characters could be you, me, your friend, or your cousin. Every character is recognizable in our everyday lives, and I believe that’s the beauty of The Undoing. They are raw and real, sometimes a little annoying and sometimes even a little magical! Readers will want to see how they all make it through, especially when they realize who the characters all are and what they are bring to the table: a cantankerous LGBT interracial couple, an impulsive teenage Mexican immigrant, some disgruntled kids, and a strong-willed Black female business executive might seem like they have little to offer at the end of the world, but the characters surprise themselves and the readers.
The “what-if” disaster story intrigues us. Alexandra has a fresh approach. There are many ways to say “I love you,” and there are many ways to say “what-if.” Definitely give this one a try.