Greenroom Books

An Interview with Cynthia Davis

When did you begin writing?

Early surviving works include diaries which reveal appalling spelling deficiencies but no real drama. In middle school, I hauled around enormous loose-leaf binders containing horrendous novels scrawled in leaky pen—verbose volumes with no tangible plotlines. I emerged from middle school ink stained but undaunted. I went on to become an editor and columnist for my high school newspaper, but I never made the connection that writing could be a career path. Once I even got accepted to a summer Governors School for the Arts program—and ended up not going. After graduation, I kept up with my journals—which had become a bit spicier—but I didn’t really do anything with my writing for a long time. I went to college and wound up with a degree in Psychology. I was in my late 20s and three chapters into The Chrysalis when my husband signed me up for a writing seminar as a birthday present. That’s when I really began to see the possibilities for my writing.

What prompted you to start your first teen novel, The Chrysalis?

I started a teen girls’ Bible study that just kept growing. Some of our girls were heading off to college at the time, and I wanted to post lessons and messages online so we could stay in touch. I thought a website might be a vehicle to bring other girls into what we were doing as well. I had the idea of posting a chapter a week story where I’d solicit input from the teens as a way to keep them coming back to the website. I eventually became way more committed to the story than the website and Greenroom Books was born.

Why did you choose to create your own company instead of pitching the book to established publishing houses?

The concept of the publishing company evolved right along side of the first book. It was never a “Plan B.” My husband, Brad, has an MBA and saw a potential business from the first chapters I ever wrote. The idea was to create a company focused solely on producing quality Young Adult fiction. Although my husband and I are both Christians, we decided early on to produce books any teen could pick up and relate to, regardless of their faith. There’s a real void in YA literature for stories that address real-world problems in a way that provides a moral compass—hopefully nudging kids toward Truth.

Teen books should examine real-world problems—no holds barred. Tough topics need to be addressed in literature. I think there’s a tendency for conservative authors and publishers to shy away from controversial issues and I believe that is a mistake.

Brad and I grew up on preachy little books that always managed work in a contrived dialogue that outlined the whole plan of salvation. Although these authors meant well, attempting to incorporate faith in their work, it just never resonated with me.

Controversial issues represent the things that teens struggle with the most. It’s the stuff that keeps them awake at night, it’s what influences the decisions they make. I think it’s irresponsible for the faith-based community to steer clear of touchy subjects. Issues need to be explored—but responsibly rather than sensationalized. It’s sad that the trashy books are the ones that receive marketing attention from publishers—and as a result, the most publicity.

I started writing for teens because I want to reach them with a message of purpose. I didn’t even attempt to sell the books to other publishers out of a desire to control the direction of the project rather than be limited by “what’s selling.”

My goal as a teen author is to write stories that address the real-world issues teens face, but within the context of believable events with natural consequences. Literature is an amazing tool for processing experiences and sparking dialogue.

My faith is deeply embedded in my work. I’m just not going to hit readers over the head with it.

What is your background in youth work?

I have worked with teenagers in various capacities most of my adult life. Brad and I started volunteering in our church youth program during the early years of our marriage. Later on, we were on staff at a different church. Now we jointly focus our energies on the books, and my living room is still filled with teen girls every Tuesday night for Bible study as it has been for the past 10 years.

What made you want to work with teens?

In my early 20s I came to realize how much time I wasted on stuff that just didn’t matter that much. Everything revolved around boys. All of my upbeat journal entries gushed over being noticed by some guy. The more frequent, “downer” entries lamented over being rejected by a guy or perceived slights from friends.

There are a lot of things I’d do differently now—I would have focused on building skills for my future instead of all the trivial things. But then, I wouldn’t be who I am now, and that would be sad because I love my life.

Most of the time it takes mistakes to have a story, anyway. When I’m writing non-fiction, I always say the real story is in what actually happened. Sometimes journalists fish for a certain kind of quote, or want events to unfold in a certain way so we can write about it from a pre-conceived angle. But that’s not where the good material is. The good stuff is what really happened—like missing the big interview because you accidentally vacuumed your last pair of underwear...that sort of thing.

For instance, the Governor’s School program that I missed out on because I made a stupid decision. Years later, that inspired a short story that won an award. Irony at its best—the writing instruction I turned down ultimately fed my inspiration—cool!

Of course, I know that’s a small thing. There are other things I did which could have had disastrous consequences—and I’m fortunate to have the life that I do. My goal in both my hands-on work with teens and in the books I write is to help them examine life by giving them the benefit of my own mistakes

Good literature presents the opportunity to examine a situation—to have something in print where you can pinpoint what went wrong and why—and what could have happened otherwise. If something I write helps girls to think about their choices and to use their teen years to the fullest, then I’ve done my job.

What inspires your YA fiction?

Adolescence is an amazing time in life. There’s a lot of firsts: first jobs, first kisses, first time away from home. Teenagers are also making decisions that can have a major impact on the rest of their lives, so it’s a pretty pivotal time, too. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with teens at camps and on trips to Africa and Mexico. I enjoy their sense of humor, their fresh outlook on life, the way they approach challenges—it’s a very deep well from which to draw inspiration.

Do the teens you know influence your work?

Absolutely! The girls who come to my Bible study group share their struggles and fears, their funny stories and awkward moments. We’ve had weddings—I’ve been in two, and another two marriages exist because of friendships that formed in the group. We’ve had a funeral, too. We’re all really close. Sometimes the older girls come back from college or their real lives and get to know the new girls. It’s a continuous thread. For me, it’s like having a backstage pass into teen culture. Having access to their stores really does influence the things my characters face.

What else are you passionate about besides your books?

My family. Packing in experiences. Art, photography, teaching...I also enjoy my work as a freelance journalist. My life is about to get really busy. I’m starting graduate school in the fall. I’m working toward a master’s degree in secondary English and journalism. I’m excited to help kids connect with literature and appreciate the gift of written expression.

	Greenroom Books Develop your Character ... publisher@greenroombooks.com
Greenroom Books is a publishing company dedicated to producing books that encourage young adults to seek God's purpose in their lives and to embrace all of the adventures and misadventures in life as part of His overall plan. Greenroom Books may also offer book packaging services from time to time on a limited basis. Contact packaging@greenroombooks.com for further information. ©2007 All rights reserved.