APRIL DAVILA
Award-Winning Author & Writing Coach
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142 OSTRICHES
Set against the unexpected splendor of an ostrich ranch in the California desert, April Dávila’s beautifully written debut conjures an absorbing and compelling heroine in a story of courage, family and forgiveness.
“A vivid, uplifting debut...”
—Publishers Weekly
Recent Blog Posts
Books, Wonderful Books!
When she called to say she was coming to town, we both agreed it was a great excuse to have lunch and waste a few hours wondering the isles of our favorite books store. We are both in love with Skylight Books on Vermont.
Is My Novel Too Short?
Everything I’ve read is that you don’t really want to be below 70,000 for a novel. So now I’m all freaked out. Is my novel too short?
Warm air, jet fuel, cigarette smoke and plumerias.
The thing I wrote most about were the time in my life that I have lived on islands. The smell of that thick warm air, jet fuel, cigarette smoke and plumerias kept transporting me, even as I loaded car seats in and out of rentals, to times I almost never think of anymore.
Writing My Synopsis
I’ll admit it – the statement on that page is a total lie. I’m not in the process of revising the synopsis. The damn thing doesn’t exist yet.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
Until I have developed the skill to be a professional novelist, I will continue to work the day job. And that, I think, is the hole in Fuller’s argument. With all due respect, you don’t just get to declare yourself and artist and retire to a life of rumination.
Writing Every Day, The Challenge Continues
On January 29th I declared that I was going to write every day for the rest of my life. In the name of being honest, I feel I need to share the fact that my resolution lasted about four days.
OstrichLand USA
Often, when I tell people in Los Angeles that I’m working on a novel set on a ostrich farm, they ask me if I have been to the place up in Santa Barbara. Well, up until today, I hadn’t.
Getting The “Was” Out
I’m obsessed. And not with something normal, like Downton Abbey, or salted caramel ice cream. No, I have turned totally crazy over the word “was.”
Dirty Jobs, OK Corral Style
It occurred to me recently that I haven’t really shared much of my research for this novel that I’m working so hard on, and that is a crazy shame, because ostriches are awesome.