| One
of the joys of writing this column is getting
feedback from my readers. Nine times out of ten,
you agree with my author selections and applaud
my choice in books. (Thank you!) However, the
one complaint I hear quite frequently is: why
don't I select any male authors? That's
an excellent question and I hate to disappoint
you, but there really isn't any reason.
The authors selected come from the pool of books
that are sent for my review. Obviously, I hardly
ever get any written by men! I do have
some good news, though. For all of my readers
looking for a male author, guess what? September
is your lucky month! Unfortunately, he is not
single! A happily married man with four daughters,
Cody Fowler Davis is a rising star who I predict
will one day find his name on the top of New
York Times Best Seller's List.
Mark my words!
The majority of my Jen's Jewels' authors
I never actually meet due to conflicting schedules
and deadlines; however, this month's column
is quite unique because I have had the pleasure
of meeting not only Cody, but also his charming
wife, Beth, at The Book Expo last May.
Our meeting was the perfect example of being
at the right place at the right time. After spending
the entire morning meandering down the aisles
of vendors, my husband and five year old son
had decided that it was time for all three of
us to call it a day and go grab lunch. As I reluctantly
headed towards the parking garage, I pleaded
with the jury for one last tour of the floor.
So many books, so little time! They hesitantly
agreed and off I went in search of a book I just
couldn't leave behind, Green 61. I
met Cody and Beth standing beside a stack of
books and we've been friends ever since.
As part of his interview, Cody has generously
agreed to donate five books to my monthly trivia
contest! Just read the column and then answer
the trivia question! The first five readers to
email me with the correct response at jensjewels@gmail.com will
win! Good Luck! I hope you win!
 Go grab a cup of coffee and get to know my friend,
Cody Fowler Davis.
JEN: Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
What is your educational and professional background?
CODY:
I am a Florida boy through and through. I
was born in Tampa and can't imagine ever
leaving the sun and salt water. I attended
Jesuit High School where I concentrated on studying
and my number one passion, playing tennis. As
I approached my senior year of high school, I
was entertaining numerous college scholarship
offers but then, one of those events we don't
expect in life occurred – I was diagnosed
with malignant melanoma. I went to Houston
for surgery, and although I obviously lived,
I had to have the lymph nodes under my right
arm removed. My hopes of college tennis
were up in the air since I had no idea if I'd
ever be able to play tennis again.
My freshman year, I joined my brother at Washington
and Lee University. I transferred to Vanderbilt
my sophomore year where I was able to improve
my tennis game and even played number one
on the varsity team as a senior. However,
any dreams of a professional tennis career had
been lost to cancer. I focused on my studies
so I could become a lawyer following the tradition
of my family. Despite my tennis achievements
and my academic success, my greatest accomplishment
at Vanderbilt was talking my best friend, Beth,
into marrying me.
Upon graduation from law school, I joined a
large, prestigious firm. After three and half
years of busting my ass and working absurd hours,
I became the youngest partner in the history
of the firm. Ten years later, I was named
head of the trial department.
When my mid-life crisis struck at age 40, I
started my own law firm, as it seemed more practical
than buying a red Corvette or having an affair.
I am president of Davis and Harmon law firm and
one of the very few lawyers in Florida who holds
three board certifications.
Beth and I have four daughters of whom I could
not be more proud. Elizabeth also graduated
from Vanderbilt last year and works for a non-profit
in Rwanda, Africa. Mary Patton is a freshman
at Georgetown University and Caroline and little
Cody are still at home with us and continue to
be my fishing buddies.
JEN: Have you always dreamed of becoming an
author or did the opportunity just arise?
CODY: In college, I always dreamed of writing but
graduate school, four children, and working around
the clock somehow seemed to interfere. About
two years ago, I figured out I could write two
hours a night and Sunday afternoons instead of
watching TV. Beth became my greatest critic
and encourager through out the process. Now we
enjoy writing as a team effort.
JEN: Are you still a practicing attorney? If
so, how do you juggle both careers?
CODY:
I work full time as a trial attorney, night and
weekend hours are still a common occurrence. I
guess I just sleep less now.
JEN: How did you come up with the premise?
CODY:
Unfortunately, as a result of twenty-two years
of handling cases and trials involving loss of
life and severe personal injuries, I see accidents
and lawsuits everywhere. While sitting
on the porch of our Useppa Island home, I looked
out to the intercoastal waterway and visualized
a boating accident in my mind. Then I created
two trial lawyers, one who was idealistic about
the law and another who represented everything
that is wrong with the civil trial system.
 JEN: How did you arrive
at the title Green 61?
CODY:
Just across the waterway from our Useppa home
is green marker 61, which designates the channel
entering Cabbage Key. This is where I pictured
the boating accident taking place, hence the
name of the book
JEN: Were you concerned that your readers might
have a difficult time making the connection with
the title and the Floridian waterways?
CODY:
It might seem a little odd until you see the
picture on the front of the book, which by the
way, my daughter, Elizabeth, took for me. You
can even see our home in the background if you
look closely. I also explain in the book
how the intercoastal waterway was set up and
that Green 61 was the marker for the channel
where the accident occurs.
JEN: From conception to completion, how long
did it take for you to write the book?
CODY:
Green 61 was hand written on legal pads - predominantly
at night, on weekends and on flights around the
country. I finished the first draft in about
8 months. Then came the editing and rewriting
process which was much more difficult. That's
where Beth's help was essential. I also
had a wonderful editor who gave me the constructive
criticism that I needed to hear even though I
often didn't like it. I'd estimate
that the entire process took approximately one
year.
JEN: Take us through your writing process. Plot
first? Characters? Outline?
CODY:
First, I created the accident - in conjunction
with finishing a bottle of chardonnay. I scratched
out an outline of the entire book and then it
was on to creating Anderson and Justin which
was easy, since I interact with trial lawyers
daily.
JEN: Who is your target audience and why?
CODY:
Originally, I wrote the book because I had a
story to tell and I wanted to write it. From
the various emails I've received, it appears
that readers enjoy learning about the civil trial
system. They also love to admire Anderson
and hate Justin. I write for anyone who
enjoys a good story. Just wait until the
second book. In the next battle between
Justin and Anderson, Justin takes dishonesty
and his win-at-all-costs philosophy to a new
low.
JEN: How did you find a publisher and do you
have an agent?
CODY: I met an editor from California who was
kind enough to read my writing and then crazy
enough to think I might have some potential. After
working together to complete the book, he recommended
Little Moose Press who published Green
61.
JEN: The most obvious
question….is Anderson
Parker modeled after you? And if so, was it difficult
to separate yourself from the character and make
him his own entity?
CODY:
Anderson is definitely nicer and more idealistic
than I am. I wish I were like Anderson
but after twenty-two years in the legal system,
I have picked up a few Justin-like characteristics. Although
Anderson is not based on anyone in particular,
he has traits of two family members for whom
I have great respect – my grandfather who
was both president of the American Bar Association
and the American College of Trial Lawyers and
my brother Jim, the ultimate ethical guy, who
serves in the U.S. House of Representatives and
is currently running for Governor of the state
of Florida.
JEN: I can only assume
that Justin Cartwright is a compilation of
all of the crooked lawyers you must have met
in the courtroom throughout your career. Were
you fearful of emulating a certain someone
and risk offending a colleague? Has anyone
ever asked you if you were describing him or
her?
CODY: I have never met a lawyer as disgusting
as Justin. I
made a list of bad things a defense lawyer could
do and then I created Justin. Of course,
I have seen many dirty tricks throughout my career
and those experiences helped me give birth to
Justin. Numerous lawyers have asked me if Justin
is a based on a particular person and I always
respond, “Yes,
he's based on you!”
JEN: Who in your immediate circle was the most
surprised that you wrote a book and why?
CODY:
At first, I think Beth was surprised that I actually
completed writing the book, but now she is my
co-writer. We are working together on the
second book. I credit her ideas and writing
style as the force which will take our next book
to a new level.
JEN: Are you treated differently by your peers
now that you have become an author? If so, how?
CODY:
My friends and family love to talk to me about
the book. I do find that people are amazed
that I actually completed the project.
JEN: In the novel,
Anderson's wife was
extremely supportive of his decision to leave
the law firm and go out on his own. What role
does your wife play in your career?
CODY: Beth is my best friend and my team mate. We
decided together that I would leave the comfort
and economic security of the large firm. It has
proven to be one of our best decisions.
JEN: What was the most difficult part to write
and why?
CODY:
The boat collision was the most challenging writing
of the book. I had to make sure the readers
could visualize the waterway and feel the impact
and injuries. No one wants to write about
children dying but it was imperative that I convey
the tragedy and emotion. Two separate readers
who have young children told me they had to stop
reading for a while after that chapter. These
comments suggested to me that I was successful
in conveying the heartache of death. For
me, it is a constant theme in my law practice.
JEN: Why only 216
pages? Truly, it's more
difficult to be brief and concise, but did you
feel as if you left anything out?
CODY:
I didn't want the story to go off on unnecessary
tangents. A few people have told me they
wished I'd written more but most readers
said they loved the fast pace of the story. I
didn't want the flow of the story hindered
by too much superfluous description or diatribes.
JEN: What has surprised you the most about the
publishing business?
CODY:
How competitive it is. Beth and I went
to the Book Expo in DC and we couldn't
believe how many books were competing for a limited
audience. There are millions of books out
there just waiting to be read. And there
are millions more writers hoping that their books
will soon be out there as well. I would
never suggest writing as a quick or easy way
to make money. Write only because you
love it.
JEN: Who are your favorite authors and have
you met any of them?
CODY:
My particular favorite topics involve legal matters
and boating. Randy Wayne White's
books are always fun. He comes to Useppa
often since he lives nearby. Obviously
I enjoy John Grisham's legal thrillers. Unfortunately,
I don't have the opportunity to read as
much as I'd like b/c I read all the time
at work and my eyes are too tired at the end
of the day. But Beth reads constantly
- that must be why she enjoys helping me with
my writing.
JEN: What three adjectives best describe your
writing style?
CODY:
I'm not sure I can give you three adjectives
but I can describe what I hope I do when I write.
I like to keep the story moving and I particularly
enjoy explaining legal issues people don't
understand. My goal is to write books a reader
just can't put down.
JEN: Do you have a web site? Mailing list? Blog?
CODY:
I do have a website and I hope you'll check
it out. It's www.green61.com.
You can find any new updates there. But
you can also email me at cfd@davis-harmon.com. I
love to hear from my readers and any comments
or suggestions are always appreciated.
JEN: Will there be a sequel? If so, what can
you tell us about it? When will it be published?
CODY:
Absolutely. Beth and I are working on it
now. I don't know when it will be
published but we are in the editing process now
so we're hopeful it will be published in
the next year.
JEN: Do you have any scheduled book signings?
CODY:
I try to keep all my book signings up-to-date
on my website. That's the best place
to find out what's going on.
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Cody.
Don't forget! The first five people to
email me at jensjewels@gmail.com with
the correct answer to the following question
will win a copy of Green
61. Good Luck!
What is the name of the publisher of Green
61?
Look for my upcoming interview with Tina Leonard
in early October! You won't want to miss
it!
Until next month……Jen |
Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels