WHAT INSPIRED THE EMERALD TIDE?
Emerald Tide centers around one of the most famous art thefts in history. Eighty years after the painting was stolen, it remains at the top of Interpol’s list.
The opening scenes also take place in one of my all-time favorite museums, the Getty in Los Angeles. Three years ago, I was granted a behind-the-scene glimpse into the Getty’s secret world, by way of an art historian serving as one of the Getty in-house scholars. I have wanted to use these experiences in a story ever since.
WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT WRITING EMERALD TIDE VS PREVIOUS MIRAMAR BAY TITLES?
Each of these stories has been treated as a stand-alone novel. This goes much further than revisiting an existing town and time and people. I do my best to completely start over. New concept, new characters, new mystery, and definitely a new direction for the romance.
HOW ELSE DOES E.T. DIFFER?
Emerald Tide is set in a world that has always been important to my family, but one I have only viewed from the outside… Art. My sister is an artist, as are three nieces. My mother and grandmother were art valuers. Unless you count creative writing as an art-form, my own talents don’t extend much further than stick figures!
WHAT HAS THE MIRAMAR BAY JOURNEY BEEN LIKE FOR YOU? TWISTS IN THE TALE, EXPECTATIONS VERSUS OUTCOME? CHALLENGES, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT?
Davis: The biggest and most unique challenge I faced with Emerald Tide was the covid lockdowns. I currently live in England, and we have endured four lockdowns and two nearly-as-bad periods over these past two years. Which has meant living vicariously through the research and writing of this story.
I spend a great deal of time on research. In this case, however, I was unable to do what I most wanted, which was revisit these places and talk face-to-face with my sources. Everything was done at arm’s length. Zoom has never played a more vital role in a story’s creation.
YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT IN THE BOOK (TO WRITE OR TO READ)?
The story’s final passages all take place in Sicily. Three people in particular were immensely helpful in shaping these scenes, all Sicilian, all living in England, all very forgiving of this utter foreigner encroaching on their home island. I hope I have done them – and their homeland – justice.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THIS GENRE VS OTHERS YOU WRITE (SPECULATIVE FICTION)?
Davis: Writing mystery romances is a long-time passion. It allows me to bind together two distinct disciplines – suspense and romance – in a series of stories that I hope allow me to share the best of both worlds. Romance offers a vein of hope and positive outcome that many suspense novels fail to deliver. And the suspense means the story is accelerated by the inherent tension.
At least, that’s what I aim for. Whether I succeed is up to the reader.
… What do you think, dear reader? Does Davis succeed? Please leave a review on your favorite book platform — it really helps!
Bestselling writer JYOTI GUPTARA has helped leaders on five continents use business storytelling to experience more success with less stress.