Author Interview: Just One Lie – Kyra Davis

We have author Kyra Davis with us today chatting about her release, JUST ONE LIE.  Help me in welcoming Kyra to Cocktails and Books.

1.     Tell us about yourself.

 Hmm, well, in addition to being a writer, I’m a mom of a wonderful teenage boy and I’m recently married to the love of my life (it only took four break-ups and reconciliations for us to realize we absolutely couldn’t stay away from each other and needed to stop trying). I’m also a stepmom to two really very impressive young adults and coparent to the most awesome dog on earth.

2.     What three things about you might surprise your readers?

 This is tough, because honestly, I think I’m a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person, but let’s see…I can do 100 push-ups on a good day, I love sushi and seafood but won’t eat octopus because I think they’re too intelligent of a species to eat and when I have a sweet tooth (which is often) I’ll take a spoonful of raw honey, drop some nuts on top and just eat that. Is that surprising? Gosh, maybe I’m a boring person…is being boring surprising? 

3.     Is there a genre(s) that you think “I might like to write one of those.”?

 Well so far I’ve published Women’s fiction (So Much For My Happy Ending), murder mysteries (the Sophie Katz series) and now romance…I might write a historical one of these days or maybe a fantasy novel. But for the moment I’m just so grateful to be able to write in those three genres. 

4.     Tell us about Just One Lie.

 To steal a line from the Romantic Times review, Just One Lie is a story about rejection, indulgence and redemption. Mercy (whose name was Melody before she had it changed) is the lead singer of an indie rock group. Rejected by her family due to her inability to conform to their strict standards of behavior she finds herself alone in the world. She copes by doing her damnedest to live in the moment. That’s where Ash comes in. He’s beautiful, wild and reckless. An irresistible bad boy. She believes they’re fated to be together. But then she’s also having a hard time getting her mind off Brad.  Brad’s intelligent, strong, solid but also mysterious in his own way. While Ash makes her feel adventurous Brad makes her feel safe. So the question is, what is it that Mercy needs. Who does she really love? Of course the only way she can decide which man she wants is for her to discover and embrace the woman she really is. 

5.     Where did the idea for the storyline come from?

In Just One Night Melody’s (Mercy’s) “tragedy” was used by her parents as a cautionary tale to scare her younger sister Kasie into docility and submission. But Melody wasn’t actually around to give her side of the story. The parents refused to allow Kasie to ask any questions about Melody or give her anything but the vaguest details about what happened. So I felt there was a story to be told there. The story of a mysterious free spirit and her wild romances and adventures.

6.     What do you think readers will like/love about Mercy, Ash and Brad?

 Ash is what my friend Kim would call dirty-sexy. All tatted up, rides a motorcycle, drinks Champagne from the bottle and vodka from a flute.  Oh, and the man knows how to move on a dance floor which is always hot. Brad’s a different kind of cat. A well educated man who wears polo shirts and reads the Wall Street Journal but clearly spends a lot of time at the gym and can play the hell out of the drums. There’s a lot to wonder about there and a lot to be attracted to.

Mercy–Mercy’s my girl. Her life story is kind of crazy but I think of all my characters Mercy may actually be my most relatable protagonist. She’s at turns strong, vulnerable, insightful and wise and at other times completely clueless. As one reviewer said, she’s a carpe-diem-the-hell-out-of-life kind of woman and I really think readers will be rooting for her.

7.     What was your favorite scene from the book?

 I can’t really tell you without posting major spoilers. But I will say that when Mercy finally tells her story to a certain someone I cried and I’ve never cried while writing before. Ever.  And when she falls back into the arms of a certain someone I got goosebumps, another first for me. 

8.     Who are some of your book boyfriends?  What draws you to them?

My all time favorite book boyfriend is The Vampire Lestat (created by Anne Rice). He’s such a beautiful fiend. Intelligent, dangerous and oddly enough, full of life. I would happily travel “the devil’s road” with him (as he calls his journey through life). Then there’s Ranger from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. He’s just a total badass and soo hot.  I guess my third choice would be Anthoney from Toby Barlow’s Sharp Teeth because he’s a totally sweet, romantic guy who, when absolutely necessary, hold his own in a fight and take care of business. 

9.     If you had to pick a favorite cocktail of choice, what would it be?  (It can be non-alcoholic too)

 At home it’s two fingers of really good scotch. While out my favorite cocktail is Black Market Liquor Bar’s Red Hot and Bothered: Jalapeno infused vodka, freshly muddled strawberries, a little freshly squeezed blood orange juice, agave syrup and ginger beer. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a Red Hot And Bothered.

10. What’s next for you?

I have some things going on in Hollywood in connection to Just One Night which was optioned by Anonymous Content (the producers of True Detective). I’m also working on another book but I’m not ready to say much about either project yet. 

The long-awaited follow-up novel to the runaway New York Timesbestseller Just One Night—which Publishers Weekly gave a starred review and proclaimed, “Davis skillfully creates an uplifting story in which sex is presented both as freedom and as a metaphor for power, and where raw chemistry is the clear winner over bland complacency.”

In the instant international sensation Just One Night, sensible Kasie Fitzgerald unleashed her passions—and found herself—through an explosive affair. In Just One Lie, we meet Kasie’s wild and tortured sister, whose impulsivity and lack of self-control has set off a chain of events that changes her family forever.

Melody Fitzgerald is the opposite of the “perfect” daughter. The lead singer of an indie rock band, she is impulsive and creative, with a rebellious streak that both defines her and becomes her greatest enemy. Her lover, the enticing and unpredictable Ash, shares her free spirit and penchant for trouble. On the face of it, he seems to be her perfect match.

So why is she so drawn to her soft spoken, reliable drummer, Brad Witmer? How can a man who wears polo shirts and reads the financial section of the paper be of any interest to her at all? And why on earth does someone like that appear to be so captivated by her?

Before she knows it, Melody finds herself on a path of self-discovery, passion, and affairs of the heart. But will a dark secret from her past derail it all? Or will its exposure be the very thing that unburdens her heart and allows her to seek a future with the one man who loves her completely?

Kyra Davis is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Just One Night, Pure Sin and Sophie Katz series as well as So Much For My Happy Ending. Just One NIght has been optioned for television by Anonymous, (the producers of True Detective)

Before publishing her first book, Sex, Murder And A Double Latte in 2005 Kyra supported herself and her son as a marketing manager for a sports club and before that was a department manager at Nordstrom’s Savvy department. She studied at The Fashion Institute Of Design and Merchandising and Golden Gate University.

Kyra now lives with her husband (director and screenwriter, Rod Lurie), her teenage son (proud science-geek and Hawaiian-Shirt-aficionado), dog (champion eater and guardian of the backyard…no squirrel will dare set foot in it) and gecko (the gecko doesn’t do much).