What Doesn't Kill You...

Today Marcelo (a trainer at my gym) took me aside and told me how much he enjoyed training me. I don’t do private sessions with him. I just take his classes (he’s the one who introduced me to both boxing and capoeira). But it’s rare that there are more than 3 people in his class on any given day because the truth is that most people are afraid of him. They have their reasons. Marcelo is tough and he will kick your ass. The plus side of that is that after getting your ass kicked a few times it will tone up and start looking a lot better in your jeans. But the reason why Marcelo and all the instructors who I train with enjoy working with me is because I never ask for breaks. I will rise to whatever physical challenge they put before me and I will not complain…much.

I’d love to tell you that I am able to do this because I’m youthful, buffed and in amazing shape but that’s not really true. Most of the people in my classes are in their 20s and I’m…not. Some of the people in my classes are much stronger. Some even do triathlons and all sorts of other things that I couldn’t imagine doing in a million years. Seriously, if I did a triathlon I would drown or in a moment of delirious exhaustion drive my bicycle into a wall. It would be like attempting suicide in public.

But I can survive a 1-2 hour workout. And if I seem to be better at it than some of my classmates I know it’s simply because I’m more determined. For one thing I absolutely refuse to allow anyone to break me. It’s my way of proving to myself that I’m tough because lets face it, it’s a lot easier to be physically tough than emotionally tough (I’m still working on the latter). There are so many aspects of my life that are totally out of my control, but my body? That I can do something about. I can make it look the way I want it to look and I can make it strong by just lifting a few weights (over and over and over again). Emotional strength takes years to build up, sometimes a lifetime but I can build up my muscles in a matter of weeks. It’s instant pay off. Keep in mind that I’m not talking about weight here, I’m talking about strength. Obviously there’s not much I can do to defend myself against a gun but I like knowing that if someone tried to punch me then maybe, just maybe I could take him out. And when I get through a tough training session, when I look in the mirror and I can see the definition of the my triceps some of that physical strength slips inside my soul and makes me stand just a little bit taller. I can’t make my ex-husband be a better dad to our kid or help me out in anyway. I can’t change the economy or make the New York Times review my books. I can’t even get rid of my allergies but I can make my body stronger and that feels good.

And ya know, if you can feel good about yourself the disdain of the New York Times isn’t such a big deal.

Special Note: I will be speaking at the Glendale Barnes & Noble at the Americana Thursday night (tomorrow) at 7:00. Please stop by and tell me what little things you do to make you feel good about yourself. We can make it a book signing/self-help meeting if you like…totally up to you.


Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
The Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series,
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING
Order LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS on Amazon or Barnesandnoble.com today!

The First Sophie Book Trailer!

For those of you who haven't seen this yet, Jessica (one of my FABULOUS readers) made this. Be sure to check it out and stop by Youtube and give her props on the comment section. She really went above and beyond!

Also, don't forget about Thrusday's book signing at Glendale's Barnes & Noble at the Americana!


Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
The Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series,
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING
Order LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS on Amazon or Barnesandnoble.com today!

My Readers Rock!

Okay, so now let me tell you what else was remarkable about my Florida/Virginia trip.

I spent the first five days of my trip to Orlando totally focused on my son and his Disney World experience. But on the 6th night I handed my son off to my brother (who had joined us for the first part of our vacation) and went to my downtown Orlando Barnes & Noble book signing event. I was SOOO nervous. Turnout for book signings is always a crapshoot even in the best of circumstances and some of the circumstances around this book signing sort of kind of…well, they sucked. I suppose my publisher and Barnes & Noble may have been vaguely aware that the NBA play-offs would be taking place on the night they scheduled my Orlando event but NO ONE predicted that the Orlando’s “Magic” team would actually be IN those playoffs. I mean, you know, yea Magic and all that but it does sort of figure that the first time Magic has made the play-offs in 14 years happened to coincide with my first Orlando book signing event. Oh, and the Barnes & Noble I was speaking at was just around the corner to the stadium. So I assumed everyone would either be at the game or avoiding the area due to traffic and parking concerns.

I got a packed house for that signing. The Barnes & Noble people actually had to bring in more chairs! People came from Fort Lauderdale and Miami just to meet me! I was sort of…what’s the word…stunned. I mean some of these women actually had to get a hotel for the night in order to make my signing event! And they were all wonderful. Every single person who was there was just a joy to talk to. Monika, Ana, Sylvia, Laura, Alexis…the list goes on. I remember all their names and faces. They just made such a major impression on me!

And speaking of major….Debi, a fabulous reader from Springfield, Virginia hosted a Sophie party for me and her book group. It was a really big crowd and the effort they went to for me…well, it was sort of spectacular. They made a huge banner featuring my book cover and the message “Welcome Bestselling Author Kyra Davis” and propped it up on the front lawn. There was a barista there making frappuccinos and each person’s cup had a different Sophie quote on it. Large white handkerchiefs were hung over helium balloons so they resembled ghosts (a nod to the supernatural elements of my most recent release) and each handkerchief had one of my character’s names on it. Sophie’s favorite vodka drinks were served and…God, if I were to tell you every detail it would take me a week. I was FLOORED! Debi, her friend the other Debi, Garrett (who just got married this weekend, if you’re reading this Garrett, congrats) Cindy…again, the list goes on and as with the women at the Orlando signing I won’t be forgetting these gals anytime soon. I feel like I made about thirty friends in one night.


Many of you email me to tell me how much you love my Sophie but I’m embarrassed to admit that it wasn’t until this brief tour of Florida and Virginia that your message really came home to me. I honestly didn’t understand before. I didn’t fully appreciate that for many of you Sophie has become a true friend who means every bit as much to you as she does to me. It was just an overwhelming experience.

Right now I have a Glendale appearance scheduled at Americana Barnes & Noble this Thursday (June 25th) at 7:00 and then on July 25th I will have an appearance in San Francisco at CocoaBella. I may be setting up a few more signings this summer but they probably will all be in California. But I don’t think that will be true for the next book. The importance and value of touring has been impressed on me and I promise that going forward I will make an even greater effort to respond to your requests for book signing events in your area. I want to do that for you and to be honest I want to do it for me because if my Florida/Virginia trip taught me anything it’s that my readers are fairly spectacular people. I can honestly say that it is an honor to hang out with all of you.


Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
The Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series,
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING
Order LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS on Amazon or Barnesandnoble.com today!

It Was an Interesting Trip

I knew I’d enjoy my trip to Disney World and Maryland but I didn’t expect it to be the most interesting trip of my life. I don’t think people go to Disney World for “interesting.” Escape, child-like-fun, thrills…that’s pretty standard Disney fair, but interesting? And when people visit their family (as I did in Maryland) well, they do that out of love and maybe obligation but I don’t think very many of us skip over to our aunt or uncle’s place with the expectation of being fascinated. To be fair I didn’t just go to Disney and visit family, I also spoke at a book signing event at Orlando’s Barnes & Noble and attended a private book signing party thrown for me in Virginia but even those happenings weren’t meant to be eye-opening reveals. They were supposed to be work…a hell of a lot of fun, but still work.

Which is why everything took me by such surprise.

As it turns out Disney World isn’t just a theme park. It’s a psychological treatment center. For my son it accomplished what years of nurturing, encouragement and counseling had never been able to do…it helped him overcome many of his worst anxieties. My son has always been a bit nervous. He shies away from risk and frequently passes up things he really wants to do because he’s afraid. He’s been afraid of dark places and of things that might jump out at him and turbulent rides. He’s been afraid of getting hurt, of getting water in his eyes…it really is a long list. But somehow Disney managed to flip a switch for him. It started with Epcot’s Mission To Mars ride. They have an “intense version” of the ride and a “not so intense version.” I expected we would go on the latter but he was so wrapped up in his excitement about being at Disney World he seemed to forget his nervous nature and become a daredevil. Disney makes a major point of warning people throughout their wait in line that Mission To Mars is going to be an “intense experience” and they continually invite people to get out of line and choose a more mellow experience.

But my son never faltered (even though the constant warnings were enough to make me nervous). We went on and he loved it. Two days later he went on Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom; a somewhat turbulent ride that bumps you about in an extremely dark cavern like space. Periodically dinosaurs jump out at you. My son was nervous about that but he loves dinosaurs and he forced himself to do it. Notice I said he forced himself. I didn’t apply any pressure. It was all him…and he loved it. He even insisted that we go on again! A day or so later we went on Test Track, the fastest ride in Epcot. When we got off my son said thoughtfully, “All the fears I’ve had have been over nothing.” And then he just smiled.

His bravery increased every day. It was even apparent at Disney’s water park, Typhoon Lagoon where he went on water slide after water slide and waded out to his neck into their huge wave pool. It produces six-foot waves and he let them roll over him again and again, always catching his breath at the right moment and ducking under the water. It was at that point that my brother said I should write a book about helping your child overcome anxiety. But the only thing I could write is “Go To Disney World.” I’m not sure if I know of any publishers who would print a four word book.

I have a lot more to say about this trip; about my boyfriend’s part in it and about the signings and my visit with my family who are technically my ex-husband’s family. But I think I’ll save that until tomorrow. Otherwise this blog will become a book.

But I’ll wrap up today’s post with a comment my son made to me this morning. He said, “Who knew Disney World could change your perspective on everything?”

Exactly. Who knew?


Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
The Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series,
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING
Order LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS on Amazon or Barnesandnoble.com today!

Shhh! It’s A Surprise!

Yesterday I told my son that his grandparents and uncle wanted to be with him during the days leading up to his June 7th birthday. I explained that they would be getting on a plane on Thursday in order to make that happen and we were going to have to get up very early to get to the airport that morning so we could meet them.

He was happy about the news but since he just saw these people this last weekend when we flew up to the Bay Area for a wedding his excitement was muted.

Early Thursday morning I will give him a plush Happy-Birthday cupcake (purchased at Build-A-Bear). When he squeezes it the cupcake will say “Give this to your dog and ask him where we’re going!”

The plush dog complete with Mickey Ears (also from Build-A-Bear) will be waiting in the dining room. When he squeezes his paw he will say “Disney World!”

Then we’ll get on a plane and go to Orlando where we will be met by my parents and brother (see they WILL be getting on a plane, just not the plane my son thinks they’re getting on). My little boy has wanted to go to Disney World for years. He has been asking me almost three times a week if it might be possible to go sometime in the future. “I know we can’t go this year,” he’ll say, struggling to keep his hopes in check, “but maybe next year or the year after? I understand if we can’t stay in one of the Disney hotels but if we could only go to the parks…”

Of course we will be staying in a Disney hotel and we’ll spend about a week in the parks. While I’m there I’ll be doing a signing at an Orlando Barnes & Noble. If you live in the area click this link for info and please stop by. Then not only will I be able to meet you but I’ll also have the chance to tell you in person about my son’s reaction Thursday morning.


Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
The Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series,
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING
Order LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS on Amazon or Barnesandnoble.com today!