The Courthouse Plaza, in Prescott, Arizona. It’s the place that most represents home to me. Even all these years later, this picture opens a place in my soul that takes me home. I remember wonderful summer evenings sitting in the cool, lush grass watching our cousin Roy Welch and his wife Alice square dance in front of Bucky O’Neal’s statue. I remember the yearly 4th of July parade and rodeo. I remember shopping for school clothes at JC Penney’s across the street, and sitting at the soda fountain in the drug store on the corner afterwards.  I even attended my one and only political rally there when Arizona’s favorite son, Senator Barry Goldwater entered the 1964 presidential race.  I can still see the red, white and blue bunting draped on the courthouse. It was an amazing time to grow up American, especially in northern Arizona.

 

My dad cowboyed and worked construction and my Mom took care of all of us. They’d met in Prescott in the mid-nineteen thirties and had all six of us kids there. Looking back I realize it was a hard life for them, but at the time I didn’t know it and I don’t think they did either. It was just how you conducted your life back then. You worked hard and lived with grace and integrity and you brought your kids up to do the same.  We were just a typical family. We were happy, we loved each other, and we’ve all worked hard all our lives. They raised us well.

 

I came to writing late, after marrying young, having my child and working hard to have a successful career in the business world. But, writing was always there---the thing I lose myself in. (I know, corny, huh? But true.) I wrote my first book five years ago. I got it published, and learned a whole lot in the process. (Most of it about what not to do!)

 

I’ve written four more books and I’m still learning. Guess that’s part of the appeal. Most of my books take place in rural northern Arizona and are populated by characters heavily drawn from the kind of people I’ve known and respected my entire life---good people struggling to live meaningful lives. I really enjoy pitting them against some of the hard issues that affect society today. And, guess what? Hard work, perseverance, and the willingness to do whatever it takes, still gets the job done!

Thanks for visiting my pages, please drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.  

 

V.J. Davis

vjdavisauthor@cox.net