Contact Info
Contact:
desertwriterdrd@gmail.com
Current Residence:
Arizona
Social Links
David R. Davis
Published Author
David R. Davis was born in Texas and served as a combat medic with the 101st. Airborne Division in Vietnam. He graduated from West Texas State University and Our Lady of the Lake University and worked as a social worker, therapist, and administrator for 35 years. Now living in Green Valley, Arizona, he enjoys writing, hiking in the desert, and studying desert wildlife. Denni, their seventeen-pound terrier, owns him and his partner, Suzanne. David is a member of the Arizona Authors Association, the Arizona State Poetry Society, and the Green Valley Writers
David published his first novel, Running In, Walking Out, in early 2017.
What one reader said about Running In, Walking Out: “I was barely into this book when the first pearls of wisdom hit me. So profound that I stopped reading, wrote down the author’s words, and shared them with friends. Many times, while reading, I thought, “It’s like this guy knows me.” This book is an honest, interesting statement on the human condition, with a moving story that will leave you feeling better than when you started reading. I just ordered his 2nd book and can’t wait for it to arrive.”
David’s second book, The Unusual Man, was published in October 2018.
One reviewer has stated,” A story can reach across a hundred years and still be fresh as warm-from-the-oven baked bread. The Unusual Man is such a story.”
David’s third book, Cardboard Heroes, was published in October 2022. It contains
One review states - This collection of stories has something for everyone. He delves into the hearts and minds of his characters with compassion and humility, taking you on a journey into worlds known and unknown. He sets the stage so well that you feel involved in the story right from the beginning. All the stories are poignant, involving both personal and social struggles
David’s fourth book, and the sun will rise was published in 2025. A recent review says -A Riveting Story
Drawing on his background as a Vietnam veteran, social worker, and gifted author, David R. Davis brings to life the realistic story of three military veterans and their journey toward hope and healing. His passion and dedication shine through Emily Dawes, the relentless, compassionate social worker, as she leads her therapy group towards their goals. Through Davis’ expert handling of the stories of Grace, Brian, and Alejandro, I gained a deeper understanding of the trauma that war inflicts on those who are called to serve. Their stories brought me to tears, and I cheered them on through their difficult quest to find peace, hope, and joy in their lives. I found the Author’s Notes at the end of the book to be especially moving.
David has also published three poetry chapbooks. Finding Home, A poemoir - short memoir written in verse, and A Brief Moment Called Life, and Mutt Monologues.
All books and chapbooks can be purchased at Amazon.com.
PUBLICATIONS
Brian, Grace, and Alejandro know pain in its most harrowing forms. Three military veterans, all having experienced deep trauma, are brought together in a PTSD group to heal. Haunting memories of what they saw, did, and experienced dwell in their minds and nightmares.
Emily Dawes, a social worker at the Tucson VA Medical Center, helps guide them on their journeys. A bond of trust and friendship is slowly built. There may never be the cure they seek, but if they stick together, perhaps some morning they will awaken... and the sun will rise.
Andrew Densmore, a Boston-bred self-important gentleman, authored - The Unusual Man in 1915. He expected the book to be his passport to fame and fortune. It didn't work out as planned.
One hundred years later, a worn copy of the book makes its way to Tucson, AZ, and into Austin Brewer's hands. Life for Brewer is controlled by OCD and a deep desire to be left alone. Densmore's book, along with housekeeper Lupita, Viktor Frankl, and twelve-year-old Bobby Prescot, becomes instrumental in the reclusive Brewer's redemption.
One day we are born, and one day we die. All we have is what comes between those two days. Shall we be a beggar, a hero, a demon, or a saint? In Cardboard Heroes, you will gaze into the essentials that make up our lives: childhood, learning, passions, motivations, growing old, death, and how we accept or deny love, loss, fear, conflict, tragedy, and joy. Maybe you will recognize yourself within these pages. You will smile, think, laugh, and perhaps cry, but in the end, you will be richer for having read these eighteen stories.
Running In, Walking Out weaves the tale of John Redwine, a Vietnam veteran, seeking answers to lifelong questions. Answers he hopes will bring him peace. Sara Anderson, her kindness, grace, and the flowers she grows bring joy to all who know her. Preston Johnson, the blues - his passion, his regret, his life. Duane "Wire" Thomley, trouble has captured his life; maybe Portland, Oregon, will be his release.
Mutt Monologues is a chapbook for dog lovers of all ages. They talk to us, they talk to each other. They are poets and tricksters. Dogs love to play, snuggle, and tease. Meet the dogs who have owned me, and others who have owned my heart. Laugh, smile, and nod your head in understanding. Enjoy what they teach us. Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows what gifts they bring to our lives. Here are some who have made my life better.
Our lives are filled with singular moments. Some joyous, some filled with sadness and grief. A Brief Moment Called Life is a collection of thirty-one accessible poems that speak of love, pain, tenderness, regret, and memories.
These emotions are not singular to the author. They reflect the commonality of feelings we all experience. Readers will not only recognize these moments as familiar but also stop and say, "Yes, I recall."
We live our lives in moments, and yet the years race by. Each of us has important milestones marking small or monumental changes. The poems in Finding Home suggest those times of transformation for me. Although our lives differ, we all share a commonality. This unity is amplified when we offer our stories through poetry, prose, or in speech. The first section of this chapbook is written as a poemoir, a selection of poems that reflect on experiences in my life. The second portion, poems of life's random moments.
Common Ground - four short stories written to make you think, smile, laugh, and perhaps cry. These stories are about being alive and the joy and sadness that life brings to each of us. It is often said that humans have more in common than those issues that separate us. These stories show this to be true. Who Shall Be Our Teacher, A Love Supreme Redux, Magnificent Masquerade, and Breakfast at the Arizona Inn will take you to places you want to be and into the lives of your fellow human beings.