Ronni Davis: On Letting an Idea Marinate

Ronni Davis lives in Chicago with her husband Adam and her son Aidan. By day she copy edits everything from TV commercials to billboards, and by night she writes contemporary teen novels about brown girls falling in love.

Her debut novel, When the Stars Lead To You, is available now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and the anthology You Too?, in which she is a contributor, is available now from Inkyard Press. Follow her on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

Ronni Davis

Photo by Aaron Gang

In this interview, Ronni discusses how she learned it’s OK to seek help in the process of writing her new young adult romance novel, This Night Is Ours, her hope for readers, and more!

Name: Ronni Davis
Literary agent: Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates)
Book title: This Night Is Ours
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: April 16, 2024
Genre/category: Contemporary young adult romance
Previous titles: When the Stars Lead to You
Elevator pitch: Taking place over the course of 24 hours, 18-year-old Brandy Bailey who has to get up the guts to chase her aspirations of going to art school despite heavy “practical” expectations placed on her by her family. Meanwhile, she finds support from her former classmate and current rival Ben Nolan, who is chasing his own fantastical dream.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I originally wanted to write a clerks-style story about a girl who worked at an ice cream parlor and who dealt with wacky customers all day, all while being “tormented” by the cute boy she’d gone to high school with. The characters remained the same, but the story changed completely!!!

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

Brandy popped into my head in 2018, and she had a strong voice and personality. Ben was always there with her, picking on her and driving her mad. I knew I wanted to use these characters, but it took a long time to find their story. The idea changed and evolved so much during the process, making the entire story itself evolve as well.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

I definitely had some learning moments during this process. My first book was so super easy, I thought that I would elude the rumored second-book syndrome. Imagine my surprise when the syndrome was waiting for me the second I signed the contract! I tend to be slower writer to begin with—I have to sit with the idea and let it marinate and consume me, then let it rush out over the course of a few months—and the syndrome did not help. Plus, now I had a contract to fulfill, a brand to maintain, and oh right, a pandemic to deal with!

As I said before, I had these wonderful characters living in my brain and demanding I do something with them, but it took a long time to figure out their wants and needs and how to work them into a viable narrative. And even so, that first draft was something I am not so proud of. This is when I learned that it was OK to get help. The best part was that I didn’t have to seek out help; my dear writing friends and amazing editor and her assistant were there for me anytime I felt myself panicking. There were all so patient with me as I worked the story out again and again and again. I also learned that just about everyone has terrible first drafts, and that I needed to stop comparing mine to already published and amazing books. So, I think my biggest takeaway from all of this is that making a book is a team effort through and through, and that I don’t have to do it all alone.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Learning that all books come out differently was definitely a surprise. My first book came out fairly easy, but in a jumbled up, overwritten mess. This Night Is Ours was like squeezing blood from a stone … until it wasn’t! I had to learn to give myself grace while learning this book’s process. Once I embraced it wholeheartedly, the book flowed.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope my readers will get a few things:

That girls of color deserve to dream big and to chase those big dreams.That chasing your dreams can be scary, and it might disappoint people, but it might be worth it to feel like you’re living your fullest self.That girls of color deserve books that don’t center trauma and stereotypes—that they can be fun and romantic and coming-of-age and beautiful.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

The one I use for myself when things look or feel very bleak: I can “quit” today, but I can always come back tomorrow. There is something freeing about that. A way to take control in an industry that can make a writer feel powerless. And because I have that control, every time I “quit,” I come right back. So, writers, you can always quit, but if writing is in your soul, you’ll be right back. And that’s OK.

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