Today, we’re talking with Cornelia E. Davis, MD, about her book Disrupter: How Dr. Connie's Team Eradicated Smallpox in India.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I trekked to Base Camp, Mt. Everest in 1976 during the time I worked on smallpox eradication in India. After working steadily for 18 months on smallpox, I asked to take a little vacation before the certification team was expected to arrive. I still marvel that I trekked to Base Camp!
Why do you write?
I have several reasons to write. One is to leave a legacy to my daughter so she knows some of the things I've done with my life. I'd also like to encourage young women, and particularly women of color, to move out of their comfort zone and try something different! One person can make a difference in the world.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
I was offered a chance opportunity to work on eradicating a disease that many said was an impossible feat. At times it felt almost impossible due to the language and cultural barriers I had to overcome. But the important thing is to not give up! You have to be persistent.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
In writing memoirs, you get a chance to remember and relive events in your life. That can be a “two-edged sword” but it works for me.
How would you describe your writing process?
I imagine sitting among a group of friends at dinner and then regaling them about what happened. I get caught up in the storytelling, and the words just flow.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Sometimes I feel social media can be a waste of time. And then someone asks a question that you had never considered. It makes you think and reflect and gain new insights from events that happened.
What advice would you have for other writers?
If you want to write, just do it! Then share those pages with your writers' group who will tell you if your writing drew them in.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
It's pretty eclectic! I'll usually come up with the main title. But my editor usually comes up with a catchy subtitle.
What's your next step?
I already have the outlines for two additional books. Now, I just have to find the time to start writing. I also like to perform in community theater and I'm involved in a musical that will be opening soon. Once those performances are over, I can focus full time on the writing.
What book do you wish you had written?
That seems like such a strange question. I read books of all genres to be taken to new places, or exposed to new knowledge, or strange worlds. But I don't wish to write those books. I write from my own experiences which sometimes can be almost unbelievable.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I want people to like my books and to learn new ideas. So you are a little apprehensive at the start of the review, hoping that it will be positive.
FIND CORNELIA'S BOOK ON AMAZON
