The Collegian Wednesday, January 31, 1990
Behrend Professor completes second fiction novel
J. Madison Davis publishes "White Rook," a mystery novel about white supremacy
by Lea Gotch
Collegian Staff Writer
When J. Madison Davis
graduated from the University of
Maryland, he went to work as a
zoning inspector outside of
Washington D.C. This was a job
in which he had to wear clip-on
tics in order to avoid being
strangled by unhappy zoning
violators.
This was definitely not the
occupation that Davis was was
cut out for. He is first and
foremost a writer, and has
recently published his second
mystery novel, White Rook.
It is hard to imagine such a
soft-spoken, witty person
deciding to write a novel about
white supremacists, the subject
of White Rook.
Davis explained that the
inspiration for the novel came
from previously living in
Virginia and Mississippi. Also,
the subject of white supremacists
and racial tension has been in the
news frequently during the past
few years, he said.
"I don't know if there is a
resurgence of racial violence in
the country or if it just never left.
But there's no doubt that it is
around," said Davis
While Rook was built on the
premise that we try to make our
world fit into our fantasy of how
things are "supposed to be."
Davis said that when people
are dissatisfied with how things
arc, they need someone to blame,
so they pick a race or religion or
some other group.
Davis explained that people
have a tendency to try to make
others fit into common patterns.
"The fantasy of how life should
be comes out of 1950's movies,"
said Davis. "Small town America
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is really not idyllic at all."
Dr. Davis' diverse interests
have led him to several different
careers. He has earned degrees in
anthropology, Writing Seminars,
and English.
He has published numerous
works of non-fiction including
Conversations With Robert
Davies, Critical Essays on
Edward Albee and the critical
study Dick Francis, He has also
published over 30 short stories.
Davis' first mystery novel,
The Murder of Frau Schulz, was
chosen for an Edgar Allan Poe
Scroll Award as one of the five
best first novels of 1988.
Davis has traveled to many
places in the US, Canada,
"The fantasy of how
life should be
comes out of 1950's
movies. Small town
America is really
not idyllic at all."
- J.Madison Davis
Yugoslavia and Spain to give
lectures and readings.
He has taught Modern Art,
English and Shakespeare here at
Behrend since 1979.
Writing is a process that may
take years, Davis explained. Most
of the first year is spent planning
and rearranging the novel. When
it is finally written, the book
must be sent to a publisher, and
revisions may be required. Davis
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estimated that it took one-and-a
half years to write White Rook.
Although he originally
planned to be a classical
archaeologist, Davis earned his
degree in anthropology. "I was
interested in the different ways
people around the world deal with
living," he explained.
After graduation came the
zoning inspector position. "I was
bored, so I went to Johns
Hopkins to pursue writing,” said
Davis.
He received his Master's
degree in Writing Seminars, then
went to teach at a community
college in Cumberland,
Maryland. After moving to
Mississippi, he earned his PhD
in English at the University of
Mississippi.
Davis is modestly impressed
with his widespread recognition.
”1 meet people from all parts of
the country that know who lam
and it's strange," said Davis.
What docs the future have in
store? "I have ideas right now for
two more mystery novels and ”
possibly a sequel to White Rook,
said Davis.
He is in the process of writing
a third mystery novel, which will
be completed in several months.
Tentatively titled Bloody Marke,
the book is a portrait of a
Yugoslav war criminal.
Davis explained that he knows
a great deal about Yugoslavia and
the country's people due to the
fact that he nearly married a
Yugoslavian woman.
One thing is certain, he will
continue to write. "1 wouldn't
quit; it's the best thing in the
world,” said Davis.
(see book review on page 6)
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