Meet Courtney Davis, a local author who grew up in North Idaho and resides in Coeur d’Alene with her family.

A graduate of the University of Idaho with a master’s degree in elementary education, Courtney is also a teacher. She has always been a book lover and grew up reading books far beyond her age. Early on she felt the desire to create stories of her own and after being encouraged by teachers, pursued that as a hobby with hopes that it would one day become a career. She has spent years perfecting her craft and most recently published 14 novels with 5 Prince Publishing, where she’s found a supportive home for her romance. She writes in multiple genres all with a romantic spin, including paranormal, space, dystopian and urban fantasy.

Find Courtney at authorcourtneydavis.com and on most social media as "authorcourtneydavis." She will be selling books in person May 17 at It's a Love Story's Meet Cute Market in Hayden and May 23 at Page 42 Bookstore's Smut and Sip Market in Spokane. Stop by to get a copy of her new book, "Having the Demon's Baby."

1) Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Ideas come to me constantly, which is why I have a million sticky notes, torn out pieces of paper and sentences dictated into a phone app. My mind is always working on a few things at once, it seems, so sometimes out of nowhere an idea will hit me and I will write it down before I forget it. The biggest lie I tell myself is that I’ll remember that random idea in the morning when I wake from a dream with something that feels epic.

2) What is your writing process — how do you get into "the zone?"

Being a mother and teacher I am used to a lot of stuff going on around me, so I work well with noise. I don’t really need to do anything in particular to get in the zone, but if I’m home alone I have to turn on the television or have music playing. Quiet kills my concentration.

3) Who is your favorite author, and what is your favorite book/genre?

I don’t have a favorite author but there are some who I tend to buy often like Nora Roberts, Taylor Jenkins Reed and Ruby Dixon. I enjoy a lot of genres, my favorite being romance and my second favorite would be gothic. I enjoy most books with a paranormal spin and do not like reading things that make me sad, although some of my favorite books have definitely made me cry.

4) What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

People are always surprised to hear that when I have nothing else I have to work on as far as writing goes, that I write first drafts in about six weeks. I also don’t plan any of it out first, I often start with a vague idea and just go from there.

5) What does writing do for your brain, your heart and your soul?

It feeds me completely. I have often said that if I never sold another book, I would still write because I enjoy telling stories so much.