He’s been a woman locked down in a memory care unit, a man with dementia, a clairvoyant, a CIA agent and a serial killer.

In his latest book, Jim Thorpe author Jeff Davis has become, well, he’s become Jeff Davis.

The prolific creator of characters that have taken on imaginary lives inside seven previous novels has now turned his mind’s lens from looking outward to inward, offering readers a glimpse into the moments that have shaped the wordsmith of wit and wisdom into the person that he is today.

Time is right

His latest book, “If You Know What I Mean: The Memoirs,” has been described by The INKling as a story that is “funny, unguarded, and often disarmingly honest. The book shines a spotlight on what’s hilarious, tear jerking and the messy beauty of just being alive. We dare you not to laugh or cry.”

When asked what had motivated him to write a memoir about his life, Davis said there is much to learn from self-reflection.

“Well, I started getting older and reading the obituaries, I figured I’d better get this story out before someone else does it for me,” he said. “On a serious note, it’s more than a collection of memories. I wanted it to be entertaining, enlightening and a learning experience. It’s a reminder that life is messy, funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and can even make you cringe at times. But in the end, we all survive.”

Yes or no

The challenge that faced Davis when writing his memoir was whether his story should concentrate on a certain time period of his life or cover a wider scope.

“The book is a sweep of my entire life,” he said. “I include highlights, lowlights and a lot of ‘What the hell was I thinking’ moments.”

At the beginning of crafting his autobiography, Davis arrived at a significant crossroad. Should he forge ahead or delete his manuscript and not share the story of his life?

“Every day, I thought that maybe I shouldn’t have this book published,” he said. “Writing a memoir is unzipping your life for everyone to see. The trickier part is when you write about characters who are real and not imagined, like you have in a novel. I changed the names of some people to protect their privacy.”

The inspiration

Davis begins “If You Know What I Mean: The Memoirs” with profound words told to him by his mother when she was diagnosed with cancer.

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t blink,” she said.

He spills his thoughts further into Chapter One: “Unless you’ve sat in the seat, there is no way how hard the hammer hits. Time stops. You feel frightened. Lost. Drifting out to sea with no direction or sight of land.”

When his mother was battling cancer, he had written her a note. “Mom, don’t worry everything will be okay.”

She kept the note and gave it back to him two years later just days before her death.

The blueprint

A writer takes a dangerous risk when he decides to “delve into the past which always holds keys to what’s happening in the present” — words quoted from his book. He is fully aware that he might uncover things he doesn’t want to know about himself that have been hidden deeply in his bank of memories. It’s an experience of self-discovery, a wild ride that sweeps him into uncharted waters that has him facing the truth about what he has been defining for so long as a normal life.

In simpler terms, writing a memoir, as much as it can be fun and entertaining for the author, is an honest blueprint for self-therapy.

“It might have been easier to just get therapy than it was to write this book,” Davis said with a chuckle, “but therapy doesn’t come with book signings and author’s royalties.”

Minds of their own

He likes to write in the quiet stillness of early mornings and late nights while in an old tattered reclining chair that has been clawed nearly threadbare by his cat.

“Writing means staring at a blank page, pacing, and battling over this inner critic inside your head as to whether it’s going to be good enough and wondering if the cat who keeps trying to sleep on your keyboard will be your only avid reader.”

Davis has found that despite composing chapter outlines for his books that are supposed to dictate the directions his characters will take in his stories, they often take on their own personalities that move the plot into roads not programmed into his mind’s GPS.

“You try to pull them one way, but they insist on going another,” he explained.

He’s found that’ the same experience occurs while writing a memoir with the obvious difference being his main character is the man who looks at himself in the mirror every day.

Readers relate

Critical reviews from local readers have been applauding his new book.

One said: “If you grew up in a small town or big city, you could relate to the stories in Jeff’s book. These things may or may not have happened to you in exactly the same way as Jeff, but I am sure there could be a lot of ‘I can relate to that story.’ From kindergarten to high school, to working days and nights, to vacations, to relaxation and to just generally living the life we’re given. It’s all here. And if you know and grew up or worked with Jeff, your name could be in the book.”

Another reader said: “If you take a walk with Jeff down memory lane, look for some common ground. Hang in there until the end when things come together. There are things that the average and not so average person can identify with. Don’t forget if you come across Jeff in Jim Thorpe, raise a glass to the past, but stay in the present and keep your focus to what is next. Blessings to you, Jeff. Thanks for being real.”

A kindle reader added: “Funny, emotional, and relatable to the triumphs and tragedies of everyday life. A great read.”

Words of wisdom

The Greek philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” In “If You Know What I Mean: Memoirs,” Davis unveils his life for all of us to examine, and he reminds us of the profound words he and his mother had shared.

“Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.”

“If You Know What I Mean; Memoirs” is available in hardcover, softcover, kindle and audiobook formats on Amazon and other online sources.