04 Nov 2025 Author of the Month: Latasha Davis

By Susan L. Peterson

Latasha Davis, author of “Diamond in the Rough,” has much for which she is grateful. At the heart of that gratitude is her faith — her personal relationship with God, which she says has guided her and provided the answers she sought.

Davis grew up as an only child in a military family, moving frequently across the United States and Europe. Because of the constant relocations, she never completed a full year in the same school. Home life was equally unstable. Her father struggled with alcoholism, which often led to frequent abuse. She describes her family environment as deeply dysfunctional. She and her mother sometimes feared for their lives. Her father occasionally disappeared from the household for weeks at a time. When he returned, things would be good for a while, then the fighting would begin. It wouldn’t take much to “set him off.” Her mother struggled with two jobs to provide a better life for them.

The challenges of that childhood left their mark. She struggled in school and became shy, withdrawn and quick to put up defenses. Even the sound of a raised voice would cause her to flinch. Yet through it all, Davis said she held tightly to her faith. She prayed constantly and never stopped believing that God would one day intervene. To help with the pain, she wrote in a journal, putting her thoughts and prayers on paper.

Growing up in a difficult home, Davis was eager to leave as soon as she could. At 18, she married, partly as a way to escape her circumstances. That first marriage lasted several years and brought her two children. Later, she married a man who seemed ideal and came with two children of his own. But not long into the marriage, he became abusive.

Because she was embarrassed and fearful, Davis felt she could not talk to anyone about her problems. Again, she put her thoughts, feelings and prayers on paper, which was very therapeutic for her. This journal is what later became the basis of her book. After 16 years, their marriage ended.

In 2013, God intervened, and her father sought help. In the book’s acknowledgments, she wrote, “I would like to say to my dad, Richard, I love you! … God saw your heart through it all and saved you. Thanks to you, I know that God can change anyone.”

Since his recovery from alcohol, their connection has changed. Today, she and her father speak almost daily, and they have a great relationship.

Davis believes divine intervention played a role in getting her book published. While working as a receptionist for former Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker, she happened to meet Jim Davidson, a nationally syndicated columnist and author. As Davidson waited for his appointment, the two struck up a conversation, during which he learned that she was writing a book. Impressed, he connected her with a publisher—an introduction that helped bring her work to print.

Davis said she titled the book “Diamond in the Rough” because “God revealed to me that I am a diamond. Even though things have been rough for me, I have still been able to shine.”

In part she wrote the book to help others persevere through rough times and to let them know that they have everything inside themselves to survive. “My prayer is that, in your deepest times of despair, you can turn to this resource as a comfort, knowing that Jesus is in control.”

At just 90 pages, the book is relatively brief, but Davis’s faith shines through every chapter. Scripture is woven into the narrative at just the right moments. The message is clear and simple: Everyone is loved by God.

Davis lives in Conway where she is employed as a human resources manager for Faulkner County. Her four children are grown and doing well, and she has a supportive network of friends. She enjoys speaking about her book and has attended several book signings.

 “Diamond in the Rough” may be found on Amazon, at Bean’s Books in Faulkner County and other online booksellers.