Mama Diaries

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Guest Author: Virginia Wright Interview and Giveaway


 


Today we have a first at my pad. A guest author! Drum roll, please.

I am very excited to introduce you to Virginia Wright, children's author, and one super-nice lady!

About Virginia:

Born and raised in Belfast, ME, children's author Virginia Wright began her writing career at an early age in a diary with lock and key given as a gift by her mother. After graduation from high school in 1976, she took coursework in journalism and writing. Later, as a mother and homemaker, her writings were published in local publications and newspapers, as well as online. A military family, the Wrights have lived in countries all over the world and in seven different states. Her five grandchildren and being a preschool teacher in Mississippi gave her inspiration to write children’s book.


Books to check out:



CryingBear (2011)




I asked Virginia some questions about her writing career. Here's what she had to say:

1. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you became a children’s book author.

Ever since I was a young girl― I put words to paper. I can remember sitting on the veranda of my parent’s house writing, first it was a little diary with a lock and key, later, as I started growing up it was a pen and pad in hand—back then, I wrote mostly Poetry and Haiku’s. My excitement for writing was realized in 1981, when I sold my first writing to a regional publication Washington County Magazine, but the excitement for writing didn’t stop there, it continued to grow!

That is so cool that you started writing when you were a kid, and that you're still doing it and love it!

2. What do you like most about writing for children?

While I consider myself a mixed genre writer, children’s writing has definitely taken front and center the last couple of years. What I like most about children’s writing the reactions from children when they listen to my stories and turn the pages of my books. If I see their smiling faces, it was all worthwhile to me.

Aren't kids the best? I love that, too!


3. Tell us about Crying Bear Yes Bears Cry Sometimes Too. What inspired you to write it?


Crying Bear was the name of a stuffed bear that I had when I was a little girl, and she became the inspiration for the title of my latest children’s book. Crying Bear was a furry red, chubby bellied, stuffed bear. It had tears that were manufactured on the face that ran down onto the cheek. A very special little toy of mine for certain.

Description: Join this very adventurous little bear cub, as she wanders too far from the den in the snow covered mountains of Maine.

I've read Crying Bear. It's a sweet book! It's nice to know about the inspiration for it.


4. The world of children's book publishing is extremely competitive with many authors hesitating between trying their luck with a traditional publisher or self-publishing. What advice would you offer writers who are oscillating between these two publishing venues?


My personal best advice to authors trying to decide between traditional publishers or self-publishing is to― just write! Then for inspiration, Google John Locke, Amanda Hocking, and Colleen Hoover. John Locke is the eighth author in the world, and the first self-published author in history―to have sold 1 million eBooks on Kindle! All three of Amanda Hockings books in her Trylle Trilogy-Switched, Torn, and Ascend-were originally self-published, but were later re-released with St.

Martin’s and Pan Macmillan Internationally. Her trilogy also made the USA Today Bestseller list, the New York Times Bestseller list and was recently optioned for a film. Colleen Hoover self-published her book, Slammed and in just a few short months signed a contract with Simon & Schuster.


Self-publishing was taboo just a few years ago and self-published authors were shunned by traditionally published authors. Now, many self-published authors are widely accepted in the writing community and publishing world.


With that said, self-publishing is definitely worth a try, especially putting words into digital format (e-Book), because who knows…one day a traditional publisher may come along and offer you a seven-digit book deal that is too good to pass up. I’m still waiting on mine, and I never give up hope. **Smiles**

I'm still waiting for that seven-digit book deal!

5. Do you have any other works in progress? Can you share a little about them?


I’m looking forward to the release of my next children’s book, The Christmas Secret, in late fall 2012. It feels like it is working into a Christmas classic to me—it is about two little boys, Mikey and Charlie, who learn the real meaning of giving through one boy’s selfless act.


I’m not sure where my writing will take me after that, I have given some thought to write a Young-Adult (YA) fiction; perhaps, a cookbook, or maybe a romance novel is in the works too. Stay tuned…

I can't wait to see your new book. Good luck with your other writing endeavors!

To one commenter I will be giving away an autographed paperback copy of Crying Bear! To another, I will give away a copy of my non-fiction, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, in eBook version.


Thank you for having me as guest author this week.

-Virginia Wright

You're welcome. It was fun having you here!




39 comments:

  1. What a great post Sherry, I especially liked that Virginia talked about traditional publishing and self-publishing. I come from an academic background and publishing is very traditional. But I have come to respect so many self-published authors and hearing their stories and the process is inspiring and admirable! I've put these books on my list of books to buy for the children's reading space that I've set up on a small island in Fiji. I'm sure the kids will love it - and the benefits of my reading room project is I get to read all the books too! Wishing you all the best for you next book Virginia! xoxox

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    1. Hi Vanisha, Thank you for the wonderful comment. I feel honored that you would put my books on your list for your children's space in Fiji.
      All the best, ;D -Virginia

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    2. I'm sure the kids in Fiji would enjoy Virginia's books!

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    3. Congratulations, Vanisha! You are the winner of my non-fiction, educational eBook "Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do." Sherry has the coupon code and will be emailing you to go pick up my eBook at Smashwords.Thanks again for commenting on my interview. -Virginia

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  2. Thanks Sherry for inviting a guest author. It is uplifting to hear the inspiration behind an author's book.

    Thanks Virginia for sharing a bit of yourself and your books with us.

    Angie

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    1. Angela, You are welcome!I love sharing about my writing journey with Sherry's viewers.
      -Virginia

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    2. I agree, it's always nice to hear the story behind the story!

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  3. Great interview! I appreciate reading Virginia's views on traditional and self-publishing. Lots of good advice there.

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    1. Hi Dana, Thanks for stopping by to check out my interview. BTW, I stopped over to The Daily Dose and watched the Famous failures video Sunday Inspiration today-- I G+ it, as is an awesome inspiration. As a writer, it is so difficult sometimes, but I have a star ceramic ornament that hangs in my office that was given to me years ago when I was a preschool teacher that reads "DREAM" on it. As tough as it gets sometimes...I never give up on my dreams...because sometimes--dreams do come true! -Virginia

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    2. Glad you liked learning about Virginia and her books!

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  4. I always like to hear about accomplished authors who started out their writing careers as kids.

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    2. Hi Milo, I just purchased your eBook "1 Dozen" and I can't wait to read all your short stories. You are quite a prolific writer...that's awesome.

      Writing as a kid got me through some tough times. My pen and pad was certainly my best friend, and my confidant if you will. An extension of "Dear Diary."

      All my best to "you and your writing."
      ;D -Virginia

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    3. I think many of us enjoyed writing as kids!

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  6. Great interview indeed and yeah I to am still waiting on that seven figure deal haha

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    1. Well, the way you're going, you'll probably get one!

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  7. Thank you, Pat! Glad you took time to stop by and read my interview here on Mama Diaries. Congrats on being a featured author over at Wayman Publishing. Loved the write up! The best to you and your cats! Especially the rhyming one! -Virginia

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  8. Thanks, Sherry for having me! Love reading your daily adventures on the Mama Diaries! Great uplifting blog-- that I recommend. I look forward to reading all comments from your viewers about my interview with you. ;D I will check in periodically throughout the day. Hugs, -Virginia

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    1. I'm so happy you're here, and I'm glad more people are getting to know you!

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  9. Lovely interview. It's always good to hear what authors have to say:-)

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    1. I like learning the story behind the stories, too!

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    2. Thank you! I appreciate it. I enjoyed your Roe deer photos on your blog. I did a little reading on them as I wasn't familiar with that species of deer. Interestingly, I read that originally Bambi, the character of the books Bambi, was a Roe deer, but it was changed to a white-tail deer as they felt it was a more familiar species to mainstream US viewers. I think the Roe are precious looking. All the best to you, -Virginia

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  10. I'm glad self-publishing is now respected. I have bought many of these e-books online and enjoyed every one of them. Great interview.

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    1. There are many wonderful self-published books out there!

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  11. Hi Belle, I noticed you are an illustrator too and love nature photography. I really enjoyed looking at your art pieces. I do all the illustrations in my books--and also on my non-fiction, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, I took all the photographs for it. Lots of fun! Thanks for spending a moment to read about me. ;D Cheers, -Virginia

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  12. Virginia- That is very cool that a beloved childhood toy made it into your current book. Good luck with all your endeavors!

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    1. Yes, Crying Bear, was definitely my favorite childhood toy. I think we have a couple of things in common...chocolate, coffee, recipes,Cairn terrier's and books! I had a Yorkie and a Cairn at the same time some years back. Both cuties. We won't get into the chocolate conversation.;D Thanks for visiting Mama Diaries and checking out my interview. -Virginia

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  13. Thanks Sherri.

    Congrats Virginia! It was lovely reading about you and your book. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you! I truly appreciate it. I've not written a romance novel...yet! But love reading it. Loved your blog. ;D -Virginia

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  14. Virginia,

    It's fun hearing about the inspiration behind your stories. It sounds as if you were born to be a writer. :)

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    1. Thank you, Shelley! Wow! I have lots of catching up to do compared to you. I went to your blog to check our your books and you have so many books on the market I started counting-- and gave up, but I learned you are definitely a prolific writer and it seems as if "you" were born to write too. I Love it!

      Best to you, one day this winter I will peruse your vast number of titles! -Virginia

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  15. I love teddy bears. How fantastic that yours inspired you to write a book.

    It was a pleasure to meet you.

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    1. Thank you, Medeia. I particularly loved Crying Bear. She was a chubby bellied red bear, just adorable with a little tear running down her cheek. I had her for many years.

      Pleasure meeting you too! I will check out your blog.

      -Virginia

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  16. What a great interview, Sherry. I, too, enjoyed hearing about the differences in publishing and the best piece of advice was to just write. I love that attitude!

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    1. Elsie, Thank you-Thank you! I hope this isn't TMI for you, but--when I was a little girl, on the rare occasion that I might have gotten in trouble, **Smiles,** I would even write "I'm sorry" notes to my parents and slip them under their bedroom door! Please don't ask if I got lots of practice that way! Tee-Hee! Thanks for taking the time to read my interview. -Virginia

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    1. Jaycee, Thanks for stopping by Mama Diaries to read my interview. I love your Tuesday Teaser idea- it is one way to encourage reading plus introductions to new reads and other authors. *Authors helping Authors" is awesome. I'm going to bookmark your blog. All the best, -Virginia

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