Mama Diaries

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Encore: Guest Author, Virginia Wright


Today, I'd like to welcome back author, Virginia Wright.  She has a new book out just in time for Christmas.  I invited her over to my pad to tell you about it.  So here she is:  The lovely, Virginia Wright!




 
Hi Virginia!  I'm so excited about your new book, The Christmas Secret!  Can you tell us a little about it?
      
      Mikey loves everything about Christmas except one thing--deciding what gift he wants. As Christmas nears he frantically flips the pages of his mother's department store catalogs, looking for a toy that he wants most. Turning to his best friend Charlie for ideas, he finally finds the answer. But will he get what he wants this year?

    My kids can totally relate to that!  They're always looking through catalogues, marking down things they want! 

2     What inspired you to write it?
The Christmas Secret was inspired by remembering Christmas as a child; I wanted to create a story that was reminiscent of Christmas past. While this is a fiction, I relied on my childhood memories to write this story.

Childhood memories can lead to the best kind of stories!

3     What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?
Some of my favorite Christmas memories definitely surround Christmas Eve. Every year the family would get together on Christmas Eve. We would eat many homemade goodies, my favorite were sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles on the top. The whole family would go to church for midnight mass, we would get in our “Sunday best” clothes and off to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church we would go. Growing up in Maine, it was always freezing cold Christmas Eve, and I vividly remember the crisp fresh air when getting out of the car while sliding into church. The snow was all about the church and ground, and the low lights inside would be shining through the windows to help light the way; it was so festive, so calm, peaceful, and once we entered the church everyone  was shaking each other’s hands while best wishes of a Merry Christmas were exchanged.  Christmas was such a magical time of the year!

I bet you really enjoyed looking at all the Christmas lights, too!  Such fantastic memories!

4     What is a typical writing day like for you?

If the family and I have no plans, a typical writing day would be I start my day off with checking my social media sites, email, and then I begin writing until I stop for a late lunch. I break for lunch, as soon as we are done, I go back to work until I break for supper, then work too late into the night. J But when I am working on a book, I also illustrate, so I can take the monotony out of a day by switching back and forth writing and illustrating. While I am actively working on a book, I put in twelve hour days typically.

Wow!  It sounds like you are really busy!

5     What is the best writing advice you have ever received?
The best writing advice for me came from a teacher of mine, Charles Zurhorst, who taught “Writing for Profit,” as he said, “While there may be lots of rejections along the way, and it may feel discouraging at times as you head down the writing road, remember one thing-- to never, ever, give up!” Such good advice, as it is so easy to give up, to just say “forget it” when a rejection comes in, or someone doesn’t like what you’ve written. But you just can’t give in to the little voice of doubt!

That is excellent advice!  It's so easy to want to throw in the towel when you're getting rejection letters, but if you stick with it, eventually you'll get published and succeed!
 

6     What is your best tip for aspiring children’s book authors?
I think I would refer to answer number five for my best tip and that would be to “Never Give up!” “Write-on.”

Love it!


Where can we learn more about you and your books?

Here's where you can find me:


Blog: http://www.virginiawright.com/blog

Amazon.com : http://amzn.to/SL87vA

 
Thank you for having me!

It's always a pleasure to have you here!

Virginia will be giving away two copies of her book to lucky readers!  Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.




 

33 comments:

  1. Love the Christmas stories. I need to work on one for the holidays.

    Good luck with your book, Virginia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you come up with a Christmas story.

      Delete
  2. Yolanda, I love Christmas stories too...The Christmas Secret took over two years from the idea to release. I'm very excited about it. Thanks for stopping by Sherry's blog to check out the interview. -Virginia

    ReplyDelete
  3. So true, write on each day no matter if life brings dismay, lucky you can illustrate too, as far as drawing goes that cat has no clue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pat Hatt...
      Comments in a rhyme, take much more time!
      Thanks Pat though, as it goes to show...
      Rhyming is all timing and I must go!

      ;D -Virginia

      Delete
    2. Yeah, I'm pretty clueless on the drawing part, too!

      Delete
  4. Wonderful interview. And that is fabulous advice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Christine. I loved that you stopped by for the interview. -Virginia

      Delete
    2. I thought that was pretty good advice, too!

      Delete
    3. Congratulations! Christine you are one of my winners of The Christmas Secret!

      -Virginia

      Delete
  5. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. So it goes without saying that I also love Christmas stories. Congratulations on your new book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela, Thank you for the Congrats! Christmas past, is especially a fond time for me. -Virginia

      Delete
    2. I bet you'd like Virginia's book!

      Delete
  6. Sounds like a great book. Cute cover. I enjoyed the interview.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susanne--Thank you! I'm glad you liked the cover!

      -Virginia

      Delete
    2. I thought Virginia did a great job on her cover, too!

      Delete
  7. I always like a good Christmas story. It's my favorite holiday of the year. I was also particularly drawn by what a typical writing day is like for the author. Congrats on the new book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Virginia really packs her day! There's no way I'd have time to spend twelve hours a day on writing work!

      Delete
  8. Did someone say Christmas oh it my favorite time of the year, I work @ a Christmas shop and love all the traditions. Stories of Christmas are wonderful I usually read a story a day. Love the cover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy,Christmas is truly my favorite holiday! Stories of Christmas are wonderful! With that said...I knew I had a challenge on my hands writing a Christmas story, as there are so many well-known, loved classics on the market! I hope to have written a story that people will love and want to read each year too! Thanks for loving the cover! -Virginia

      Delete
    2. I bet you see all kinds of neat Christmas trinkets in your workplace. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. Arni, I'm sure a typical day as a writer--is much like what a day would be for you as a designer!! Great web you have! Thanks for stopping by Sherry's blog to read the interview she did with me! -Virginia

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sherry, very nice interview with virginia! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sherry, Thank you for having me today! I always feel very welcomed by you and the viewers of the Mama Diaries! I will wait until tomorrow to choose winners of my giveaway. Waiting gives folks this evening to comment still. :-) -Virginia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't these readers the best? I could hug every single one of them!

      Delete
  12. writing about Christmas--what could be better than that!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks like a great story. As a kid I pined for things in catalogs.

    That's awesome advice about never giving up. It's a tough business and we need to have that attitude.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Medeia, Thank you for sharing about you as a child pining for things in catalogs. I wanted to bring that childhood moment back in my Christmas story. Yes,writers definitely need to "keep the spirits up" as rejection is very difficult. Thanks for stopping by Sherry's blog. -Virginia

      Delete
  14. Hi Sherry,
    So glad to see Virginia popping up on your blog.
    Virginia, the memories who shared about Christmas conjured up wonderful memories for me as well.
    Are you planning on sharing a sneak preview of your new book? I hope so.
    And I hope I'm not late for my name to be entered in the draw. I love winning. LOL
    As you both know, I won your book Sherry and last month I won a book from Vivian Kirkfield over at Positive Parental Participation.
    And Virginia your tips--never give up is so important. Never ever, give in to the voices that say, "You can't do this."
    Have a peaceful day!
    Tracy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracy, nope, you're not too late for the drawing!

      Delete
  15. Tracy, Not only are you not to late--did you hear the news? Congratulations! You are one of my winners of The Christmas Secret, you will have your own personal sneak preview. Ha.

    Thanks for stopping by Sherry's blog and checking out my interview she did with me.

    -Virginia

    ReplyDelete