Virginia Wright – Featured Author

Today we have Virginia Wright who is an author of young adult books. Virginia sat down with me and answered a few of my questions. She is currently working on her fifth book, The Christmas Secret which will be out later this year.

When did you first decide you wanted to write?

To be honest Catherine– There wasn’t any deciding to or not to write. Writing is part of me—Ever since I was a little girl, it was just something I did. Back then I wrote poetry and haiku’s. Over the years, I’ve written health articles, opinion articles, educational pieces, and as of lately, the love of words for me lies in—children’s storybook writing.

What is your favorite genre to write and why?

While I consider myself a mixed genre writer, the children’s genre, Catherine, has been one of my favorites to write so far. The reason being is that it is a great deal of fun, but also challenging. You have to put your mindset in that of a child’s. What the children would like, what would they do in the situations I put them in, what would they say. Yes, definitely challenging and that is why I enjoy it. I’m never bored when writing.

Please tell us about your upcoming book.

I’m looking forward to the release of my next children’s book, The Christmas Secret this year, 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.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely  imagination?

My book Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do is based on a real life experience―as my husband and I are natural beekeepers. The book was written because my granddaughter, Abigail, visited a few years back and had lots and lots of questions about honeybees—this book was dedicated to her. I figured if she had questions, other children would have them and learn from Buzzzzzzzz. It turns out, adults have lots of questions about our greatest pollinator too, and in my reviews, it has been said that my honeybee book is a honeybee primer for both children and adults!

How did you come up with the cover?

For Buzzzzzzzz, I wanted a photo of a honeybee, as a hobby I am a nature photographer and I have taken thousands (Truly) of photographs of the honeybees. I chose one of my favorites for both the paperback and the ebook. I also illustrate my own books, and in all three of the other books that I have written, The Princess and the Castle, The Prince and the Dragon, and Crying Bear I came up with the cover based on the title. With the book I am writing right now, The Christmas Secret,  I changed things up a little bit and the reader won’t know based on the cover until they get into the book why I have chosen that particular art piece.

Spaghetti or Lasagna and why?

What a fun question for ending this interview, Catherine! I like both―but if I were to choose, I would say Spaghetti. The reason for that is, that Spaghetti can be served in so many different ways; it is a very versatile food. This wonderful pasta can be served with marinara sauce, with seafood, vegetarian style, with creamed sauces like Alfredo, plain, with bacon and eggs….the list goes on.

Thank you for having me as guest author! One of your commenter’s will receive a copy of my educational, non-fiction book titled: Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do. They must comment for their chance to win. -Virginia

VIRGINIA WRIGHT is an author and illustrator of the children’s books- The Princess and the Castle, The Prince and the Dragon and her latest release, Crying Bear. She also authored an educational, non-fiction book, titled Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do. While considered a mixed genre writer, Virginia says she has found her love of words lately in children’s writing; and spends her time writing from the Downeast area of Maine.

Virginia became a published author in 1981 when she sold her first writing to a regional magazine in the state of Maine. She also had several of her writings published in an Anthology– Soundings, by the Poetry Fellowship of Maine. Her articles have appeared in print, and at online newspaper websites. She was quoted as saying, “When I am not spending time with my husband, or developing recipes, doing my nature or food photography, you will find me watering my vegetables and herb gardens, canning, or cooking; I spend my time doing what I enjoy doing most, writing…”

You can learn more about Virgina and her books at her Amazon Author page.  And be sure to check out her outstanding illustrations on her website or blog. I’d like to thank Virgina again for stopping by my blog.