Author Q&A Vonnie Winslow Crist

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Born in the Year of the Dragon, Vonnie Winslow Crist has had a life long interest in reading, writing, art, myth, fairy tales, folktales, legends, and science fiction. Her fantastical writing appears in publications in Japan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, Germany, Finland, Canada, the UK and USA. A cloverhand who has found so many four-leafed clovers she keeps them in jars, Vonnie strives to celebrate the power of myth in her writing.

1. Tells us about your writing/ published book(s)

I began the author journey with the publication of a children’s book, Leprechaun Cake & Other Tales. Next, I had 2 volumes of poetry published, Essential Fables and River of Stars. Then, a fantasy novel, The Enchanted Dagger, and 2 short story collections: The Greener Forest (filled with Faerie creatures) and Owl Light (filled with owls) appeared. Next, I had a science fiction novelette, Murder on Marawa Prime, published. My most recent story collection, Beneath Raven’s Wing, (over-flowing with ravens) arrived on January 30, 2021. https://books2read.com/BeneathRavensWing

2. How do you approach starting a new book?

I start by deciding what story I want to tell. If I need to do any research, I tend to research first. If the story I want to tell is a small tale, then I write a short story or novelette. I usually send short stories off to magazines or anthologies. After several dozen stories are published, I begin to look for re-occurring themes. When I have a stack of stories on one theme (Faeries, Owls, Ravens, etc.), I determine if they’ll puzzle together to form a book. Usually, I need to write several new stories as well. In the case of a novel, it’s just a bigger, more complicated narrative. And lots more research. Though I’m not big on outlines, a novel requires at least a skeleton to hang the narrative upon.

3. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?

First, read books in the same genre as the book you want to write. Pay attention to how a novel/story is constructed. Then, on to your book. If it’s a novel, begin with a character list. Determine who is your protagonist (central character) and write a description. Decide what your protagonist wants – the goal they’re hoping to achieve. Figure out who and what will try to stop your main character from reaching their goal. Write a description of the antagonist and problems your protagonist will face. Then, decide if your main character gets to achieve their goals or does the antagonist win. Finally, sit down and write! If you’re putting together a collection of stories, you first must write lots of short stories. Each one of those tales will have a protagonist, goal, antagonist, and ending.

4. Do you do research for your books? If so, what kind of research?

Yes! I love to research. Any subject I’m including, I want to make certain I’m getting my facts correct. For Beneath Raven’s Wing, I researched parts of a castle for the first story, “Blood-Soaked Biscuits.” For the second tale, “Lady Raven,” I researched the physics of a bird’s flight. “Mangata,” the third story has trolls, so I researched the characteristics of trolls in Iceland, Norway, and elsewhere. The last story features a young St. Oswald. So I researched the 7^th century saint, including the fact that he had a pet raven. The list could go on. Each story required a bit of research. I used both online and print sources.

5. Tell me about your current work.

Beneath Raven’s Wing is a collection of short stories which feature ravens. In some stories, it’s just a single raven. In other tales, it’s a flock of ravens – which are called an unkindness. Though written for adults, Beneath Raven’s Wing, like all of my books, is Young Adult friendly. Many (though not all) of the central characters are young adults. I’m inspired by folklore. Threfore, the pirate Blackbeard, deathwatch beetles, Norse gods and goddesses, a Native American shaman, and others make appearances in the book. Of course, I had to have a story inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. “An Unkindness” is a tale set in Poe’s Baltimore – complete with cemeteries, grave robbing, and a lost love. https://books2read.com/BeneathRavensWing

6. Would you want your book made into a film?

Most of the stories in Beneath Raven’s Wing would translate well to film. I’m a very visual person, having started off as an artist and illustrator. I “see” the surroundings and action of my stories as I write. A film would be the icing on the storytelling cake!