Vonnie Winslow Crist

Interviewed by Wendy H. Jones

Vonnie, thank you agreeing to join me here at Mom’s Favorite Reads. It’s an honour and a pleasure to have you join us in the magazine. I know you are frightfully busy, in more ways than one, so I appreciate you taking time out.

Thank you for having me. Whether Mom's Favorite Reads readers read my books or not, I encourage them to pick up a book and read. It's the best way to visit other times and places without ever leaving your room.

By way of introduction tell us a bit about yourself and your books.

I am a wife, mom, granny, and gardener who loves to tell stories though her poetry, fiction, and illustrations. I earned a BS in Art and Education and a MS in Professional Writing from Towson University, and taught creative writing for over 10 years for the Maryland State Arts Council's Artists-inEducation Program. I've had a life-long interest in folktales, fairytales, legends, myths, art, and science-fiction. My books include: Dragon Rain, Beneath Raven's Wing (2022 Winner of the Visiter Award from the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival, Finalist 2022 Imadjinn Award), Owl Light (Winner of eFestival of Words Best Story Collection 2018), The Greener Forest (Winner of eFestival of Words Best Story Collection 2017), The Enchanted Dagger (Winner Maryland Writers Association Book Award, Finalist Compton Crook Award), Murder on Marawa Prime, and Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps. I have also co-edited 9 books (so far) for Pole to Pole Publishing. A strange fact about me, I am a cloverhand—which means I can find four- leafed clovers easily, and (supposedly) see faeries. I have jars of pressed four-leafed clovers on my shelf, but I will neither confirm nor deny that I see Faerie Folk.

A nice easy one - can you tell us how you came to writing?

I have always been a storyteller. As the eldest of four daughters, I often told fantastical tales to my younger sisters and their friends. While I wrote a few stories down, I typically used art as a way to tell a story. My first published works were illustrations, and I now have over 1,000 published illustrations. I took a baby step into writing by scribbling poems and sending them off to various magazines and anthologies. As I grew braver (yes, it does take courage to put your writing out there), I tiptoed into flash fiction. Now, my stories are usually about 5,000-words. And I've had a 95,000-word fantasy novel published.

Whilst most authors want to write novels, your focus is on short stories. Why short stories?

I love the freedom short stories give a writer. After creating a world filled with interesting characters and a small problem which needs to be solved, I can move on after it is completed to a whole new world and set of characters. My preference for writing short stories also reflects my short attention span. The time and attention needed for a novel are challenging for me. That said, I'm hoping to have my second novel published this year.

We always ask authors about their own books but never ask them about their reading habits. What do you read to relax and what books would you pack to go on holiday?

I love to read folktales, customs, and legends from all around the world. When I go on holiday, if it's just to relax, I'll often take a non-fiction book exploring some aspect of a new story I'm working on. When I'm travelling to visit another country, I'll have a travel guide with me. Of course, I'll always save room in my luggage to bring home books about that country's folkways.

What do you think it is about short stories that endears them to

readers?

I think many readers like short stories because they can read a tale from beginning to end in one sitting. If they like the story, then they will likely look for more of that writer's work. Also, our first introduction to fiction is usually children's books and collections of nursery rhymes, fables, and fairytales. Therefore, many of us remember fondly a loved one reading us short fiction when we were very young.

The ubiquitous Desert Island Discs Question –which three books would you take to a desert island?

I'll warn you from the get-go, I intend to cheat a bit by selecting “complete works.” I'd take The Bible, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and The Complete Works of JRR Tolkien (though I'm not sure such a tome exists). I suppose I'd want Christopher Tolkien's books included with his father's as well.

Which author do you think has most influenced your writing?

I don't want to pick just one author. I think every story and book that I've ever read has influenced me even if it's to remind me of how I don't want to write! If I had to pick a few of my favorite authors, I'd list: JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Edgar Allan Poe, Andre Norton, and George RR Martin.

Goosebumps below. This is a book aimed at children and yet it does not pull the punches in terms of the fear factor. Why do you think this is important in children’s literature?

Do you have a favourite book on Writing and if so, what is it?

Again, I hate to pick one. I think the first book on writing which impressed me was One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty. It's not a “how-to” book. Rather, it's about a writer's journey.

Kids like to be scared, as long as they can laugh afterwards and return to the safety of their real world. Which explains the reason I included fun things like pointing at a listener or saying “Got you!” at the end of a tale. Some of these stories are based on folktales and traditional creepy creatures like vultures, ghosts, and goblins. I tried to add a smile to the scary with the illustrations. Children's literature has always had frightening people, places, and things in it. But after the adventure is done and book is closed, young readers can remind themselves it's pretend. Here's a quote on the subject from an author whose work I admire, Neil Gaiman: “Fear is a wonderful thing, in small doses.”

I have reviewed your book Shivers, Scares and aside modern scepticism, and embrace the mystical world which still surrounds us.

When it comes to genre you are eclectic in your approach, yet your love seems to be myth and fairytales. Why these genres?

I fell in love with fairytales, folktales, legends, and myths when I was a child. At age 3, I taught myself to read using 8-page fairytale and folktale booklets published by Platt & Munk Co., Inc. in the 1930s. When my parents visited an older family friend, she would let me look at Cinderella, Dick Whittington and his Cat, Tom Thumb, The Gingerbread Man, The First Circus, Chicken Little, Jack and the Beanstalk, and so many more. If I was well-behaved, I got to take the booklet home. Each one had a story, wonderful illustrations, and a narrative poem on the back cover. So, it's easy to see from whence came my love of creating not only fantastical fiction, but also speculative poetry and illustrations.

How important is setting in your books? I am curious as to how you provide a sense of setting within a medium where every word counts?

Setting is important in every book and story. The reader not only needs to know where your characters are interacting, they need to understand how the setting impacts the storyline. The way I provide a sense of setting is by using very specific details scattered throughout the narrative. Rather than describe a beach, I might write something like: “As she stared at the mermaid, a saltwater breeze tugged at Gillian's sun hat and pelted her legs with sand.”

Tell us a bit about your writing space?

Oh, dear. I typically write in a basement office which is cluttered with books, papers, folders, and strange odds and ends which I find inspiring. I promise myself every year to tidy up my writing space. Alas, even if I make a bit of progress toward being “neat,” I manage to make a hodgepodge out it within a few days.

Do you have an ideal reader in mind when writing your books? If so, who are they?

I suppose my ideal reader is one who is willing to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. In anthology bios, I often use the words: “Vonnie believes the world is still filled with mystery, miracles, and magic.” My ideal reader is a person who is willing to set favorite child. I suppose for adult and young-adult readers I'd pick my latest story collection, Dragon Rain. For kids, as long as they're brave, I'd pick Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps. Of course, as soon as new books are published, I would probably pick them instead. I keep my fingers crossed that I will continue to grow as a writer, and deliver my readers better books each time one is published.

If you could go anywhere in the world to write, where would it be and why?

This one is tough! I'm inspired by the places I've visited over the years. While Scotland might be mundane for someone living in Aberdeenshire, for me it was filled with inspiration. I can say the same for Iceland, Ireland, Wales, England, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, and Canada. I suppose, I'd choose somewhere I've never been, so I can experience new sights, new customs, and new people.

Let’s get personal, what would be your perfect meal?

A crab cake, fresh salad, and asparagus followed by a piece of dark chocolate.

On holiday do you prefer beach, city, or wilderness? Why?

I'm a forest sort of woman. I enjoy the sounds of wind through trees, birds singing, and mountain streams tumbling over rocks. The forest sights, sounds, smells, and textures give me both peace and inspiration. Which is why I live where I see deer, fox, wild turkeys, raccoons, hawks, blue herons, and other wildlife from my windows.

Do you prefer warm weather or cold weather?

Neither! I like the moderate weather of spring and fall. I don't mind putting on a sweater, hat, and gloves, but I don't want to be so cold that I can't enjoy the outdoors. I don't mind warm weather, but I loathe the sweltering days of a Maryland summer.

My final question, which one of your books would you recommend Mom’s Favorite Reads readers, read? Now that’s a mouthful and I wouldn’t want to try saying it after a glass of wine.

Yikes! Selecting a favorite book is like picking a https://www.vonniewinslowcrist.com/home

Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. As copy editor for Mom’s, she works hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/