Featured Interview With Vanessa Thurgood
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am an Idaho farm girl, born and raised. I have always loved three things in my life. Photography, horses, and a good book. After living in several locations throughout the US, I’d settled back near my hometown fifteen minutes away from the mountains where I like to go hiking with my family and our aussie mix, Rio.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve loved books from the time I could read. I read every single horse book my school library owned and dreamed of riding a thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby. When I went to college, I studied Agricultural Business and Advertising, NOT English or writing. I didn’t even know I wanted to be a writer until about 4 years ago when I finally started to write the story that had been living in my head for years. Since then, I’ve found support groups who have helped me shape that rough story into something worth sharing.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m a very broad reader, but my favorite authors are Brandon Mull, especially his “Beyonders” series, JK Rowling, Shannon Hale. (Can you tell I like fantasy?) I also really enjoy self help/motivation books like “The Miracle Morning,” “The Magic of Thinking Big,” and “Name, Place, Animal, Thing.”
In each of these genres, I love to dissect the way the author delivers dialogue or important facts. I feel this gives me greater understanding on how I can improve my own writing and is fun to find out which words each author favors.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Earthspark came about from a dream I had when I was fifteen. This dream was of me riding my big black horse, Jag, into a cave where there was a glittering cavern with a lake. As we rode into the lake, the water swirled around us and I find a magical gem hidden beneath the surface. It was such a cool dream that I wanted to write it down, so I did. This dream became the foundation for the world I created in the Comstock Chronicles.
The storyline has shifted a lot since that day fifteen years ago, but the elements are still there. And the forces of good and evil are at stark odds. The Guardians, almost Godlike beings, are raging a war and dragging the humans in with them. Nienna Comstock, only wants to live her life, but her gift is too powerful to keep hidden.
She must choose to join the Earth Guardian before dark forces get her, because if they catch her, it could mean the end for all who live in the land of Tellidus.
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