Featured Interview With Virginia McClain
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was named for a grandmother I never met, I’ve lived in seven states and five countries, I once had 17 cats, and I’ve been writing since before I could spell properly.
Of course, my spelling has improved, and I no longer write in crayon. The cats had to be given away because it’s insane to try to move to Germany with 17 cats (my 5 year old self was very sad, but at least I got to keep ‘my’ cat). And, despite being named for my grandmother, I spent the first 13 years of my life being called by my middle name, which I have come to think suits me better, but which I haven’t started using again because… hassle.
The last three places I’ve lived are Japan, Arizona, and Winnipeg, where I currently reside with my musician husband and our furry four legged child Artemis (that’s the gorgeous mutt I’m embracing in my picture).
When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy playing bass, rock climbing, trail running, backpacking, and general adventure having with my canine sidekick.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My parents always read to me when I was little and I learned to read at a fairly young age. By the time I have any clear memories of what to do with my free time, my top choices were to go play in the woods with my dogs or to read a book somewhere (anywhere really; curled up in bed, in the crook of a tree, at a table while eating –much to my mother’s chagrin). I started writing as soon as I learned how to write… ridiculous stories with terrible plots written in barely legible (or completely illegible) crayon.
At first, though I enjoyed making up stories and writing them down, I was convinced that I was terrible writer because a number of issues with punctuation and spelling (issues that were later diagnosed) made every English teacher I had before the 7th grade tell me that my writing was atrocious. Of course, what they really meant was that my writing mechanics were atrocious, but I suppose when your job is to get thirty 9 year olds to put words on paper that you are then forced to read all of, you will generalize to save yourself time. At any rate, it wasn’t until my 7th grade English teacher read some of my creative writing and told me that it was good that I considered actually becoming a writer.
The moment I thought about it though, I decided that’s what I wanted to be. The rest has been a long slow journey in getting here.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Singling out favorite authors is always hard, and I love a lot of different genres, though admittedly I gravitate most strongly towards Fantasy and Science Fiction. I’m inspired by many authors, and it would take vast essays, or perhaps its own book, to talk about that… How about a short list instead?
Here are some of my favorite authors and a quick account of some of my favorite things about their writing:
1. Kristin Cashore – For her strong female characters, vile villains, and excellent story telling
2. RA Salvatore – For his impeccable fight scenes and insightful looks into human nature
3. Anne Bishop – For her snarky dialogue, feisty female leads, villains of the worst possible character, and excellent inclusion of non-human animals
4. Tamora Pierce – For her strong, believable, female characters, and intricate plots
5. Karen Chance – For her witty banter, her strong female leads, and her appropriate use of explosions and nudity
I’m going to leave it at five, but honestly the list goes on forever, and those are just the authors who write in a similar genre to my debut novel.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book (and debut novel) is entitled Blade’s Edge and it was initially inspired by the time I spent wandering around mountain shrines in Japan while I lived there teaching English. It’s loosely inspired by feudal Japanese samurai culture, but is set in an original fantasy world. Here’s the synopsis:
The Kisōshi, elite warriors with elemental powers, have served as the rulers and protectors of the people of Gensokai for more than a thousand years. Though it is believed throughout Gensokai that there is no such thing as a female Kisōshi, the Rōjū ruling council goes to great lengths to ensure that no one dares ask why.
Even as young girls, Mishi and Taka know that they risk severe punishment – or worse – if anyone were to discover their powers. This shared secret forms a deep bond between them until, taken from their orphanage home and separated, the two girls must learn to survive in a world where their very existence is a crime. Yet when the girls learn the dark secret of the Rōjū council, they discover that much more than their own survival is at stake.
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