Where are you from and what do you love most about your hometown?
V.C. – I was born in Central California and stayed in the area until my 30s. After that, I had a sudden inclination to become adventurous. My husband and I have moved several times, living in Texas, Oregon, Washington, Baja California, and California again. Of all the places we’ve lived, Oregon is our favorite, and that’s where we now reside.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How has that childhood dream affected your career?
V.C. – When I was in my early teens I started reading medical romances so I thought I wanted to become a nurse and meet a handsome doctor. At the age of 15, I worked in a hospital as a teen helper. Needless to say, I was cured of wanting to be a nurse. Blood and needles and the smell of antiseptics are not romantic. In my 20s, I wanted to become a computer programmer. After taking some courses in Cobol programming, I quickly changed my mind (nothing ever appeared where it was supposed to in the printouts I created). I finally ended up working in accounting and secretarial capacities. Right now, I do a lot of transcription work, which has helped with my writing.
Tell us about your latest book. Do you have anything new in the works and can you tell us a bit about it?
V.C. – My latest release is Book Two in the Shapeling Trilogy. The story is about Fawn Woods, who is introduced in Book One. Like Roth, Fawn is a Shapeling. Shapelings have the ability to shift into any creature, be it human, animal, reptile, or insect. There are three ranks among Shapelings: Protector, Master, and co-Prince. Unexpectedly, Fawn receives a promotion to the rank of Master, and Book Two is the adventure of her first Mission of Mastery. She is sent as nanny to Zoe, an Indigo child (which is explained in the book) who is emotionally challenged because of the death of her mother two years previous. Zoe’s father, Wade Spencer, goes through nannies like water and when he sees Fawn, he’s sure she won’t last one day with Zoe. Of course, he’s wrong and the story develops the relationship between the three of them becoming a family. For Fawn, a relationship with a human male is out of the question, or so she keeps telling herself. The story is a combination of romance, fantasy, adventure, and mystery. The mystery surrounds Zoe and the “voices” she’s always hearing in her head.
I should let you know that Book Two is full of spoilers to Book One, so if readers are interested in Fawn’s story, they may want to read Roth’s story in Book One first.
The book I now have in the works is Book Three in the trilogy: Davide: Prince.
Why did you write this book?
V.C. – I just got an inclination one day to write a book about shapeshifters. I guess it’s because there are no limitations on the imagination in a shifter book.
How did you come up with the title?
V.C. – I think I almost pulled all my hair out trying to come up with my titles. Actually, I kinda liked the word Shapeling and thought it was probably over used. When I did a Google search, however, I didn’t discover too many uses of it. I couldn’t decide if the name sounded goofy, but it’s all I could come up with so I went for it.
How did you choose your genre?
V.C. – I love romance books! I can’t imagine trying to write anything else. Adding fantasy elements is like the frosting on the cake for me. Yum!
What inspired you to be a writer?
V.C. – I went through a long illness and needed a way to refocus my mind. I had dabbled in writing while my children were in grade school, but I just didn’t have the time to devote to it like I do now.
Who is your favorite character in your books? Why?
V.C. – I love, love, love, all of my character. Each one becomes my favorite for the season we’re hanging out together. But if I have to choose one, it would be Roth. He’s my alpha male Shapeling with the hard edge, but soft heart.
Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work?
V.C. – Maybe, if this counts. With all the raucous about the year 2012, I wrote a fantasy book titled: 11:11 Countdown to 2012. I did a lot of research and tied actual information in with a fantasy about a woman who is always seeing the numbers 11:11; which, by the way, is a real phenomenon according to my research.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
V.C. – I am challenged the most when it comes to finalizing the edits of a book. I go over and over the story. Even so, I always find something that can be improved. There comes a time when I have to make myself stop editing.
What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
V.C. – Learn the basics of grammar and punctuation and then go for it. Read and reread and edit and re-edit until you are happy with your story. Look for plot snafus. Don’t be in a hurry. Let the story sit for a month after you’ve finished it and then come back and reread it. If you don’t feel comfortable editing your own book, get someone to do it. Editing is so important. When you’re ready, either publish your book yourself (it’s not difficult), or start submitting to small publishers to get your foot in the door and learn more. Find an author you like, and study what he/she is doing. I like C.J. Archer and the approach she has taken in getting her books out there. One last thing, get a dynamite book cover designed.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
V.C. – I don’t suffer from writer’s block. I have to shut my mind down from all the stories wanting to dance through it. If I could stay awake 24/7, I would.
Who is your favorite author and why? What books have most influenced your life?
V.C. – I enjoy all the books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She creates the richest characters I have ever read and her books are so funny.
How did you deal with rejection letters?
V.C. – When I was first getting started, rejection letters made me sad. I felt like my writing was inadequate. However, after I learned how difficult it is to have your book accepted, I didn’t feel so bad.
What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
V.C. – I couldn’t function without my computer and internet access. Word processing programs are phenomenal in their capabilities (looking for specific words, changing words, formatting, etc.). I also watch a lot of travel videos to get ideas for locations. Access to a dictionary and thesaurus is important. Finally, I would be lost without my Kindle. I upload my draft book to it and turn on the read feature to listen while I follow along. It’s an excellent tool for finding goobers.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
V.C. – I like to use real places in all my stories and describe them accurately. In my story Jazmine, which is set in Bend, Oregon and the surrounding area, I went to locations and envisioned Jazmine in those locations. Not weird, except for the fact that she is a fairy transformed into a human. I went into the woods and took pictures of where she translocated into the forest and then took pictures at the High Desert Museum parking lot where she caught a cab. I even built “Flitter Town” by combing second hand stores for tiny fairies, houses, unicorns, horses, bicycles. The town takes up half of my upstairs hallway.
Don’t forget to give us links to your website etc.
Website: http://www.vernaclay.com (At my website there are buy links to my books at Amazon and other distributors.)
