Ask the Author: Virginia Alanis
Answered Questions (3)
Virginia Alanis
I’m working on a historical novel about a general in 16th-century Spanish colonial Mexico who wants to make the world a better place after a personal tragedy. It’s the story of Diego Montemayor, my 13th great-grandfather who founded Monterrey, Nuevo León and went on to become governor of the state.
Virginia Alanis
Publishing takes time. Make sure you have a stellar manuscript. Make a list of appropriate agents to query. If you can’t find an agent, go directly to the publishers — small publishers and university presses.
The most important thing is that you keep writing. Once your first manuscript is finished, you can begin your next book while you market your first manuscript. You don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to write. You should love the process of writing and not get caught up in the publication/rejection process.
The most important thing is that you keep writing. Once your first manuscript is finished, you can begin your next book while you market your first manuscript. You don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to write. You should love the process of writing and not get caught up in the publication/rejection process.
Virginia Alanis
LOVE FIELD it's about a young girl growing up in Dallas, trying to distance herself from her family. Can she distance herself from her relations to reach her goals, or will her life be thrown off course by her ties and obligations to family?
Two films came to mind when I thought of this question. (1) The Godfather (2) It’s a Wonderful Life. In both instances the protagonist wants to get away from their family to live their lives in their way. Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino wants to go legit. He wants nothing to do with his family’s criminal enterprises, but then there is an assassination attempt on his father and instead of going his own way, Michael gets roped into the family business.
The same thing goes for George Bailey, the protagonist played by James Stewart in the film, It’s a Wonderful Life. He dreams of traveling all over the world, he dreams of going away to college, but then his father dies and George agrees to take over the Savings and Loan, which is the family business, there is a flicker of hope for George when it’s decided that his brother will return from college and take over the family business so that George might have the opportunity of going to college, but then the war comes along and his brother is drafted, etc. George never gets away from his family obligations.
In Love Field, I wanted to have my protagonist distance herself from obligations to her family and become independent, but as you shall see, just because she got what she wanted, it didn’t mean smooth sailing for her. She has to navigate and overcome many challenges. Conflict, after all, is the heart of a story.
That’s the starting point for this book. It’s a coming of age novel. I find these youthful formative years fascinating because a person’s actions during this vulnerable time will set the course for their lives. I was interested in the idea of what it means to be an obedient daughter, devoted to your family and how you have to break away and become more independent. This is one of the times in our lives when things change suddenly. It creates great drama for a novel.
Two films came to mind when I thought of this question. (1) The Godfather (2) It’s a Wonderful Life. In both instances the protagonist wants to get away from their family to live their lives in their way. Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino wants to go legit. He wants nothing to do with his family’s criminal enterprises, but then there is an assassination attempt on his father and instead of going his own way, Michael gets roped into the family business.
The same thing goes for George Bailey, the protagonist played by James Stewart in the film, It’s a Wonderful Life. He dreams of traveling all over the world, he dreams of going away to college, but then his father dies and George agrees to take over the Savings and Loan, which is the family business, there is a flicker of hope for George when it’s decided that his brother will return from college and take over the family business so that George might have the opportunity of going to college, but then the war comes along and his brother is drafted, etc. George never gets away from his family obligations.
In Love Field, I wanted to have my protagonist distance herself from obligations to her family and become independent, but as you shall see, just because she got what she wanted, it didn’t mean smooth sailing for her. She has to navigate and overcome many challenges. Conflict, after all, is the heart of a story.
That’s the starting point for this book. It’s a coming of age novel. I find these youthful formative years fascinating because a person’s actions during this vulnerable time will set the course for their lives. I was interested in the idea of what it means to be an obedient daughter, devoted to your family and how you have to break away and become more independent. This is one of the times in our lives when things change suddenly. It creates great drama for a novel.
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