Kentucky author encourages aspiring writers

    Kentucky author Virginia Smith told the story of how she went from 143 rejection letters to ten published novels Tuesday night in the Curris Center Stables at the Student Government Association-sponsored lecture, “A Fireside with Virginia Smith.”
    After 20 years of working in the corporate world for companies like Lexmark Corporation, Smith said her career took a turn.
    “Some will tell you that their short story (began) when they were in elementary school,” Smith said.
    This was not the case for Smith who said that though she enjoyed reading books like “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “Lord of the Rings,” she never wrote much in her younger years.
    Smith said the idea of writing came to her when reading a short story in a magazine.
    Smith said she thought, “How can they publish something like this?”
    When she decided to write her own short story, Smith said she found out writing was more difficult than she thought.
    “I did what everyone says you’re not supposed to do, which is quit your day job,” Smith said.
    With interest in the science fiction genre, Smith said she set out to write the next best-selling sci-fi novel.
    In her writing critique group, Smith said she learned how to write a publishable piece of fiction and soon began sending her work to publishers, but her queries did not land her a contract.
    “I decided at that point that maybe I was writing the wrong thing,” Smith said.
    In 2006, “Just As I Am,” a story about a quirky, pierced, purple-haired girl living in a southern Baptist community, became Smith’s first novel.
    While Smith’s various books fall into the categories of contemporary, romantic-suspense, chick-lit and mystery, Smith said her books are humorous, heart-filled and inspirational.
    Though Smith said she did not intend to write a Christian novel when she wrote “Just As I Am,” she said “the story really called for it. I try to create characters who resonate with readers,” Smith said.
    Throughout Smith’s lecture she read excerpts from three of her ten novels and included some tips for those aspiring to become writers as well.
    Although Smith said a smart writer who wants to get published should be aware of the market she also gave another tip:
    “You have to write what’s in your heart,” Smith said.
    With her stories of murder, romance, barbecues, performers, fashionistas and a purple-haired woman, Smith said her objective is to convey real life.
    “I wanted to write about issues that people really do encounter,” Smith said.
    Besty Banks, one of Smith’s nieces and sophomore from Frankfort, Ky., said her aunt’s lecture would influence aspiring writers.
    “She came from the corporate world, but she’s always had a love for writing,” Banks said. “She’s very inspirational for young and new writers.”
    Banks said Smith’s ability to write ten books in ten years tells a true story of perseverance.
    “You have to go after your dreams, even if it’s not necessarily something you’ve done all your life,” she said.
    The University Store sells copies of each of Smith’s books.
    Contact Phelps at robinj.phelps@murraystate.edu.