By Wendy J. Dunn

WJD: When did you first become passionate about pirates?

 CV: Not until I started writing my monthly column, Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/pirates.html) in 2000. I had researched them as background for my current work-in-progress, The Rebel and the Spy, prior to that, but they hadn’t yet become a major part of my daily life.

 WJD: What do you think of Johnnie Depp’s pirate Jack Sparrow? (Tell you the truth – I’m just about swooning every time I see his swagger!)

 CV: Jack Sparrow is a fantastic fictional pirate! He’s a piratical mixture of myth and reality, which add greatly to any story. Johnny Depp portrays him with just the right dash of style and mystery that intrigues viewers.

 WJD: You do a heap of stuff in your writing life, Associate Editor for Solander Magazine, Red Pencil, where you write a great spotlight column on historical novel editing, Magazine Pirates and Privateers: a maritime history column on (of course) Pirates and Privateers, as well as Freelance Editor, Historical Novelist, Book Reviewer, Workshop Presenter – how do you do it all?

 CV: While I’d rather spend my days writing historical novels, those take time to write because I strive to portray the history accurately without sacrificing the story. I love writing, but I can’t churn out a new novel once or twice a year. It’s just not in my nature. Also, my research and love for books require funds, which is why I edit on a freelance basis. I love editing and might have chosen that field rather than becoming a librarian if anyone had told me back in high school that I could earn money editing other people’s books. Editing pays bills and allows me to work with authors.

 I write and review for the Historical Novel Society’s publications because this is the only organization that’s devoted to the type of books I have loved since childhood. Historical fiction often doesn’t get the recognition it should in the publishing world, so in writing my editing column Red Pencil, I work with fellow historical novelists to share with readers treasures that may get overlooked amid all the other books published each year. Also, I love to see how other writers take their initial ideas and craft them into published works. With HNS’ worldwide membership, I interact with people I might not otherwise meet, who have similar likes, and others get to know who I am.

 As for reviewing books, I’ve been doing that since I was a school librarian. It was initially how I amassed published writing credits. My preferences have changed over time. Now I review only pirate and maritime fiction and non-fiction, as well as historical novels. I enjoy sharing new books with others, and it’s a great way to add titles to my collection without depleting my funds.

 I was a teacher and librarian for twenty years, so sharing my knowledge with others is second nature to me. My training taught me where to locate information and how to determine whether that information is worthwhile. Not everyone has these skills, and many aren’t sure where to begin their research. In the workshops I do – both online and in person – I share my knowledge so others learn the truth about pirates, Scottish history and culture, the Age of Sail, and writing historical fiction. I provide participants with a starting point and give them resources where they can locate more information that’s reliable.

 All of these tasks keep me busy, but they provide me with an opportunity to sell myself and showcase what I write and do. Name recognition is paramount to any author, and these various jobs help to earn my reputation as a writer, editor, instructor, and researcher. It’s kind of neat when Hollywood producers call asking for my suggestions and ideas when they’re doing background for documentaries on piracy.

 WJD: Big congratulations about the republication of your first novel with Amber Quill Press! Would you like to tell us what spurred you to write The Scottish Thistle.

 CV: When bored, I tend to write rather than doodle. While working at Hannah More School in Maryland, I attended weekly staff meetings on Wednesday afternoons. I became bored and wrote a scene about a caped man riding across a stormy windswept moor. Working in facilities for severely emotionally challenged teenagers is stressful. To relieve that stress I came home every day to work on my story. After a journey of twelve years that included a lot of research and rewriting, as well as a three-week trip to Scotland, my dream of having my novel published came to fruition.

WJD: I know Thistle’s journey to publication has been one with so many highs and lows – what are the best parts of being a published author? What advice would you give to an aspiring novelist?

 CV: I most treasure what readers write or tell me after they’ve read my novel of the Rising of 1745. In May 2005, one gentleman came up to me at a Celtic festival and thanked me for writing a wonderful story that introduced him to his clan’s history and family.

 Another unique experience has been my association with Clan Cameron. A former president of the Clan Cameron Association in Scotland invited me to join and to come to the international gathering of the clan in 2001, which was held at the Cameron estate of Achnacarry, near Fort William. This was particularly exciting for me because part of my novel takes place at Achnacarry, and it was eerie to walk where my characters and the real Camerons of the ’Forty-five once walked. When my husband parked our car on the grounds, he did so beside the only part of the original Achnacarry that still remains – the stone gable. The Hanoverians burned the house to the ground after Culloden. In 2005, the North American Commissioner, Tom Cameron, invited me to speak at the clan dinner during their rally, after which he presented me with the first North American “Friend of Clan Cameron” award. My husband and I now serve as co-membership directors of the Red River Branch of Clan Cameron. At the branch’s tenth anniversary dinner in October 2006, Lochiel (the clan chief) mentioned me in his message to the branch.

 As for advice to aspiring novelists, never give up no matter what. You’ll experience highs and lows, but if you believe in what you do, the highs make up for the lows every time. I also recommend developing a hard skin. You’ll encounter people who won’t have good things to say and you need to be able to let these comments roll off your back without taking them to heart. Yes, they hurt, but other people will tell you wonderful things about your writing that will soothe that pain. A final piece of advice would be to submit work that’s as polished as you can get it. If you have trouble with spelling and grammar and/or passive writing, hire a freelance editor to go through it with you. One caution, though, hire someone who’s reputable and who can demonstrate a good grasp of what sells and doesn’t sell in today’s market.

 WJD: Finally, how did Thistle find its new publisher?

 CV: Actually the publisher found Thistle. I eventually planned to resubmit the novel for publication after my first publisher breached my contract, but I wanted to continue working on my current work-in-progress. One day, I received an e-mail from Amber Quill Press asking me to submit. (This publisher doesn’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. They extend invitations to authors.) I offered them The Scottish Thistle, and since the editor was already familiar with the book, he offered me a contract right away. That rarely happens in the world of publishing, but it sure is nice when it does.

Visit Cindy's great website at www.cindyvallar.com