Victoria Hanley
Victoria Hanley grew up without television, so trips to the library were her main source of entertainment as a child. Although her father was a rocket scientist and her mother was a registered nurse, Victoria gravitated toward the shelves of adventure and fantasy. She read series, such as The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. And she frequently immersed herself in folklore — all of those timeless tales that speak to universal truths.
Victoria recalls her first writing experience as beginning in third grade when she created a 56-page (handwritten) fantasy story. She had been making up stories in her head before that, but this was the first time she wrote one down.
Like many writers, Victoria continued writing stories without ever believing she could get published. After leaving home she worked a variety of jobs, including waitress, cook, baker, and bookkeeper. Such employment provided a forum for observing personality traits and human interactions — fertile food for her fiction writer's palate. Her formal education earned her certificates in Montessori teaching and massage therapy. She taught anatomy and massage techniques in private occupational schools for years before realizing her dream of becoming a published author. Her work now appears in ten languages and thirty countries.
As a writer, Victoria's goal is to inspire young adults in their personal journeys, offering a sense of courage as they face challenges common to all cultures. She frequently shares her knowledge and expertise through presentations at conferences and school visits. I recently had the opportunity to sit in on one her writing workshops for teens. Her desire to help and inspire young people was evident. She obviously enjoyed helping the participants discover ways to develop interesting characters, original dialog, and exciting plots. Students left her workshop energized and ready to write more.
As a result of working directly with young writers, Victoria discovered the need for a book with practical writing tips especially for teens. And she decided to write it. Hot off the press, Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write (Cottonwood Press, 2008) contains useful advice and imaginative writing exercises which guide writers through the entire process of creating a story, including the intricacies of characterization, setting, dialog, plotting, and point of view.
Another new book, Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults (Cottonwood, 2008) provides would-be authors with valuable information about both writing and publishing. Victoria says she has written the book she wished she had had when she was getting started. An important feature of the book is the inclusion of interviews with other authors writing for young adults, such as Joan Bauer, T.A. Barron, Chris Crutcher, and Lauren Myracle.
Victoria's ability to create memorable characters and enchanting settings is evident in all of her fantasy books, beginning with The Seer and the Sword (Laurel-Leaf, 2003). In this story, Princess Torina, a pampered nine-year-old matures into a courageous young woman as her father's kingdom of Archeld is imperiled by enemies both within and without. Torina finds a soul mate and partner in Prince Landen of Bellandra, who first arrives in her country as a prisoner of war. The Healer's Keep (Laurel-Leaf, 2005), a companion book to her first novel, features Princess Saravelda, the 16-year-old daughter of Torina and Landen. She and her unusual friends, some of whom are dream travelers, battle the evil Shadow King. In The Light of the Oracle (Laurel-Leaf, 2006), a lowly stonecutter's daughter, is chosen as an acolyte for training in the Temple of the Oracle. All does not progress smoothly for Bryn, however. Some of the other acolytes are scornful of her impoverished background and jealous of her psychic gifts. Bryn suffers from curses and hardships as she struggles to develop.
Victoria's fourth fantasy book will be published soon. Her many fans are looking forward to more exciting and inspiring adventures.
All authors have their own process of writing. Victoria has shared what works for her. She writes her first drafts by hand, sitting wherever she lands. She doesn't show these to anyone and admits that she allows herself to write badly or take nonsensical tangents to keep writer's block from stemming the flow of getting words on paper. Although she doesn't keep records of numbers of rewrites, Victoria estimates that she goes through eight to ten revisions before she decides her story is ready for others to read. "The main thing is to keep going. You can't write a book without writing it," she says.
Victoria's books have received a number of awards and honors in the U.S. and abroad, including the Colorado Book Award, the International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices list, and the Kallbacher Klapperschlange, an award chosen by young people in Germany. Her work has also been placed on state award lists in Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Colorado.
Victoria Hanley is continuing to make significant contributions to the field of young adult literature as she nurtures others of all ages in their writing and publishing endeavors.
For more information, please visit Victoria's official website: www.victoriahanley.com and Cottonwood Press: www.cottonwoodpress.com
Contributor: Phyllis K. Kennemer
Reviews
The Healer's Keep
Victoria Hanley
Hanley's second fantasy novel is a story of good and evil. A dark force is descending upon the Healer's Keep, Archeld's school for talented healers. Sara, a princess who is incognito at the school as a "Spirit Warrior," and Dorjan, the Keep's first foreign student and first healer of dreams in generations, are the most recent students. Initially the two are attracted to one another, but soon another young man, Bern, a Charmal--one who fools others easily--comes between them and uses Sara as an instrument of destruction. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Minwenda Ocean, a young slave, Maeve, escapes a horrifying fate and attempts to find a way to freedom. Dorjan and Maeve make a connection through their dreams, and eventually they join forces to defeat the Shadow King. Stretching the limits of one's imagination, and bewilderingly illogical at times, this one is strictly for serious fans of fantasy literature. 2002, Holiday House, $17.95. Ages 12 to 14. Reviewer: Christopher Moning (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
- Young Adults' Choices, 2004 ; International Reading Association; United States
- Colorado Book Awards Finalist 2003 Young Adult United States
- Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; Colorado
ISBN: 0-8234-1760-3
The Light of the Oracle
Victoria Hanley
Bryn, daughter of a lowly stonecutter, catches the attention of Renchald, High Priest of the Temple, when he notes her ability to "see what others miss." Chosen to come and live in the Temple of the Oracle, Bryn still faces a hard life as those who are from less highly-connected or poor families are taken advantage of by those with more likely connections. But Bryn has gifts that make her unique to the Temple, as does her friend, Kiran, whose ability to talk to animals makes him the Temple horse-trainer. But it is Bryn's courage to support the exiled Selid--a seer whose visions threatened Renchald's power--that forces her to choose between the Temple and her friends, between a sure future and one shadowed by doubt. As she struggles to find answers, she is further plagued by the Clea, whose power derives from the god of death. Clea's goal is to curse Bryn in order to control her. This is a strong fantasy novel from an author with a clear sense of her audience and a masterful control of where the plot and the characters need to go within the pages of the story. Recommended. 2005, David Fickling Books, $15.95. Ages 12 to 16. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-385-75086-8
ISBN: 0-385-75086-2
Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write
Victoria Hanley
Filled to the brim with inspiration and information, this handbook offers a valuable resource for aspiring writers of all ages, but Hanley has kept her teenage audience well in mind. The conversational tone, succinct text, and meaningful writing exercises take writers on a journey through the writing process. Techniques for freeing the imagination are followed with suggestions for creating characters (both protagonists and antagonists) that come to life. Next comes a discussion of the place, time, and moods of settings. Broad concepts for effective plotting are interspersed with practical suggestions for distinguishing beginnings, middles, and ends; creating conflict; writing dialog; and ways to "show not tell" what is happening. Tips for establishing varying points of view and for polishing rough drafts are offered. A section including interviews with fifteen successful authors of young adult novels includes titles of their books and responses about the easiest and the hardest aspects of writing followed by advice for writing fiction. Frequently asked questions and Hanley's candid answers appear near the back of the book. A useful resource for both teens and teachers of writing. Includes a bibliography and an index. 2008, Cottonwood Press, Ages 13 to 19, $15.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-877673-81-8
Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults
Victoria Hanley
Aspiring authors will appreciate the concise information and helpful hints about writing books and getting them published. Hanley obviously knows the adolescent audience well. After a brief discussion of some of the elements that appeal to teen readers (passion, honesty, independence, explorations, and breakthroughs), she succinctly describes subgenres (contemporary fiction, multicultural, gay/lesbian, fantasy, science fiction, horror, graphic novels, historical fiction, humor, etc.) Her section on finding "your writing self" includes creative exercises to help start the process and keep it going. She gives encouragement for overcoming obstacles and demons, including ways to deal the infamous "writer's block." Her recommended "resources for writers" includes a discussion of common problems, an annotated book list, classes, professional meetings, and critique groups. She explains how to submit a completed manuscript. The discussion of the pros and cons of searching for agents includes sections of interviews with agents and with authors in the process of acquiring agents. The process for publishing a book is described and the advantages/disadvantages of self-publishing are discussed. Quotations and suggestions from authors are included throughout. Interviews and profiles of nineteen successful YA authors offer "Words of Wisdom" near the end. They comment on their subgenres, dealing with rejections, approaches to finishing books, important lessons as writers, rewarding experiences, and they offer their best advice to aspiring writers. A valuable resource for both authors and teachers of writing. 2008, Cottonwood Press, Ages 16 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-877673-80-1
Added 10/24/08
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