Violet Ramos shares her expertise with readers on publishing.

We are delighted to introduce Violet Ramos, a very talented writer in children’s stories, whose works include Young at Heart, The Step-By-Step Way of Writing Children’s Stories, a Writer’s Digest Book Club Selection. This book has been approved by California Department of Education “Standards for Evaluation of Instructional Materials with Respect to Social Content.” Violet is currently working with a publishing company in Mexico for an interpretation of her book into Spanish. Her book “Pedo and Donkeeta,” a story about love and friendship, was released in February 2001 in hardback.

Violet teaches creative writing at Scottdale Community College and one day seminars at Paradise Community College. She was editor and writer for the Agoura Westlake Acorn, and also wrote a school tabloid for the Dallas Times Herald. Violet has been interviewed on radio and television and is a lecturer on How to Stay Young at Heart through Writing’s Children’s Stories. I could go on and on, but let’s get started, shall we?

Violet, that’s quite a résumé you have there. When did you develop a love for writing for children?

I developed a love for writing children’s stories when I had the opportunity to teach children that didn’t fit in a normal class. I realized children should accept one another and that all children are special in their own way. My stories have always had a message of love and friendship.



Do you find that children are more flexible when being taught the craft of writing?

I believe creativity is very important to the development of a child and writing children’s stories will help them communicate through their creativity.

Do you believe, as I do, that lessons on writing be as available to children as music, art, and sports?

I believe there are many opportunities for children to be exposed to literature, the proper type of literature. The knowledge they can gain from great, creative, literature is important to the growth of the child.



Tell us something about VR Publications, and past experiences as an editor for Agoura, and contributor to Dallas Times Herald.

VR Publications is dedicated to publishing books on writing that are of value to inspiring writers. The books are simple and fun and encourage creativity through a step-by-step method, which I developed. Our children’s books are illustrated stories that capture the personality of each character and provide a message of love and friendship.

I actually started writing when my two oldest boys were in the Vietnam War. I wrote an article to the editor of the local paper. It was about all mothers who had boys fighting and their common concerns emotionally. I worked for a Chamber of Commerce in Marina Del Rey, which led me into starting my on business, VR Public Relations. I began writing articles, developing the personalities of the businesses I represented. I began writing for children when I taught in an elementary school where I worked with emotional, difficult to handle children. For the Agoura Newspaper, I wrote a special insert section on the growth of the area (freelance). I then became an editor for the Agoura Newspaper. That was when I branched out into freelance writing for magazines and writing throughout the United States. Of course, this took many years.


How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been teaching over fourteen years.

Give us some information about your creative writing instruction, and suggest some tools a writer needs in order to become published (besides a good story)?

I wrote the book “Young at Heart, The Step-by-Step Way of Writing Children’s Stories” so that I could encourage many more writers. My suggestion first is to read “Young at Heart, The Step-by-Step Way of Writing Children’s Stories” and follow it up by studying “Pedro and Donkeeta.” When they follow the steps in Young at Heart they can produce a book like Pedro and Donkeeta, which is a treasure of a children’s book. Also, they should not be intimated about creative writing. Start by reaching deep into memories of being a child and write about one special moment, perhaps one never shared with anyone before and then develop it one step at a time.

Now that creativity is all on paper the research starts. Find the publishers that publish your type of story and age group. Know your competition and develop a story that is more creative. Have faith in your work and pursue. Make sure your research in on target.

Getting published is difficult enough, but marketing is the key to a successful book. In addition to book signings, what do you recommend in the way of author promotion?

Promotion and marketing is on-going whether you publish your own books or you are published. Regardless of how great your book is you must continue to promote it or it will just sit on your shelf. Keep your name and the title of your book out there for the public to see and become familiar with.


What are your thoughts on “writing for free” in order to promote oneself?

To build up your portfolio you must write whenever you have an opportunity not only for yourself, but also for the public. Writing constantly is very important to the development of your skill.


You have been interviewed on television as well as radio. Do you feel this has helped the sale of your books?

Book signings are one way of promoting your book, but you also have to bring in the pubic. That is where newspaper articles, radio interviews, TV interviews are very important




Could you give us some ideas on how to successfully market yourself and your book?


There is no sure way of marketing but I can tell you what I do. Every three months, I develop a new marketing strategy. I analyze the previous marketing plans and determine what has worked such as exposure and sales. I either build on it or enforce it with other marketing avenues. Timing is very important and knowing your audience as well as the publishing trend. Marketing is total business.


So, Violet, are you working on any new projects at this time, and, if so, can you tell us about them?

Yes, we are working on a creative writing book. We hope to have it out this year. Then we will follow with another children’s illustrated book.

Thank you so much, Violet, for taking time to answer these questions. I’m sure our readers want to know how to contact you, your website information, and any other comments you have that would help them as writers.

They can reach me through AuthorsDen or email me at vramospub.msn.com.