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Veronica Backham - Interview with Judith P. Vaughan (Script)

VB: Hello Judith. It’s a pleasure to meet you and talk about your new book titled “The Girl Without A Past.” Ooh, that sounds intriga.. uhm… interesting. Unfortunately, the movie is not out yet, so I just looked through the book. I got myself a new Kindle, you know. It just makes me look so sophisticated when I carry it with me. (Pause) Anyways, I noticed your novel has many, many words. Sorry, I just didn’t have the time to read them. (Sigh.) You know how that is. I mean, being a celebrity… There are so many things to do… (Sigh) Anyways, can you explain in a few words what your book is about?

JPV: It is nice to meet you, Veronica.  I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me.

Well, since the movie is not out yet, I will be glad to tell you about my book. "The Girl Without A Past" is the story of eleven-year-old twins, Samantha and Alexander Covington.  The twins are very different from each other, and they are constantly getting on each other’s nerves. The twins mysteriously win tickets to the new attraction, Paxton’s House of Mirrors.  There they are given the opportunity to win a grand prize, all they need to do is find and ring the bell that is hidden somewhere inside the house of mirrors.  But little did they know that they were the target of Buford Paxton, a man from a parallel world, and that by ringing the bell they were going to be transported to an enchanted forest where they would be trapped.  There they meet a strange girl named, Lilly, who saves them from a Minotaur.  The twins learn that Lilly is also a victim of Paxton’s revenge and they want to help her escape too.  The twins put their sibling rivalry aside, since they have to stay and work together, if they want to make it home alive.  But when they discover a way to return home, there is a problem, only one can return.

VB: Oh, problems. I don't like problems. I just don't know how to deal with them, and, anyways, they cause way too much work. I'm not sure about children, either. They're so much work, too. Well, I guess, I could hire a nanny… (Thinking) I guess, my question is, why do you write for children? For me that comes over as a very difficult audience. Your novel is for children, right?

JPV: Yes, Veronica, you are correct, my book is for children. It is aimed at an upper middle grade audience, but I don’t only write middle grade novels but young adult novels too.  However, what you really want to know is why I write for children. Well, I have to agree with you, children are a lot of work. I should know, I have two boys living at home and it’s not easy, but they are our future and we need to teach them.

One good reason why write for children, would be that children need to learn and understand that the world around them is a mysterious place, full of wonder and beauty but there is heartache and problems too.  A book is a healthy way to arouse their imagination and put their creative minds to work. I believe every child should have access to books and magazines, and I applaud the parents who encourage their children to read.

So bottom line in terms of writing for children for me personally, I'll say that the main purpose is my own pleasure. I love to write, and tell stories, in addition, it gives me a way to revisit my own childhood, and at the same time I get to entertain the children.

VB: Well, can I tell you stories about heartache and problems! (Sigh) It's not easy being a celebrity. (Sigh) So, I guess, we are somewhat similar. I mean, we both want to entertain. (Thinking) So, how do you prepare yourself… I mean, when do you write, and where do you write? I myself had my ghost writers, you know, but from the many interviews I made with authors I have learned they all do it by themselves. I don't quite understand the concept, but that's okay. Anyways… (Thinking) Where was I…? (Thinking) Do you have children?

JPV: Well, we all have problems, and I have a long list of them. Yes, I do have children, teens to be exact and they keep adding items to my list of problems. It is not easy to write a novel, when you are a single mother with a full time job, it can get crazy. I personally sometimes feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde --just like the slogan, 'sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't.'

Unfortunately, I don’t have a ghostwriter, I do all the thinking and writing myself.  I have a designated corner in my bedroom, with a desk and computer, where I do my writing, and when I am feeling lazy, I get on my bed with my laptop computer and type away.  I do most of the writing in the evenings after serving dinner and on my free time on the weekends.  Sometimes I do not leave my room for hours.  The way I prepare for my brainstorming and I get all my creative juices going, is by putting on the headphones and listening to piano music or contemporary instrumental music on Pandora Radio.  The music relaxes me and it muffles the noise around me so that I can concentrate, even though I am all alone in my bedroom when I write, the kids and the dogs can get loud at times.

VB: Oh, how I can feel your pain! (Sigh) You know, I don't have kids or dogs, but I have the pepperuzzi, or whatever they're called… You know, reporters. They can be such a distraction, well, like your children and dogs, I guess… (Thinking) Maybe I should get my ghostwriters write about my pain… Anyways… (Pause) So, do you have more ideas for more books?

JPV: I hear the paparazzi can be such a drag, but that’s the price you pay for being famous.  I guess I am lucky that I am not as famous as you are.

I have a few ideas for a new book, but right now, I have to concentrate in the novel I am currently trying to finish, that book is about a ghost and a boy who is being bullied.  As you know, bullying is a serious problem so I thought I would mix real life with the supernatural.  I have also made time, in my busy schedule, to give a facelift to an old novel I finished in 2010 but never published.  That novel is about a young girl that falls in love with a vampire.  You know since vampires are cool and hip again, I thought why let a good book go to waste and publish it myself.

VB: Well, I, personally, am not very fond of vampires. I mean, every woman loves a bad guy every now and then, but I wouldn't wanna deal with the bite marks, you know. They're not good when it comes to maintaining my status as a celebrity. (Pause) So, what's up next? Any photo ops or interviews with David Letterman or Jay Leno?

JVP: (Giggle) Well I know what you mean about the bite marks, they are never good for your reputation but those vampire marks can be deadly too!  As to being contacted by a talk show, that hasn’t happened to me yet, but maybe you should check back with me about this time next year, perhaps one of my novels will be a movie by then.

VB: Okay... (Thinking) I thank you for being here... I guess. Talking about Letterman and Leno... They haven't returned my phone calls yet. That is an outrage! Hey, Bobbie, get me Dave or Jay on the phone! Right now! Sorry... Gotta run!

Veronica Backham shares her interviews with famous people from all over the world, including Jesus Christ, Che Guevara, Charlie Sheen, and more. As we all know, Veronica's accomplishments include a long career as a "secret" model plus multiple recordings in the music industry. Veronica has just recently published her memoir, which is pretty good for someone who has never read a book in her life. We are looking forward to her next interview.