Virginia McClain: Freelance Writer, Novelist

Keep tabs on Virginia's movements. Where is she now? When is her next reading? When will she next be published? What else is going on in her world? Read updates, see pictures!

Holy crap... Are you stalking me?

Fans wept loudly in the streets today as the news spread across North America. The beatiful and talented author Virginia McClain will be moving to Japan in mid August of this year (2009). Reports suggest that the brilliant writer plans to move there to "teach English" though rumors have already begun spreading that she is actually moving there to hone her already impressive ninja skills in order to avenge the death of her family. The fact that her immediate family is still alive and doing well has done little to quash these rumors. One fan who was interviewed stated, "well, of course that's what she would want us to think, I mean if everyone knew her family had been killed by powerful members of the Yakuza then word would get back to them about her training and then her plans would just completely fall appart." Yet another fan was quoted saying, "well of course her immediate family is alright, but did you know that all her grandparents are dead? All of them. Coincidence? I think not." When asked about the matter herself, Virginia stated that she would be looking in to possible reasons why her fanbase would possess such low IQs. However, she followed this with a statement encouraging all of her fans to "take heart" as she has no intention of abandoning her writing with this move. On the contrary she still fully expects to complete her third novel this November and thinks that her adventures in Japan will be excellent fodder for writing material. 

The writers' website This Is By.Us officially passed away on February1st of this year. I am very sad to see it go, as it was a community that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I have collected all my writings from the site and posted them here. Check them out! See what you think. Note that the content was written for an adult audience and may inappropriate for kids, or my immediate family... Anyway, you're warned. Also, it hasn't recieved a ton of editing so there are still a number of typos and mistakes to be found. If you'd like to point them out to me feel free to contact me. 

Sadly, Canada decided to boot me out. No, I didn't break any laws, I didn't violate any agreements and I didn't even misbehave while I was there (at least not from a legal standpoint). I simply stayed as long as the Canadian border guards were willing to allow a young woman with no money and all her worldly possessions to stay in their beloved country (which was approximately 2 months). 

So, as of a week and a half ago, I'm back in the U.S., Colorado Springs to be exact. I'm staying with a friend, looking for work, and gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2008!  I have multiple plot options in my head and I still haven't chosen one. That's ok though, I have 4 days to figure it out. Hehehe...

Things to look forward to in the coming months:

1. My second novel being completed as of November 31st. (Possible excerpts to be added to this site while it's in progress.)  

2. More edited excerpts from my first novel (coming as soon as I can get my computer fixed).

3. My crafts being sold at a craft fair in Colorado Springs in late November (please contact me for details).

4. The possible self publication of a series of my short stories.

5. A return to my random blogging as I document my struggles with NaNoWriMo 2008.

6. Sappy love poems written under the influence of my unbearable separation from the man I love. (Not likely, but possible.)

7. Other fun stuff including new pictures and possibly some new short stories as well! 

Yar mehearties! Tomorra (September 19th) be International Talk Like a Pirate day. Tis one o' the best halidays o' the year. In order t' celebrate it proper-like. We be 'olding a piraty essay writing contest. Yarr... tis always piratey to be writin' essays and the like, dontcha know?

The rules be simple, ye must write an essay twixt 250-500 words about any topic ye choose. But ye must write th' entire thing like yer a pirate. Ye can write about yer pet parot, or yer peg leg, or yer bonnie lass or super strings theory or how geocentric tendencies of humanity have led to a downtrend in societal harmony. Errr... right... the topic don't have to be piratey, be me point. It be up t' ye. Do ye think it more humorous t' write an essay about physics in a pirate voice, or, d'ye think a piratey essay about yer love o' the sea and a ne'er ending horizon will make us weep with piratey joy? 

Tis acceptable fer yer entry to be a tad short o' 250 or a bit past 500 words, but please spare me the 1000 word essay on yer bonnie lass. I'm hopin' ta have a few o' these essays ta read an' I'd like t' have some time t' sleep too. Yarrr!

I'll be doin' th' judgin' meself, an' I'll let all ye lubbers know what's what on the 20th. Ye can submit yer essay via e-mail t' me address: mcclain.virginia@gmail.com (please include yer name an' a short bio (3 sentences or so)) 

The prize!!!! Yar, ye be wantin' t' know about the booty, don't ye? Well, tis the fine honor, o' havin' yer piratey essay posted on this here website with full accolades to yerself. What more could a pirate scribe hope fer? Not much, I'll tell ye that.

***Yarr! Ahoy mehearties, I be extendin' the deadline till Midnight o' Monday as me think some of ye may need the weekend t' get yer piratey essays t'gether. So... Thar she be... Ye have 'til the last watch o' Monday the 22 o September. YARRR!!!

August 30th saw Virginia welcomed by the lovely town of Onanole where Poor Michael's Bookshop was holding a variety show to kick off the long weekend.

Many talented performers were there including poet Sheldon Birnie, Playwrights Dale Lakevold and Darrel Racine, Folk duo extraordinaire Corey Ticknor and Murray Evans, as well as the Blues Band BBK. With such talent abounding, a good time was had by all.

Virginia read a short story that she composed just for the occasion entitled A Rose By Any Other Name... Except, Perhaps, Agnes which she just managed to squeak in before a torrential downpoor that ended the show early.

The story starts with a line from the Spring edition of The First Line but is otherwise an entirely original work. To read it check out the short stories link.

Thanks again to Poor Michaels Bookshop for putting on the variety show. Here's hoping they put on more in the future.  

Virginia is proud to say that she finished writing her novel on July 6th 2008 and she is currently in the process of editing the hell out of it. 

There are likely to be a few teaser excerpts posted soon, but we hope for your patience as we work out all of the comma splices, run on sentences and fragments that currently abound in the work.