Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a high school math and science teacher and have been blessed to live a life full of adventure! One of the best compliments I have ever received is when several of my students recently agreed that they “want to be Mrs. Daise when they grow up!” They hear of my many fun adventures living on a sailboat, swimming with whale sharks, studying sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, and traveling to various countries, and they see that at the age of 53, I published my first books. I tell them, “See, being ‘old’ can still be exciting!”
I owe my adventurous spirit to my parents who were always taking us off on some fun adventure, whether it was moving to Nigeria to teach for two years, fossil hunting, camping, finding edible wild plants or creating homemade radio shows, growing up with them was full of creative pursuits, and to my husband, Lanny, who is always up for something new! He also recently wrote a great sailing novel, “Seeking the Green Flash”, which is LOOSELY based on our life aboard the “Lazy Daise” (good name, huh?)
At present I have published two young adult novellas, “A Thin Strip of Green” and “Convolutions” (which is also available in Spanish. I also have two children’s picture books, “From, Seanna” which is available as a picture book in English and in Spanish and also as a coloring book, and finally, “Geography Studies with Animal Buddies” which can also be viewed in its entirety on YouTube. Check it out! It’s free 🙂
I’d love for you to visit my website www.vashtidaise.com
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Geography Studies with Animal Buddies” was inspired by a desire to make learning the fun-filled experience it should be. So you know how some parents blend up zucchini to hide it in spaghetti sauce so their kids will enjoy eating veggies? Well….with rhyming verse kids are introduced to 22 different countries with a colorful iconic scene, an animal and food from the country, the country’s flag and its location on the map. I also have qr codes for each country on the print version which lead to some really cool videos portraying interesting parts of the culture.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think it’s unusual to be buried in dogs while writing…do you?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well I love fantasy and science fiction in general. I adore a well written story…it has to have seemingly effortless flow, or I just can’t finish it no matter how good the idea is. I tend to shy away from anything too realistic, however, as I enjoy the escape.
What are you working on now?
I am currently half way finished with a sequel to “Convolutions” which never meant to have a sequel, but my daughter’s sixth grade class begged me for one… and I am nearly finished illustrating the United States version of “Geography Studies with Animal Buddies”.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That is what I am trying to figure out right now 🙂 I’ve only done a couple of promotions, although I’ve had some book signings at a local book store which went quite well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t ever rush your story in your excitement. Read it and put it aside and reread it over an over. Find areas that sound stiff, or don’t fit with the style. So many people want to use the word “myriad”, for example. They think it sounds cool, but it gets overused and misused. Add and subtract and keep perfecting it and THEN get an editor to make corrections, and even if your book never makes it big, it is still a great thrill to hold your book in your hand.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Creative minds are never bored…I guess that doesn’t necessarily qualify as advice. It’s more of a wise saying, but my mom said that to me before I learned to never tell her, “I’m bored.” Any time I think I might be “bored”, I figure out a creative pursuit. Thanks, Mom.
What are you reading now?
I’ve got three books going right now. I’m rereading a Dean Koontz, I’ve got a fun dragon shapeshifter novel and a time travel love story (one’s a hardcover, one’s on my kindle and the other on my phone)
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m not sure yet, but if I start to feel “bored” I’ll think of something 🙂
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Well, since I am limited to 4, I would probably choose Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives (they are both excellent AND super thick), Dean Koontz’s “Lightning”, “Tick Tock” or “The Face” and then a really big blank journal, because I would absolutely have to have something to write on!
Author Websites and Profiles
Vashti Daise Website
Vashti Daise Amazon Profile