Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Riley.
Hi Vanessa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’m the daughter of a math-loving Caribbean storyteller and a would-be literary scholar. Our home swirled with numbers, rhymes, and passages from Baldwin and Thoreau.
The daughter grew up to be an engineer but faithfully wrote every spare minute. I am very proud to say that I am now a full-time writer and enjoy delivering stories steeped in the rich history of the intersection of the West Indies and Europe.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m the daughter of a math-loving Caribbean storyteller and a would-be literary scholar. Our home swirled with numbers, rhymes, and passages from Baldwin and Thoreau. The daughter grew up to be an engineer but faithfully wrote every spare minute. I am very proud to say that I am now a full-time writer and enjoy delivering stories steeped in the rich history of the intersection of the West Indies and Europe.
What writer doesn’t have a few bumps in the road? My career is long enough to have survived a time when publishing did not have a seat at the table for stories centering on Black women in history that showcased power and rich love stories instead of pain and trauma. I’m very pleased the times have changed.
The buying public now wants to read different stories, ones where everyone can have a happy ever after or can see leaders that look like them, even in a historical context, from which they can draw inspiration.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I was a full-time engineer, working for manufacturers like General Motors, telecom, and startups, and even doing special projects for NASA and Hewlett-Packard.
Today, I’m a full-time writer, but I use my engineering skills to aid in my research, drain databases of precious knowledge, and always answer questions of how and why. This approach adds depth to my novels and makes readers feel like they are a part of the story.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was, and am, a true library card-carrying nerd. Some things you never grow out of. Some things become your secret superpower. Being an observant nerd, constantly questioning and looking for answers makes me a better writer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vanessariley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessarileyauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanessaRileyAuthor
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VanessaRiley
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessarileyauthor
Image Credits
Vanessariley.com
