Vanessa Tafton, Children's Inspirational Author
At 51 years old, Vanessa Trafton is an avid reader of picture books and memoirs. Sometimes she incorporates romance, drama, action, and comedy movies into her entertainment, that is, when she’s not out in the fresh air and sunshine tending to her garden.
The 2nd oldest of six brothers and sisters, Trafton was born and raised in Monkton, Maryland, where she graduated from North Harford High. She spent quite a bit of her 51 years in the food industry, but things changed for her after taking a short course in Writing Stories for Children at Stratford Career Institute. When the course ended, so did her employment, but only briefly; she took a semi-retirement break.
Time away from work was exactly what Tafton needed because it was that break that freed her mind to explore her imagination. The revelation became alive in her and that’s when it happened, one day she just decided to give it a try, “…write a story.” It was as simple as that, and her thoughts became impregnated with stories that had to be birthed. Inspiring children’s story that she wanted to nurture and share with children all over the world.
Trafton published her first children’s illustration titled, Giggle A Little Giggle this year (2017). “A picture book about the importance of laughter in a child's life.” But it was not her first published work and the inspiration was quite different when her first words landed on the pages of a magazine. Facing her greatest antagonist, Vanessa wrote, Give Me Faith, a poem that was published in a True Confessions magazine in 2007, after learning that she had breast cancer. Her faith and the words of that poem helped her to bravely fight against the deadly disease and in 2014, she was cancer free. Life had given her another chance and she wasn’t about to waste it.
As soon as Giggle A Little Giggle was introduced to the world, Trafton hastily went to work on her next children’s inspirational story. But the stories keep coming and she keeps on writing. She has no desires to slow down and is so excited about her soon to release story that’s in production. It’s about a little girl, a real go-getter, who’s driven by the desire to make great education available for children everywhere. This story will inspire children and teach them to never give up, overcome obstacles, and to work hard for what they believe in. When you think of today’s powerful women, this little girl could easily have been one of them when they were her age. There’s no wonder why Tafton is titled as a children’s inspirational author, she truly inspires to encourage children.
Interviewer: Give us an insight into the main character of your latest book. What does he/she do, that is so special?
Trafton: The main character in Giggle A Little Giggle is a young girl who’s full of life. She loves to have fun, enjoys nature and the outdoors, let's not forget she loves to giggle. She's a free spirit. Spunky. Loves life.
What draws Vanessa to writing children’s books? She says it gives her a sense of hope. It’s knowing that with her imagination, she has the ability to reach a child and offer them hope. Even if it’s only one at a time, it’s about the joy she feels in knowing that her words will cause “…a child's eyes to light up, a smile to form and turn into a full-blown laugh as each page is turned.”
As a children’s inspirational author, Trafton is very dedicated to her cause and hopes to write the types of stories that no reader can put down until the last page is read, stories that are on the lips of everyone. With one story published and the 2nd on its way, Tafton has many other stories she’s working on and she’s hoping to reach and help every child she can. That’s why she so unselfishly donated a copy of her 1st book to the Baltimore County Public Library System. Giggle A Little Giggle can be found in the Cockeysville Branch.
As an Indie author, Trafton knows the labor that goes into getting noticed. That labor, she says, that signals other writers like herself, to dig deep within oneself to write a great story in hopes that it will become a bestselling novel and make a difference in the readers’ lives. It is the indie authors who she is most inspired by.
Trafton was asked when she finds the time to write. She says she writes mostly when she gets brainstorms. To secure those thoughts, she always keeps a pen and paper conveniently close by to write inspirational thoughts that come at any given time. She doesn’t work on a plot or write outlines, she just writes until the moment leaves or the story ends, and the story has shaped itself.
Vanessa’s life is just as ordinary as any other. Her weeks are typical and include helping her family with their children (grandnieces and nephews). She is able to put some exercise routines into most of her days and might relax in front of the T.V. or read a book. She even take the time to write reviews about the books she’s read to help other indie authors.
She loves to travel via an automobile because her fear of heights is no match for flying, although she did brace herself for a trip to the Bahamas. Vanessa enjoys living on the Eastern coast, going out to different restaurants and trying new menu items, and attending a weekend family BBQ, she says someone in her family is always hosting one.
Vanessa went into details when she was asked specifically how she relaxes. “Watch a movie, have a glass of Michelob Ultra with a shot of Patron while sitting in my backyard enjoying nature or plain old nothing.” Her approach to relaxation is similar to her writer’s block advice. She says instead of beating yourself up or stressing out, “Take a step back. Go for a walk, have a glass of wine, get a massage or meditate. Whatever clears your mind. Then start fresh and let the words come to you.” Writer’s block is no real challenge for Tafton, but marketing, on the other hand, is the real trial. She has yet to master it but is always researching and doing what she can to get her work noticed.
A country girl at heart, the season “fall” is her favorite time of the year. It allows her to "...search for the perfect pumpkin, experience hayrides, take in the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and pumpkin, all the makings of a Thanksgiving dinner… Bring on fall!” she says, especially Christmas, which is her favorite holiday.
Tafton says that, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s, Little House on The Prairie series is her favorite books. “Just the thought of living in the openness and using lanterns, walking everywhere and getting around with horses and carts, just plain old roughing it is a change of pace. Getting out there and fending for your means of survival and braving the hardships without modern technology is an experience in itself. An adventure.”
Trafton’s favorite motivational phrase is “Believe in yourself.” And she says to aspiring writers, “Be patient. Never give up. Follow that dream. Keep on writing.”
Vanessa would love to connect with you. Look her up on one of her sites below.
