♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHANNA RICHARDS, A SOMETIME WRITER AND LONG-TIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS TALENT.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US, AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM "THE BOOKCASE" IS VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V, AND I´M SO HONORED TO WELCOME ITS AUTHOR, INGRID.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I´M SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO FIT US INTO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE.

I KNOW YOU AS AN ATTORNEY, AN ARCHIVIST, AND ALSO AS A COPYRIGHT SPECIALIST.

AND I GUESS MY MOST EXTENSIVE WORK WITH YOU WAS WHEN YOU WERE DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

BUT THIS IS MY REALLY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO YOU AS AN AUTHOR AND PROBABLY FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR AUDIENCE AS INGRID BALLS THE AUTHOR.

>> HI, YES.

I WAS BORN IN ST. CROIX.

I GRADUATED FROM CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE, CAME BACK, TAUGHT MUSIC FOR TWO YEARS AT THE JOHN H. WOODSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

I RETURNED TO THE MAINLANDS.

I WORKED FOR 20 YEARS AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

WHILE I WAS THERE, I ALSO COORDINATED THE U.S.

TERRITORIES AND THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL.

AND THAT WAS AS A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.

BUT I STILL HAD MY TENURED EMPLOYMENT.

AND, AS YOU MENTIONED, IN 2008, I WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN HOME AS A TERRITORY OR DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY ARTS AT THE MUSEUM.

SO, I ACCEPTED, AND I SERVED UNDER TWO GOVERNORS, GOVERNOR YOUNG AND GOVERNOR MAP.

AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY TENURE IN 2017, I RETURNED BACK TO THE MAINLAND, RETIRED, AND JUST DECIDED AFTER THE PANDEMIC I´M JUST GOING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE BOOK.

AND SO IT´S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE INTO ANOTHER SIDE OF MY LIFE.

>> WERE YOU WRITING BEFORE YOU RETIRED, OR WAS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU PICKED UP ONCE YOUR TIME OPENED UP?

>> I´VE BEEN WRITING OFF AND ON ALL MY LIFE.

BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL, UNDER GOVERNOR CYRIL E. KING, THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT EXTENDED TO STUDENTS TO BE TRAINED AS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND WRITERS.

AND THE RESULT WAS A MAGAZINE.

SO, THAT REALLY SPARKED MY INTEREST IN RESEARCH AND LEARNING HOW TO INTERVIEW.

AND FROM THERE, IT WENT ON -- MY INTEREST WAS FURTHER PIQUED WITH VI HISTORY WITH MY TEACHER, WHICH WAS KAREN SIRLAND.

MRS. SIRLAND ALWAYS STRIVED THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBRACING OUR HISTORY, EMBRACING OUR CULTURE, KNOWING WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM.

AND THAT ALWAYS FOLLOWED ME.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V" IS A HISTORY BOOK BECAUSE THERE´S SO MANY ELEMENTS OF HISTORY IN IT?

WOULD YOU CALL IT A HISTORY BOOK?

HOW WOULD YOU QUALIFY WHAT THE READER WILL FIND IN "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V." >> "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V: VIRGIN ISLANDS PRIDE."

SO, IT IS A HISTORY BOOK, BUT IT IS A VERY EMBRACING WAY IN TERMS OF HISTORY.

OFTEN TIMES YOU DON´T WANT TO TELL A CHILD IT´S A HISTORY BOOK BECAUSE THEY´RE LIKE, OH, NOT GOING TO BE INTERESTED.

SO, I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE IT A WHIMSICAL, FUN STORY.

AND THEY´RE LEARNING GEOGRAPHY.

THEY´RE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE HISTORY.

THEY´RE LEARNING CULTURE.

SO MANY THINGS ARE IN THERE.

AND THERE ARE ACTIVITIES FOR THE STUDENTS ONCE THEY READ THE BOOK.

>> RIGHT.

HOW DID YOU SELECT YOUR TITLE?

"VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V"?

WHAT INSPIRED THIS SELECTION OF THE TITLE?

>> MY MOTHER´S NAME IS VIOLET.

VIOLET A. ARMSTRONG BALL.

SO, SHE PASSED AWAY IN 2009.

AND I DECIDED I WANTED TO HONOR HER.

SHE WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED AS A HISTORIAN, CULTURE BEARER.

>> AND YOUR MOTHER WAS AN EDUCATOR.

>> SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR, RETIRED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

AND I SAID, HOW AM I GOING TO DO THAT?

SO, ONE DAY I WAS THINKING, VIOLET, VIRGIN ISLAND, VIENNA CAKE.

>> ANOTHER V. >> A V. AND THEN I THOUGHT, WAIT A MINUTE.

SO, WE HAVE -- AND I SAID, WE HAVE VANDERS, ESPECIALLY BEING FROM FREDERICKS, AND THE CRUISESHIPS ARE COMING IN.

AND WE HAVE THE VENDORS´ MARKET.

>> AND WE HAVE VISITORS.

>> AND WE HAVE VISITORS COMING TO THE ISLAND.

AND OUR ANCESTORS MADE VOYAGES OVER.

I SAID, OKAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

I MIGHT BE ONTO SOMETHING HERE.

SO, I STARTED JUST WRITING ALL THE V WORDS I COULD THINK OF.

AND IT DIDN´T ALL MATERIALIZE IN ONE DAY.

SOMETIMES I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING WOULD POP IN MY MIND.

VANILLA ICE CREAM FROM ARMSTRONG.

SO, IT REALLY TOOK TIME.

>> YOU HAD THE LETTER FIRST BEFORE THE STORY?

SO THE LETTER DROVE THE STORY?

>> YES.

SO, THE WORDS DROVE THE STORY.

BECAUSE AS I CAME UP WITH ABOUT 52 TO 60 WORDS, PEOPLE, PLACES, OR THINGS WITH THE LETTER V, THEN I SAID, HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE FORMULATED INTO A STORY?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU CAN´T GO FROM WHO WE ARE BEFORE SAYING WHERE WE ARE.

SO, THAT´S WHERE I STARTED FORMULATING, OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO GIVE THE GEOGRAPHY IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE.

>> WHEN YOU STARTED PUTTING YOUR STORY TOGETHER, HOW INFLUENCED WERE YOU BY YOUR EXPERIENCES AS A VIRGIN ISLANDER?

>> OH, GREATLY INFLUENCED BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH MY MOTHER DRAGGING ME EVERYWHERE, TO CULTURAL EVENTS, TO OTHER FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES THAT SHE WORKED WITH, DELMA AND DORIS, RIGHT BEAGLES.

I COULD JUST GO ON AND NAME -- LEONA WATSON.

>> SO, STORY TELLERS.

>> STORY TELLERS, YEAH.

SO, THOSE WERE PEOPLE THAT I GREW UP AROUND AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO.

AND THEY SHARED STORIES OR I´D JUST LISTEN.

SOMETIMES I JUST SAT ON THE PORCH AND LISTENED AND REALLY EMBRACED ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL STORIES.

AND THAT REALLY INFLUENCED ME.

>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST SAY TO YOURSELF OR START CALLING YOURSELF AN AUTHOR?

>> I DON´T THINK -- NOT UNTIL RECENTLY.

>> REALLY?

>> EVEN THOUGH THE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN 2019, THEN OF COURSE WE HAD THE PANDEMIC.

AND JUST RECENTLY I´VE BEEN INVITED TO A LOT MORE BOOK EVENTS AND BOOK SIGNINGS, EVEN THOUGH I´VE HAD A FEW BOOK SIGNINGS BEFORE.

BUT I´VE BEEN PRESENTING ON THE MAINLAND AT BOOK FESTIVALS.

SO, THAT´S WHERE IT´S SINKING IN.

OKAY.

AUTHOR.

>> HOW MUCH OF "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V" IS YOUR STORY?

>> A GOOD BIT OF IT.

IT´S A HYBRID BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY MOTHER.

A LOT OF IT´S INFLUENCED BY MY GRAND MOTHER AND SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES BOTH MY MOTHER AND I HAD.

SO, GOING TO VENDORS´ MARKET AND DOING MANY THINGS IN THE BOOK.

GOING TO -- MY MOTHER LOVED ANIMALS AND SO DO I.

SO, WE HAD A TOY POODLE.

SO, WE WOULD GO TO THE VET, THE VETERINARIAN.

YOU KNOW, SO THEN ALSO LOOKING AT -- >> SPEAKING OF GOING TO THE VET, WHEN I LOOKED AT YOUR ILLUSTRATION AND WE´RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ILLUSTRATION, IT REMINDED ME SO MUCH OF THE LATE DR. EUGENE PETERSON.

>> DEFINITELY.

IT WAS.

MY WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATOR, OH, HE WAS A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH.

IT WAS HIS FIRST ATTEMPT AT BEING A BOOK ILLUSTRATOR.

I TOLD HIM, THAT´S OKAY BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT BEING AN AUTHOR WRITING A CHILDREN´S BOOK.

AND SO WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME TOGETHER TRYING TO GET THE IMAGES TO GO ALONG WITH THE STORY.

AND THAT´S A WHOLE NOTHER PROCESS.

BUT GETTING BACK TO THE LATE DOC, YES.

AND I WOULD HAVE TO JUST SHARE WHEN DOC SAW THAT, HE SAID, BUT INGRID, YOU HAVE RUNNING OUT OF MY BUSINESS, NOT COMING IN.

SO, I SAID, YES, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THE DOG IS STEALING THE VAN GOGH THAT WAS IN YOUR OFFICE.

SO, THE DOG RAN OUT WITH A PAINTING IN HIS MOUTH.

>> AND THAT´S HOW YOU BROUGHT IN THE VAN GOGH.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND THAT´S ANOTHER V WORD.

YEAH.

>> BUT HOW DID YOU CONNECT?

YOU´RE A FIRST-TIME AUTHOR.

YOU NEEDED AN ILLUSTRATOR.

SO, IT ENDED UP BEING -- YOU´RE A FIRST-TIME ILLUSTRATOR.

HOW DID YOU GUYS CONNECT?

>> SO, I JUST HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY ILLUSTRATORS AND PAINTERS AND ARTISTS LOCALLY.

AND I JUST KEPT TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR THIS PARTICULAR BOOK BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE WHAT YOU ARE ENVISIONING IN YOUR MIND.

AND THAT´S NOT ALWAYS EASY.

SO, I WOULD TELL -- I WANT VIOLET TO BE LOOKING OUT FROM HER HOUSE TO THE PIER OR I WANT THIS SCENE OR I WANT A VETERAN OR I NEED SOMETHING TO BE SHOWN OR DEMONSTRATED IN IT.

AND I WOULDN´T TELL HIM HOW BECAUSE THAT´S WHERE HIS CREATIVITY IS GOING TO COME IN.

SO, THE FUN PART WAS I WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU NEED THIS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS PARTICULAR SECTION IN THE STORY.

AND HE WOULD COME BACK AND HE WOULD SAY, OKAY, SO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE.

>> HOW MANY ROUNDS OF EDITS BOTH IN YOUR WRITING AND WITH THE ILLUSTRATOR?

HOW MANY ROUNDS OF EDITS AND REFINING DID YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THIS?

>> I´M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THREE.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT AT FIRST.

AND THEN STEWART WAS VERY, I MEAN, ABLE TO CHANGE CERTAIN THINGS.

LIKE, WHEN I SAW ONE SCENE CAME BACK AND IT APPEARED THAT VIOLET WAS ON A HOUSEBOAT LOOKING IN AT FREDERICK, I SAID, EVEN IF SHE´S ON A CRUISE SHIP OR SOMETHING.

NO, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE, THE SCENERY.

SO, HE WENT BACK AND SO NOW WE HAVE HER LIKE HE´S UP IN THE HILLS OF LAGRANGE LOOKING OVER.

BUT YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW FROM THE ENTIRE BOOK THE -- HOW THE BOOK IS PUT TOGETHER THAT THIS IS A FIRST-TIME EFFORT FOR EITHER OF YOU.

BUT WITH THIS -- WITH THIS BOOK, WHAT MOTIVATED YOU?

YOU SAID YOU WOULD WORK ON IT IN BITS AND PIECES?

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO JUST KEEP PUSHING THROUGH?

>> DEFINITELY I WANTED TO PUSH THROUGH BECAUSE I WANT TO HONOR MY MOTHER.

THAT WAS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT.

AND I WANTED TO CONTINUE WHAT SHE WANTED, WHICH WAS TO TEACH VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY, TO HAVE MORE STUDENTS APPRECIATE WHERE THEY´RE FROM.

>> DO YOU FEEL YOU´VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT WITH THIS BOOK?

>> I DO.

I DO.

I THINK I´VE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM IT.

I´M PROUD OF IT.

I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD OF IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHY A CHILDREN´S BOOK?

OF ALL THE DIFFERENT GENRES YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN, NON-FICTION, GRAPHIC NOVEL, WHY A CHILDREN´S BOOK?

>> I´M A BIG KID AT HEART.

I LOVE TO HAVE FUN.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I LIKE TO TEACH.

AND I -- AFTER TEACHING AT JOHN WOODSON, I TAUGHT MUSIC AT JOHN WOODSON.

SO, I REALLY ENJOY THE VIBRANCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE.

YOU JUST PUT INPUT, INPUT, INPUT IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON´T INVEST SO MUCH IN OUR YOUTH ANYMORE.

AND I THINK THAT´S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO, IF I FOUND THE WAY TO CREATE EXCITEMENT AND THE YEARN TO LEARN, THAT´S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

>> SO, NOW YOU ARE IN THE CANON OF VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS.

BUT WHAT TYPE OF VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS WERE YOU EXPOSED TO?

YOU TALKED ABOUT CERTAINLY BEING EXPOSED TO GREAT STORY TELLERS IN THE ORAL TRADITION, DELTA, LEONE NA WATSON.

BUT WHAT TYPE OF AUTHORS WERE YOU EXPOSED TO, VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS?

>> NONE AT THE TIME THAT I CAN RECALL.

SO, MOST OF THE HISTORY WAS GIVEN THROUGH ORAL HISTORY AND THE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, SITTING ON GRANNY´S PORCH AND LISTENING TO ALL OF THE STORIES.

SITTING ON MRS. DORIS´ PORCH WITH MY MOM HEARING ALL THE STORIES.

DEFINITELY WITH LEONA WATSON, WITH ALL THE WONDER CARUSO.

JUST ANYWHERE.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A C IS FOR CARUSO.

>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

SO, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE THE SPARK OF ANOTHER BOOK.

>> BU IN YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY, YOU STARTED OFF AS A MUSIC TEACHER AND ENDED UP AS A COPYRIGHT SPECIALIST.

AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THOSE TWO REALLY DON´T HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON.

TAKE US FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

>> OKAY.

SO, THE MUSIC BACKGROUND ACTUALLY THEN GREW INTO A LEGAL BACKGROUND AND GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL.

WAS A SPECIALTY IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW.

AND THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, THEIR MUSIC -- THE PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION AND COPYRIGHT SPECIALISTS ARE SPECIALISTS IN PROTECTING WORKS.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT LEGAL BACKGROUND AND THE MUSIC BACKGROUND.

SO PLUS THAT´S A VERY ODD COMBINATION, BUT THAT´S HOW IT´S LANDED.

SO, FOR ME, THAT WAS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE -- WE HAVE SO MUCH CREATIVITY AND WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT OUR WORK.

>> AND WE SEE THAT EVEN MORE NOW.

YOU KNOW, THERE´S SO MUCH CONTENT OUT THERE.

THERE´S CONTENT BEING CREATED EVERY DAY.

IT´S ON THE INTERNET.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE´S SO MUCH.

BUT THEN WE ALSO HEAR THESE TREMENDOUS LEGAL BATTLES WHERE PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THEIR VERY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IS FAVORITE PASSAGE FROM "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V." >> OKAY.

I HAVE JUST THE PASSAGE.

VIOLET LIKES TO LOOK THROUGH THE LARGE WINDOW IN HER HOUSE BECAUSE SHE CAN SEE THE PIER IN HER TOWN.

VESSELS THAT TRAVEL FROM FAR AWAY PLACES BRING VISITORS TO THE ISLAND.

VIOLET LIKES TO WALK AROUND THE VENDOR BOOTHS NEAR THE PIER.

SOME VENDORS SELL LOCAL ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND OTHERS SELL FRUITS LIKE MANGOS, SUGAR APPLES, GUAVA, SAUERKRAUT, COCONUT, AND VEGETABLES THAT GROW ON THE ISLAND.

MANY ISLANDERS ARE VEGAN.

DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VEGAN AND A VEGETARIAN?

A VEGAN IS A PERSON WHO DOES NOT EAT OR USE ANIMAL PRODUCTS.

SOME VEGETARIANS EAT DAIRY PRODUCTS AND EAT EGGS AND ALSO USE ANIMAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS LEATHER AND FUR.

>> THAT´S A LOT OF V WORDS.

>> THAT´S A LOT OF V WORDS.

>> BUT TOLD IN SUCH A RELATABLE WAY.

SO, EVEN THOUGH WE´RE LEARNING SOMETHING, I DON´T FEEL LIKE I´M BEING BOMBARDED.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT´S -- THAT´S HOW I´M INFUSING THE HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY -- >> BUT I´M NOT YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

>> RIGHT.

BUT YOU ALSO ARE LEARNING.

>> YES.

JUST LIKE ONE OF THE OTHER -- SOME OF THE OTHER WORDS IN THERE.

NOW YOU´VE LEARNED A DANISH WORD SAYING WELCOME.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DANES AND THE DANISH WORD FOR WELCOME, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DANISH OWNERSHIP OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OUR PURCHASE.

>> AND THE TRANSFER.

>> AND THE TRANSFER.

>> BUT NOT BOMBARDING THE STUDENT.

BUT THEY´RE LEARNING.

THEY´RE LEARNING THE INFORMATION.

>> THROUGH THE LEARN ZONE.

>> SO, IT´S REALLY A LOT OF HISTORY IN THERE, A LOT OF FACTUAL INFORMATION.

BUT IT´S NOT OVERBEARING.

AND OF COURSE WE SPEAK OF THE MILITARY VETERANS AND THE VIOLIN.

>> WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MANY OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO SERVE.

>> RIGHT.

VIOLET HAS A LOT GOING ON IN HER LIFE.

>> SHE SURE DOES.

>> SHE SURE DOES.

IN TELLING THE STORY ABOUT VIOLET AND IN TELLING YOUR OWN STORY, YOUR OWN, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL TRAJECTORY, WHY DID YOU FIND COPYRIGHTING AND PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, BEING A MUSICIAN, NUMBER ONE.

MY MOM WAS A CHURCH ORGANIST.

SO, I GREW UP IN A MUSICAL FAMILY.

I HAVE ANOTHER COUSIN -- TWO COUSINS.

ONE WAS A DRUMMER AND A BASS PLAYER.

VICTOR GASKIN AND DENNIS CHARLES WAS A DRUMMER.

SO, LEARNING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT YOUR WORK ALWAYS SPARKED BY INTEREST.

AND AS I FINISHED SCHOOL AND LEARNED MORE, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT THE LIBRARY CAME UP IN THE PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION.

AND THAT WAS JUST A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE.

UNFORGETTABLE.

>> WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE AUTHOR -- MAYBE NOT CALL THEM AVERAGE.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR AUDIENCE WHO ARE -- WHO MAY FEEL THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

AND FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE THINKING THAT, ONE DAY I MAY WANT TO WRITE A BOOK OR A SHORT STORY OR WRITE AN OPERA, JUST, YOU KNOW, CREATE SOME TYPE OF WORK, WHERE SHOULD THEY START WITH PROTECTING THEMSELVES?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THEY START BY PUTTING THAT IDEA, THAT CREATIVE WORK DOWN.

IF IT´S LYRICS, IF IT´S MUSIC, IF IT´S A POEM, IF IT´S ARTWORK, JUST PAINT IT.

YOU HAVE TO PICK YOUR PEN UP, PICK THE PAINTBRUSH UP.

DO IT.

ONCE YOU´VE CREATED IT AND YOU´VE FIXED IT IN TANGIBLE FORM, IT´S ALREADY COPYRIGHTED AT THAT POINT BECAUSE IT´S SPRUNG INTO LIFE.

AS SOON AS YOU FIXED IT AND CREATED IT, YOU PUT IT ON THE INTERNET, YOU PUT IT OUT THERE.

IF IT´S JUST IN YOUR HEAD, YOU CANNOT COPYRIGHT AN IDEA.

IF YOU SAY, THAT WAS MY IDEA.

YOU STOLE MY IDEA.

THAT´S NOT GOING TO CUT IT.

>> FOR OUR, AGAIN, WOULD-BE AUTHORS OUT THERE, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE TO THEM BE?

>> IF YOU JOURNAL, IF YOU JUST USE YOUR PHONE, PUT YOUR IDEA ON PAPER.

AFTER THAT, BUILD AN OUTLINE.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TO GO?

>> DID YOU DO THAT WITH "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V"?

>> I SURE DID.

I SURE DID.

THAT´S THE ONLY WAY I COULD MANAGE ABOUT 50 V WORDS.

I SAID, OKAY, I NEEDED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

I NEED THAT TOGETHER.

DOES THIS FLOW?

AND IT´S REALLY REORGANIZING AND JUGGLING IT AND GOING BACK TO IT, WALKING AWAY FROM IT, COMING BACK TO IT.

YEAH.

>> SO, WITH YOUR OUTLINE AND WITH THE REFINING, WHAT METHOD DID YOU USE?

DID YOU TYPE IT ON YOUR PHONE?

ARE YOU A PEN AND PAPER PERSON OR GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR LAPTOP PERSON?

LET´S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

>> THE PROCESS?

>> MM-HM.

>> OH, YOU´RE GOING TO LAUGH AT THAT.

MY PROCESS IS USING POWERPOINTS.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

>> SO, YOU WROTE AN ENTIRE BOOK ON POWER POINT?

>> UH-HUH.

I DID EACH SECTION.

AND THEN YOU SPLIT UP ALMOST LIKE YOU ENVISION WHAT THE BOOK IS GOING TO BE.

AND THEN YOU USE SLIDE SORTER TO SHIFT.

>> DID YOU HAVE YOUR >> NO.

>> -- OR WERE YOU JUST CREATING THE TEXT.

>> CREATING THE TEXT AND THEN PUTTING WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE ILLUSTRATIONS TO BE.

>> OKAY.

>> AND SO JUST SAYING, OKAY, THIS IS A BOX WITH A PICTURE OF WHATEVER IT IS THAT I WANT.

BUT I WANT THE STORY TO FLOW.

THE STORY HAS TO FLOW FIRST.

AND SO THEN YOU MIX AROUND YOUR SLIDES AND GET IT TO FLOW.

>> ONCE YOU HAD ALL YOUR SLIDES TOGETHER, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO ACTUALLY START POPPING IN YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS?

>> WELL, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH STEWART AND I WITH THE ILLUSTRATIONS.

SOMETIMES HE -- BASED ON WHAT I SAID, HE SAID, OKAY, I HAVE THE PERFECT ILLUSTRATION FOR THAT IN MY MIND.

SO, IT TOOK HIM A LITTLE WHILE TO CREATE IT.

AND HE WOULD COME AND SAY, WELL, HERE -- I HAVE THIS SCENE OR THIS PART OF THE STORY BOARD.

OH, OKAY, GREAT.

OKAY, WELL, I WANT THIS TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE OF WHATEVER.

SO, HE´LL GO BACK AND REFINE IT.

AND THEN WE´LL COME BACK AT IT AGAIN.

AND I SAY, OKAY, OKAY, THAT LOOKS GOOD.

SO, FINALLY WHEN I GOT THEM ALL, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PLUGGING THEM IN -- >> DID YOU WORK WITH A PUBLISHER?

DID YOU SELF-PUBLISH?

DID YOU WORK WITH AN EDITOR?

OR WAS THIS ALL INGRID?

>> NO, I WENT TO A SELF-PUBLISHING COMPANY CALLED OUTSKIRTS PRESS.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEY KIND OF HOLD YOUR HAND ALONG THE WAY AND GIVE YOU TIDBITS AND TEACH YOU.

BUT THEY´RE A WONDERFUL PUBLISHING COMPANY.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND?

BECAUSE NOW THERE ARE SO MANY PATHWAYS TO PUBLISHING THAT DIDN´T EXIST YEARS AGO.

SO, FOR THE WOULD BE AUTHOR OUT THERE, WOULD YOU SAY JUST TRY ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE´S SO MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE?

>> YEAH, IT´S GOING TO BE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WHAT THAT PERSON -- DO YOUR RESEARCH AND EXPLORE.

TALK TO MANY DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

THERE ARE OTHER SELF-PUBLISHING COMPANIES OUT THERE.

TRY TO SEE WHAT´S THE BEST FIT FOR YOU, WHETHER YOU THINK THEY´RE RECEPTIVE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET WHAT YOU WANT ACHIEVED.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> I HAD -- I WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH THEM BECAUSE I WANTED, OF COURSE, VIOLET, I WANTED THE BOOK COVER TO BE WITH SOME PURPLE IN IT.

>> YEAH.

>> I THEN -- AS YOU NOTICED IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTENT, IT HAS A PURPLE BACKGROUND THERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE WORDS -- THE V WORDS START WITH A PURPLE LETTER.

SO, ALL OF THAT WAS SOME KIND OF -- >> YOU HAD A VISION.

>> I HAD A VISION.

AND I HAD TO GET THE PUBLISHER TO DO IT.

AND THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE AND WARM IN DOING WHAT I WANTED, WHICH MADE THEM A GOOD FIT FOR ME.

>> SO, NOW THAT YOU´VE RETIRED AND YOU HAVE ONE BOOK UNDER YOUR BELT, ARE YOU WRITING FULL TIME?

IS THIS YOUR FULL-TIME OCCUPATION NOW?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, I´M DOING MANY THINGS IN RETIREMENT, WHICH IS ON MY BUCKET LIST SO TO SPEAK.

WRITING MORE BOOKS, YES.

CHILDREN´S BOOKS.

I´M ALSO WORKING ON OTHER BOOKS THAT WILL SOON COME.

AND I´M PRESENTING MOSTLY.

I LIKE TEACHING.

SO, I´M GIVING WORKSHOPS ON COPYRIGHT BASICS.

I´M PRESENTING THAT INFORMATION.

>> EVERY WOUB AUTHOR NEEDS TO KNOW.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

EXACTLY.

I´M HAVING FUN FREELANCING AND DOING WHATEVER I WANT TO DO NOW, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IT´S GREAT THAT "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V" IS AN EXPRESSION OF VIRGIN ISLANDS PRIDE, SHARES OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE, AND TIDBITS OF KNOWLEDGE AND FUN.

I ENJOYED READING IT.

>> THE THING I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO GET FROM THE BOOK OR THE CHILD THAT´S READING IT IS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF READING IT, I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND YOU´RE FROM A UNIQUE PLACE, UNIQUE HISTORY, UNIQUE CULTURE.

EMBRACE IT.

BE VERY PROUD.

BE A PROUD VIRGIN ISLANDER.

AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT EVERYWHERE WITH YOU.

BE AN AMBASSADOR OF SORTS.

>> AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT NOTE TO END THIS INTERVIEW ON WITH VIRGIN ISLANDS PRIDE.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, INGRID BALL.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "VIOLET LOVES THE LETTER V" OR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED DURING THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR PROGRAM AT WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS, AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫