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| Miami Valley woman pens her 1st novel Fiction writer also composes music By Helen Bebbington For the Dayton Daily News Click here for link to article online The main character for La Leyenda was part of author Virginia Abernathy's imagination years before her book was ever published. The idea for the story about James Henry, a young man who endures a hard life, came to Abernathy, 19, while she was in eighth grade. "I started writing it, then just stopped," she said. "I kept the idea in my head." "I hope that it is very inspirational," Abernathy said. "I hope that they (readers) realize that nothing is impossible, no matter how hard life is. That's what James Henry does." La Leyenda is Spanish for The Legend, which is what James Henry grows up to become. He overcomes problems caused by his father, who abandons the family and his mother, who is an abusive drunk, to become a renowned trumpet player. When the reader meets James Henry, the adults closest to him have already damaged his life. However, an older brother and a girlfriend help James Henry, who turns to music. Abernathy said the book should appeal to both teens and adults. Abernathy's life in Beavercreek was not fraught with the problems that plague her main character, she said. To create his fictional difficulties, she drew on the experiences of others, and her imagination. "My mom was wondering how I made it so realistic," she said. "I've never had that experience before. Some people have, and they've told me about it." Abernathy graduated from Beavercreek High School in 2004. She was involved in the school marching, concert and jazz bands. She has been writing since middle school. Although her interest in writing is strong, Abernathy does not have as much time to write as she would like, in part because her interests are so varied. A sophomore at Ohio Northern University, Abernathy is majoring in both music and environmental studies. Although she plays the flute, piano and saxophone, she enjoys both performing and composing. With so many interests and the demands of a double major it is not surprising a few more years were needed before Abernathy finished her first book. Her father, Frank Abernathy, has taken up the task of helping her promote her book, and scheduling book signings when his daughter isn't focusing on her studies. She is working on another story. That story is about a smart, savvy girl sent to an orphanage. The adults are doing something illegal, and the girl, who doesn't yet have a name, tries to find out what is going on. What happens next to the young girl is something Abernathy will continue to work on. Abernathy's La Leyenda, which was published by an online company, can be found at Barnes & Noble Booksellers near the Dayton Mall. It can also be found online. For more information about the book or about Virginia Abernathy, visit her website at www.VirginiaAbernathy.com. |
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