Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.
Recently, we interviewed Vida Fernández about her writing and her recently released picture book, Scar’s Thanksgiving, The Second Book in the Misadventures of Scar Fernandez, an enchanting, family-centered take on Thanksgiving holiday. (Read the review here.)
Vida is a mother, writer, actor, producer, and fellow reader. She grew up in Passaic, NJ and is proud of her family’s Puerto Rican roots. She earned her undergraduate degree in Theater at New York University. Her love of words and learning led her to accept a teaching position and complete her Masters Degree in Special Education. She taught professionally in a public high school in New Jersey for 11 years.
Vida has two sons and several books and production projects in the works. Recently, Vida performed live in her first stand up comedy show.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have about 10 unpublished and half-finished books across three genres.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing gives me energy. I sometimes use the extra boost it gives me as motivation to complete a workout at home.
What are your favorite books?
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I also enjoy classic children’s books like Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. I have a penchant for British novels and authors. I can dig into a romance a la Katie Fforde or Jill Mansell, just as easily as a Jane Austen classic. I also enjoy crime thrillers by James Paterson and Patricia Cornwell.
What is your favorite childhood book?
I had a few favorites. The one that seems to stand out the most is Are you my mother? by P.D. Eastman
Would you rather read a book or watch television?
I enjoy both for different reasons. When I really want to keep my mind fully occupied, I read a book. I read a long book after every major break up in my life. It was a book that kept me sane during the mass exodus from NYC on 9/11. I was on a long line at Chelsea Piers to get a boat to NJ that day and I read a copy of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather that I bought for $3 from a book table in Washington Sq. Park the week before. Movies and television are part of my daily relaxation. I am a television addict of sorts. When I am not busy with my children, I love to unwind with a ‘rachit’ reality show, romantic comedy or binge a new series.
What inspired the premise of your book?
My childhood Rottweiler, Scar inspired the premise of my book.
Are any of your characters based on real people you know?
The characters are based on myself and my family.
Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why?
The scene where Scar drools on Vida’s school work packet makes me chuckle when I think about it.
What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
I hope readers will smile and think of the quirks and traditions that make their own pets and families unique.
What makes this book important right now?
Thanksgiving and the holiday season are fast approaching. It is always nice to read books with my children that encourage them to be grateful for their family traditions and for the love that they experience when we gather to create lasting memories.
What’s next for you?
I would like to translate this book and Dog Letter (the first in the series) into Spanish.
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BookView Review 
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