Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.
Recently, we interviewed Veronica Puig about her writing and recently released picture book, Treehouse Rescue, a tender and uplifting book that celebrates empathy, adaptability, and the quiet heroism found in helping others (Read the review here.).
Veronica Puig is the founder of Veca’s Hope Children Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for pediatric cancer and supporting children and families in the fight. She wrote this book, combining both her love of storytelling and advocacy, to honor the resilience of every diagnosed child and extend appreciation for all the miracle workers who care for them. Exploring the navigation to the unseen and unexpected, she hopes to inspire courage and fortitude amongst every patient. All proceeds from this book support the mission of Veca’s Hope Children Foundation.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I am in the process of writing my second and third children’s book that will be part of the series “Change of Plans” in addition to a separate fiction novel.
Do you find writing therapeutic?
Writing is an intensely personal endeavor, one in which the writer and the page surrender to one another, creating a space where bottled-up emotions, chaotic thoughts, and endless mental chatter can unfold into something meaningful, whether as simple as a journal entry or as intricate as a novel. The adventure of writing, the freedom to express, to imagine, and to make believe, is something I find deeply therapeutic.
How many hours a day do you write?
Every day looks a little different, but I like to turn writing into a ritual of sorts. I often change environments, wandering into a coffee shop, settling into a corner, and simply writing whatever flows.
How often you read?
Every night, I indulge in a nightcap of reading a chapter or two before bed. I cherish having that dedicated time carved out for myself; after a long day, there is something deeply comforting about slipping into my pajamas, curling up beneath the covers, and turning to the page where I left off the night before.
What are your favorite books?
My favorite book would probably be the one that first made me fall in love with reading: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Everything Taylor writes feels nothing short of a masterpiece, but this novel in particular taught me what it meant to become completely consumed by a story, racing through chapters with tear-stained pages, bursts of laughter, and margins crowded with exclamation points and hearts. I was so enthralled, in fact, that a flight attendant once stopped to ask what on earth I was reading that had captured me so entirely.
How do you begin a book?
What’s exciting but also frustrating about writing is that you can’t just generate an idea for a book whenever you want to—a good one at least. It doesn’t work like that. I begin a book, whenever the inspiration comes and I try not to fret if it’s taking its time. Once an idea comes to head, I go on full “imagine mode” musing over settings, characters, and more. It’s really just immersing myself in the storyline to then eventually write the first line.
What life experiences have shaped your writing most?
The most valuable influence on my writing has been the experiences my nonprofit has given me through visiting hospitals and meeting children diagnosed with cancer. Through conversations with them, I began to understand how drastically their lives had changed, from attending school each day and celebrating birthdays with friends to suddenly being confined to hospital rooms filled with uncertainty. Hearing their stories inspired me to create one of my own: a story that could offer these children hope and remind them that even when life diverges fromthe path they once imagined, things can still turn out beautifully in the end.
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BookView Review 
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