According to a 2010 survey by fantasy and novelist Jim C. Hines, the average age of American authors making their debut is 36.2. But the story of Virginia Miller Reeves, a Dallas socialite and former teacher, proves it’s never too late to pursue your dreams – she made her debut as an author this year at “over 80.”

Although she kept her exact age a secret, she openly shared her feelings in her first novel. Once in a blue moon. Reeves draws inspiration from her own childhood in Oklahoma to tell the story of a young cotton farmer’s daughter struggling to make ends meet in the 1930s, still reeling from the drought of the 1930s as the country emerges from World War II. While Allied troops fight the Nazis overseas, the farmer faces mounting debt and a critical decision at home: fight to save his farm or find solace in the bottle?

Shortly after the almost sold-out first edition, Garden & Weapon We caught up with this remarkable author to talk about her story, the challenges of book illustration, and her unwavering “never doubt” spirit that shines through both on her pages and in her personality.

Some of this book is real life, some is fiction, which got me thinking about the opening scene. It begins with a little girl, Maggie, receiving a brand new red pencil from her father. She is so happy. Every day at school she had to beg the teacher for a pencil because her family is too poor to buy their own, and now she finally has one. But then her father, tipsy once again, offers to sharpen it with his knife, and he chops it down to a heartbreaking stub. Did this really happen to you?

The story about the red pen is true. And I just knew that I had to write about this core memory.

No offense, but you’re over 80 and living a comfortable life. Why are you writing your first novel now?

I’ve always loved books and stories and I’ve always written stories. You know how writers are. You scribble and scribble and write a few sentences and then they’re not right. And then you keep going and then you come back and then you think: close. I did that for many years. And then something incredible happened. My daughter heard about a great writers’ conference called Sirenland, which was being held in Positano, Italy. I applied and was accepted.

Wow!

I got there and was the oldest of all, but that got me an agent.

When was that?

About twelve years ago.

That was a long time ago. What made you decide to go ahead and publish this?

“No doubts” was a real mantra in my family. And I went through some pretty dark times. But I felt I had an obligation to tell this story. I’m going to do it no matter how hard it is, no matter how many times I get rejected by publishers, no matter how many times I feel bad about it. I’m going to persevere. And I’m not bragging about myself, but I’m just saying that the idea of ​​not giving up was just born in me.

You also insisted on illustrating the introduction to each chapter with engravings by artist Kyle Hobratschk. Why did you want to include these?

I originally wanted to use period songs at the beginning of each chapter, but my editor said it would break the rhythm of the story. Then I came across Kyle’s work, and it reminded me of Thomas Hart Benton’s art of the 1930s. But nobody wanted it. You know, a publisher doesn’t want the author telling them what to do, especially an author my age. So my book sat on the desk of one of the big five publishers for a long time until they said we couldn’t do it with illustrations. I said, “Well, we’re not doing it unless it’s a complete package.” Fortunately, Will Evans, the publisher of Deep Vellum, disagreed.

This perseverance is reflected in your characters. Other books are about the Okies who left during the Dust Bowl, but your story is different because it focuses on the reality of those who stayed behind.

I really wanted to capture the voice of that time. During World War II, things were so difficult in Oklahoma after the drought and the depression. But there was also the perseverance of the human spirit of people who have nothing but don’t give up.

Kind of like a new author I heard about. What’s next?

Kyle and I are working on a children’s picture book with all its beautiful illustrations set in the same time period. After that, I’m working on a lot of stories.

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