Five Things You Didn't Know About: Vonda Skelton, author of 'Seeing Through the Lies'

Five Things You Didn't Know About:
Vonda Skelton, author of 'Seeing Through the Lies' and the 'Bitsy' series

In our Five Things series, this article focuses on Christian fiction author, Vonda Skelton. 

From personal experience, I find that Vonda Skelton is engaging, authentic in personality and unabashedly Christian in her teaching.

I discovered much of this by interaction with her on Twitter and Facebook. You can too! See the links below. 

I also attended an event where she was the featured speaker.  What an enjoyable evening!  I cannot tell you how much we all enjoyed ourselves.

During the evening, Vonda found time to encourage a yet-not-published friend of mine with the perserverance God gave her to pursure her writing career.  What a blessing.

If you haven't read 'Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe', you should pick it up. I am currently using it for the Ladies Bible Study at my church.

In recent years, Vonda completed a series of children's novels that include 'Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island', 'Bitsy and the Mystery at Amelia Island', and her newest novel 'Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island.'

In addition to her writing and speaking, Vonda also speaks at writing conferences. Visit her website, pick up one of her books, attend one of her events and you find her to be just as I've described.

And now, the 'Five Things You Didn't Know About Vonda Skelton'... 

1.     "I used to sing country music on TV on Saturday mornings."

Yes, when I was 12 years old, I was in “The Ramblers,” a group of men who traveled around upstate SC, playing and singing country music. I was “discovered” when I sang and danced to “Alley Cat” during my dance recital. (The leader of the singing group was there because his daughter took dance, too.)

This sweet man took me under his wing, giving me free guitar lessons so I could play and sing on TV about hound dogs and broken hearts. And with the fringed vest, cowboy hat, and boots, I certainly looked the part! We traveled around the region—yes, the old men and me—and entertained at granges, country music shows, and Saturday night singings.

They were thrilled to have Little Miss Vonda Skinner on the stage with them! And a couple of times, I even got paid! :-) There was only one problem—I hated country music! 

2.     "I called and made my own optometric appointment when I was a child." 

When I was about 12 or 13, my best friend, Beth, got glasses. I put them on, just to see what I looked like in them…and suddenly, I could see! I had no idea that you were supposed to be able to see leaves on trees! I told my mother than I needed glasses, but she thought I just wanted them because my friend had them.

So while she was at work, I got out the phone book, looked up the number for the local optometrist, and made myself an appointment. Then I told my mother what I’d done. She was so mad! But her feelings quickly changed when the doctor assured her that I needed glasses. I few years later, I was the first person in my school to get contact lenses.

3.     "I was the only girl on an all-boys’ baseball team."

I was a full-fledged tomboy as a little girl. Yes, I had to wear dresses to school—or anywhere else, for that matter—but in my heart, I was barefooted and wearing pants or shorts.

When I was in the 3rd and 4th grades, we had intramural-type softball teams for the boys and cheerleading for the girls. While all my girlfriends where cheering on the sidelines, I was sending the ball into the air, running the bases faster than any of the boys, and guarding first base with my life. At one time, I was even the team captain.

4.     "My dad was in the oil business and I used to live near Paris."

I told those two lies when I was in 4th grade and I had to move to a new school in the middle of the year because my parents had separated. But I rationalized that they weren’t REALLY lies…after all, my dad drove a heating oil truck and I used to live at the base of Paris Mountain in Greenville, SC. (See—I was writing fiction even then!)

5.     "I got 63 rejections before ever getting anything published.”

Yes, I wrote for many years, trying my hand at books, magazine articles, plays, and devotions. But I didn’t have a single credit to my name until I had 63 rejections. I often wonder what if I had stopped at 63? What if I’d never sent that 64th query? After all, most wannabe writers get 5-10 rejections and quit, thinking they’ve given it a reasonable try.

The truth is, I’m sure my quitting wouldn’t have made a huge difference to the reading community, but I promise you, it would have made a huge difference in my life. So my word to any wannabe writers out there is this: You can’t quit until you’ve had 64 rejections. When you get your 64th—and if you’re still determined to quit—I’ll give you permission. But I can promise you, one day you’ll wish you hadn’t.

So there you have it. Vonda Skelton, the country music singer (perhaps even optometrist) wannabe not afraid to play ball with the big boys or utilize her grand imagination even in face of 63 rejection notices! 

Want to know more? Below are some links that can get you connected with Vonda, a great author and very kind friend.

Visit her website for the latest news on her books.
Follow her blog for updates on what she's been up to.
Become a fan on Facebook and enter a contest or giveaway.
Follow her on Twitter to read her updates.
Visit Vonda's Writers Workshop
Contact Vonda HERE