Local author holds book signing
<p>Virginia Fortner of Plains holds up a copy of "At The Edge," a novel she wrote 10 years ago centering around a fugitive-preacher who camps out in the Clark Fork Valley.</p>
PLAINS – Recently released novel, “At The Edge” by Plains resident Virginia Fortner received attention Tuesday night as a book signing was held at Plains Public Library.
The novel, released in late April and described as fiction, centers around “Fugitive preacher, Ed, who leaves his Kansas City congregation and hides out in Montana’s mountains. He comes to terms with himself, nature, his past, and his spirituality with the help of surprising relationships in the Clark Fork Valley.”
Fortner said she wrote the novel 10 years ago, around the time her house in Plains was under construction and she was in the process of moving here.
“I’ve been a member of writing groups in different places,” Fortner said. “I had never done a novel, but I’d published short stories. So, about ten years ago when I was moving here, I kind of was interested in the kinds of people that were here and especially the nature and history here, and what it’s like to live outside.”
The writing process was aided with Fortner’s participation in writing groups, and the encouragement of friends.
“This sort of in a way wrote itself,” she said. “So I really finished it ten years ago, and hadn’t done anything with it because I’d been teaching overseas, busy, and the writing group here [in Plains], wanted the next chapter after I read them the first, then the next one, and the next one. So, I then really did what I call ‘woodshedding’ it – worked really hard on it. The first writing of something is usually fairly easy. And sloppy, And then when you go back and edit and work on it, that’s when the hard work really begins. So, this year I spent a lot of time editing, researching, making sure things lined up time-wise and stuff like that. And added a couple of new elements to it.”
Following its release in April, Fortner had to travel to Saudi Arabia for three months for teaching, something she has done for a number of years. Fortner has taught in China as well. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master’s as a Reading Specialist, and Ph.D in Special Education and Gifted. Along with educating children, writing is her passion.
After returning from overseas and receiving feedback about the novel, Fortner conducted a few book signings down in Kansas City, and said she has had requests for a sequel.
“The [protagonist] changes during the book, he changes his name and himself, and is wanting to start a new life here… and lives up on the mountain,” Fortner said. “They want to know what happens to him next. I had wanted to know if I could put together an entire novel. You have to hold a lot in your head to write anything beyond a short story. And yet I think writing a short story is – if you do a really good job with a short piece - sometimes harder in the longer run. To choose each word, and I felt like it was time to give this a try. I don’t plan a sequel, but who knows – it might happen.”