All about the debut novel Across the Great Ocean

Who is Virginia Mary?

Meet Virginia Mary, author of trilogy Across the Great Ocean, lover of literature, photography, cats, & all things outdoors… When she is not working on her fantasy adventure trilogy, you can find her somewhere in the sun, sipping her favorite tea & smelling the flowers.

Her favorite authors are Edward Abbey, George RR Martin, & J.R.R. Tolkien, whom she has drawn deep inspiration from.

What is Across the Great Ocean?

With nothing to her name except a flimsy hunting bow, Nyla faces a choice: cower in the shadows and watch her land fall to darkness or rise and become the light her people need.

Sixteen-year-old Nyla lost her mother, sisters, and only friends to a devastating plague that swept across the world, leaving the already-impoverished southern side of the Suhai Empire in ruins. With the arrival of the northern militia come promises of aid for recovery, but dark whispers of their ulterior motives closely follow.

Just when Nyla thinks she can’t endure any more loss, her father mysteriously vanishes. As her remaining family scrambles to find stability amidst his disappearance, her older brother is revealed to not only be a part of the southern underground resistance but wanted for treason by the militia. Refusing to lose anyone else, Nyla and her two brothers flee to evade execution, and on their desperate journey, they unveil the militia’s dark intentions – and they are far more sinister than ever imagined.

Interview

What was your inspiration for Across the Great Ocean?

Human resilience.

What drew you to writing fantasy?

In an increasingly polarized world, I found myself wondering: why is it that, when immersed in a fantasy book like “Lord of the Rings,” we effortlessly agree in identifying who is good and who is evil? We unanimously recognize Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf as heroes, while deeming Sauron and the Orcs as forces of evil. But in our real world, reaching a common ground feels impossible at times. The realm of fantasy possesses a unique ability to bring readers together, transcending our diverse backgrounds and beliefs. I truly believe that if we can find common ground while being immersed in a fantasy world, we can strive for a similar understanding in our own complex world.

What made you want to become an author?

It was less of a want and more of a need to release the words that my soul sang. Ever since I picked up my pen, I have never set it down. It began with poetry and gradually expanded to include short stories, culminating in the writing of my first full-length novel in middle school. Never did I dream of officially releasing my work nor labeling myself an author, as the act of writing was reward enough for me. It wasn’t until I wrote ATGO that I realized my literature could bring others the same peace it brought me. Perhaps there is a reader out there who resonates with the trauma that the young female protagonist in my debut series endures and finds their own empowerment during her
journey towards healing. She discovers strength within herself, ultimately becoming a beacon of resilience for others facing similar struggles. This is how one flame can turn into a thousand.

How did you choose which character to centre the story around? What was your process for writing Across the Great Ocean?

In truth, I never intended to write a book, let alone an entire fantasy series. It was during the height of the COVID pandemic, shortly after I had been laid off from all three of my jobs, and my last semester of college came to an abrupt halt. I had not had such free time since I was a carefree child and had little time for boredom. It was during this period that I discovered how the stillness found within boredom could ignite my most creative ideas. One night, I sat at my desk and began to write. A paragraph poured from my heart and onto the paper, then two, then three. Four hours later, I had written thirty pages. Never again have I written so many pages in one sitting, but never would I stop. Unbeknownst to even me at the time, that is when the tale of Across the Great Ocean began.

What is your approach to world and character building?

I’ve heard there are two types of writers: architects, who are more rigid with planning and outlining, and gardeners, who plant seeds as they go and watch them grow. I suppose I am a mix of both, although I lean more towards following the adventure myself and opening my mind to wherever the journey takes me.

How would you describe Across the Great Ocean?

A generous reviewer once described it as an epic fantasy with themes aligned with Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, but blended with a more light-hearted fantasy like Avatar: The Last Airbender. I could describe Across the Great Ocean in many ways, but at its heart, it is a tale of loss and love, of tragedy and hope, and of destruction and the growth that occurs in spite of it.

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

I cherish every aspect of it, from describing the golden leaves falling off an oak tree’s branch to the birds twirling overhead in the sky, and the long-awaited scenes where true love is revealed. Yet more than anything, I yearn to capture human emotion in my writing—the songs of our hearts and the words left unsaid. My favorite moment is when a line flows seamlessly from my pen, a line that I feel will deeply resonate with a reader somewhere in the world or perhaps bring a moment of peace. For in that moment, as they read that line, we are sharing an experience together. To me, that is pure magic, more powerful than any spell a wizard could cast.

What was your favourite book growing up?

I was deeply inspired by ‘The Outsiders,’ a heart-wrenching tale written by S.E. Hinton when she was only 16, depicting children overcoming generational trauma and enduring poverty. To this day, the first page is ingrained in my head: ‘When I stepped out into the bright light from the darkness of the movie house, I only had two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home…’

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

While I cannot deny I enjoy young adult fantasies of all forms, I am particularly drawn to those that incorporate an air of realism—whether through characters facing realistic struggles, encountering limitations, or stories that deviate from conventional happy endings. Additionally, I have a deep appreciation for non-fiction, especially personal accounts of ordinary people overcoming great adversities. I find myself drawn to narratives that highlight human resilience, detailing the inspiring journeys of individuals overcoming traumas and hardships