Posted by Erin Carlo, Nonfiction Reader for Issue 4.1
Wendy Corsi Staub, the wildly successful and prolific author of over eighty novels, visited Geneseo on Thursday, October 22nd. As an avid reader of Ms. Staub’s many works, I was delighted to have the opportunity to hear her speak about her writing life, her inspirations and motivations, as well as the adversity she has overcome along the way.
Accompanying Wendy was her editor and friend, Lucia Marco, the Vice President and Executive Editor at Harper-Collins Willian Morrow Books. Attendees were able to ask questions about writing, editing, and publishing. Wendy and Lucia were exceptionally knowledgeable, and remarkably approachable.
A few of Wendy’s accomplishments include:
- Named New York Times Bestseller
- Has appeared on USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and Bookscan bestseller lists
- Won the Westchester Library Association Washington Irving Prize for Fiction for Nightwatcher in September, 2012
- Finalist for Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award for Sleepwalker in October 2012
- Won the 2008 RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense
- Won the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Translated into over a dozen languages worldwide
When asked how she was possibly able to produce over eighty novels before the age of 50, Ms. Staub responded, “I walk fast, I talk fast, I write fast. Once I’m in the groove, the stories just come.” Furthermore, when asked how to write successful fiction, fiction that will attract readers and keep them coming back for more, Wendy chuckled, gazed at the ceiling thoughtfully and said: “Give yourself permission to have bad days. Sometimes, you’re going to write crap. What’s important is to keep writing anyways. Sit down at your computer, do your pages, and then the next day, go over what you wrote and see what you can do with it.”
As an aspiring writer, I felt empowered by this advice. Wendy Corsi Staub and Lucia Macro are tremendous role models for the creative minds in college classrooms everywhere.
For more information, please visit www.wendycorsistaub.com.