Virginia Cornell has had several careers — all quote different. She taught English literature and composition at Arizona State University. But just when it looked as though she would follow an academic career, the single mother moved with her three children to Colorado to run her family's ski lodge: Millers Idlewild Inn. Five years later, when the family sold the Inn, she bought a struggling weekly newspaper in Winter Park which she published for five years. "That's where I really learned to write," she says. "Every week, a newspaper has to have something in it."

When she sold her newspaper, she married a long-time friend and moved to his avocado ranch in Carpinteria, CA. There, she wrote a humorous column for the Carpinteria Herald, Montecito Life and Goleta Sun and worked on Doc Susie.

"I didn't intend to become a book publisher, but after I completed Doc Susie I couldn't find anyone who wanted to publish it. So I drew on my newspaper experience and brought it out myself." Her decision was a wise one, because Doc Susie has sold over 100,000 copies. She also decided to publish her next books, Ski Lodge, The Latest Wrinkle and Other Signs of Aging, and Defender of the Dunes.

"Through the Santa Barbara Writers Conference I met Frances Laurence and Ted Berkman. I became intrigued with their projects and decided to become involved in bringing them to print. Although these five books are somewhat different, they share good biographical writing and a healthy point of view.

"One of the delights of my newest career is speaking in public to a wide variety of audiences. I love to hear laughter so I'll go to great lengths to stimulate it."

She has spoken in widely different places: aboard cruise lines, at Universities, at senior citizen groups, churches, alumna groups, service clubs, women's conferences and writers' meeetings.

See the speaking page.