Lauren Olivia Vilbert received her PhD in public history from North Carolina State University, where she researched tourism development on the Currituck Outer Banks. Lauren is passionate about exploring how local history connects to humans’ relationship with the natural environment. Inspired by many walks along the Currituck Sound and beaches with her son, she wrote a children’s book that encourages curiosity, a love of nature, and respect for the world around us.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: The idea for my story came from a simple question from my son: “What are you writing about?” When I completed my dissertation on tourism development on the Currituck Outer Banks in North Carolina for my PhD in public history, I realized that my research should reach a wider audience.
The most basic definition of public history is creating ways to engage different groups of people with the past. I wanted to make a story that connected children to the local history and natural environment of the Currituck Outer Banks. Through the telling of an adventurous young foal who visits the different cultural resources in the area, children learn about the Currituck Outer Banks’ wild horses, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and the Whalehead Club. These are all cultural resources central to the region’s connection to maritime history, hunt club heritage, and natural wildlife heritage. The story provides an overview of how and why these cultural resources relate to the area’s local history and ecosystem.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: The one tip I have for anyone wanting to get into writing is to spend time writing each day. I always keep a small journal with me so I can record any ideas that come to mind. Once I have an idea, I sketch an outline for how I want the story to play out, and then, each day, I set aside time to write. Sometimes I write for three hours, and sometimes I only write for ten minutes, but I make sure that I commit to working on the story for at least part of the day so the idea remains fresh in my head. There is always time to edit, so I try to focus solely on the big picture first. Then, once I have the big picture, I go back and fine-tune the story.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: I have too many favorites. It is hard to pick just one!
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: Sam, the young foal in Little Lost Horse on the Currituck Banks, is a curious problem-solver determined to find his mother by figuring out clues from the animals he meets along his journey. Sam is not modeled after anyone in particular, but the resourcefulness and perseverance he exhibits throughout the story are qualities I strive to model for my family. It is also important to note that Sam can find his mother in the story because of his helpful community, highlighting the significance of collaboration and the integration of new perspectives.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: I think my favorite part of the writing process is editing. In the editing process, characters come alive, scenes become vivid, and my words begin to shape into a real story.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: A “good writer” is someone who is passionate about storytelling and wants to share their ideas with the world. Passion for writing is a natural talent, but like all talents, it takes practice, patience, and a creative drive to develop that passion into a skilled craft.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: I like Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog” because of the vivid imagery of the power nature:
“The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.”
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: I am passionate about the ways local history connects to human interaction with the natural environment. I recently started working on another regional story with a similar message about the importance of incorporating environmental knowledge into historical narratives.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: I admire the way Ernest Hemingway uses concise language in his stories. The way he writes in short, evocative sentences allows the reader to use their own imagination to determine an interpretation of his work.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien Circe by Madeline Miller
Learn more about Lauren Vilbert and her children’s book, Little Lost Horse on the Currituck Banks, at https://blueballoonbooks.com/bookstore/little-lost-horse/.
