Personal reflections that inspire and challenge.

Hi, there, and welcome! I’m so glad to have you visit. Please feel free to read whatever you find interesting or not read what you may find boring. If you’ve visited a couple of times, you know I’m always changing things up on here. So, please, feel free to come back and see what’s up.

Virginia Alice Crawford

This website started out as a personal blog titled, “Virg Speaks.” It was my way to express thoughts, ideas, and experiences that I was eager to share with the world. Despite this desire, because I am also shy by nature, I was reluctant to share my writing and kept most of my pages and blog posts private.

Once my book was in its final editing stages, instead of creating an author website to promote it, I gave this one a facelift to highlight my writing career. With this new and major overhaul, it is my hopes to give you, my reader, something to inspire you and leave you with a sense that you can achieve any dream you set for yourself.

I am new to a lot of the technology needed to write and self-publish today. It always seems to be a learning curve for me. I started writing with pencil (sometimes crayon) and paper. Then, I learned to type. And then, there was the fantastic creation of the word processor. Now, here we are with computers and keyboards and smart phones and the world wide web.

If being published is what you want to do, then I am sure you can do it. Step by step, just like I did, you can get there. It may take time, but who doesn’t have time to spare doing something you are passionate about, whether it is reading, writing, blogging, napping, watching a favorite movie, walking or hiking, or just being lazy. Yes, you can do it. If you choose to use some of your extra time to follow your dream – whatever that dream is – and whether it is, or isn’t, to be a published writer. You can do it!

I know. Because I just did.

Why the Name ‘Virg’?

After all these years, I finally started using the name ‘Virg’.

Yes, ‘Virg’ is short for ‘Virginia’. Most people know me by Virginia, but being called ‘Virg’ sure beats being called ‘Virgil’ by a sister or ‘Virgie’ by a co-worker (which I really, truly don’t like). Actually, if those who know me really think about it, the name ‘Virg’ suits me. I think of ‘Virg’ as an unexpected version of ‘Virginia’. I’ve always been a person to set my own trend, choose my own path, never follow the crowd. Who wants to wear what everyone else is wearing? I certainly don’t want to. And ‘Virg’, to me, personifies just that.

Not one for big crowds, I still like to stand out in one though. And so, the name ‘Virg’. It gets me attention in a quiet, non-assuming way. It makes people look up and take notice.

And, sure, ‘Virginia’ is a great name. Being named after my dad’s favorite sister is definitely an honor. And, the state of Virginia is as beautiful as the travel books said it would be. But, somehow, ‘Virg’ is more indicative of the ‘me’ I have evolved into over the years. It separates me from the person some of my siblings insist that I am and introduces me — to them and to others — as the person I have been all along and who I am today.

Like the character in the song by the group, Train, I really don’t want to be the queen. So…don’t ‘meet Virginia’, meet: VIRG.

ABOUT ME

ONLY THE BEGINNING…OF MY STORY

Me at three months old with my daddy and my momma. Little did I know then that I would be the oldest of two brothers and five sisters. It has been a journey which I wouldn’t change for anything. After all this time, I am finally at a place where I can detach and write about how my experiences have carved my path and placed me right where I am meant to be.

It is my hopes that my sharing with you will be interesting, insightful and even inspiring. May you enjoy whether you are simply reading my website because you learned about my book, or you know me and/or want to know more about me, or you simply stumbled across this page while searching for something else.

COUNTRY GIRL

I grew up in the country, so I’m a country girl at heart. I can live in the city though. I love the fast pace and the fact that you can find almost anything you want within just a few miles of home. For instance, my favorite haunts: bowling alley, movie theater, bookstore, restaurants, parks, salons, Starbucks, and Hobby Lobby (not necessarily in that order).

Being a country girl, I’m not afraid of much. No, not spiders. Not lizards. Okay, maybe a rattle snake or two, but that hasn’t happened to date yet. In addition to being a country girl, I’m a writer; amateur photographer; wife, mother, grandmother, not to mention daughter, sister, and friend; an administrative specialist with a focus on data entry and now social media; and, a lover of life, inspiration, and God.

MORE ABOUT ME

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER

There’s one thing I’ve discovered while putting this website together, and it’s that I take far more photos of anything and everything than I am ever in myself. I’ve also discovered that I have taken a lot of selfies – with my grandchildren. Of course, I can’t post those here without permission. So, until I get more photos of myself, photos of the places, things and nature I capture will have to suffice. I hope you enjoy.

WRITER & AUTHOR

*Brush Country Market Days – George West, Tx*

I have been writing since I learned to write in the first grade. I used to keep a diary…you know, the kind where you use a key to keep it locked and it was supposed to be impenetrable without the key. Now, it’s called journaling, and that’s a whole different story.

I’ve written more letters and sent more cards than I can recount, yet today I struggle to keep in touch despite all the endless social media outlets for keeping in better touch with loved ones.

I’ve written poems, short stories, essays, and articles for numerous family, church and community newsletters. I’ve even written an epitaph and a song. And, now, I’ve written a book. So, after all these years, I’m finally a published author. If I think about it, it’s still hard to believe.

WIFE, MAH & GRAMMY

I am a wife, Mah to my son and daughter-in-love, Meemah to my grandson, and Grammy to my granddaughter (of course, there’s a couple of stories in there somewhere). I am these and more. I am a daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, godparent, friend and dog owner. I’m not especially good at any one of them, but I do my best and love those I love bigger than those I love realize that I do.

If I’m able, and there are definitely times when I fail, I’m there for whoever needs me. I love spending time with family. I enjoy any time spent together having fun, laughing, living and sharing—no matter what we do: hiking, playing cards, cooking, fishing, gardening, napping, watching a good (or bad, in some cases) movie, shopping, and more. You name it, just ask me, and we can hang out and chat or just be.

ADMIN SPECIALIST

I didn’t start out my career being a writer. For one, I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer when I was in school. I graduated high school not wanting to go to college for four more years of learning. But I didn’t want to spend my life as a waitress, cashier, or sales clerk—all great ways to make a living, just not for me at the time. So, I did the next best thing. I went to trade school. I took what I thought, at the time, was the easiest route and graduated with a bookkeeping certificate on the Vice-President’s honor roll after nine months from a technical institute in a nearby town. Considering my dad only made it to the eighth grade and my mom to the fifth, it was a tremendous achievement. I spent the next 40 years in and out of jobs as a secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper, data entry clerk and front-office Girl Friday.

In 2021, I thought I was retired. Today, I work full-time again – first as a secretary; after one week, an office manager; and then as an administrative assistant. I am now training a new office manager. With experience as an administrative specialist, and a focus on attention to detail with strengths in office procedures, database management, scheduling, desktop layout and design, and website content, well, you can guess, I’m pretty qualified (I should write a book about this clerical journey!). But mostly, I’m excited to be sharing all the diverse office and computer skills I’ve learned in the last 40+ years with my successor.

Motto: Never Give Up Before You Even Get Started.

LOVER OF THE SIMPLE LIFE

I am pretty easy to please. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. I enjoy a good walk. I love quiet time. I like the sound of rain, especially during a nap. I find it fun to shop with good friends or hike or watch a good movie. I love to spend time with my family and my close girlfriends. Whether we play cards, board games, browse antique shops, or get a pedicure or manicure, it makes no difference to me. I’m happy just as long as we are enjoying our time together.

I also enjoy solitude regardless if I’m reading, walking, napping, doing chores, writing, or swaying in my hammock. Life is about living and loving and laughing and sharing and caring and doing all those things that bring joy to myself and those around me.

If you need inspiration in your life, just tag along with me on any given day. We’ll watch the wildlife, listen to the birds, see the sunrise or the sunset, hear the ocean, fish on the nearby lake, or just take a good, long nap during a rain storm. So, be prepared to be surprised.

One of mine and my husband’s favorite places to vacation is Rockport, Texas. There’s just something extra special about being at the coast. It’s refreshing, relaxing, and peaceful all at the same time. I take time out to read, write, walk, hike, sightsee, and practice my limited photography skills. It’s a place to get lost in and to also find oneself. Maybe you, too, have a special place to visit such as this.

From Me to You

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I am now officially a published writer and author. Since I learned to write in the first grade, I’ve always been told that I have a special knack for inspiring people with my written words. I’ve written poems, short stories, community and church newsletter articles, a song, an epitaph, and numerous quotes. And now, I’ve published a book. It took me – along with the help of my artist and seven “readers” – just over a year to write and get through the publishing process. This included establishing an LLC (Limited Liability Company) to publish my books under. Yes, there will be more books, despite those daunting times when the process seems so slow and so plodding.

To purchase my first and currently available book, check out my books page. And stay tuned as I finish my second and third books. Thank you, dear reader, for taking time to stop by and learn about this now published author who never knew she’d ever enjoy being one. I wish you all the best in your life. Keep reading and keep being safe out there.

What I Do With My Writing:

Challenge
Inspire
Share
Encourage
Motivate

To keep up with what I’m up to on a more regular basis, find me on Instagram at @virginia.alice.crawford. You can also learn more about me on the rest of this website and on Amazon at Author Central.

Thank you for your interest in my writing (big smile here!), and I wish you a lovely day.

“The sweetest rewards come with effort.”