Viranda I. Slappy
Viranda Irene Nottingham-Slappy was born in Macon, Georgia.
She 
resides with her
husband, John Cecil Slappy Sr. (26 years of marriage), in Junction
City, Kansas.
The author believes that as you enter the saga of the Turner
family history, you will recognize the importance of family legacy
and how the impact of each generation affects the lives...present
and future...of each person’s nature and spirit. You will
explore the triumph of family impact as the Turners struggle
to survive the challenges of life. By focusing on family unity
and rebuilding of the family throne for a better future, the
Turner family dreams come true.
Ms. Slappy is a graduate of Northeast High School and Los
Angeles Community College. She earned an Associate Degree, General
Studies in Business Management graduate of Central Texas College,
Fort Riley, Kansas. Employment is with Department of Defense,
United States Army Civil Service, and 1st Personnel Service Battalion
of Fort Riley, Kansas. Occupation is Office Automation Military
Personnel Assistant.
She has received many awards for recognition of her outstanding
performance. Her acknowledged awards are an Achievement Medal
for Civilian Service, Officially Commended for Exemplary Performance,
Sustained Superior Performance, Certificate of Achievement for
Exceptional Performance, and community organizational Outstanding
Distinguished Services.
In her leisure time, Ms. Slappy has authored the books TIL
DEATH DO US PART: A MARRIAGE SURVIVES THE STRESS OF MILITARY
LIFE, and GENERATION IMPACT: AN AMERICAN FAMILY’S TURMOILS
(new release). She is a member and Past Matron of St. Tabitha
Chapter, Order of Eastern Stars; member of Heriones of Jericho;
Daughter of Isis; Cyrenes of Prince Hall Affiliation; Free and
Accepted Masonry of Kansas Jurisdiction; and NAACP.
Promotional guest appearance are as follows Say It Loud, Atlanta
Mid Day Live, Sister Talk Show, Veterans Hour, Are You Real,
WMAZ-TV Channel 13, Macon, Ga w/ Carol Minn, Night Move, Heartland
Ministries Radio w/John Scott and Bev Smith Show which launched
my Radio
Talk Show http://www.wxbh.com/express_yourself_schedule.htm.
Visit Viranda online http://www.geocities.com/slappyviranda/authorvirandasl
appy
Booksandauthors.net: Where did you
grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life?
Viranda I. Slappy: If you asking me
did I read books all the time, my response is no. I only read
when I was assigned this task as homework project such as essay
writing. Believe it or not I love to draw any image that was
appealing to me. As a child, I love to draw cartoon characters.
The desire to write became appealing to me when my husband was
assigned in Okinawa, Japan in the early 1980,s. I actually discover
this talent when I was employed with the Defense Reutilization
Marketing Office (DRMO) editing there marketing manual.
Booksandauthors.net: Who were your
earliest influences and why?
Viranda I. Slappy: I've had many
influential individual in my life. Believe it or not I also love
to sing. When I was young at the age of 9 thru 11, I love listening
to Diana Ross and the Supremes. I've always wanted to be a singer,
but never pursed the career. I've only sang in the church choir,
youth and organizational groups. I'm an admirer of Terry McMillan
and Alex Haley. They definite has had an impact and influence
my desire to write. Writing for me is a gift. It bestows the
passion of expression of my life experience, which I can feel
free to speak and write creative stories that will enhance the
quality of mankind life.
Booksandauthors.net: Tell us about
your book "Til Death Do Us Part - A Marriage Survives The
Stress of Military Life." This is book is based on
true experiences and story?
Viranda I. Slappy: Til Death Do
Us Part: A Marriage Survives The Stress Of Military Life is novel
that is based on my true experiences as a military spouse. I
wrote this novel during a time when I was bringing closure and
starting new beginnings, rebuilding my marriage and family quality
of life. Believe it or not, I never thought it would qualify
to be published as a book. I can recall when I wrote this novel,
my husband providing me with the material to write, a notebook
and of course we had a computer and I wrote ever chance I could….writing
during family gathering at the lake, in my bed and mostly in
our family room. It's like creating my own world expressing my
feelings and feelings of people I love the most… my family.
My husband and children say that I'm at peace when I'm writing,
though I would say I'm relaxing my mind. This novel has inspire
my life in so many ways until it unbelievable, so why not write
and tell my story, in hope that it will bring change of quality
of life for others.
Booksandauthors.net: Why do military
families suffer more stress than nonmilitary families?
Viranda I. Slappy: Military families are
force to accept change in their relationships and family environment.
The changes that they must be flexible to accept can cause failure
to their relationship as a couple and family. This is due to
long separation and mission tasks. People have no idea what type
of long hours a soldier can encounter on a normal day at works.
A soldier is on duty 24 hours a day and the family as well. The
family life can change in seconds or minutes when the soldier
has been notified about a change in assignment, which can come
at anytime. How do families react? We learn how to accept the
things we cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference,
how to be flexible and prepared for change in life. Is this stressful,
of course, because you don't always get to choose your assignment
and when you do, you pray that choice is approved and it's an
accompanied tour, meaning moving to your new assignment station
as a family.
Booksandauthors.net: You dedicate your
book "Generation Impact: An American Family's Turmoils"
to Willie Mae Purnell - Who is Willie Mae Purnell?
Viranda I. Slappy: This person is my
grandmother, who is ninety-two. This is also a true story that
I capture material from my grandmother to write this story.
Booksandauthors.net: "Generation
Impact: An American Family's Turmoils" the story is based
on the legacy of an African American family's journey from the
1940's thru the early 1990's -- What obstacles do you feel an
African American family has today that they didn't have in the
1940's?
Viranda I. Slappy: African American families
are still struggling to maintain family unity. In the 1940's,
African American marriages had longevity, but we still had the
wrath of infidelity and financial issues that destroys today
families. Matter of fact, divorce has risen because of relationships
issues such as infidelity, music, drugs, finances and substance
abuse. During this era, we still had youth marrying at a young
age, with little to no education. Women had limited careers opportunities
and males were more active in their role as HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
Today, African American families are limited. You have more significant
others relationships, single parentings and children raising
themselves, filling up our prisons. Why? This is due to the lack
of a strong parental guidance.
Booksandauthors.net: How do you research
for your books?
Viranda I. Slappy: I use the internet
a lot and people sharing their life experience. You will be surprise
how many people enjoy expressing themselves and sharing their
life experience, once they know you are an author or has an interest
in writing.
Booksandauthors.net: What do you hope
to achieve with your books? What do you hope readers will take
away after reading your book?
Viranda I. Slappy: I'm hoping that my
readers will be inspired to evaluate their lifestyle, set goals
for achievement as an individual and desire to build a family
based on reality not fantasy. I want my readers to learn what
how to achieve their goals by making sacrifices and not being
selfish. In order to receive love you must give love, to receive
happiness, you must feel happy and finally to be successful you
must believe, establishing goals to make your dream come true,
building a life with hope, marriage of comfort and love that
will last forever.
Booksandauthors.net: What has been
your feedback from readers?
Viranda I. Slappy: I had some of reader
says, they wish that my novels had been written sooner, especially
those who have experienced divorce while Active Duty and Retired
Military Service careers. Many, thank me for sharing my story
and it has inspired them to change their lifestyle.
Booksandauthors.net: What's next?
Viranda I. Slappy: My next novel will
be the sequel to my first novel, Til Death Do Us Part: A Marriage
Survives The Death Of Military Life and the title of this novel
will be Vision of Change. This is what my readers have requested
a sequel and that's what I'm doing now.
Booksandauthors.net: What was the last
book you read?
Dr William Glasser,M.D. book Psychiatry Can Be Hazardous To Your
Mental Health.
Booksandauthors.net: Do you have any
hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?
Viranda I. Slappy: I have varieties
of hobbies, not that I have time to really enjoy them. My active
hobbies are decorating my home, host and producer of my very
own Radio Talk Show, "Express Yourself", www.wxbh.com,
coordinating organizational fund raiser, shopping, soap opera
fan, reading and writing.
In order for me to achieve my hobbies, I must be creative
in writing, coordinating and organizing written material for
my Radio Talk Show, "Express Yourself", www.wxbh.comand
coordinating organizational fund raiser.
Til Death Do Us Part: A Marriage
Survives The Stress Of Military Life is novel that is based
on my true experiences as a military spouse. I wrote this novel
during a time when I was bring closure and starting new beginnings,
rebuilding my marriage and family quality of life. 
