At Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Alexa Chipman, the author of “Lady Washington: Age of Exploration Merchant Vessel.” Alexa is a science fiction and fantasy author highly regarded for her cinematic penmanship and expertise in making scenes jump off of the page. She also writes reviews for the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Read on to dive into her world as a writer and learn more about her experience with writing all about the historical sailing ship Lady Washington.
Dreams of Becoming a Writer
Alexa grew up in a household where reading was valued above everything else, so she mentions that she was surrounded by piles and piles of books on every surface from a very young age. She says once she got old enough to get a library card, she would borrow as many books a week as the library would allow her to, devouring them as quickly as possible. Writing, in turn, became as natural as breathing after reading so much literature.
The Process of Book-Writing
According to Alexa, most of the time spent writing non-fiction books is spent tracking down leads for information. Although the writing portion can only take a few months, the research alone can take years. Once all the research and writing are complete, the editing begins. Alexa noted that it’s worthwhile to spend extra money for a high-quality editor to make sure the end product is the best it can be.
The Books Alexa Has Written
Alexa has written eight books, though she jokingly shares that she wouldn’t recommend reading the early books since she was a teenager when she wrote them. She mentions that she’s currently working on an urban fantasy set called “Tangled Lilies” that’s based in Sonoma wine country, referencing it as one of her favorites she’s written — although it is in rough draft status and is not yet released.
What Makes a Good Story
When asked what makes a good story, Alexa notes that characters are everything. Whether you’re writing fictional characters or about real people from history, the stories will come together beautifully if the characters have vibrant personalities that stand out on the page. She also prefers fast-paced adventure when it comes to fictional books, but having intriguing characters is essential for any story to be successful and well-received.
Lady Washington: Age of Exploration Merchant Vessel
“Lady Washington: Age of Exploration Merchant Vessel” is based on the historical sailing ship and was expanded upon from Alexa’s final project for Dominican University. She says that all of the B.F.A. students in her program were required to create a gallery exhibition in order to graduate. While most of her fellow students created massive paintings, she decided to put a well-made coffee table book of sorts. Her professors were reluctant to allow this type of project, but she argued its validity due to the fact she didn’t just write it, but she also designed it herself.
Alexa mentions that one of her favorite scenes of the historical sailing ship book is a portion involving captain Kendrick that reminds her of what a micromanaging leader is like. She says that shortly after they set off on their voyage, the captain was so disdainful of how her hold had been stowed that he took control of the situation and fixed it himself while ordering most of the crew to leave. Alexa says she likes this section of the sailing ship story because it reminds her of leaders who refuse to delegate or obsess over tiny details, not allowing their constituents the dignity of their own experience.
Alexa’s favorite thing that struck her about this story was the tenacity of Lady Washington’s crew. They were insufficiently prepared for the voyage and had to use a combination of stubborn determination and creativity to get through all of the adversity they would approach. She said that Lady Washington represents the fearless and fiercely independent nature of early America.
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Alexa Chipman Instagram ⠀⠀ 
Alexa Chipman on GoodReads.com
Lady Washington: Age of Exploration Merchant Vessel
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Visit Grays Harbor Historical Seaport To Learn More About Lady Washington
If you would like to see the West Coast’s Lady Washington sailing ship with your own eyes, you can check out Grays Harbor Historical Seaport and read more information about Lady Washington’s vast history. We have online booking available to chart the historical sailing ship at your next event, which is sure to be a treat! We also highly recommend checking out Lady Washington: Age of Exploration Merchant Vessel on Amazon along with Alexa’s other books available to purchase. You can visit her YouTube channel as well to view her videos reacting to movies and TV shows as well as her vlogs.