Nov. 11, 2013, Staff report

Suffolk (Va) News Herald

Stancill pens first book

 

Suffolk News-HeraldStancill pens first book

Published 9:41pm Monday, November 11, 2013

Nancy Stancill, a daughter of former News-Herald editor and publisher Godfrey Stancill, has pledged royalties from her debut novel to a journalism fellowship created in his memory.

Nancy Stancill’s first book, “Saving Texas,” published by Black Rose Writing of Texas, was released in October. Royalties from the first thousand copies sold will go to the Godfrey Wells Stancill Fellowship, a fund administered by Investigative Reporters and Editors.

The author and her family, including her mother, Phyllis Harrill Pruden of Suffolk, set up the fellowship to honor Stancill, a longtime News-Herald publisher who died in 1995.

Nancy Stancill, a writer and journalist who worked for more than 30 years for the Houston Chronicle and Charlotte Observer, lives in Charlotte, N.C. She wrote the novel during 2010-12 while living in London with her husband, who recently retired from Bank of America.

The novel, based in part on her experiences as an investigative reporter in Texas, centers on Annie Price, a reporter who profiles a modern-day secessionist candidate for governor. She grapples with two murders, political intrigue and a love triangle. The journalist pushes to get the truth before her enemies get her or her struggling newspaper takes her off the story.

“I was looking for a way to contribute more to my dad’s fellowship, and I thought about the book I was writing,” Stancill said. “It is an homage to investigative reporting, so contributing to IRE makes perfect sense.”

The Godfrey Wells Stancill Fellowship has paid the expenses for six journalists from small newspapers to go to IRE’s annual conference to learn specialized skills in investigative reporting.

“My dad went off to World War II and never got to finish his degree at the University of North Carolina,” Nancy Stancill said. “Despite that, he taught himself to do everything in the newspaper business, including writing award-winning editorials. He was a great role model.”

Phyllis Pruden, her mother, taught in Suffolk schools for more than two decades before she retired. Nancy Stancill’s stepfather, the late Peter Pruden Jr. of Suffolk, also contributed to the Stancill fellowship.

Nancy Stancill grew up in Radford, where her father was editor and publisher of the Radford News Journal. After her family moved to Suffolk, she worked for the News-Herald for several summers as a college student. Her four siblings live in Virginia and North Carolina.

“Saving Texas” is available in print and electronic versions from Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, blackrosewriting.com and other online sources.

Nov. 10, 2013, Claudia Feldman

Houston Chronicle

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Investigative-reporter-moves-from-fact-to-fiction-4968223.php

 

By Claudia Feldman

November 10, 2013

 

Nancy Stancill had written thousands of stories for half a dozen newspapers by the time she quit journalism for good in 2009.

But she wasn’t ready to quit writing. Instead, she dreamed of publishing a book – a thriller featuring a Houston reporter, a community college almost corrupted by its leaders, and in the background, the vast spaces of West Texas.

As usual, the former investigative reporter meant business. Today Stancill is happy to talk about her first novel, “Saving Texas” (Black Rose Writing, $16.95). For all who dream about writing a book later in life, Stancill, 64, explains how to do it.

Houston ChronicleReporting 101: “I think I was 10 when we put out a newspaper on our block called the ’10th Street Tattle Tales.’ It was one of those bored-kids-in-the-summertime things, and it was complete with news of pets and a gossip column.”

Like father, like daughter: “My father was the editor and publisher of some small papers in Virginia. He didn’t have a journalism degree, but he wrote editorials, took pictures at football games and sold ads. And when irate customers called, he went out and delivered their newspapers. It was about feeling a great responsibility to his community.”

In 38 years of newspapering: “It was so satisfying to work on investigative projects that brought about positive change. After a series I did for the Chronicle on bad management practices at a community college in Killeen, the top leaders resigned. And when I worked for the Charlotte Observer, I did stories on unjust divorce laws and practices.

“There was something known as ‘starving the wife,’ where husbands and lawyers teamed up to get judges to delay cases. Now the law is changed, those cases are handled in a timely fashion, and mediation is required.”

Moving on: “A few years ago, my husband, Len, received a temporary assignment in London. Early on I made some friends, and we did a lot of lunches and day trips. I learned to play bridge and mahjongg. But after a while, I needed a project. And I always thought I’d write a book about the experience of being an investigative reporter in Houston. I was always fascinated with the sweep and scope of Texas and the idea that anything is possible here.”

The book: “I went to a little writing seminar in London, which got me going, and I had the first chapter, at least. Then some friends and I organized weekly writing sessions. The four of us would sit around a dining room table with our laptops. We would write for three hours, sometimes more. It was wonderful, really. I couldn’t jump up and do the laundry.

“Along the way, I hired an editor, which was fabulous. Everybody needs an editor. He would tell me, ‘You’re being too nice,’ or ‘Each chapter has to be exciting,’ or ‘Your characters don’t have to be perfect. They have to be human beings who make mistakes.’ ”

Identifying with Annie: “My main character is Annie Price, and there are parts of Annie in me, but she’s her own person, her own character. She’s a free-wheeling single woman. I wanted to make her interesting and to let her have fun as a young person in Houston. She’s 36, so not young-young.”

Experiences shared: “When Annie was interviewing the community college officials and they got angry at her questions and walked out, that really happened to me. And when Annie followed them down the hall, continuing to ask questions, that really happened, too. Also, two sources called and wanted to meet with me. But they wouldn’t go any place where they might be seen, they were so nervous about being followed.”

Secession is a theme: “What spurred me on were comments by (Gov.) Rick Perry in 2009. He said something to the effect of, if Texas doesn’t like what the federal government is doing, secession is an option. I don’t think he was really serious, but I do think conversations like that are dangerous and unpatriotic.”

Things to love about Texas: This is a beautiful state. And West Texas, the setting for the book, is almost mystical, with its wide-open spaces. You can go 50 miles and not see another car, and there’s that big, beautiful sky. I really do see it as a place where people could disappear into the land and live out their lives as fugitives.”

She’s Alicia Perez, one of the villains: “Yes. She’s attractive and deadly. (Laughter.) Men especially love her.”

Still working hard: “I think there’s a lot of joy in working, and writing is creating. I need that creativity in my life to feel alive and productive.”