The thought begins, “I’m not sure who I was in a past life, but I’m positive I would’ve written you a rhapsody.” In this life, author and poet Wanda Penalver Bevan offers those who savor her prose a symphony for living from the heart. Wanda's writing journey began in upstate New York, where she was born and raised. She fondly recalls her early success in elementary school, winning the "Very Best Writing" award for penmanship in the first grade. This early recognition fueled her passion for the written word, leading her to write an adaptation of the Christmas story Gift of the Magi by O’Henry in ninth grade, which became a school play that year. Her senior year saw her named as the school yearbook editor, a testament to her early writing prowess. Ultimately, Wanda was accepted into the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where, along with her writing, she pursued her passion for theatre, which became her major.
Following graduation from Northwestern, Wanda embarked on a journey of diverse experiences. She was accepted into the American Conservatory Theatre Program in San Francisco, California, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a stage acting and television career. In addition to her acting roles, she also worked as a legal assistant, an event specialist in the movie industry, and a hotel professional, where she developed a career as a property administrative specialist.However, her love for writing was the thread that held this diverse path career together. Wanda's determination to develop as a writer resulted in two screenplays and a song, Little Girl, a tribute to the youngest victim of the 2011 Tucson shootings, as well as the poem, America’s Child, which is on display at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, honoring those who lost their lives in the Murrah Federal Building bombing in 1995.
2016, Wanda published her first novel, Their Souls Met in Wishton. Wanda describes it as weaving music with magical moments in a tale about falling in love, following your dreams, and pondering the timeless question, "What if?" In 2022, she published her first poetry anthology, A Slow Dance in Memoriam and Other Poems. Wanda refers to this collection as windows to her deeply personal experience of emotions that are influenced by the experiences in life we encounter. The anthology includes poems written throughout the last four decades in a style that combines prose and free verse. When asked what has inspired her to continue writing, Wanda responds, "Music mostly; I don't always listen to music while I'm writing. However, all genres of music I hear throughout the day will throw me into a particular mood that fuels my creativity. I also gain inspiration from being around other creative people.”
Today, author Wanda Penalver Bevan resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, and eagerly awaits the release of her third book, The Rains of Wishton, in January 2025. But that's not all. Wanda has two other exciting projects in the pipeline: a memoir-style collection of essays called Gems for My Children and a novel based on events about an African American family spanning three generations. Despite her busy schedule, Wanda remains actively engaged with her readers and other authors, participating in numerous book festivals and events. She is a member of the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers, Arizona Poetry Society, and the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Wanda Penalver Bevan’s books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Email: wpbevan3@yahoo.com
Website: www.wandaswayiswrite.com
