Romance Book Junkies: Interview: Victoria Vane

Today we have Victoria Vane here for a interview that you don't want to miss. She's a new author that your going to want to get to know. So lets welcome Victoria to Romance Book Junkies.

I know you get asked this question over and over but can you tell us a little about yourself? Maybe something juicy. ;)

Hmmm....Something juicy. I have a natural ear for languages. I once wanted to be a linguist but it's a gift I never had the chance to fully develop. I did, however, do a great deal of travelling when I was younger, starting as an exchange student in Finland when I was 17. I worked in the travel industry for five years after that, and have been to many places to include Europe, the Caribbean, South America, the Mediterranean and Egypt. I was also once an amateur bodybuilder (in the early 1980's before the women took steroids!)

When did you first start writing? Are you a full time author or do you do it on the side?

I began my first novel, THE HIGHEST STAKES in 2007 simply because I had a story in my head that wouldn't go away. I had never written anything before, had never taken any writing classes, and didn't know any writers, so it was completely a lone endeavour. I persevered and finished my first draft in 14 months and found a publisher six weeks later. I've now written two (PG-13) romantic historical novels as Emery Lee, and am finishing my fifth erotic historical novella as Victoria Vane. I also just got word that I have an offer from on my full length erotic historical that I am very excited about. It's darkly erotic and the working title is DANGEROUS DESIGNS.

I began writing full time in December 2010.

Do you have an author that has really inspired you?

Different authors have inspired me in different ways. I have been strongly influenced by the Bronte sisters and Daphne DuMaurier as darker stories appeal to me, but I also love Georgette Heyer for her fabulous wit, snappy dialogue and over the top secondary characters. Robin Schone, Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone have inspired me with their beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua with her creative vision in melding history with eroticism.

How long does it normally take you to write an average book or your last book?

The first book I ever wrote was 189,000 words before editing, and took 14 months but also required a great deal of historical research. My second full length novel, FORTTUNE'S SON, took 10 months to write. It was also deeply research but centered a bit more on the romance. My erotic historical novellas in the DeVere series have come to me like wild fire, however. I have written each of them in a month or less. THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS was written in 13 days! The series is comprised of 4 connected novellas with a total word count of over 140,000 and I have written the entire series in four months!

What do you think makes a story great?

Wow! That's hard to answer because it's different for everyone. Some people love to read beautiful prose. There are authors who have such a gift for allegory, those who evoke emotion with the perfect phrases. Then there are others who are just great story tellers.

For me, I most enjoy the characters. I want to love and/or hate them passionately.

Can you describe your book "A Wild Night’s Bride" in one sentence?

It really is a racy, rollicking, Georgian romp with a just a touch of The Hangover.

Have you done lots of research for your books or do the stories just come to you?

I am a true-blue history geek and research everything! I am also a self-professed Georgian Junkie and try to immerse myself completely in the time period I write about. Even my erotic stories use real characters and events. In A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, I tried to accurately portray George IV when he was a young Prince of Wales. Also the Otaheitian Fest of Venus at King's Place was an actual event. There are many true historical tidbits worked into the story. I write about these in my author blog VICTORIA'S TITILLATING TIDBITS: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com

What are you currently working on?

I am writing the final chapters of THE DEVIL'S MATCH, the last novella in The Devil DeVere series and just got a contract offer on DANGEROUS DESIGNS as mentioned above. Following that I have plans to write my first paranormal erotic romance (not vampires or werewolves!) It's sort of a ghostly time slip story, perhaps along the lines of what Susanna Kearsley or Ciji Ware write, but with stronger erotic elements.

Can you tell us about some of your prior achievements?

In my personal life I tend to be highly driven and goal seeking, sometimes to the point of compulsion! When I put my heart into something it's always 110%. Personal achievements would be amateur body-building in my early twenties, horse training and showing in my early thirties, and more recently playing the Celtic harp, although I really can't read music.

As writing achievements go, following through to complete my first novel was huge because I had no idea what I was doing! My second book, FORTUNE'S SON, released last November received several reviewer top picks and has been nominated for two awards which absolutely thrills me. I love that book.

Is there anything that I didn't cover that you would like to talk about or say to your potential readers?

Yes. I hate rules and formulas! If you read my books, expect to be surprised!

Just for fun:

Hardback or Paperback?   E-book! (I like to be contrary)
Dog ears or Bookmarks? Dogears on my old books, bookmarks in the e-books.
YA novels or Adult novels? Adults only please!
Library or Bookstore? Bookstore for the coffee!
Reading glasses or No glasses? - Blind as a bat – reading glasses
Snack while reading or No snacks? Ferrero Rocher- a decadent pleasure
Beach or Mountain?   Mountain on horseback!
Vampire or Werewolf?   Vampire- better breath!
Hot or Flirty? Both
Movie 1st or Book 1st? Book always!
Contemporary or Historical? Historical – preferably late 17^th through 19^th centuries
Page-Turner or Tear Jerker? Page turner !

A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. She also writes award nominated romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee.

Website: http://authorvictoriavane.com
Facebook: Author Victoria Vane and Author Emery Lee

Twitter: @authoremerylee

Blog:victoriavane.wordpress.com

VICTORIA VANE TITLES:
A BREACH OF PROMISE, Ellora's Cave 12/23/11
A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, Breathless Press 4/27/12
THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, Breathless Press, 6/29/12
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW- Breathless Press, 7/27/12
THE DEVIL'S MATCH - Breathless Press 8/24/12
DANGEROUS DESIGNS- TBA