1.
DID YOU ALWAYS DREAM OF BEING A
WRITER?
I’ve always written. I truly
love the art of story and the physical work of drafting, edits, and revising in
order to shape it into the best possible presentation. I’m happiest deep in this
creative process and go a bit stir-crazy after it’s turned in.
2.
YOUR NEWEST NOVEL HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO IS
PUBLISHED THIS MONTH, WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
On the surface HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO is a fun, light-hearted, romantic fun
story, but it’s so much more! That’s why it’s labelled a dramedy. The story
features Libby, a feisty New York vintage shop owner stuck
in the 80s. She’s opinionated and quick witted, but secretly at her wits end.
Under the surface of Libby’s MTV world of big hair, neon clothes, and 80s pop
culture, Libby struggles with depression. At her lowest point, the day before
her birthday, she even considers an end. The story starts there, but then
backtracks through the two heartbreaking
and simultaneously hilarious weeks leading up to it. It’s
a juxtaposition of extremes, and one I found fascinating to write.
3.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE
BOOK?
The idea for HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO came from BOWLING FOR SOUP's song/video ‘1985’. The lyrics
tell the story of a woman who’s unhappy with her average life of marriage,
kids, and suburbia. It talks of how she had hopes and dreams back in 1985. It made me wonder why she didn’t pursue her dreams,
and why now, she couldn't let go and move on... What had happened to her? Libby's story and the #80sIntervention
evolved from trying to answer that question.
The next inspiration in my story occurred when a friend
asked if I’d heard of the Ferris Bueller Fight Club Theory. I hadn’t, but boy did this shift everything! The concept simply states
that Ferris Bueller and the impossible events of their day off, was a figment
of the depressed Cameron’s imagination. He had created the delusion to help him
work through and inevitably confront his own fears. The thought-piece is
brilliant and it twisted a much deeper context into John Hughes story and a much
deeper one into mine.
Here’s the theory:
There’s also a super odd and sad coincidence tied into writing HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, but in sharing, I’d have to
give away some of the plot, so I’ll share this instead… AFTER you’ve read HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO,
there’s a link to a private Facebook Group where Libby’s story (and this one)
is safe to discuss without reveal for those still reading.
4.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MAIN
CHARACTER(S)?
HOLDING OUT
FOR A HERO is an ensemble cast of friends with Libby in the forefront.
We all have
that one friend that’s a little too loud and says whatever she thinks, yeah,
that’s Libby. She’s flawed and fabulous as she marches to her own beat. (An 80s one)
Ollie is
Libby’s first love and best friend’s older brother. He’s perfect in her eyes:
smart, funny, rock-star handsome, and absolutely unavailable. She still talks
to him all the time and can’t seem to break away.
The rest of
her lot includes: the slightly
eccentric, but socially superior Finn, easy-going Dean, and finally her
hormonally charged (she’s pregnant), best friend, Dora.
5.
WHERE AND WHEN DO YOU WRITE YOUR
STORIES?
I have a
home office and find myself working before dawn till late afternoon. Yes, I’m
one of those super early morning people…
6.
WHAT DO YOU DO AND ENJOY WHEN YOU’RE
NOT WRITING?
I’m
currently redesigning my home back to its French Country cottage roots and
obsessed with the show Fixer-Upper! (They make me want to knock down walls!) I
love antiquing for pieces to upcycle, distress, and stage.
7.
YOUR DEBUT NOVEL IS CALLED LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES, CAN YOU TELL US
MORE ABOUT IT?
I think in our late
twenties and early thirties we are becoming who we are. Often the vision we
hold of ourselves is very different than the one our family holds of us, and if
were not careful, their vision can hold us back and hold us hostage.
LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES
explores this concept through Kensington’s journey. And in Kenzi’s case, she
just needed a little help from Shane (and ten romantic comedies!) to remember
who that was.
8.
IF YOU COULD SWITCH PLACES WITH A
CHARACTERS FROM A BOOK, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Oh, Kenzi
IN LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES! Who wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman
shopping scene or the 16 Candles birthday moment, right?
9.
WHAT
BOOKS HAVE MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE?
Great question! Books from my childhood: The
Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and the Rats of Nimh. The stories were magic
and stayed with me. Now, I tend to become enamoured with structure and plot.
Gillian Flynn is the master.
10. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE
MOMENT?
I’m
currently sitting on three manuscripts that are all in various stages of
completion. I also have two other
stories that have taken a hold and won’t seem to let go.
11. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WRITING?
I enjoy all
of it. Delving into a character’s inner workings, creating a surprising story
twist, and even the actual structure of how best to share the work.
12. IMAGINE HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO WOULD BE TURNED INTO A MOVIE, WHO WOULD YOU CAST FOR THE MAIN
CHARACTERS?
That’s
actually a hard question, Simona! My muse for Oliver is too old, and for Jasper
(Libby’s manager and friend), he isn’t an actor, but a singer. Libby’s a
mixture of Emma Stone and imagination, so I’m not sure!
13. PICK THREE AUTHORS YOU WANT TO HAVE DINNER WITH AND TELL US WHY.
Gillian
Flynn – as I said she’s the master of structure.
Stephen
King – for reasons not exactly related to writing. His rehabilitation after his
accident is similar to how I fought my way through and back from Multiple Sclerosis.
Reading this about him, gave me a new (and different) respect for him.
And someone
people may not be as familiar with, Christian writer, Frank
E. Peretti. His novel, This Present Darkness put to words a theory I’ve long
belived.
14. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE AND WHY?
Matthew
17:20 “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you
can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing
will be impossible for you.“
I love that last bit. Nothing will be impossible to you.
Every other quote I love tends to say about the same thing. What we
believe, we achieve. Whether you think you can or think you can’t, youre right.
15. WHERE WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL PLACE TO LIVE?
Right now I’m obsessed with the French country side, but I love Italy.
An apartment in Venice a few months of the year would be a dream.
16.
Coffee
or tea?
Coffee.
Lots of coffee.
17.
Paperback
or e-reader?
Both. I
want to own the books I love and display them.
18.
Mountains
or the sea?
Sea.
19.
Summer
or winter?
Winter. January is my most favourite time of year.
Everything resets with a fresh new start.
20.
Sweet
or salty?
Both.
Thanks so much for having over to chat,
Simona-such great questions! I wanted to also mention, HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
has a Prequel Short that’s available called, LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY. This jumps back to when Libby and Ollie
were teens, in love, and tells (some) of the story before the story. It can be enjoyed before or after HOLDING OUT FOR
A HERO and it’s offered free as bonus content.
My hope in writing HOLDING
OUT FOR A HERO is to shed some light on a very misunderstood and hidden
affliction, while putting a smile on your face. I hope
Libby’s antics make you laugh, and her bittersweet bumpy road in love and life
touches your heart.
Victoria xo
Stop by and say hi!
www.victoriavantiem.com/
www.facebook.com/victoriavantiem.author/
The problem with first love is that it never truly dies . . .
Libby London fell in love in with the 80s,
came of age in the 90s, and now, in the 21st Century, she's completely falling apart... Her
New York fashion sensibility is more ‘vintage tragedy’ than ‘retro babe’ and
might just be what’s holding her back in all matters of life and love…
At least that's what her well-meaning friends
think. They've staged an #80sIntervention determined to bring Libby bang
up-to-date, but how do you move forward when the one you love holds you in the
past? Between her dreaded birthday party, friend’s madcap ambush, and being
forced to relocate her Pretty In Pink thrift shop, Libby’s at the end of
her rope. If her therapist isn’t quick, it could be a literal one.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY prequel short Releases January 5th, 2016
At almost seventeen, Libby
London’s future is so bright; she often wears shades-specifically neon pink
plastic ones. With a gifted musical ear, finely tuned to recognize and create
mad mix tapes, she plans to attend the City College of New York to major in
music production after graduation. It’s the first step to opening a
professional recording studio and starting a label.
For now, she’s happy to work the
other side of the music industry –retail. Surrounded by fab friends, a gorgeous
(soon to study entertainment law) boyfriend, and an exciting future in the MTV
generation of music, life is crazy complicated, but completely awesome.
Of course, that was yesterday.
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