Today I am very happy to welcome the lovely Victoria Walters on my blog. She kindly answered some of my questions. Her debut novel is called The Second Love of My Life and I absolutely adored it. Here is my review, if you want to have a look: Review - The Second Love of My Life
1. Did you always dream of being a writer?
I think so. I always loved reading and making up my own stories. I was an only child so I used my imagination a lot!
2. How did your writing career develop?
I started writing YA first and found an agent but that story didn't sell to a publisher. I had the idea for what has become my debut novel and everything fell into place!
3. Your debut novel is called The Second Love of My Life, what is it about?
It's about a woman called Rose who lost her husband suddenly and tragically when she's just 24. The
story follows her journey as she tries to navigate life without him.
4. What was your inspiration for the book?
I thought it would be interesting to start a story with the death of the love interest instead of at the end. Grief is something we all have to deal with at some point so I wanted to explore how my main character Rose would deal with hers.
5. Can you tell us more about the main character(s)?
Rose is an artist living in a small town in Cornwall and I love her loyal and kind she is but at the start of the book she is really struggling to paint and live without her husband Lucas. A newcomer called Robert arrives in the town for the summer. He's good looking, wealthy and mysterious and nothing will be the same again for either of them. The town is full of quirky characters that I hope everyone loves as much as I do!
6. Where and when do you write your stories?
I tend to write either at my dining room table or in an armchair, I don't have a desk. My cat Harry is usually with me. I find I'm more productive in the mornings.
7. What do you do and enjoy when you’re not writing?
I'm a Waterstones bookseller which is great as I get to spend even more time with books. I read a lot of course, I like baking and going to the theatre and concerts.
8. If you could switch places with a character from a book, who would it be and why?
Probably Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice - I love that world and who wouldn't want to meet Mr Darcy!
9. What books have most influenced your life most?
Wow so many. I think Jane Austen has been a huge influence and two of the reasons I really started writing properly were Harry Potter and Twilight.
10. What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on my next book and hoping I can tell you more soon!
11. What do you enjoy most about writing?
I love using my imagination and coming up with characters and places. It's so much fun!
12. Pick three authors you want to have dinner with and tell us why.
Do they have to be alive? If not then Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and JK Rowling. Inspiring women who I would love to talk to!
13. Imagine The Second Love of My Life would be turned into a movie, who would you cast for the main characters?
I think I'd chose Romola Garai for Rose and Ed Westwick for Robert.
14. You wrote a little prequel for The Second Love of My Life, it’s called The Summer I Met You, can you tell us more about it?
It's actually a prequel as it's set before the novel and it follows Rose's best friend Emma one summer when she falls in love.
15. If you could travel to one place anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Right now I'd love to go to Cornwall where my book is set and walk along the beach.
16. Coffee or tea?
Tea!
17. Paperback or e-reader?
Paperback.
18. Mountains or the sea?
The sea.
19. Summer or winter?
Winter.
20. Sweet or salty?
Sweet.
About the Author:
Victoria Walters has always loved creating stories. Her first book was handwritten when she was sixteen years old, and was closely modelled on the Sweet Valley High series. Victoria studied sociology at Warwick University and has since worked for a business publisher and as a Waterstones bookseller. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry (named after Harry Potter, not Harry Styles). This is her first novel.
You can discover more about Victoria - and find pictures of Harry the cat - by following her on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at: http://victoria-writes.com/.
