Meet VICTORIA VANE
A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone, Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism. Ms. Vane also writes award nominated romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee.
Where are you from? Hometown Girl or new to the neighborhood?
Although I grew up in a small town in Maine but really consider myself a southern-fried Yankee as I have lived south of the Mason-Dixon line for over 30 years.
Married? Children? Pets? Day job?
I have been married (to the same man) for 29 years next month. We have two sons, a dog, and two beautiful horses. As for my day job, after a layoff in 2008 from my position in diagnostic medical imaging, I accepted a position far away from my family, during which time my first novel, THE HIGHEST STAKES was released, and I finished my second, FORTUNE'S SON. After 18 months separation, I finally quit the day job to pursue writing full time. Now, 16 months later, I have another five books to my credit with A BREACH OF PROMISE written as Victoria Vane released last December as well as a 4 novella series in the works. I think this writing gig just might work out ;P.
Favorite foods?
Anything Italian and Ferrero Rocher chocolates!
Name a few of your favorite things to do when you are getting away from it all?
Along with my horses, reading and writing are my great loves. I also play the Celtic harp but only for myself due to severe performance anxiety!
Do you have a social/political cause you are passionate about?
I try to stay away from such controversial topics!
Something silly you have done …
Silly or crazy? The craziest thing I ever did was to hitch- hike above the Arctic Circle in the month of December. I was seventeen years old and an exchange student in Finland at the time. I swear this is true!
The Arctic Circle? Really? That is amazing. I just picture a big - huge block of ice. And Finland. Tell us a bit about that experience! We want to know. (Whispering) did you see polar bears?
More on my Scandinavian adventure. When I was 17 years old I spent my senior year of high school as an exchange student in Malmi, Finland (a suburb of Helsinki). I was very adventurous (foolish) at that age and wanted to spend Christmas with some friends in the north (Lapland) but I didn't have enough money for the entire journey so I took a train part of the way and I hitchhiked the rest! The average winter temperature is well below zero so I wore these crazy Russian felt boots and the fur hat and the whole deal. I made it safely to the lakeside "summer cottage" where we were staying but it had no electricity or plumbing so we had to chop and burn wood and cut a hole in the ice for water. There was a sauna however (the Finnish tradition at all summer cottages). Wanting to prove my American self amongst my foreign counterparts, after using the sauna, I joined them when they jumped into the lake through the big hole we had cut in it. OMG! Don't ever do this!!!! I went into shock! To answer the second part of your question - no polar bears but we did see reindeer.
What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Don't eat yellow snow. (I grew up in the north!)
Tell us your latest news? Current projects?
I am incredibly excited to talk about my Devil DeVere erotic historical romance series, written as Victoria Vane. This is comprised of four stand-alone novellas (each 30-40K words or 125-150 pages) that combined read almost as a serial novel. The first titles, A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, to be released this month is a racy, rollicking Georgian romp and will be followed up by another romantic comedy, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS in late June. The third book in the series to be released late July is THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is dark and erotic with elements of mystery and intrigue. The last novella, THE DEVIL'S MATCH is scheduled for late August. After all have been released in digital format, the four novellas will also be combined and issued in trade paperback- the best of both worlds! For a sneak peek, I have excerpts to all of these stories on my web site.
Your latest projects. Wow! How in the world did you manage to write so much? Georgian --- as in Europe Georgian or USA Georgian? As for my writing frenzy, I have truly been on fire with The Devil DeVere series set in the Georgian era (the late 18th century). I wrote the first three novellas, (the equivalent of a 400 page novel) in less than 3 months and THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS in only 12 days! I've never written thsi fast! My average until now has been 1,00- 1,500 words per day but I have pretty much doubled that with this series. I'm just having so darned much fun with it!
Easiest and hardest thing about writing?
The very first sentence. Sometimes I agonize over the opening line for days! After that it's all downhill!
What inspired you to write your first book?
Everything I write is inspired by something historical. With THE HIGHEST STAKES, a work of romantic historical fiction written as Emery Lee, it was the history of horseracing. I combined this with a love story and viola! As for the rest of my work, my multi award nominated FORTUNE'S SON also incorporates history with a romance and is set in the Georgian gaming world. While my Victoria Vane titles have a lesser emphasis on history and a much greater focus on the romance, I am still true to my history-loving heart with the details and even real people I incorporate into my stories.
What ignites your creativity?
Again-- history. I am always reading and inevitably find some obscure person, event, or fact that I find singularly fascinating. When that happens, I look for a way to weave it into a story!
Any life experiences tangled in the storylines?
Not really because I write historical novels, however, the character of Vesta in THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS closely mirrors myself at that age. Wildly impetuous and strong willed! She is who I would have been had my parents been rich and spoiled me rotten! LOL!
What books do you have on your favorites shelf?
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale, Noble Satyr by Lucinda Brant, Venetia by Georgette Heyer, An Infamous Army also by Georgette Heyer, Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen, Libertine's Kiss by Judith James, Open Country by Kaki Warner, Private Arrangements by Sherri Thomas, and the fantastic MacKinnon's Ranger's trilogy by Pamela Clare- just to name a few.
What book are you reading now?
I have several I am eager to read but am too busy finishing my Devil DeVere series at the moment. Next up on my TBR pile are: A Bed of Spices by Barbara Samuel, Fiji: A Novel by Lance and James Morcan,The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Deborah Brown, Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine, and A Secret Life by C.J. Archer.
Any new authors who have caught your interest?
Absolutely! Loved Firelight by Kristen Callihan although I don't normally read paranormal romance, also fellow Georgian Junkie and indie-pubbed author Lucinda Brant who is now my blogging partner.
http://georgianjunkie.wordpress.com
If you could say one thing to the next generation of authors, what would it be?
The competition for readers is beyond fierce so you need to be fresh and different and work your tail off!
What would you like to say to your readers?
I am fresh and different and I work my tail off! LOL! Seriously, expect to be surprised! I work very hard and am easily bored. I also cannot abide formulas so everything I write is going to be different. My body of work so far encompasses historical fiction with strong romantic elements to erotic paranormal romance. I follow my muse!
Purchase Victoria Vane’s A Breach of Promise
Purchase Emery Lee’s The Highest Stakes
Purchase Emery Lee’s Fortune’s Son
Read AdC's Review of Breach of Promise
Read AdC's Review of the Highest Stakes and Fortune's Son
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 TBA
Visit Victoria’s website: http://authorvictoriavane.com
Blog with Victoria: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Visit Emery Lee’s web page: http://authoremerylee.com
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