Day 3 of Romancing September, we had another fantastic day yesterday, thanks to everyone who stopped by and showed us their support. Our guest today is author Victoria Steele, come and meet her, then in a few hours head over to Georgia and catch up with her views on writing in today’s society with Stephanie.
1) Where is your home town?
A small town in rural Georgia. I don’t give out a lot of information due to privacy. That was a piece of advice that I received when I first started publishing in January.
2) How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for a long while, but only just started publishing my books this year. Reading is a hobby of mine and I love to take a story to the finish line.
3) Have you always written romance?
Yes, pretty much. I’ve played with a couple of mysteries, but never finished those. Of course you never know… But I love a good romance. Hopefully my books will make someone reconsider romance. It’s the thought of losing yourself for an hour or two in another world.
4) I love the book cover, can you tell us who designed it?
This is the collaboration of some of my ideas and the cover designer at Horseshoe Publishing. I knew I wanted a cowboy, a woman, and a bull rider. I found the cowboy myself, but Kaleigh Payne, the cover designer just took off with it. She told me to just let her do something and she’d let me see it. When she sent it to me via email I just sat there and said “Holy Cow! She’s read my mind. It was more than I’d expected.” I really think a cover is very important. That’s the first selling point of your book.
5) You’ve chosen to publish with Stephanie’s Horseshoe Publishing, was this an easy decision?
No, this was not an easy decision to start with. Actually, while the first book I published “Sweet Innocence” was in the works, I sat down and played with a couple of crudely designed covers. Then I ran across Stephanie’s books. (Which I’m now a fan of by the way). The covers were incredible. I messaged her and asked where they were designed at or better yet who designed them. She told me her assistant did the cover designs. After I pretty much begged her to help me, I let her take the ideas and run with them. Her designer totally blew me away. They’ve been really nice and you get your money’s worth. I edited my first two, but the last book “After Hours” I let them edit it. It’s been a great investment and believe me, it gives me more time to write.
6) “Not This Time” is the first book in the “Chasing Cowboys” series, how many books are you planning to write in the series?
Well, I’m not really sure. When I started writing this book it was going to be a stand-alone. But when I neared the end I thought, cowboys are hot right now, why not do a series. I’m working on the next instalment, but not sure about the name. I’ve had to put it on the back burner as I’m trying to finish the second book in the My Prodigy Trilogy. Hopefully, book 2 will be completed before Fall in the Chasing Cowboys Series. I really want to do a Christmas edition.
7) I recently heard about a new market for books N/A (New Adult), what market is your book aimed at? How steamy is the romance?
I read something a couple of months ago on the Harlequin website about this genre. I don’t know if my books fit in this or not. I haven’t quite figured out what New Adult is. My romances are rated in a scale of 1 to 5 and 5 being “Fifty Shades”, I guess I would put mine at a high 2 or 3. They’re steamy, but not over the top. I always put an age warning. I know I wouldn’t want anyone under 18 reading it, but it’s not that bad.
8) I’m from the UK, where we have few cowboys, farmers! But no cowboys, so I don’t read much western material. In a few lines entice me to pick up your book.
Well, let’s see now. Over here in the states, cowboys are getting popular again in the romance genre. So let’s see if I can bring you over to the cowboy side. She made a half laugh, half growling sound. “Ok, I’ll bite. Who’s the one for me since you seem to know me so well?” She looked up into his mesmerizing eyes and had to hold her ground.
“I do know who’s good for you. That person is standing right here.” He looked serious for a change.
She snorted and pulled her hand out of his. Walking over to the tree she leaned her shoulder against it. “Luke, have you lost your mind? Every time we get close you run away. My heart can’t take this anymore.” As hard as she tried the tears that threatened to overflow slowly ran down her cheeks. “It hurts too much when you get scared and run.”
Sorry, I got a little carried away and did more than a few lines. It’s one of my favourite parts. Don’t worry it’s reeling me in!
9) How do you tackle the romantic / sex scenes in “Not This Time”? Are they tricky to get right?
The romantic scenes can get a little tricky. How far do you go or how far do you have to go to keep the reader interested? Sometimes I will rewrite these scenes several times. Other times they will just flow out of my fingertips. Oh, and the sexual scenes take on a life of their own. It’s like you have to picture it, or it doesn’t flow right. Sometimes I embarrass myself. But fortunately, the scenes in this book almost wrote themselves. They are based on some things from my own relationship with a cowboy and other things that were from a daydream of what could have been.
10) Can you let us know a planned publishing date for your next book in the series?
I’m shooting for late September/early October. That is if things work out.
“Not This Time” is available from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
I’d like to pass on our warmest thanks to Victoria for joining us on the blog and wish her well with her new book.
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Rosie Amber 