I’m delighted to have romance author, Victoria Cooke on my blog.
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| Victoria Cooke - Author |
Hi Victoria – It was lovely to connect with you via the Romantic Novelists’ Association and I’m pleased to hear you have a new book on the horizon. But before we discover more about The Single Mum’s Book Club, here are a few questions that will hopefully give your readers and followers an insight into some of the things that matter to you.
Arabella: We all love the creativity of writing – otherwise we wouldn’t spend hours at a keyboard pounding away in the hope someone will read and enjoy our novels. But what do you like most about our craft?
The editing and
proofreading, the author/reader relationship, promotional book signings, or is
there something else that has you hooked to the world of books?
Victoria: I love the mystery of writing the first
draft. Terry Pratchett once said ‘writing the first draft is just you telling
yourself the story’ and it’s true, that’s why I enjoy it so much. Even with the
most in-depth planning, the story can evolve in the most surprising of ways and
I love that. My second favourite part of the process is the line-editing phase.
That’s the part where we can really hone in on how we say things; can that line be funnier, more vivid, sassier
or more emotive etc. I also love it when a reader tells me they enjoyed one of
my stories, it makes the hard work worthwhile.
Arabella: Who or what inspired you to write your latest release, The Single Mum’s Book Club?
Victoria:
The Single Mum’s Book Club was inspired
by my own experiences of being a working mum. I’m the disorganised mum who
packs the PE bag at the last minute, forgets about the PTA bake sale and sends
her children to school with their breakfast in their hands. A few of my friends
once suggested we start a book club and we never got around to it (we got as
far as setting up a Whatsapp group). You’ll see in the story that the
characters are pretty terrible book-clubbers too.
Arabella: You are out for a walk and see a twenty-pound
note (or a twenty-dollar bill, etc.) lying on the road. What do you do with the
unclaimed funds?
Victoria: I’d ask around to try to reunite it with its
owner. If that failed, I’d donate it to charity.
Arabella: Some authors
cannot work without a business planner, others cannot write without an editing
app… Are there any “essentials” you need
to help your writing move forward?
Victoria: Coffee. I’m not a huge planner. I do plan but
then I hardly ever refer back to it or I lose my notebook etc. I always have my
copy of Save The Cat and The Emotional Thesaurus on hand though.
Arabella: An Indian Curry, Italian Paste Bake, Fish and Chips, or ______?
Victoria: This is why I love those ‘buffets from around
the world’ places — you can have all of the above! On a normal day, it would
depend on what mood I’m in but there are very few foods I don’t like.
Arabella: If the person
of your dreams, (husband/wife/partner/or superstar), were to take you out for
the day, social distancing restrictions permitting, where would they take you
and what would you do?
Victoria: I love a trip to the seaside. Reading a book
on a beach followed by fish and chips would be perfect.
Arabella: Do you have any great writing, publishing, or marketing tips you would like to share with “want-to-be” authors starting out on their writing journey?
Victoria: It’s what everyone always says but you have
to write. It doesn’t matter if you feel it’s terrible, it can be improved but
you have to have something to work with. I’d also recommend signing up to a few
writing courses (there are some free ones that are really useful). I did a
couple and they really helped me to start out. Finally, you need to get used to
letting people read your work. I used to blog about my writing journey. I’d
write about time management, finding inspiration, editing, etc. as well as
publishing short stories just to get used to people commenting on my work. It
can feel like quite a big step at first but it’s good to get used to feedback
early on.
Victoria, thank you for being a guest on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, today. A trip to the seaside and a walk along the beach as the waves hit the shore sounds lovely.
Wishing
you the best for your latest release, The Single Mum’s Book Club
Arabella
About Victoria Cooke
Victoria Cooke - Author
Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of
Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education.
She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when
she's not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves
working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender
age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story
about an invisible man. Since then she's always had a passion for reading and
writing, undertaking several writers' courses before completing her first
novel, 'The Secret to Falling in Love,' in 2016.
Book Blurb
The Single Mum’s Book Club
Three friends, three single mums, one quest to find love…
It’s 8:30am and I’m already utterly exhausted. My son has lost his
football boots, my daughter is ready for school dressed only in her vest and
knickers, and of course, my 1-year-old has filled his nappy for what feels like
the tenth time this morning.
As for my husband? He’s decided marriage doesn’t suit him, and well…
buggered off.
All hope of ‘me time’ has but dwindled to sipping half a glass of wine
whilst shouting after the kids. But everything is about to change.
I’m taking control of my life! I’ve joined… a book club.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Wow… live a little.’ But my fellow
book clubbers, Amanda and Janey, are my lifelines.
They understand the daily struggle because they’re mothers too.
And in between the prosecco, Doritos and googling everything about Mr
Darcy on SparkNotes, they’ve convinced me to go on a date with my boss.
A single mum of three looking for romance… what could possibly go wrong?
BUY LINK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08Z7WM5P5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
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