 | Today I am part of the blog tour for the fabulous Victoria Walters! Her book The Second Love of My Life is OUT NOW and it's amazing. My review will be live later today, but do read this book, it's amazing. First up, here's my Q&A with the lovely lady herself! |
1. Hi Victoria! Welcome to Bookish Escapes, it's lovely to have you here - can you tell us all about your debut novel The Second Love of my Life?
Thanks for having me!! It's about woman called Rose who lost her husband tragically two years ago. She thought they had a whole future together and now she has no idea how to move on. Then newcomer Robert arrives in her Cornwall town for the summer and she has to decide if she can allow herself the chance to love again.
2. Before you released TSLOML, you released a fabulous little novella The Summer I Met You, but I hear that was actually written AFTER TSLOML, what made you decide to write the novella?
So happy you enjoyed it!! Well my publishers Headline asked for a short story and I knew straight away I wanted to tell Rose's best friend Emma's story. It's just a lovely summery romance.
3. The town of Talting is one of those towns I really want to visit, but unfortunately it's fictional. Could I find a town like Talting that's actually real? Was Talting based on an actual place?
Haha everyone is saying that! I'd quite like to live there myself. It was inspired by the quirky, close knit town in the TV show The Gilmore Girls. My own hometown in Surrey helped too as some of the events in Talting happen here, such as an annual fair and Christmas tree-lighting night.
4. Rose was a very special character, how hard was it to be her through the ringer? I mean I barely knew Lucas, but I loved him so for Rose it must have been a hundred times worse...
It was tricky writing her so in the midst of grief but showing her personality and who she was before enough for readers to root for her. Rose had the life she had pictured for herself ripped away from her and basically has to start all over again. She is strong and kind though and I knew she'd be okay in the end.
5. What's it like to finally have your book out into the world? Do you have anything special planned for publication day (maybe going to EVERY BOOK SHOP EVER and taking many, many selfies, and forcing folks to BUY MY BOOK?)?
Publication day was so lovely - I had a launch party at the Waterstones I work in and it was a really emotional night!! I've been hunting for the book in the shops and signing copies. There is a competition you can all enter - just take a photo of the book if you spot it in a bookshop or supermarket and tweet or post on Instagram with the hashtag #TSLOMLbookhunt. I'll pick my favourite four to win a signed copy!
6. You're published by the fabulous folks at Headline, what was it like to get the CALL, to hear your book is going to be published? How long did it take between getting the call and us getting the chance to read your book?
I'm so lucky - they have been SO behind this book! It was my agent Hannah Ferguson who phoned with the news. I was watching Twilight at the time haha. It honestly was a dream come true moment and I still can't believe it happened!
7. You're an avid reader yourself, what three books would you recommend to those new to Chick Lit (or whatever genre you call it - I know it's always a minefield to know whether to use Chick Lit or something else).
I guess it implies something fluffy but I think the genre of commercial women's fiction deals with such wide topics that it does sell it a little short. My favourite ever is probably Bridget Jones's Diary - such a good rom com! My two tearjerker picks are The Last First Kiss by Ali Harris and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. There are so many brilliant books by women to discover though!
8. Finally, book two! Can you tell me anything about it? Is it something we will definitely get to read? I'm already excited, and book one has only just come out, oops. But hey! There's nothing wrong with enthusiasm, right?!?
I really hope you will get to read it - everything crossed! Buy lots of TSLOML copies haha to make sure!! It's under wraps right now but it is finished and I'm really excited about it.
Thanks for having me Leah!!
Thanks for having me!! It's about woman called Rose who lost her husband tragically two years ago. She thought they had a whole future together and now she has no idea how to move on. Then newcomer Robert arrives in her Cornwall town for the summer and she has to decide if she can allow herself the chance to love again.
2. Before you released TSLOML, you released a fabulous little novella The Summer I Met You, but I hear that was actually written AFTER TSLOML, what made you decide to write the novella?
So happy you enjoyed it!! Well my publishers Headline asked for a short story and I knew straight away I wanted to tell Rose's best friend Emma's story. It's just a lovely summery romance.
3. The town of Talting is one of those towns I really want to visit, but unfortunately it's fictional. Could I find a town like Talting that's actually real? Was Talting based on an actual place?
Haha everyone is saying that! I'd quite like to live there myself. It was inspired by the quirky, close knit town in the TV show The Gilmore Girls. My own hometown in Surrey helped too as some of the events in Talting happen here, such as an annual fair and Christmas tree-lighting night.
4. Rose was a very special character, how hard was it to be her through the ringer? I mean I barely knew Lucas, but I loved him so for Rose it must have been a hundred times worse...
It was tricky writing her so in the midst of grief but showing her personality and who she was before enough for readers to root for her. Rose had the life she had pictured for herself ripped away from her and basically has to start all over again. She is strong and kind though and I knew she'd be okay in the end.
5. What's it like to finally have your book out into the world? Do you have anything special planned for publication day (maybe going to EVERY BOOK SHOP EVER and taking many, many selfies, and forcing folks to BUY MY BOOK?)?
Publication day was so lovely - I had a launch party at the Waterstones I work in and it was a really emotional night!! I've been hunting for the book in the shops and signing copies. There is a competition you can all enter - just take a photo of the book if you spot it in a bookshop or supermarket and tweet or post on Instagram with the hashtag #TSLOMLbookhunt. I'll pick my favourite four to win a signed copy!
6. You're published by the fabulous folks at Headline, what was it like to get the CALL, to hear your book is going to be published? How long did it take between getting the call and us getting the chance to read your book?
I'm so lucky - they have been SO behind this book! It was my agent Hannah Ferguson who phoned with the news. I was watching Twilight at the time haha. It honestly was a dream come true moment and I still can't believe it happened!
7. You're an avid reader yourself, what three books would you recommend to those new to Chick Lit (or whatever genre you call it - I know it's always a minefield to know whether to use Chick Lit or something else).
I guess it implies something fluffy but I think the genre of commercial women's fiction deals with such wide topics that it does sell it a little short. My favourite ever is probably Bridget Jones's Diary - such a good rom com! My two tearjerker picks are The Last First Kiss by Ali Harris and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. There are so many brilliant books by women to discover though!
8. Finally, book two! Can you tell me anything about it? Is it something we will definitely get to read? I'm already excited, and book one has only just come out, oops. But hey! There's nothing wrong with enthusiasm, right?!?
I really hope you will get to read it - everything crossed! Buy lots of TSLOML copies haha to make sure!! It's under wraps right now but it is finished and I'm really excited about it.
Thanks for having me Leah!!
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