Author Interview: Victorine Lieske

I had the pleasure of chatting with Victorine Lieske, author of the New York Times Bestseller NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS and her newest novel THE OVERTAKING.  She's really friendly and sweet and speaks like she writes - I really enjoyed that!  Since I know y'all always want to see what authors look like, here she is, cute as a button!

 

Ms. Lieske has offered up a signed ARC to be given out!  Make sure you sign in and comment for your chance to win either on the blog or the AFW facebook page!  The contest will run through Sunday, July 30, 2011 at midnight.  The winner will be posted on the blog and Facebook on Monday morning, August 5, 2011.  Good luck!!!!!!!

Can you tell us a little bit about your new novel THE OVERTAKING?

I'd love to.  the idea of the book came from wondering what would happen if a group of people were kidnapped and put into an Earth-like environment, with no memory of their real life.  This is what happens to Shayne and his people.  He finds out he's not from Earth when he starts to hear the thoughts of the people around him.  And he just so happens to be hanging around the people who kidnapped him, or more specifically, Danielle, the girl who has fallen in love with him.

I would love to see a book trailer for THE OVERTAKING!  Do you have any plans for one?

Yes, I have been playing around with an idea for a trailer.  The hardest thing for me is finding the right photos to use.  But I have a few ideas, so I hope to have one done soon.

I read that you have a degree in Art, do you design your own covers?

Yes, I do, actually.  I love graphic design, so being able to create my own covers has been a true delight for me.

You did fabulously well with your first novel NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS.  Some Indie authors seem to have a rough go of it - do you have any tips for them?

My biggest tip is to get the book into the best shape you can before publishing.  That means joining a critique group, reading all you can about the craft of novel writing, and being willing to listen to others.  After you have a quality product, the most important thing is to package it professionally.  Hire an editor, if you can't design your own cover hire that as well.  It might cost a bit to start up, but you'll be glad in the end.

Can you tell us about your writing process?  Do you need blaring music and m&m's...

Definitely M&M's!  I'm a chocoholic.  I have tried writing with music in the background, but it distracts me too much so I usually write with silence.  I also write quite well in the car, which sounds funny.  But we live in a small town and often we drive to the larger city to shop or do stuff.  I bring my laptop and write while my husband drives.

Who are your favorite authors?

I read a lot.  I enjoy many different authors and books, but I would have to say my favorite traditional author would be Mary Higgins Clark.  I enjoy her suspense.  I also read a lot of Indie authors, and some of my favorites are Imogen Rose, Vicki Tyley, Annette Lyon, and Holly Hook.  I'm definitely keeping an eye on Craig Hansen and Cidney Swanson.

Do you design all the stamps for Victorine Originals Rubber Stamps? (that IS you, right?)

Rubber stamping is definitely my other love.  Victorine Originals started out with just my drawings, but then we began purchasing art from other artists, and we bought out a couple rubber stamp companies and added their designs in, so now it's a mix of many different designs.

Victorine is an unusual name - is it a family name?

Yes, I was named after an ancestor of mine.  It is a very unique name, but as I was beginning to research the name to see if any other authors had used it, I found there were two different published books titled Victorine.  Neither one looked like my kind of book, though, so sadly I haven't read either one.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today, Victorine!