Charlotte/ C.K. Volnek - Author - Story Teller
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Adult Books
  • Middle Grade Books
    • Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island >
      • Meet the Characters from Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
    • A Horse Called Trouble >
      • Meet the Characters from A Horse Called Trouble
    • The Secret of the Stones >
      • Meet the Characters from The Secret of the Stones
  • Contact Me
  • News/Writing Tips
  • C.K.'s Cover Designs
  • Newsletter

Meet Best-Selling Author, Victorine Lieske

8/26/2011

11 Comments

 
Picture
I’m so lucky. I’m interviewing a good friend and successful author today. Victorine Lieske is a best-selling author and self-published her first book, Not What She Seems, in April of 2010.  In March of 2011 the book hit the New York Times best-selling ebook list, where it stayed on the list for six weeks. By May 2011 she had sold over 100,000 copies. She is represented by literary agent Rachel Vogel of Movable Type Literary Group. Today, she is proud to be promoting her second novel, a YA titled The Overtaking.  Victorine and her husband live in Nebraska where they raise their four children. They manufacture rubber stamps for the craft industry.

I’m so pleased to have you here today, Victorine. Can you tell your readers something interesting about yourself AND/OR your favorite character.

I’m a habitual crafter. I love rubber stamping and scrapbooking. I could spend hours in my craft room creating cards or fun decorations for a party.

I am a crafter as well. My husband has given up ‘just’ watching a movie with me. If I’m not on my computer, I’m making a necklace or something else, even while watching TV.

Tell us what was your favorite book was as a teen? Tell us about it and how it affected you as a person.

I read a lot as a teen. I’m not sure how old I was when I read A Wrinkle in Time, but that book opened up a whole new world of science fiction and fantasy to me. I probably wouldn’t have gone on to read Asmov or Bradbury had I not enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time as much as I did.

A Wrinkle in Time is a great book. Now, tell us about the genre you have chosen to write for. Why do you write specifically for them?

I’ve written in a few genres. My first book, Not What She Seems, is a romantic suspense novel. I wrote that because I was in the mood to read something romantic but didn’t have anything in the house. I also wanted the romance to be light and clean, so I decided to write my own story. My second book, The Overtaking, is a young adult romance with a science fiction back drop. That was fun to write and it was a challenge to write people with powers. And my novelette is a young adult romance, just a fun story I wrote while on vacation, mostly to entertain myself.

I’m excited to hear more about your new book. Tell us about it. How did it come about and share your favorite excerpt/scene.

The Overtaking was an idea I had come up with years ago. I had wondered what it would be like to find out we weren’t really living on Earth, that our memories had been altered, and that we’re living our lives not knowing who we really were. This idea grew, and it came to life in the Maslonian and Dyken races, one taking over the other and putting them in a fake environment. And then I thought it would be great to have members of the opposite races fall in love. That’s when Shayne and Danielle were formed.

Here’s an excerpt from one of my favorite scenes:

They slowed as they neared her dorm. Some students were tossing a baseball back and forth on the front lawn. She stopped walking and looked up at him. “Shayne, I think we need to talk.”

He frowned. “What about?”

“Us. I don’t think this is working out.” She tried to swallow, but the lump in her throat wouldn’t let her.

“I’m not being a very good fake boyfriend. I understand. I can do better.” He took her hands in his, but she pulled away.

“I’m serious, Shayne. I can’t see you anymore.” She turned away to see a baseball headed straight for her face. She didn’t have time to duck. The ball was coming at her too fast. Two inches from her nose the ball stopped in mid-air, as if someone had caught it right before it hit her face. But no one was there. She stared, unbelieving, at the ball suspended in the air.

Shayne reached out and plucked the ball from where it had halted.

“Sorry about that,” one of the students yelled. “Nice catch, though.”

“Thanks,” Shayne called, throwing the ball back.

Alarm flooded through her. Shayne’s powers were manifesting. She stared up at him, fear inching its way down her neck. He stared back at her, his eyes wide.

Her gut twisted. She had to go inside and report the incident. He would be taken, and she had no idea what they would do to him this time. It killed her to do it, but she had no choice.

He reached out and touched her shoulders. “Danielle…”

She squirmed away from him. “I have to go.”

“Wait…”

Waiting was out of the question. She ran down the sidewalk and up the steps to her dorm room. Only after she opened the door and entered did she realize Shayne was right on her heels. She tried to shut the door, but he stopped it with his foot.

A very exciting read. Can you tell us how writing has affected your life? And what’s your favorite part of being a writer?

I’ve found writing to be a wonderful part of my life. It’s a release. A part of my day where I can leave the world behind and crawl into that other world I’ve created. I get to feel the emotions of these young people who are just falling in love. I get to have adventures. And I love hearing from people who have read my books and enjoyed them. That totally makes my day.

What advice can you give regarding the writing process?

My best advice is to join a critique group. It is invaluable to learn to get and give critiques. I wouldn’t be successful at all had I not taken the time and made the effort to learn the critique process.

I remember you recommending Critique Circle at a presentation I went to. It is a wonderful site. Regarding publication and marketing, what advice can you offer aspiring writers?

With the power Amazon and Barns and Noble gives the author, I highly suggest becoming your own publisher and putting your books up for sale yourself as ebooks. The royalties you will earn are phenomenal and you can be in charge of every aspect of your publication. You can even create your own paperback version on CreateSpace. If anyone tells you that self-publishing is a trap, and that you won’t sell any books, have them look up Amanda Hocking, John Locke, or David Dalglish. As for myself, I sold over 100,000 copies of my first book, Not What She Seems and made the New York Times best seller list. Agents emailed me and I signed with Rachel Vogel of Movable Type Literary Group.

I’m so happy for you. I know our readers will want to know more. How can your fans find, follow or friend you?

My website, victorinelieske.com, has a contact page where fans can email me. I love getting emails, so if you enjoyed my book please feel free to send me an email. I try to answer all of them.

My facebook fan page is http://www.facebook.com/victorinelieske. Feel free to friend me on facebook! I’m the only Victorine Lieske on there. :)

Thanks so much for joining me today, Victorine. It’s been my pleasure to get to know you even better and I wish you much success with your new book.

C.K. Volnek

11 Comments
    Ghost Dog of  Roanoke Island
    - a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American Folklore and based on the real life mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.

    Available in Print and E-book
    Picture
    View the Book Trailer for Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo

    A Horse Called Trouble
    A troubled teen must overcome her abused past to save the defiant horse who taught her to love and trust again.
    Available in  Print and e-book
    Picture
    View the book trailer for 
    A Horse Called Trouble

    Welcome to my blog.

    Hi. I'm C.K. Volnek, Author and Story teller. I love books and photography, dogs and horses, hiking and tulips, kids, pasta, sunsets and of course…writing. Please come back often and share your passion in writing.. 

    Blogs to follow:

    Moments of Clarity
    Victorine Writes
    Why is My Book not Selling
    Barbara's Meanderings
    Teen Word Factory
    Muse It Up Publishing
    Dasef's Book Corner
    Sue Perkins
    Pembroke Sinclair
    Stories Ala Mode
    Kim Baccellia
    Candid Canine
    Shellie Neumeier
    Under the Yellow Hat


    CK's bookshelf: read

    The Secret GardenThe ShackDear JohnThe Queen of EverythingTangerine

    More of CK's books »
    CK Volnek's  book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists
    free counters

    Archives

    March 2015
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010

    Categories

    All
    #100blogfest
    A Horse Called Trouble
    Al Capone
    Aloha For Carol Ann
    Anne Johnson
    Author
    Author Interview
    Author Platform
    Bad Spelling
    Barbara Bockman
    Barbara Ehrentreu
    Beast Of Noor
    Bethlene Williams
    Blood Chronicles
    Book
    Book Birthday
    Book Cover
    Book Marketing
    Born Of Blood
    Brian Kittrell
    Building A Promotional Platform
    Bullying
    Characters
    Chicken Soup
    Children\'s Books
    Chris Henderson
    Christian
    Christine Irene Steeves
    Christine Verstraete
    Christmas
    Ckvolnek
    C.k. Volnek
    C.k. Volnek
    C.K. Volnek
    Colors Like Memories
    Contest
    Cover Art
    Crimson Dream
    Crossed Out
    Cry Of The Fallen
    Cyrus Keith
    Dark Fantasy
    David Normoyle
    Death In Writing
    Descriptions & Emotions
    Down River
    Dragon Flame
    Dragons Of Noor
    Dragonswood
    Driven
    Earrings Of Ixtumea
    Ebenezer
    Ellen Jackson
    Enchantment
    Exiled
    Fantasy
    Free
    Ghost Dog Of Roanoke Island
    Ghost Dog Trailer
    Ghost Story
    Ginger Simpson
    Halloween
    Heather Cashman
    Herman Agency
    Heroes
    Historical Romance
    Horse Story
    If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor
    Impossible To Hold
    Indian Folklore
    Inspirational
    Internet Book Fair
    Jack Dahlgren
    Janet Lee Carey
    Jan Fischer Wade
    Janni Lee Simner
    Jenny Lundquist
    Jill Corcoran
    Joel Andre
    John Hart
    Jo Linsdell
    Joyful
    J. R. Wagner
    Judge A Book
    Kathy Pieper
    Kathy Rygg
    Killer Valentine Ball
    Kim Baccellia
    Lady-In-Waiting
    Lawna Mackie
    Letters From Al
    Liebster Award
    Life After The Undead
    Linda Barnett-Johnson
    Lindsay Below
    L.K. Below
    Long Story Short
    Lost Colony Of Roanoke Island
    Margo Sorenson
    Marketing
    Martin King
    Marva Dasef
    Meradeth Houston
    Mg Books
    MG/YA Blog-A-Thon
    Middle Grade
    Middle Grade Author
    Midnight Find
    Midnight Oil
    Mike Larsen
    Mindy Hardwick
    Mirror Mirror
    Missing Assumed Dead
    Muse Author Blog-a-thon
    MuseItUp MG/YA Blog-a-thon
    Muse It Up Publishing
    Napibowriwee
    New Year
    No Goddesses Allowed
    Not What She Seems
    Odessa
    Omm Writer
    On-line Writing Confrence
    Pb
    Pembroke Sinclair
    Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
    Perception
    Picture Books
    Prophecy
    Published
    Publishing
    Rebecca Russell
    Rebecca Ryals Russell
    Resolutions
    Reva's Quest
    Sb Knight
    Scary Story
    Scrivener
    Seeing Cinderella
    Self-esteem
    Shellie Neumeier
    Shortcomings
    Social Media
    So You Want To Write A Novel
    Spirit Stealer
    Stained Glass Summer
    Sue Perkins
    Tall Tales With Mr. K
    Teen Talk
    Thanksgiving
    The Ballad Of Booser Bogg
    The Beast Of Noor
    The Black Chronicles
    The Burberry Scare
    The Circle Of Sorcerers
    The King Of Lies
    The Last Child
    The Never Chronicles
    The Overtaking
    The Seraphym Wars
    The Tiger
    The Writing Friend
    Three Things To Remember
    Tweeting
    Tweets
    Tweet Tips
    Twitter
    Twitter Tips
    Veiled Virtues
    Victorine Lieske
    Why Is My Book Not Selling
    Witches Of Galdorheim
    Wounds
    Writechris
    Writer
    Writers' Blog
    Writing
    Writing Skills
    Writing Tips
    Writing Workshop
    Ya Author
    Yellow Hat
    Young Adult
    Zarena

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Yuliya Libkina, brewbooks, nanaow2006, orangeacid, peasap, Mr. T in DC, h.koppdelaney, The U.S. Army, Giorgio Montersino, LifeSupercharger, gilles chiroleu, DSuàr, jumpyjodes, Sugar Daze (f/k/a LittleMissCupcakeParis), Ethan.K, the bbp, *Vintage Fairytale*, kenny_lex, striatic, MarkBennett86, {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}, Pink Sherbet Photography, Xurble, DanielWiesheu, Smiley Stew, George Vnoucek, laverrue, skuds, AngryJulieMonday