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
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
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