My guest today is contemporary women’s fiction author, Victoria Springfield. Victoria’s going to talk to us about her writing journey, and her latest book. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get chatting to Victoria.
VICTORIA SPRINGFIELD writes contemporary women’s fiction immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Her feel-good books follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they deal with love, loss, friendship and family secrets. Victoria inherited a love of Italy from her father. She grew up in Essex and after many years in London now lives in Kent with her husband in a house by the river. She likes to write in the garden with a neighbour’s cat by her feet or whilst drinking cappuccino in her favourite café. Then she types up her scribblings in silence whilst her mind drifts away to Italy.
Welcome to my blog, Victoria. All your books are set in gorgeous Italy and are very popular. Can you tell us about your writing journey?
Like many writers I started off as an avid reader. Mum taught me to read before I went to school and took me to the library each week to choose a couple of books from the children’s section and it wasn’t long before I started doing odd bits of writing to entertain myself. At seven years old I wrote a ‘novel’ featuring all my classmates living in a giant chocolate pudding but as I got older other things got in the way.
By the time I was nearly fifty I was hankering after the idea of writing a novel that would fit in the ‘contemporary women’s fiction’ sphere but I didn’t take this seriously until the leader of a CV workshop asked me “what do you actually want to do?” and I realised I really should get started. Luckily a recent holiday to the Amalfi coast provided the inspiration to begin the book that became The Italian Holiday.
I really had no idea how hard it was to get published. After a pile of rejections, I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme. This enabled me to receive feedback from an anonymous published novelist which was absolutely invaluable. I did a lot of rewriting and within a few months I’d found my agent (Camilla Shestopal of Shesto Literary). In 2020 Orion Dash signed me for a two-book deal and The Italian Holiday was published in March 2021.
After that I wrote another for Dash then one for Orion Fiction, Invitation to Italy, set on the gorgeous island of Procida. Now I’ve signed a five-year deal with Boldwood Books. An Italian Island Secret was published this January and One Summer in Italy, set in Venice, comes out in May. As you’ll have spotted, my books are all largely set in Italy and I always choose somewhere I’ve visited, preferably on several occasions. My characters lives are shaped by their surroundings so I avoid writing stories that could be dropped into any old setting.
For each new project I start with an A5 notebook where I scribble notes though I don’t necessarily go back and read them. Once I know my beginning and end, my main characters and the setting I start writing. Beyond that I don’t plan until I hit about 50-60,000 words then I make a note of everything I think needs to happen in terms of plot in order to get to the end.
My husband is always the first to read my books although he isn’t the ‘target reader’. He tells me if bits are boring or a character is unappealing. After that I used to ask about half a dozen people for feedback but now I just get one or two to give me their thoughts from a reader’s perspective before I send the book to my agent for a few tweaks then off to the publisher. Each time I wonder how I ever managed to write the story and whether I’ll ever be able to write another.
I know that feeling, Victoria! Thanks so much for dropping by to talk to us today, Victoria. I hope your book sells shed loads!
Victoria’s latest book
Alessia knows her grandmother grew up on the beautiful Italian island off the coast from Naples. But Ornella seldom talks about her life there – or why she never went back.
So Alessia is amazed when Ornella reveals that as a young woman, she had worked on the set of a famous 1950s movie filmed on the island. Is there a link between the film set and the tragic death of Ornella’s teenage sister?
Ornella has kept her past – and the life changing promise she made – a secret for over sixty years. She has tried not to think about the love she gave up. But now, perhaps the truth should finally be revealed…
Travelling to Ischia together, Alessia falls in love with the captivating island. Meeting handsome journalist Roberto helps her dig deeper into her family’s past, too. Just what happened to Ornella’s sister? What heart-wrenching secret is her grandmother hiding?
This summer, can Alessia and Ornella put the past to rest and find the happy ending they both deserve?
A wonderfully escapist, romantic and compelling story of secrets and sacrifice, love and loyalty, that is perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Louise Douglas and Rosanna Ley.
Buy Link: Amazon
Follow Victoria
Twitter: @VictoriaSwrites
Facebook: VictoriaSpringfieldAuthor
More of Victoria’s titles
Sun, sea and spaghetti…
Italy was Bluebell’s dream destination, but taking her granny’s place on the Loving and Knitting magazine competition holiday she’d won wasn’t quite what she’d had in mind. For one thing she didn’t knit and for the other…well being single probably discounted her from the love category too. But a free holiday is a free holiday and it’s the perfect escape from her lacklustre life.
Michela didn’t think she’d be returning home to the Amalfi Coast so soon but a new job at her cousin’s restaurant on the harbour of Positano is a dream gig, miles away from the grey London clouds. This time though, she vowed not to fall into old habits, Stefano was the past and now a bright future beckons.
Buy link: Amazon
It’s never too late for happily ever after…
When sisters Cassie and Lisa receive a wedding invitation, the last person they expect to be getting married is Jane, their seventy-year-old aunt! Convinced that she’s making a big mistake, the two put their differences aside to travel to the vibrant Tuscan city of Lucca. But there’s something magical about Italy …and this trip may just change their relationship – and their lives – forever.
Jane knows it’s not just a holiday fling. After her husband of four decades passed away, Jane never thought she’d find love again. But Luciano, with his big heart and artistic flamboyance, fills her life with colour. Can she convince her nieces it’s never too late for a second chance?
Buy Link: Amazon
Karen King 