Monday, December 23, 2013

Meet the #Author - Victoria Pinder



Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Tell us about The Zoastra Affair:
A hundred years from now, Earth has trading partners with alien beings, mostly humanoid. However, going into space brought forth an unknown enemy who attacks Earth at will.

The Zoastra is part of the Earthseekers, an organization originally designed to go into space. Its new mission is to find Earth's enemies.
Ariel is stuck on a Victorian planet and steals Grace's body and life to get off the planet. Grace must get her body back before Ariel bonds with Grace's husband, Peter. Then there is Cross, the man on a mission to find those who killed his family. Ariel is attracted to Cross, but she's stolen someone's life.



What inspired you to write this particular story?:
I grew up on Star Wars and Star Trek. I have gone to conventions. Heck I held the second biggest ‘save Enterprise’ rally in the United States up in Orlando when UPN was cancelling my favorite show. And I’m not a fan of JJ Abrams Star Trek or Singer’s X-Men. I read the comics most of my life, but I do love Hugh Jackman. He’s a hottie, and he can sing. Loved Les Mis. Ohh, off topic. I do that.
Why did I write the Zoastra Affair? Because I couldn’t find the books I wanted to read. I love fantasy. But I wanted space ships, military chain of command, a mission, and aliens. So I had to come up with my own tale.

Please share a favourite snippet from your book:
I love the opening lines as it took me a long time to understand.
I’m going to have to steal someone else’s body to get out of here.
“Ariel, are you listening?”
Ariel Transcender stared dumbfounded at the mother superior of her prison, a/k/a Aulnale School for Orphans. “Yes, mistress.”
She had no idea what happened, though she pasted a fake simpering smile of appreciation on her face. Ms. Rochelle walked away.
A few minutes later, Ariel looked out the window again, tuning out Rochelle’s mind numbing lecture on what was proper behavior when near a man. The boarding home on this planet gave the stupidest lectures of the galaxy. Her lips curled into a sneer. Women were not excited to be bound to men.
Could I do this to someone else? Do I have any other choice?
Lenchena, the teenage girl who’d stolen her adult body and taken off on Ariel’s ship, needed to be found. And Ariel refused to listen to the daily drivel about always listening to a man.

Which comes first for you – a character's looks, personality or name?:
Ariel started out in early drafts as the bad guy but the book wouldn’t write that way. It took me a few name changes, where Ariel came from staring up in the sky, to understand that Ariel wasn’t an evil alien body snatcher. She’s the heroine, though she steals someone else’s life. (And Grace isn’t the girl to sit back and wait. She’s going to chase her.) Once I had who the heroine was. The hero, Cross, was easier, then I understood the basic subplot.

Any tips for aspiring authors?:
 I’ve had hundreds of rejections. Keep learning. Keep pushing. It will happen for you.

Questions for fun:

If you had the power of time travel, is there anything you would go back and change? Why/why not?:
I mentioned in class the other day when teaching Government as I know AP Macroeconomics starts for them in a month that if we invent the machine to go back, open a bank account, and ensure that the account stays open. This way in 2013, I’ve a lot more money. I don’t think it answers your question, but I said it live last week. But the truth is, I’m not looking to go back. Sure I’d like to meet important people, but life is good here.
And I do write about the future.

What super-power would you choose?:
To influence people with the Force. Did I mention, Star Wars was my formative years? I’m sure I did.

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?:
Wealth, health and love for me and for everyone I meet. (This way I get to be like the fairy godmother.)

Coffee, tea or wine?:
Lately I’ve been drinking amazingly good Green Tea. But I like all three at different times.


What is your favourite book? (aside from one of your own!):
I’ve been in the mood for classics and just finished Pride and Prejudice, again.

Favourite genre and why?:
Romance. I like books where death and rape aren’t prevalent as someone is all dystopian, end of the world, dark.

Favourite colour?:
Pink. Ariel’s hair is pink for a reason.

Upcoming news and plans for the future?:
I have contemporary romances coming up in 2014, and a fantasy novel. I’m writing the sequel to this now, as I miss this ship and crew.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us!



About the Author:

Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, after passing many tests proving how easy Math came to her. Then hating her life at the age of twenty four, she decided to go to law school. Four years later, after passing the bar and practicing very little, she realized that she hates the practice of law. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. After realizing she needed change, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is rewarding, but writing is a passion.

During all this time, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s dreams, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty.

When she woke up to what she wanted, the dream of writing became so obvious. She dreams of writing professionally, where her barista can make her coffee and a walk on the beach, can motivate her tales. Contemporary romances are just fun to write. She’s always thinking whose getting hurt and whose story is next on the list to fall in love. Victoria’s love of writing has kept her centered and focused through her many phases, and she’s motivated to write many stories.

Member of Florida Romance Writers, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA, and in Savvy Authors.



Visit Victoria online at:

Authors Website:  http://www.victoriapinder.com
Tumblr:    victoriapinder.tumblr.com 
 

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