In celebration of the upcoming release of my debut novel, Fast Forward (see announcement here), I’m doing a series of interviews with authors about their past, present & future. Today, please welcome all the way from the UK… Victoria Connelly!

PAST:

1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a writer and used to make up my own versions of The Famous Five books by Enid Blyton.

2. What did you do before you became a writer?

I’ve always written but, to pay the bills before I got published, I did all sorts of jobs: civil servant, secretary, admin assistant, and English teacher.

3. What is one of your most treasured memories from the past?

There was a moment at our wedding that I absolutely adored. We’d hired a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and were about to greet the guests in the Great Hall after the wedding ceremony. The fire was lit in the enormous fireplace and the tables were all set with candles and we were on our own for a brief moment and it was really magical.

PRESENT:

4. What’s your latest/upcoming release about and/or what are you currently working on?

Just before Christmas, I released Christmas with Mr Darcy – the novella sequel to my Austen Addicts’ Trilogy. That’s out on Kindle now. My next paperback is coming out in the UK in May and it’s called Wish You Were Here. Set on a Greek island, it’s about a Plain Jane who suddenly becomes irresistible to men after making a wish on a statue of Aphrodite. I’m also about to release an ebook about our move from London to rural Suffolk. It’s called Escape to Mulberry Cottage so watch out for that one.

5. What’s a typical day like for you? (If there is such a thing!)

I try to write 1,000 words a day when I’m writing the first draft of a book and I work best in the mornings after walking our dog and taking care of our ex-battery hens. I settle down and work until lunch (I like a long lazy lunch!) and then continue writing in the afternoon until the dog comes and pesters me for her second walk. If the writing hasn’t gone well, I’ll work on into the evening. It’s hard to switch off when you work from home and I’m often still at my desk at ten o’clock!

6. Name three things you are grateful for in your life right now:

My husband, my home and animals, and my work.

FUTURE:

7. If you could fast forward in time to any age or year for just one day, what would you choose & why?

I wouldn’t want to go further than a year because I’d be too scared! So I’d take a very quick peep at this time next year and hope things are all well and good. I’d much rather go back in time, though, and say hello to Thomas Hardy or dance with Gene Kelly!

8. If you could have any new technology or invention in the future that would make your life a whole lot easier (or more fun), what would it be?

A heated keyboard and mouse. I have appalling circulation and my hands are usually frozen from September until May here in the UK! I often sit at my computer with a hot water bottle!

9. What are your hopes & dreams for the future?

That I can go on writing the books I want to write and rescue lots of wonderful animals and live a good life in the countryside with my husband.

Thanks for joining me on the blog today, Victoria!

Visit Victoria at her website, facebook, and twitter. Check out CHRISTMAS WITH MR DARCY at Amazon.