Interview with Victoria Smith

Today i have NA author Victoria Smith on my blog for an interview. She is the author of The Crimson Hunt, Holiday Fling and the soon to be released The Space Between. She is also one of the contributors of the amazing blog NA Alley. Her next book The Space Between releases on the 18th of March.

The Space Between

The Space Between

Synopsis

When Drake started the night at his father’s campaign fundraiser, he never imagined he’d end it being conned into buying drugs on the West Side. Losing high-stakes poker has its consequences, but he’d repeatedly face them just to hear Lacey Douglas sing. Drake sees Lacey light up the stage, and he has to have her. But his intentions for being on her side of town turn out to be the reason he can’t.

Chicago native Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles. Lacey has come to know her hardships as part of living in the real world and accepts them fully. When Lacey meets the intense and invigorating Drake, a fire is lit inside her, unleashing those dreams again.

Two paths that should have never crossed prove to create the exact pairing the other needs. But when their worlds take time to catch up, everything they have is tested. Finding the space between the two sides that challenge them will be hard, but it’s the only place that will keep them together.

The Space Between is a new adult contemporary romance.

Interview with Victoria Smith

Why did you decide to become an author?

I decided to write novels because I wanted a certain type of book to read and wasn’t finding it. I had just started grad school at the time and wanted to find both relatable and enjoyable books to offset all the poly-sci literature I had to read in college. More specifically, I wanted something that dealt with issues and struggles relevant to the things people my age go through. While searching for those types of books, I quickly discovered my options were slim. So, I decided to write my own book and that’s how The Crimson Hunt, my new adult sci-fi romance, was born. Since then, I’ve written six other books, my latest being my contemporary romance, The Space Between.

How do you balance writing with other things in your life?

I put a lot of time into writing and sort of “fit” everything else in around it. Some days I balance my time better than others, lol.

What are your favourite books?

My favorite books are pretty much anything new adult. I read all kinds. My recent favorites are Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion and The Host by Stephanie Meyer. As far as YA, I love The Hunger Games trilogy and Harry Potter :)

Are there any books/authors that inspired you to write?

Jennifer Echols, Simone Elkeles, and SC Stephens inspired me after I started writing. I didn’t read much before I started. But after I did, I tried to find books that were similar to what I wrote and people really recommended those authors to me. I’ve pretty much read all of their work and have been fortunate enough to meet all of them. They’re a great group of ladies.

Describe your book in one sentence.

The Space Between is the story about a politician’s son from the North Shore of Chicago and a young songstress from the West Side of the city, and how they overcome the challenges of their backgrounds as they form a relationship.

Where did you get the idea for this book, did anything inspire you to write it?

My idea for the book was inspired by the relationships around me. I have friends in interracial relationships and I’m in one as well. I also wanted to broaden NA a bit with the subject matter. It’s hard to find urban stories like this, so I thought it would be great to explore this world.

What made you decide to write in the NA category?

When I wrote The Crimson Hunt, I was basically writing something that A, didn’t exist and B, I had never read before. I just wrote something that I wanted to read and was fortunate that new adult formed around me while I wrote. I’ve written all types of NA from sci-fi and urban fantasy to now contemporary. I find I like it all. The Space Between was a really fun project, and I look forward to writing more contemporary NA in the future.

What would you say makes your book unique and worth reading?

I think what makes my book unique in regards to what’s out there right now is the urban setting and the cultural element. Lacey and Drake are not only having to deal with trying to make a new relationship work, which is hard for any new couple, but also the effects that stem from that relationship in regards to the world around them. Objections from their families, friends, and society in general test them every day. Interracial relationships can be hard, and I wanted to create something that was relatable to the people who are in them while at the same time exposing a new world to the readers who aren’t. I think generally everyone can understand the trials of a new relationship, though. So I hope everyone can get something out of it :-)

Is there any specific message you wanted to convey in the book?

What I really wanted to come across in my book was how important is to stay true to yourself. When pressured, it’s easy to want to conform, but doing what you feel is right for you is most important.

What other books do you have currently written?

I’ve got a few books I’m trying to push out this year. The second book to The Crimson Hunt and its novella about a side character are two of those. I also have an urban fantasy and, if all goes well, the sequel to The Space Between. Dates are all tentative, but hopefully all of those should be out by the end of 2013/ the beginning of 2014.

What are your plans for future books?

The Crimson Hunt is a trilogy with a few more novellas, so I have those to finish up. Outside of that series, I have The Space Between’s sequel in the works as well as a standalone book for one of its side characters. I also have a NA romantic comedy that I plan to start soon. It’s a little bit of Bridget Jones’ Diary with a nerdy hero twist.

Do you have any hobbies and Interests unrelated to books?

I am an extreme couponer. I have a mini stockpile and everything. Believe the rumors about getting groceries for free. After using my coupons, I walked out of Walmart with $75 worth of stuff that they PAID me $15 to take, which means I made money. Couponing works, my friends! Oh and a tip from me to the book lovers: sign up for Barnes and Noble coupons. I got Easy by Tammara Webber for $2.50 between in store promos stacked with my coupons. You really can coupon everywhere :-)

Would you ever consider putting these (answer to above) into any of your books?

My family asks me if I would ever have a couponer in my books all the time. I tell them I make no promises that it will happen, but I can’t say it won’t. ;D

Thanks for having me on Laura!

It was great to have you on the blog Victoria! I am looking forwards to the NA romantic comedy with a nerdy hero. I think the idea sounds awesome.

Excerpt from The Space Between

“Please. Please. I’ll do anything,” she said.

My ears perked. “Anything?”

She snapped her hand away from my bicep like I burned her. “I won’t sleep with you, Drake.”

Actually, that thought hadn’t crossed my mind until she said it, but because she did, the visions loomed. Her body beneath mine would be perfect; sweaty and hot. My hand moving over that rich, caramel skin in places I physically fought myself from touching when we met sizzled my blood just from the thought. Damn, this girl didn’t know what she did to me.

“I know you’re thinking about sex with that look in your eyes, Drake, and I told you: I’m not sleeping with you.”

When she smacked my chest, I actually laughed. “Sorry. Had a brief guy moment.”

She bit her lip, despite the fact the piercing wasn’t there, and laughed, too.