Three Weeks Last Spring, UK author gives Allbooks an interview!
Shirley Roe
November 16, 2006
Mystery, intrigue, environmental disaster and love, await our heroine, Skye as she settles in the secluded cabin in the San Juan Islands. Meanwhile, marine biologist, Jedediah Walker has problems of his own. UK author, Victoria Howard brings her characters and their emotional baggage to life in Three Weeks Last Spring. Her vivid descriptions of the landscape enable readers to experience the beauty of the north- west United States. Readers are drawn to Skye and Walker as their relationship goes from bad to good and back again. Is it true love or simply sexual attraction? Pick up a copy today, highly recommended.
Thank you for agreeing to an Allbooks Reviews interview.
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Victoria Howard. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Three Weeks Last Spring. Publish America
Tell us about yourself:
I always think this is a difficult question to answer, as I hate talking about myself, but here goes.
I was born in Liverpool, home of the Beatles (Twist and Shout!), and remained there until I was eleven, when we moved to the Wirral on the “posh” side of the river Mersey. I attended the local girls’ grammar school, going on to college where I received my Medical Secretarial Diploma.
I’ve lived and worked in various places since then, spending most of my adult life on the outskirts of a village in the Highlands of Scotland. I feel that it is my spiritual home, which may be why I’ve used it for the setting of my second novel. In October 2000 I moved to South Yorkshire to be with my partner, Stephen, and until recently, I worked for Britain’s National Health Service.
I have a border collie, Lucy, who is eleven, but still thinks she is a puppy at times!
When was the book released?:
Three Weeks Last Spring was released in August 2006.
Give us an overview of your book.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Three Weeks Last Spring is a suspense romance, set in the stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest. The main character, Skye Dunbar is a London based computer expert, who along with her college tutor, sets up a business designing software for companies and governments alike. While successful in business, her personal life is a disaster. In an attempt to put the events of the previous year into perspective, she rents a cabin in the San Juan Islands, where she meets the mysterious Jedediah Walker. Suddenly, he becomes the number one issue in her life.
However, Walker has problems of his own. Not least of his worries is the fact that he trying to uncover who is dumping toxic chemicals into the sea. After Skye’s sudden, and somewhat unexpected appearance, things get worse, and when his computer files get hacked into, he decides to learn more about the unexpected and beautiful woman, now renting the cabin on his land.
Skye and Walker’s paths continually cross and split as they both seek answers to their questions and it becomes a cat and mouse game of wit.
What inspired you to write this book?
This is another difficult question to answer. Like many first time authors, I’ve tried to write about something with which I am familiar. I’ve always enjoyed writing and traveling, and a visit to Seattle a few years ago, made me realize how delicately balanced the eco-system of area was. Many of you will remember the catastrophic oil spillage by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska, and the damage it caused to the environment. Something like that could easily happen in busy shipping lanes of Puget Sound. However, I didn’t want to use an oil spillage as the scenario – I wanted something that would have an impact on man too, which is how I came up with the emotive topic of illegal chemical dumping.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
When I set out to write Three Weeks Last Spring, I didn’t want to write a hearts and flowers, boy meets girl romance. There are many of those books on the market and their ending is all too predictable. I wanted to write a novel that had a strong story line, which hopefully would leave the reader wanting more, and which would also leave me with the option of writing a sequel. I hope Three Weeks achieves that goal.
Where can people buy your book?
It is available from all major bookstores such as, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, Borders, and Waterstone’s, and WH Smith here in the UK, as well as on line from Amazon.com, Amazon.Ca, and other internet stores.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, I am. I started writing “Chasing the Sandpiper” some months ago, although the writing is going slowly, mainly due to the fact that I’ve just returned from three weeks in Dayton, Ohio. I am aiming to finish the manuscript by the end of the year and hopefully, the book will be out in late summer 2007.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Since I didn’t self-publish, this question does not apply.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Like many first time authors, I have a collection of rejection letters from some of the best known names in publishing, for no other reason than their lists were full, or that my book was too long and wasn’t quite what they were looking for. However, after encouragement from a friend who was not only an established author in his own right, but a qualified proof reader too, I wasn’t about to give up, and after a little searching on the Internet, I found PublishAmerica.
Although PA advertises itself as a “traditional publisher” which offers a token advance and royalties, many of the larger publishing houses see them as “self publishers”. I would disagree, for at no time has PA demanded any payment from me.
However, I would say this to budding authors. A publisher may have invested thousands of dollars in publishing your book, but having it published isn’t the end of the story – you have to get in on the shelf. But how when thousands of books are published every month? And why should a bookstore choose your book over someone else’s when they know nothing about you, as an author? That is why you have to get out there and market yourself.
That means getting your book reviewed and then putting together a media kit to present to local bookstores to persuade them not only to stock your book, but also to a host book signing for you. Register your book with the public library service, contact the local media. Do all in your power to drawn attention to your book, after all you want more sales than just those to family and friends.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’d already planned a holiday in America when I my publisher told me that my book would be available in August, so I decided to capitalize on it. I sent major booksellers in the area I planned to visit a covering letter and my media kit, containing copies of the reviews I had received for Three Weeks, chapter excerpts, and copies of articles run by my local press.
After a suitable time, I followed my letter up with a telephone call to each of the stores, and was rewarded with three book signing events - two with Barnes and Noble, and one with Waldenbooks. Once the dates had been finalized, I sent out a press release to the local newspaper. With the help of an American friend, I also located the websites for various radio stations in the area, and wherever possible, I submitted details of the events to them too. Finally I had posters, bookmarks and postcards printed ready to distribute at the events.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews by two methods. Firstly, I did a search on the Internet, and secondly, I found them mentioned on my publisher’s message board.
Not only was I impressed by the fact that Allbooks Review were prepared to review the novel of a hitherto unknown author, but the fact that it was also willing to promote that review in a number of ways, was of great appeal to me.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes, it was. Allbooks Reviews offers a service that I’ve found unequalled by any other online book reviewer. It’s managed by someone who is not only an author, but who also puts the needs of authors first. What more could a new author want?
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Shirley Roe, Managing Editor of Allbooks Reviews
www.allbookreviews.com
Thank you for agreeing to an Allbooks Reviews interview.
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Victoria Howard. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Three Weeks Last Spring. Publish America
Tell us about yourself:
I always think this is a difficult question to answer, as I hate talking about myself, but here goes.
I was born in Liverpool, home of the Beatles (Twist and Shout!), and remained there until I was eleven, when we moved to the Wirral on the “posh” side of the river Mersey. I attended the local girls’ grammar school, going on to college where I received my Medical Secretarial Diploma.
I’ve lived and worked in various places since then, spending most of my adult life on the outskirts of a village in the Highlands of Scotland. I feel that it is my spiritual home, which may be why I’ve used it for the setting of my second novel. In October 2000 I moved to South Yorkshire to be with my partner, Stephen, and until recently, I worked for Britain’s National Health Service.
I have a border collie, Lucy, who is eleven, but still thinks she is a puppy at times!
When was the book released?:
Three Weeks Last Spring was released in August 2006.
Give us an overview of your book.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Three Weeks Last Spring is a suspense romance, set in the stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest. The main character, Skye Dunbar is a London based computer expert, who along with her college tutor, sets up a business designing software for companies and governments alike. While successful in business, her personal life is a disaster. In an attempt to put the events of the previous year into perspective, she rents a cabin in the San Juan Islands, where she meets the mysterious Jedediah Walker. Suddenly, he becomes the number one issue in her life.
However, Walker has problems of his own. Not least of his worries is the fact that he trying to uncover who is dumping toxic chemicals into the sea. After Skye’s sudden, and somewhat unexpected appearance, things get worse, and when his computer files get hacked into, he decides to learn more about the unexpected and beautiful woman, now renting the cabin on his land.
Skye and Walker’s paths continually cross and split as they both seek answers to their questions and it becomes a cat and mouse game of wit.
What inspired you to write this book?
This is another difficult question to answer. Like many first time authors, I’ve tried to write about something with which I am familiar. I’ve always enjoyed writing and traveling, and a visit to Seattle a few years ago, made me realize how delicately balanced the eco-system of area was. Many of you will remember the catastrophic oil spillage by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska, and the damage it caused to the environment. Something like that could easily happen in busy shipping lanes of Puget Sound. However, I didn’t want to use an oil spillage as the scenario – I wanted something that would have an impact on man too, which is how I came up with the emotive topic of illegal chemical dumping.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
When I set out to write Three Weeks Last Spring, I didn’t want to write a hearts and flowers, boy meets girl romance. There are many of those books on the market and their ending is all too predictable. I wanted to write a novel that had a strong story line, which hopefully would leave the reader wanting more, and which would also leave me with the option of writing a sequel. I hope Three Weeks achieves that goal.
Where can people buy your book?
It is available from all major bookstores such as, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, Borders, and Waterstone’s, and WH Smith here in the UK, as well as on line from Amazon.com, Amazon.Ca, and other internet stores.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, I am. I started writing “Chasing the Sandpiper” some months ago, although the writing is going slowly, mainly due to the fact that I’ve just returned from three weeks in Dayton, Ohio. I am aiming to finish the manuscript by the end of the year and hopefully, the book will be out in late summer 2007.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Since I didn’t self-publish, this question does not apply.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Like many first time authors, I have a collection of rejection letters from some of the best known names in publishing, for no other reason than their lists were full, or that my book was too long and wasn’t quite what they were looking for. However, after encouragement from a friend who was not only an established author in his own right, but a qualified proof reader too, I wasn’t about to give up, and after a little searching on the Internet, I found PublishAmerica.
Although PA advertises itself as a “traditional publisher” which offers a token advance and royalties, many of the larger publishing houses see them as “self publishers”. I would disagree, for at no time has PA demanded any payment from me.
However, I would say this to budding authors. A publisher may have invested thousands of dollars in publishing your book, but having it published isn’t the end of the story – you have to get in on the shelf. But how when thousands of books are published every month? And why should a bookstore choose your book over someone else’s when they know nothing about you, as an author? That is why you have to get out there and market yourself.
That means getting your book reviewed and then putting together a media kit to present to local bookstores to persuade them not only to stock your book, but also to a host book signing for you. Register your book with the public library service, contact the local media. Do all in your power to drawn attention to your book, after all you want more sales than just those to family and friends.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I’d already planned a holiday in America when I my publisher told me that my book would be available in August, so I decided to capitalize on it. I sent major booksellers in the area I planned to visit a covering letter and my media kit, containing copies of the reviews I had received for Three Weeks, chapter excerpts, and copies of articles run by my local press.
After a suitable time, I followed my letter up with a telephone call to each of the stores, and was rewarded with three book signing events - two with Barnes and Noble, and one with Waldenbooks. Once the dates had been finalized, I sent out a press release to the local newspaper. With the help of an American friend, I also located the websites for various radio stations in the area, and wherever possible, I submitted details of the events to them too. Finally I had posters, bookmarks and postcards printed ready to distribute at the events.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews by two methods. Firstly, I did a search on the Internet, and secondly, I found them mentioned on my publisher’s message board.
Not only was I impressed by the fact that Allbooks Review were prepared to review the novel of a hitherto unknown author, but the fact that it was also willing to promote that review in a number of ways, was of great appeal to me.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes, it was. Allbooks Reviews offers a service that I’ve found unequalled by any other online book reviewer. It’s managed by someone who is not only an author, but who also puts the needs of authors first. What more could a new author want?
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Shirley Roe, Managing Editor of Allbooks Reviews
www.allbookreviews.com
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