"Q&A With Victoria Browne"

September 16, 2019

Book: Now And Then

Author: Victoria Browne

Author Bio:

"Victoria was born and raised in South London. Her love for writing blossomed in 2012 when she published her first novel 'Gut Feeling' after a long struggle with dyslexia. With a great deal of determination, Victoria has not let anything hold her back.

Today, Victoria lives in sunny California, with her husband and rescue dog Tango. She enjoys reading, Cecelia Ahern, Danielle Steel, Sebastian Faulks, J K Rowling / Robert Galbraith, to name a few." (Source: www.amazon.com)

1. Where did the idea come from for the book Now and Then? And what do you hope reader’s get from it?

I wrote NOW AND THEN because of a sub-character, Laura/Lucy in my “Third Time Lucky – Notting Hill Gossip.” Towards the end of the book, I kept asking myself why Lucy was such a bitch. After I had created a traumatic past for her and finished the book, I was left thinking about Lucy.

I was contacted by a reader who also wanted to know more about Lucy, and so I decided to write her story. So, NOW AND THEN is acutely the prequel to “Third Time Lucky – Notting Hill Gossip.”

Um. Hopefully, humility. But also, the feeling that there is something bigger than us out there. That life on earth is not the end, and what we do in this life my shape another.

2. If you had Laura’s afterlife power to see into people’s mind would you like it? Would you be scared to use it?

If I could see into people’s mind’s I would love every second. I am always wondering what people think of me. Would it scare me? for sure, and probably to the point where I might not use it unless like Laura I had a powerful reason.

3. What character in the story, do you see yourself most in? And why?

If Lucy and Laura was the same person then it would be a close match. I was born in Croydon and had friends similar to Lucy’s, and my best friend also lives in Cornwall. Due to my past, I can relate to Lucy’s untrusting approach to life, and because of my loving family and friends, I understand Laura’s kind grounded nature.

4. How easy or how challenging was it for you to get yourself in the mindstate to write some of the graphic and dark scenes that are in this book?

Writing graphic scenes, I find difficult because I have to look at it through the eyes of both parties. And I suppose there’s your answer. I don’t get into the mindset, more like I view the scenes I create through the charter’s eyes.

5. Your debut book ‘Gut Feeling’ came out in 2012. How much has your writing process changed since then?

The way I approach the process through to my actual writing has changed. I have matured, and so has my art.

6. In general, what was your writing process like for this book?

In general, I just wrote what was in my head with no real plan. I didn’t even know the end of the book before I started. It was like Tantric writing.

7. What’s your best advice for getting over writer’s block?

Write! My best advice is to write through the block. If you have prepared correctly then you should know exactly where your story is going, and you should have a clear scene by scene plan out. This way the only block you will encounter is finding the time and being in a good mood.

8. What’s the best book you have read in 2019 so far?

I am currently reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, and it is extremely well written.

9. What’s the best advice you have ever received on happiness?

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a piece of advice that I’ve been given. My dad has always said to me “be happy” so I think it’s just been drilled into me over the years. On the phone, my dad always says, “Bye, be happy.” Or if I’m asking advice, at some point he will say, “as long as you're happy, that's the main thing.” Or, “Just make sure he/it makes you happy.” I think happy is just etched in my brain.

10. Do you plan on writing more books in the future?

Hopefully. I’m currently writing a screenplay which is a completely different discipline, and I’m enjoying it immensely but I do have a novel idea that needs writing.