CQ Carnival: Interview with Victoria Smith

We have another interview for our CQ Carnival! It's Victoria Smith and she's got sme really fun questins to answer. I won't keep you waiting. Here's Victoria!

1. Tell me about "The Call" and how your were feeling the day AFTER.

I read the email about my contract on my iPhone while in my office.  My co-worker just happened to be sitting in there with me.  After I read the email, I practically leaped from my desk chair.  My co-worker was so surprised that he almost spilled his coffee on himself.  After I composed myself, I made him leave (sorry, my friend!), so I could close the door and do a happy dance around my office.  True story.  I called my husband and sent out emails to my critique partners right after.  Everyone told me to think long and hard about it before I made any decisions, so the next day, I just kind of read over the contract.  It was a very calm approach and I felt really good about it.  I took a couple of days to analyze the contract, emailed my editor with additional questions I had, and when I knew everything looked a-okay, I signed!

2. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration for your stories? Your characters?

Everywhere.  There is no stone unturned when it comes to that.  Real life experiences and things I see everyday.  I once met a woman at the gas station who had on this stellar lime green nail polish.  I created a whole character based off that polish in one of my new books.  Simple, but true.  I usually just have a grain of an idea and I go from there. 

I also listen to music while I write.  That helps inspire me too, but really, I just like to create my stories like watching a movie.  If it’s something I think would be cool to see on film, it makes it into my book.  I usually try to stay true to a few requirements, though.  The story has to be something I would normally like to read, it has to have characters with quirks and characteristics I don’t usually see in fiction, it has to have unique themes, and it has, has, HAS to have a whole lot of love!  I love romances.  I just can’t help but make sure that’s in there.

3. What is your favorite genre to read? Favorite author? Favorite book?

Well, from my previous response you can see that I just adore romance. :) In particular, I enjoy “new adult” fiction romances about characters who are 18 – 25-years-old.  I love reading about that period in a person’s life, which is why I write it myself!  I read about anything “new adult,” but I’m also quite fond of Jennifer Echols and Simone Elkeles works because they write edgy YA fiction.  At this time, my favorite book would probably be The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

4. If you had to write something outside your comfort zone, what would it be?

I would say it would probably be something heavy sci-fi with complicated world building and an intricately weaved action-thriller stacked on top.  I’m talking set on another planet with car chases, fight scenes, and throw in a crazy conspiracy theory.  At the end, the reader has no idea what happened until the main character states all the ways they did what they did.  That would be super fun to write!

5. For fun, what are the colors and decorating theme in your bedroom?

Art Deco meets Paris, France.  I tend to stick to modern colors and I love using black and whites!