About Sophia Valentine:
Bio: S. Valentine grew up in England. Studying English language and literature, as well as law, she worked in a solicitors for many years before moving to Spain. She does however still visit the UK, which in a way, will always be home.
Returning to her lifelong passion of writing books, she’s also a weekly columnist for The Ibizan newspaper on: lifestyle and fashion. Her other interests include reading, shopping and a nice glass of wine to shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter, Gossip Girl and SATC. She’s a social media addict, and loves connecting with new people.
What inspires you to write?
Everything around me inspires me to write. It can be overhearing a conversation, seeing something on TV, reading something in the media etc. I wanted to write the type of book that I would want to read.
Tell us about your writing process.
I start off by writing the blurb first. It’s a rough outline. I don’t plot as it will usually take a different direction anyway. I do have a whiteboard which I jot characters bio’s on. I also have notepads close by, as ideas always pop in my head, whether it’s something a character may say, or a new book plot etc.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I imagine what my characters would do or say in my mind. They have their own personalities, i.e. One of my characters is carefree and a little wild, so I listen to rock & roll. My other character has different music traits. They also have their own little quirks, things they do and don’t like. They also have their own sense of style.
What advice would you give other writers?
Never give up. Even before you have begun your story, get interacting online! Create a Facebook and Twitter page. Friend other authors and ask them for advice. Use beta readers to help your story be the best it can be. Follow guidelines when pitching your story, and read books on writing. In my writing journey I have learnt that things can take time, but if you work hard, and never give up, eventually you will get there.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
It was always my dream to be traditionally published. I spent months and months pitching to agents and publishers. It’s a lengthy process, as you have to follow all of the guidelines, send whichever format they require, amend the covering letter to suit each of their requests etc. It can take them between 6-8 months to respond. The waiting game isn’t nice. I was unable to relax. Receiving rejections is even harder. I then received three offers from three publishers in the space of a couple of weeks. I’ve never been so happy! If you take the self publishing route, you need to do everything professional. People won’t buy a poor product. An editor, cover designer, etc can help make your book the best it can be.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think eBooks will continue to grow, and hope paperbacks will continue to last, as I love nothing more than holding a physical book. I would also love to see more coffee shops with books in, and bars where people could go and enjoy a nice glass of wine alone and read. As much as I love libraries, a coffee shop, you can actually talk and get to know other readers too.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: erotic romance, contemporary, crime / drama.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Sophia Valentine Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on Limitless Publishing
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
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