About Vicki Hopkins:
Vicki started her writing career somewhat late in life, but can attest to the fact that it is never too late to follow your dreams. Her debut novel was released in 2009, and ten books later under various pen names, she doesn’t think she will stop any time soon. Her usual genre is historical fiction/historical romance/romantic suspense.
With Russian blood on her father’s side and English on her mother’s, she blames her ancestors for the lethal combination in her genes that influence her stories. Tragedy and drama might be found between her pages, but she eventually gives her readers a happy ending.
Vicki also writes under the pen names of Nora Covington and J.D. Burrows.
She lives in the beautiful, but rainy, Pacific Northwest with a pesky cat who refuses to let her sleep in. Her hobbies include researching her English ancestry, traveling to England when she can afford it, and plotting her next book.
What inspires you to write?
The human condition is what inspires me to write. It’s the struggles that we all relate to that I find myself weaving stories around. It’s therapy for me and hopefully my readers too.
Tell us about your writing process.
I have tried outlining, but it just doesn’t work for me. My imaginary muse seems to stand over my shoulder and drop things into my head. Usually, I start with a premise and idea in my mind, along with a theme that I want to convey. When I’m “in the zone” scenes, words, and ideas fill my mind. It’s then that I have to get them down on paper or go mad!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I listen more than talk and sometimes they come to me in my dreams too! When writing The Phantom of Valletta, the phantom showed up one night in my dream and waltzed me across the stage letting me know that he was “well pleased” with the story. I need therapy.
What advice would you give other writers?
Put behind you the fear of failure and the criticism of others. Fear is the enemy of success. Also, write for yourself and pursue your dreams. You may not be a best seller making millions, but you’ll be proud of your accomplishments nevertheless. It takes dedication, sweat, and blood on page to write a book. Congratulate yourself.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’m the type of person that wants to do things on my own. Since I started my career later in life, I didn’t want to be validated by a publishing company waiting years for acceptance. I learned the trade of being a publisher myself, attempting to take pride and care in my work. It takes a lot of time to be an independent author because you wear many hats. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
In a flooded market where anyone can write and publish a book these days, discoverability becomes harder. Only the persistent will remain, while others will fall to the wayside. Publishing companies need to evolve with the times, and independent publishers need to strive for excellence to match the publishing companies. The market is constantly changing, and writers and publishers need to adapt and not fear change.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: historical fiction, historical romance, historical romantic suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Vicki Hopkins Home Page Link
Link To Vicki Hopkins Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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