It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
I have always loved discovering new books and authors, not just because of the incredible worlds they create, but also because of how amazing they are as people. When my teen daughter introduced me to the works of Victoria McCombs (both as writer and illustrator), and on top of that highlighted her kind and generous spirit, I knew she’d become a favorite in our household. Also, her books are worthy of obsession–as my teenager would say. Her newest release, Oathbound, just came out a few weeks ago, and if you like pirates, dark secrets, and binding oaths, you should get yourself a copy. I ordered a signed copy already, which you can do here, and I think my daughter will explode from excitement when I tell her (shhh…it’s a surprise). But don’t limit yourself, Victoria has written other books as well. Take a look at her gorgeous covers.
Now, we both know why you’re really here, so without further ado, let’s dive into her author spotlight:
Why do you write?
I purely love it. Like, every part of me needs to write. I’m obsessed with creating worlds in my head then putting them onto paper and making them real. For years, I didn’t plan to sell my stories but now I love sharing these characters with others and being a part of the community.
What/who inspires you in life (not in your writing, but in general)?
My dad inspires me a lot. He’s someone who knows exactly who he is and what he stands for and he doesn’t waver from that. Plus, he has this seemingly endless well from which he pours into others and it’s amazing to see how much he gives to those around him.
What are some of your favorite things?
Pouring coffee in the morning, the smell of peppermint hot chocolate, reading books with the kids, browsing a bookstore, and when my husband is spontaneously romantic.
What would your perfect day look like and how is it different from your actual everyday?
Perfect day would be waking early and somehow not being tired, (I’m a zombie until like 9 since I’m still up several times at night with kids), homeschooling the little ones, then going to a coffee shop to write, coffee and bookstore date with the husband later, homemade pizza as a family, then working on a side hustle with my husband in the evening.
In reality, I have way less energy than all that so it’s a sluggish morning, homeschool for five minutes because that’s all the attention my two pre-schoolers give me, lots of time caring for a crying one-year-old, and sneaking in ten minutes of work time whenever I get the chance! We are a lot less organized over here than I care to admit! And my husband and I are still trying to figure out a good side-hustle we can do together.
If you could invite a group of writers (dead or alive) to a tea party, who would it be?
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and that’d be it! I’d pretend to be part of their writers group and it’d be awesome.
Or I’d invite Marissa Meyer, Jessica Day George, Erin A. Craig, and Brigid Kemmerer and we’d talk about fairytale retelling ideas all day long.
Weren’t those fun to read? I love how C.S. Lewis is one of the most common answers I get in that last question. He would be one of my picks too.
I asked Victoria two extra questions for my VIP Circle members: how she approaches social media and advertising and top advice for young writers. To read those answers in my March newsletter (which I send the third Saturday of every month), sign up for my VIP Circle here.
In addition to reading her bonus questions, this month I am also hosting a pirate-inspired giveaway through my VIP Circle. Doesn’t that sound amazeballs? It is. Or it will be, once you see the items below. The giveaway includes:
- A black (very pirate looking) book box.
- Two handmade leather bookmarks with Oathbound-inspired colors and charms.
- Oathbound swag (postcards, character art, and bookmark).
- A secret message in a bottle bookshelf decoration.
To participate, sign up for my VIP Circle here. The giveaway will end March 25th at midnight (MST), and the winner will be contacted by March 28th. If no address is provided within a week, another winner will be selected. U.S. residents only. Good luck!
Enter Giveaway Here
Did you like this post? Then consider joining my VIP Circle and don’t miss out on all my additional content (monthly messages, inspirational quotes, bookish recommendations, giveaways, and much more!). Click HERE.
And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
M.C. Muhlenkamp 