Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
The Zoastra Affair, Chaperoning Paris, Borrowing the Doctor, and Electing Love, Mything the Throne and Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush will be published in 2014.
Now she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Also she’s the Vice President for the Florida Romance Writers. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.
Author Interview
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Before engagement, it took two months to draft a book. Wedding brain took over, but I'm learning a new way now. Ask again later when I'm settled now that the wedding is over.
Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I believe in writing daily to keep forging ahead.
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres?
I started my first novel in contemporary romance, not that anyone read it. But it was my stepping stone. I went into sci fi/fantasy romance because I wanted to write those books, but contemporary romance held me together with hope. (Not that I ever expected a billionaire to be my best friend who falls in love with me.)
If so, what are they? How do you come up with story ideas?
Just imagine the world, and let the imagination soar. Ideas are like pennies. They are everywhere and everyone has at least one. Now the stick to your guns to write the novel is different question entirely. Most people are too busy.
What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
I don't write erotic, but I've read it. I don't write inspirational, but I've read it. The books I liked tended to have sex scenes, and honestly sex is a natural expression of love. And romance novels are love novels.
What does your husband/wife think of your writing?
Part of what made my now husband probably remember me is how I corrected his courting in a funny way. I said things like this... 'You guys' he said. My immediate answer on our first date, ""I'm not a guy in case you haven't noticed.' I'm comfortable in my skin now and so is he. It made dating and even the wedding fun. Writing romance empowers me to be a better wife, so it's all good.
Do you ever ask him/her for advice?
Funny enough I wish I knew him when I wrote the Zoastra Affair. Science is what he does for a living and it would have been nice. If I ever get to his specialities, I'll ask him.
Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Leigh Michaels book on Creating Romantic Characters. I read this book before I admitted to myself I wanted to write romance. (One would think buying and taking the yellow highlighter to the book would have given it away to me...
What can we expect from you in the future?
More contemporary romance novels and talking about my silly life on social media.
How do we find out about you and your books?
Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapinder1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriapinder
Blog: http://victoriapinder.com/?cat=6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120316.Victoria_Pinder
How can readers/fans contact you?
I received my first hug from a cancer survivor yesterday on my book Chaperoning Paris. So if we meet in person now, I do like hugs.
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush
Erotic Contemporary Romance
Jupiter Gardens Press
Penny moves back to Miami to start her a job with a list of things to accomplish.
1. Find a place to live.
2. Avoid her gold-digging mother.
3. Reconnect with old high school friends: her best friend Sandra, the dramatic Eva, the dark Michael, her half-brother Wyatt, and her former crush Jay.
Jay may have kept her firmly in the “friend zone”, but that didn’t stop her from wanting more. Her five friends have stood by her through some difficult times and she’ll need their help now to accomplish her first two goals.
As soon as Jay sees Penny, he puts his plan into motion. His investors need to see him with a stable woman, one who isn’t all flash and no brains; Penny fits the bill perfectly. There’s just one hitch—he wants more.
Their pretend date sets off a whirlwind of plots. From mothers who want to control their children’s lives to the loss of her exciting new job, Penny’s world turns upside down. She knows she can overcome all obstacles except one—she’s falling for Jay all over again."
AMAZON Buy Link
EXCERPT
“Home, sweet, err...coffee.”
Getting out of her car, Penelope brushed her worn jeans to get out a small wrinkle. Not that it mattered. She smelled the coffee drawing her to the door. The delicious aroma of freshly brewed java that could wake her up waited inside. Gainesville had coffee shops, but nothing that held her heart like this place. In high school, this place was her Mecca. Her stomach grumbled for the familiar drink.
The coffee shop looked almost the same as it had years ago, except for the aluminum tables and wooden chairs with red cushions. She remembered the plaid chairs and brown tables, but the place still calmed her, like she was coming home.
She stepped up to the counter. “I’ll have a cinnamon dulce non-fat latte, please.”
Leaving Gainesville after college had always been the plan. Just never back to Miami, but she’d changed. She could live here now.
She checked her lip gloss while she waited for the latte at the counter.
When she accepted the promotion from part-time to full-time position, she knew she would have to face her mother and the catch of the month, Lars, her mother’s plastic surgeon. What that woman would do for a free tummy tuck.
The job she’d accepted had offered to triple her salary provided she moved to the Coral Gables office. Somehow, she’d avoid her mother until necessary. What was the man’s name with money this week? Penny ignored that last call, knowing the man with the largest wallet always took precedence over whatever Penelope needed. Getting the non-fat milk, she watched the barista finish her latte. She’d succeed here, now. She had to.
She’d call Sandra, Eva, John, and Michael later. Wyatt, her half-brother, was stationed overseas, so she’d wait for his weekly call. These people were her real family.
The man handed her the latte. The first sip gave her the strength to do this. The tightness of the ride dissipated while she tasted her liquid savior. Sighing, she tasted heaven, the wake-up to her day.
“Penelope.”
Though the unmistakable voice was deeper, she knew who it was without even turning. Her high school crush, who never noticed her beyond her brain, with a deeper tone. Pulling at her pink tank top, she wished she wore better clothes. “John Jay.”
His steely blue eyes and sandy blond hair were the same color, but his build had grown more muscular. The leanness of his youth gave way to broad shoulders and hard, muscular arms. He had a straight, faded scar on his left cheek that was new--probably a bar fight. Rich boy wore his fancy perfectly fitted polo and jeans, and was definitely hotter with age. His million-dollar smile and devastating dimples sparked a warm flush that sped through her all the way to the tips of her toes.
“I’m going by Jay these days. It’s less formal.” He winked at her, turning off his tablet, pointing her to his table.
“It’s a good name, but I still prefer Dimples,” she teased. “It’s what I called you on online whenever I needed you.”
His rich, deep laugh sent that familiar spark through her.
