Interview with Victoria Escobar

Published 2014-03-27.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I think about writing. *laughs* Seriously. It's rare that I'm not writing or thinking about writing when I'm in the middle of a project. In the down time though I catch up on movies, music, books I'm really dying to read and of course sleep. I spend some time on Facebook as a supporting figure for other authors and help out with their writings on occasion.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I've got subscriptions to Bargain Booksey and BookBub which is where I usually see most of the books I buy. Sometimes I'll peruse a bookstore and with the Goodreads scan on my phone scan the titles I'd like to read and then come home to see if I can get them in ebook.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
It was a horribly written Sailor Moon fanfiction that I believed at the time would be picked up by the animation studio and created into more episodes. *grins* I had ambition that's for sure. I still have it actually and when I feel low I go back and read it. It helps to remind me on how far I've come.
What is your writing process?
This is a sort of complex answer. I start with thoughts, ideas and write them on index cards. (I have index cards everywhere.) Once I have (usually around twenty index cards) all my notes in order from characters to environments I try to create a generalized flow chart of stuff that needs to happen to reach the next point and so on. By this point I almost always have an idea of how my book will end. With the completed flow chart I write a detailed outline. I do subject matter research and jot those down on the outline then jump into writing. When a first draft is complete then I start a read through and a polish. I do that as many times as it takes before Beta readers get it.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I've always been a reader, as we moved around a lot so friends were more a trial than a joy, so I don't remember the first book I read that impacted me. The first one I remember having a "wow" moment after reading was probably The Unicorn's Sonata by Peter S. Beagle. It still kind of makes me sit back and say wow when I do rereads.
How do you approach cover design?
It depends on the book. For my young adult fantasy/paranormal books I went with the idea of putting the main character on the cover with symbols of the book around them. The Contemporary books are more genderless with no characters but symbolism on the cover. I haven't written anything else yet to consider how I'll dream those up.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
1.) Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff - One of the best, BEST, blends of steampunk, Japanese culture and realism I've ever read.
2.) Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers - As far as historical fiction goes this one has enough of WOW moments to give repeated heart attacks.
3.) Written in Red by Anne Bishop - The BEST, and I do mean BEST, take on paranormal society. Human Law Does Not Apply.
4.) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - I've read a lot of Dystopian fiction and this one by far is the most creative and unique of the bunch.
5.) Falling Under by Gwen Hayes - Who doesn't like stories of the underworld in a fantastical, nightmarish manner?
What do you read for pleasure?
Everything. It's whatever really pops out at me. I really enjoy historical fiction (as long as it's not time travel) and young/new adult. Paranormal Fantasy and straight Fantasy are superb exits to reality when I need it. The only thing I don't read is horror as my imagination is overactive and I have a tendency for nightmares.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have a Nook Color, and an original Kobo. I'm seriously considering the Nook HD because of Google Play. It'd be really cool to read my Kindle books on something other than the Cloud or my cellular.
Describe your desk
It's very messy at the moment. I have index cards EVERYWHERE, a bottle of Bath and Bodyworks Stress Relief lotion - which I HIGHLY recommend - a stash of pens, a couple of notebooks, a box of business cards. Monitor and keyboard and mouse of course. My monitor because of height differential is sitting on a medical text to lift it up with speakers on either side. I've got three book shelves above the desk that are loaded down with old notebooks, other writing materials, references, etc. It's not a neat workspace but I think neat would drive me bonkers. I can still find everything. ^_^
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Books by This Author

Unpretty
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 58,400. Language: English. Published: October 19, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Paranormal, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fairy Tales
Sidonie knew Faerytales didn’t exist. At least not until a stranger elbows his way into her life and shows her the meaning of magic.
Songbird
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 76,690. Language: English. Published: August 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Contemporary, Fiction » Women's fiction » Chick lit
Bianca Percival; a broken woman running from her past. Nicholas Walker; country music's infamous bad boy. An offer to manage Nicholas, proved too good to refuse. However, life on the road presented its own challenges. When her past returned fighting Walker didn't seem as vital as keeping him alive. Walking away should be easy, but first they must all make it through unharmed.
Blood and Scales: An Anthology
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 120,940. Language: English. Published: June 8, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - multi-author, Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal
This is a collection of ya/mature ya short stories featuring dragons. All royalties are going to the American Diabetes Association. Authors are: E.C. Hibbs, Jacinta Maree, Victoria Escobar, Susan Burdorf, Luke McCallin, C.L. Matthews, Ruthi Kight, J.K. Radalyac, Bobbie Palmer and Heather Clawson.
Unattainable
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 51,190. Language: English. Published: April 13, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Urban, Fiction » Romance » New adult
Being the best comes with consequences. She was the best thief Interpol ever tracked. Given the choice between being locked in a cell, or complete a simple favor the answer should be obvious. He had been the best once. When he was tasked with creating ties that could sequentially wipe his debt, will he get out of the frying pan and into the fire? Or will freedom remain unattainable?
Unnatural Selection
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 62,740. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
I had no name. My assignment was M001/A5. Marpesia Project Test One, Fifth Embryo. I wasn’t considered human. I just wanted freedom. I wanted out of the lab and away from being the guinea pig for hundreds of scientists. Life was an evolution of natural selection but thanks to human intervention I was Unnatural. I would be deciding who to allow living, and who needed to die.
Of Sparta
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 55,830. Language: English. Published: August 13, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal
Miera had been trained from childhood to be Faithful always to the Goddess. She had been taught with Faith they would always be protected. She had never wavered from that course. She hadn’t counted on the consequences of that choice. If she could not maintain the balance Sparta would fall before Gaea’s return. How did the lost lead the people out of darkness?
Just About Healing
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 64,680. Language: English. Published: August 10, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Family, Fiction » Coming of age
My sister was my lifeline, my beacon, my North Star. I could rely on her, depend on her, turn to her when the world was just too hard to face. She could depend on me for the same. Time, supposedly, heals all wounds. I don't believe that. But I do know there are other ways to heal. I just had to find them.
Peerless
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 74,870. Language: English. Published: June 2, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Urban
Tiranna has spent the last two thousand years protecting dangerous artifacts that have the potential to destroy the world. Her distinctive magic makes her one of the most powerful alive. When she finds a demonic artifact that shouldn't exist, she fears the return of a long-forgotten demon that has a single goal: create his version of Hell on earth.
Of Gaea
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 82,850. Language: American English. Published: May 4, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Left in a wheelchair after an accident, Ariadne begins to hate life. Seeking a cure and failing to find it in medical science, she searches for unconventional ways of healing. All miracles come with a price. Suddenly, Ariadne must question every truth she's known and fight in a war she never knew existed. When the time comes to make a choice will she be strong enough to know right from wrong?