Through Hell & Highwater

Author Victoria Liiv self-published a young adult fantasy novel in November. Here’s a synopsis:

In university Volo Noscere, located in Rome, where new academic year brings forth alot of new challenges and questions. When the world becomes increasingly unpredictable, are the humans reason for it all, or is there more to it?

Evyline and Lisanna believe there must be magic behind the changes. Tylon doesn’t care about what doesn’t affect him and RocTar just wants to make it through the year without failing class.

Like it or not, they get pulled into discovering what the world has in store for them.

You can find out more about this young adult fantasy author on Facebook or at Goodreads Author Victoria Liiv.

Victoria’s Interview

Science has advanced and we can now colonize other planets. Do you (1) sign up to be a colonist OR (2) remain on Earth?

I would love to travel to another planet and see places nobody else has laid their eyes on. I find it exciting to experience something as significant as colonizing another planet, but the only way I would truly leave the Earth would be if my partner comes together with me. No adventure would be worth being separated from him.

With partner, will travel!

Do you find it (1) easy to give a witty retort OR (2) think of what you should have said after the conversation is over?

I’ve always had trouble coming up with great responses in conversations and I am the person going pondering about seven hundred different ways how the conversation could have turned out, had I responded differently. I could blame my sister on my bad conversation skills, as she always took point in most of the conversations when we were young and didn’t really let me chip in, but she is the more talkative of us to begin with. I’ve always felt more comfortable writing than talking. The act of simply writing down things gives me more time to think over my ‘retorts’ and perfect them.

Interesting insight!

Are you (1) a morning person OR (2) a night owl?

I absolutely need my sleep. I get grumpy without a good night’s sleep; the headache that mostly follows could have something to do with it. Therefore, I am certainly not a night owl. I go to bed quite early on some people’s standard. I do wake up with a renewed will to complete chores, go for a run or do anything productive, really. That feeling slowly dissipates as the day goes by. I am definitely most productive in the morning.

Mornings for you!

Do you write (1) when the mood takes you OR (2) at a set time?

I tend to write when the inspiration hits me, although I did set up a schedule to finish Through Hell & Highwater and participated in NaNoWriMo to complete the word count. Having a set schedule does help you reach your goal a lot faster, but a lot of the time I might simply be sitting behind the screen, scrolling through Tumblr or Facebook feeds, while I should be writing. Having the mood to write is incredibly important to me, as I believe you can not force greatness into existence, it comes when it wants to.

Out with a schedule and in the mood!

Do you (1) love shopping OR (2) hate shopping?

Now, at the time of online shopping, I could scroll through endless pages of good’s-to-buy for hours, mostly clothes and books. I can always find more things that I can afford, which can be incredibly frustrating, but doesn’t stop me one bit. I do not enjoy waltzing through the stores, tough, unless they are furniture stores or interior design stores. I absolutely love walking into one of those.

Online shopping for you!

Thanks for being interviewed, Victoria!

Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg

Author Longoria Wolfe’s young adult science fiction/fantasy novel is available on Amazon. A young girl discovers she has a connection to a mystical tribe vanquished at the hands of the ruling technological society. The tribe may reemerge through her but she will have to navigate through their system of control and murder. Evah & the Unscrupulous Thwargg is a sci-fi story with adventure, mystery and paranormal elements. The Kindle edition has been lowered to the lowest price for readers during this unprecedented time of the pandemic.

You can find out more about this YA sci-fi novelist on her website at Longoria Wolfe. Visit his page at: Goodreads Author Longoria Wolfe. You may even tweet her!

Longoria’s Interview

Do you consider yourself (1) an introvert OR (2) an extrovert?

Introvert for sure but I’m a weird hybrid. The college intro Myer-Briggs said I was an introvert but at the same time, I was a performing artist in the Theater. I spent most of my life performing in front of thousands of people and maybe it was the introspective introvert side that yielded the most productive preparation for my roles. Still to this day if I had to choose between a hopping party of a thousand people and a chance to hang out with one person I’d choose the opportunity to spend quality time with someone. I guess I’m socially awkward. Some people really have a grasp on what their personality brings to a gathering or the world in general. I tend to feel like I don’t have a clue about that on the most basic level.

Quality time is always awesome!

You have enough money to do anything. Will you (1) pamper yourself at a spa for a week OR (2) go on a cruise for a week?

I’d like to say a cruise but I’m way to driven by socially conscious issues. If I had so much money I’d buy a home for my loved ones who needed it, send my mom on a cruise, contribute to feeding the poor, help with children’s cancer research, and try to help get a prisoner of conscience released like human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in Iran who’s been imprisoned multiple times for helping with women’s rights.

A philanthropist in the making!

What is your (1) most favorite thing to do OR (2) least favorite thing to do?

Least favorite thing is to tell an author looking for my support publicly that they need to have their work further edited or developed. Ouch, man, that is rough. As an indie author, getting your work noticed is a tough task it seems. I want to be able to love other author’s work and have mine loved. I wish every author who feels they have a story that needs to be told great success. When I was planning my novel I had to decide, am I going to put the money in for an editor or just rely on my own skill to meet a high-quality standard. After publication, I’m glad I did with an editor. It’s really worth it. Many editors are tried and true professionals who have a lot to offer.

Wonderful reasoning!

You can travel back in time. Will you go back (1) 10 years OR (2) 25 years.

Twenty-five. Maybe further. There was an age when I was pretty self-serving and didn’t care much about suffering outside my bubble. One person can make positive differences with the ones they love and in the community or world at large. I missed some times when I could have done things and directed peoples lives in a more positive way.

A fascinating observation!

What is your favorite (1) song OR (2) book?

Candide, favorite book. The simplicity of the storytelling shows how the greatest events can be like passing flashes but still change the course of life radically. It reveals connections between humans and our need for one another, that go deeper than, “We’re strong and viral, we’re smart and influential, we’re so pretty we’re disarming. The work gets at why people come together with deep connections. Forgiveness. And, that despite our most amazing accomplishments and discoveries, when all is said and done, we need other people.

Interesting insight. Thanks for being interviewed, Longoria!