Our guest today is Virginia Barlow, author of the paranormal romance, The Witch of Rathborne Castle.
“I love being an author,” she says. “It’s all about where your characters lead you. I start with a general idea. As the story unfolds, I type as fast as I can in hopes I keep up with my characters. They have had me jotting on napkins, making notes while I’m waiting in a line, and waking me up in the middle of the night. The hard part is always the ending. My characters live with me and when I reach the end of the story, it is hard to say goodbye. Sometimes, I let the story sit for a few days to make sure I’m okay with them leaving home to get published. Kind of like when you kids move out. LOL
“I enjoy my grandchildren, and the time I share with them. They make me smile with their antics. I like to quilt, crochet, knit and sew. Cooking and baking are occasional itches I scratch. The rest of the time, they are necessary evils. LOL.
“My greatest support comes from my husband. He has been my sounding board for all my stories. My daughters are also a great support to me. I couldn’t do it without my family.”
You can visit Virginia’s website at https://www.virginia-barlow.com or connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook.
Would you call yourself a born writer? Yes, I think so. I love language, composition, spelling, English and literature.
What was your inspiration for The Witch of Rathborne Castle? I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of clairvoyance and wanted to do a story about a girl with a voice in her head. One she didn’t always agree with and sometimes argued with. The Witch of Rathborne Castle was a fun story to write.
How long did it take you to complete the novel? It depends on the novel. A normal eighty-thousand-word book takes about two months in between being a mom and grandma.
What do you feel is one of the most exciting parts of your book? The most exciting part of a book is the end. That’s where all the questions are answered.
What other genres have you thought about writing? What genres would you personally never consider writing? I don’t do memoirs, young adult, horror, or historical. Yuck.
What do you love most about being an author? I love the part where your new book is delivered, you open the shipping box, and pull one out to hold it for the first time. It’s a feeling that will never grow old.
What’s next for you? I have a new mini book coming out this summer for the One Scoop or Two series of the Wild Rose Press. It’s called Key Lime Coconut Curse and is a paranormal romance.
The Dark Phantom Review 