Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Victoria Liiv
Book Title: Through Hell and Highwater
Released: 11/6/20
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Through Hell & Highwater”?
Liiv: I was inspired by a girl, Sophie Provost, who I met on tumblr. I read one of her unpublished works - that is still to this day unpublished and I don't know why! - and felt like it was time to get serious about my own writing. I have always wanted to write books and Sophie gave me the nudge I needed. We planned on co-writing Through Hell and Highwater, but she dropped out after we had come up with the world creation and characters. Life got busy. I do hope to write with her one day. She is inspiring!
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?
Liiv: I started writing as a teenager to get all my conflicting and confusing emotions out on the paper. I realized I was good at it, when my literature teachers read my essays and stories out to the whole classroom. I've wanted to write books ever since! My writing process is chaotic at best. I have no real schedule, and I know I should. I mostly write when inspiration hits.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Liiv: I've never really had trouble coming up with character names. Most of the time they just pop into my head without any difficulty. I've always liked the name Lisanna, so my shapeshifter got her name just because of that. Evyline was a little trickier. I tried a few other elvish sounding names, before I ended up with that one, I even went through a name generator, that wasn't very helpful. Tylon... Well, I read a book with the main character Ty and thought, what a great name. So I took it and made it my own. And RocTar just sounded orcish enough after seeing many random name generator names that I absolutely despised.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Liiv: I just stop and do other things. Go for a walk, read a book. Go socialize and gather ideas. After a week or two, it is all better!
If "Through Hell & Highwater" were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Liiv: I have never ever thought about that! I would love for the book to be made into a movie, but I wouldn't let myself pick the cast. I don't have favourite actors and I don't keep track of who played in what movie. I would need to make a big ass research to find the perfect matches.
Going just by looks and a quick google search:
Evyline: Peyton List Tylon: Greg Sulkin
RocTar: John Boyega Lisanna: I have no clue
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Liiv: I love fantasy and romance. My favourites at this point are Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, The Grimoire Saga by S.M. Boyce and Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
What are you working on next?
Liiv: I am, slowly - very very slowly - working on a sequel to Through Hell and Highwater. It is going to be an epic finale. And I can't wait to share it. If ever I get to putting it on paper!
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