Please welcome Nancy Thorne and her debut novel, a YA Time Travel Romance, Victorian Town
Blurb:
Abby Parker had a life plan: finish her last year of school, go to college, move away from her insane family, and stay best friends with Jessica.
That was before she broke into the nearby tourist attraction and unwittingly answered a call from a centuries-old spirit who dragged her into the 19th century.
Now she must solve the Victorian mystery of a missing girl without getting herself killed, or worse, spend a lifetime trapped in the past, leaving behind everyone she loves and altering their lives forever.
But when she meets gorgeous Benjamin, the future looks a lot like wreckage. . .
I copied this image of an excerpt from Nancy's Website.
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I am a big fan of time travel and Abby is a delightful character. The author created a wonderful plot device to go through time. I loved the story, the voice, the plot, and the very accurate details of the 1876 Victorian town setting. And I loved the decision Abby made at the end. This feels like a younger YA, but it's no less fun for that. I asked Nancy to be on my blog. And she is giving away 4 paperback copies of the book. If you don't read young adult, think Christmas Gift. The Rafflecopter is at the end of the post.
NANCY, PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I was raised in what was then a suburb of Toronto although now is considered part of the city itself. If you had asked me in grade five or six what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have thought to myself at that moment that I already was a writer. However, back then girls didn’t ever wish out loud to be a writer – they wished out loud to be a nurse or perhaps a teacher. What girl would ever say they wanted to be a writer?
My love of words never abated. As the years passed, I heard many people state that they wanted to write a book. No one ever did. So I decided that was me as well - that I would never write a book and should simply disregard this dream of mine. But through the years it was impossible to get the feeling that I WAS an author out of my head. It gnawed at me and presented as a major, annoying itch I couldn’t scratch away, no matter how hard I tried.
When my family and I moved into our home in 1998, there was one spare room, decorated with wallpaper of realistic books lined on realistic shelves. It felt as if the room was telling me to “get in here and do what you are supposed to do!” So I did.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER STARTING OUT?
I would love to hear from readers! You can find me at:
https://www.nancythorne.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NancyThorneAuthor
https://twitter.com/nthornewrites
https://www.instagram.com/nancythorneauthor/
Thank you for being here, Nancy. I look forward to your next book.
I was raised in what was then a suburb of Toronto although now is considered part of the city itself. If you had asked me in grade five or six what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have thought to myself at that moment that I already was a writer. However, back then girls didn’t ever wish out loud to be a writer – they wished out loud to be a nurse or perhaps a teacher. What girl would ever say they wanted to be a writer?
My love of words never abated. As the years passed, I heard many people state that they wanted to write a book. No one ever did. So I decided that was me as well - that I would never write a book and should simply disregard this dream of mine. But through the years it was impossible to get the feeling that I WAS an author out of my head. It gnawed at me and presented as a major, annoying itch I couldn’t scratch away, no matter how hard I tried.
When my family and I moved into our home in 1998, there was one spare room, decorated with wallpaper of realistic books lined on realistic shelves. It felt as if the room was telling me to “get in here and do what you are supposed to do!” So I did.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER STARTING OUT?
To not give up. To know going in that it takes time to hone your writing skills. Learn from other writers who have the experience you still need, whether by joining a writing group or attending virtual lectures or researching articles on the Internet. If you can, get some feedback from others who aren’t in your family. There are editors who may be starting out who can critique your work for a good price. Be patient, keep writing and know that you will feel less than others at the beginning of your author journey. Still, don’t compare yourself to anyone but who you were last week, or the week before, as you learn. All writers go through these initial struggles.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN IMAGINARY FRIEND?
When I was in grade school, I felt comforted by small porcelain animal figures of mine that I took to school with me, one each day, hidden in a pocket. Throughout the school day, I’d comfort the figurine, which was actually comforting myself. I’d tell the cat, rabbit, or dog that it was only a few minutes until recess or lunchtime. I made sure they knew they were cared for.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING MOMENT, SO FAR, IN YOUR WRITING CAREER?
Actually, I now have two most exciting moments. The first was eight years ago, not too long after I’d finally admitted to myself that I was meant to be an author and had taken a night school course in creative writing. I’d just arrived home from a wedding reception and the time was around two in the morning. Still, I decided to check my email in my book-wallpapered writing room before getting ready for bed. I opened the email from the first publisher of the first short story contest I had sent my first short story to. The email stated that I was one of thirteen winners and that my story would be published in an upcoming anthology.
On went the lights in the house! I hopped around! I woke up my two sons! It was thrilling, to say the least.
The second exciting moment came just this month, when my young adult novel Victorian Town won First In Category for the Dante Rossetti Award. The winners were announced virtually. My hands were shaking. When my name was announced, I didn’t hop around, I cried. Happy tears. That's wonderful. Congratulations.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT WIP?
My current work is a young adult novel titled The Somewhere I See You Again. Set over one year, it tells the story of seventeen-year-old Hannah who will resort to anything to save her family from financial ruin, including blackmail. But first, she must overcome a near-death experience and face her own mortality. It’s set for release May, 2021.
DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITERS BLOCK?
I have to say, not really. I suffer more from procrastination at times. But once I’m in a regular phase of writing every morning (although I write night scenes at night when darkness has set in) I pretty much stick with it and continue on.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN IMAGINARY FRIEND?
When I was in grade school, I felt comforted by small porcelain animal figures of mine that I took to school with me, one each day, hidden in a pocket. Throughout the school day, I’d comfort the figurine, which was actually comforting myself. I’d tell the cat, rabbit, or dog that it was only a few minutes until recess or lunchtime. I made sure they knew they were cared for.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING MOMENT, SO FAR, IN YOUR WRITING CAREER?
Actually, I now have two most exciting moments. The first was eight years ago, not too long after I’d finally admitted to myself that I was meant to be an author and had taken a night school course in creative writing. I’d just arrived home from a wedding reception and the time was around two in the morning. Still, I decided to check my email in my book-wallpapered writing room before getting ready for bed. I opened the email from the first publisher of the first short story contest I had sent my first short story to. The email stated that I was one of thirteen winners and that my story would be published in an upcoming anthology.
On went the lights in the house! I hopped around! I woke up my two sons! It was thrilling, to say the least.
The second exciting moment came just this month, when my young adult novel Victorian Town won First In Category for the Dante Rossetti Award. The winners were announced virtually. My hands were shaking. When my name was announced, I didn’t hop around, I cried. Happy tears. That's wonderful. Congratulations.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT WIP?
My current work is a young adult novel titled The Somewhere I See You Again. Set over one year, it tells the story of seventeen-year-old Hannah who will resort to anything to save her family from financial ruin, including blackmail. But first, she must overcome a near-death experience and face her own mortality. It’s set for release May, 2021.
DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITERS BLOCK?
I have to say, not really. I suffer more from procrastination at times. But once I’m in a regular phase of writing every morning (although I write night scenes at night when darkness has set in) I pretty much stick with it and continue on.
I would love to hear from readers! You can find me at:
https://www.nancythorne.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NancyThorneAuthor
https://twitter.com/nthornewrites
https://www.instagram.com/nancythorneauthor/
Thank you for being here, Nancy. I look forward to your next book.
Thank you so much for hosting me today, Susan!
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