A fellow author innamorata d’Italia: Author interview with Victoria Springfield

For those of you who follow my blog, Italy plays a big part in my writing. As  a longtime resident of Italy, what an honor to be able to spotlight a fellow Italophile author this week … and, as I disovered during this interview, (even better)  a fellow swimmer who also plots while swimming laps. Special thanks for joining me this week to British author-with-an-Italian-heart, Victoria Springfield!

Victoria Springfield writes contemporary feel-good women’s fiction immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Her feel-good stories follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they find adventure, friendship, and romance – with a few twists and turns along the way.

Victoria inherited a love of Italy from her father. After many years in London, she now lives in Kent with her husband in a house by the river. She likes to write in the garden with a neighbour’s cat by her feet or whilst drinking cappuccino in her favourite café. Then she types up her scribblings in silence whilst her mind drifts away to Italy.

Victoria’s books: The Italian Holiday, A Farmhouse in Tuscany and The Italian Fiancé are all published by Orion Dash.

Congratulations on your recent book launch, Victoria! Tell us a bit about the plot of your latest novel, The Italian Fiancé. What inspired you to write it?

Thank you, Kimberly.

The Italian Fiancé is a contemporary romance set in the vibrant Tuscan city of Lucca.  Intrepid 70-year-old Aunt Jane is all set to marry flamboyant artist Luciano but her nieces, Cassie and Lisa are convinced she’s making a big mistake.

The two girls have grown apart but put their differences aside to travel to Italy to check out their aunt’s unlikely suitor.  But there’s something magical about Italy and the trip starts to change their lives and their relationships in ways they couldn’t imagine.

I was inspired to write it after initially planning to follow up the later-life romance between two of my characters from my debut, The Italian Holiday.  I decided I would rather invent some older characters that readers didn’t already know and transport them to a new location, Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini – a town with lots of character that I know well.

How long have you been writing novels, and how did you first begin?

As a child I loved making up stories and wrote ‘books’ to entertain myself, including one featuring every girl in my class jetting into space in a giant chocolate pudding.  That was back in the 70s so as my debut novel was published in 2021 it took some time to fulfil those early ambitions!  I started writing seriously when the leader of a CV workshop asked me “what do you actually want to do?”  I don’t think they expected the answer “write a contemporary women’s novel”.  I got home and thought I had better get started and luckily a recent holiday on the Amalfi coast provided the inspiration to start The Italian Holiday.

Your novels all have a strong sense of place – set in beautiful Italy. What is your connection to Italy, and how did you decide to set your novels there? Do you think an Italian setting particularly lends itself to romance novels?

I have been holidaying in Italy since I was a teenager thanks to my father who was a real Italophile.  We spent many holidays staying in the Tuscan village of Gioviano not far from the famous ‘devils bridge’ at Borgo a Mozzano.  Our visits were made even more special by a wonderful retired American couple, the late Marjorie and Kenneth Russell, who lived for half the year in Gioviano and half in Texas.  They introduced us to many people and places nearby and helped us all get the Italy bug.  From Gioviano we got to know Lucca, and this later became a favourite place.  It seems natural to set my novels in Italy: the scenery, the sense of history, the people and of course the wonderful food all inspire me.  The glorious settings, whether cities, quirky towns, seaside villages or the countryside seem tailor made for romance.

As a reader, do you enjoy escaping to other countries in the books you read? Do you get feedback from your readers that this is an aspect of your novels they enjoy?

I read quite a lot of novels set in Italy but I definitely enjoy reading books set in other countries.  I’ve enjoyed Rosanna Ley’s The Orange Grove and Jules Hayes’ The Spanish Girl both set in Spain and I’m a big fan of American writer Elin Hilderbrand; most of her novels are set in Nantucket – I’ve never been but I feel I have!  Looking at my Amazon reviews, a virtual escape is very important to my readers.  People write things like ‘it made me feel like I was actually in Italy’ – which is just what I hope for.

What are some of your favorite Italian destinations or memories from past trips? Which towns/regions would you like to explore more? Any you think could inspire future novels?

Since I met my husband, we have tended to go to the south of the country and first explored the Amalfi Coast whilst holidaying in Sant’Agnello near Sorrento.  There was so much to see and do (and eat!) in the area we had to go back.  Since then, we’ve enjoyed several holidays in the area particularly the island of Ischia (where I’ll definitely be setting a book) and in Minori which has a quaint old town feel and the benefit of boat links to other towns.  We even ‘eloped’ to Minori to get married five years ago so that was certainly memorable!  Earlier this year we spent a few days in Monopoli in Puglia, a region I’d like to see more of – there must be an idea for a novel there somewhere!

Aside from exploring Italy (a passion we share!), what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I swim twice a week, enjoy walking in the park and trying out new recipes but sometimes there’s nothing better than sitting in the garden with a pot of coffee and a good book or glossy magazine.

What are you working on next?

I’ve been tidying up my fourth book for Orion Dash which is due out next spring.  I can’t say much about it yet but it’s another contemporary romance set on a small, picturesque Italian island.  It follows the story of two very different women, one a divorced single mum, the other the proprietor of The Hotel Paradiso.  I’m looking forward to seeing what my editor makes of it!

What’s your advice for romance writers beginning on their careers?

Do what works for you and don’t worry if someone else is writing 3,000 words a day.  Also, get away from the computer.  For me there is something about the rhythm of swimming or walking that entangles my plot problems.  I have been known to scribble things down whilst I am wrapped in a towel in the pool changing rooms.  And be warned, the publishing business moves very slowly and finding an agent or publisher is just the start of a long journey.

Anything you’d like to say to your readers?

I really appreciate everyone who reads/buys my books so “thank you!”  A great review helps others discover my books and really does make my day.  One reviewer wrote that my second book, A Farmhouse in Tuscany ‘has the ability to take you away from all the mess and worry in the world’ and I cannot think of any higher praise or encouragement to keep on writing.

Thank you for joining me today, Victoria!  It’s always such a pleasure to have fellow Italophiles on my blog. Congratulations on the launch of The Italian Fiancé, and looking forward to following your future work.

Thank you so much Kimberly.

Learn more about Victoria and her work here:

https://twitter.com/VictoriaSWrites

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSpringfieldAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/victoriaswrites

Link to Victoria’s latest book The Italian Fiancé