Welcome!
Please introduce yourself.
Hi. My name is Vivienne Sang and I write under the name of V.M.Sang
- When did you start writing?
That’s a difficult question. I remember writing a story when I was quite little. Perhaps about 6 or 7 years old, but don’t remember much else until I wrote a very bad romance in my teens.
When I was at school, I always enjoyed creative writing classes and once wrote a story that went on for at least ten pages. What my English teacher thought about having to wade through it is unknown.
When studying at teacher training college, I wrote a few poems, only one of which is still in existence. That poem was my first published work, I suppose, as it was published in the University magazine.
I begun writing my first novel towards the end of the 90s, but it took a very long time to come to fruition as I was teaching full time. I self-published it, and the second part of the series, but when I found a publisher for another book I’d written, they wanted to republish my first two as well.
- What motivates you to write?
All the people that jump into my head begging (no demanding) I tell their stories. The very first time it was a name that came into my head. I figured out her story, but I’ve not yet written it. She’s gone a bit quiet recently, so I’ve not told her tale yet.
- What genre do you write in and what made you chose this particular genre?
I write in two genres–Fantasy and Historical fiction.
I chose fantasy because I’m a fan of the genre. I wrote a scenario for the Dungeons and Dragons club I ran at the school I was teaching in. Then I thought how it would possibly make a good story. I was inspired by reading (and playing the scenarios) the Dragonlance Saga by Weiss and Hickman. I thought that if they could make their scenario into a book, perhaps I could do the same. But it wasn’t just one book! It morphed into a series. I’m now writing Book 4.
Historical sort of chose me. When I was a teenager I went to Derbyshire (in the UK) with a friend and her family. We came upon a ruined house. It had obviouslyt been a grand mansion at one time, and we wondered about it. What was its history and how had it come to be in ruins?
This image of the house stayed with me for many decades until I decided to write about it. This, too, has become a number of books, two of which are now published.
I decided to trace the family who ultimately built it from a young boy coming to Britain as a slave, with the Romans. The second book follows a young Viking girl; a descendant of the boy from Book 1.
- What is your goal in writing? Do you have dreams where your writing should take you?
I don’t have dreams of hitting the NYT best seller list. (Although that would be nice.) Nor do I think about becoming the next big thing. I just want people to enjoy my stories. And to actually know they exist!
- Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if yes, how do you deal with it?
I’m unsure what writer’s block is. I’m part way through one story that I’m stuck on. It seems to be going nowhere, but I don’t consider that to be writer’s block. I’ve put it away for a few months while my subconscious considers it.
This, I think, is the best way to deal with it, and if no inspiration comes, then that means that story is a non starter.
I’ve not yet run out of ideas for stories, but if I do, I’ll consider it no big deal. I’m retired, and although I enjoy writing, and treat it as if it’s my job, I’m not reliant on my earnings from it. (A good job!)
- What advice would you like to give new, hopeful authors?
Stick at it! It takes time to get people to know your book is out there. And most important is to connect with other authors. I’ve made lots of online friends who are extremely helpful.
Also, when you are marketing your book, please don’t simply say ‘Buy My Book’ and nothing else. Making contact with people is important. People are more inclined to buy your book if they know a bit about you and like you. I know that’s true of me. I’ve found many excellent books by buying a book because I have had contact with the author and think of them as friends.
- Please, tell us about your work.
The first series is called The Wolves of Vimar. It tells how a group of disparate folk who call themselves Wolf help to save the land of Grosmer when an enemy invades. They first have to find a long-lost artifact which is prophecied to be the only thing that can kill the man in charge of the invaders, then they discover who he is and what his plans are. They face dangers and near death, and all are changed by their experiences.
The second is a duo called Elemental Worlds. The Crown Prince of Ponderia is behaving strangely. His best friend, Pettic, discovers the princehas been captured and a doppleganger put in his place. The only way to rescue the prince is to enter the four worlds of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and find a gem in each world. Before he can find the gem, Pettic has a task to perform. And he cannot leave the Elemental World without the gem’s magic.
There are three prequels to The Wolves of Vimar published that tell a bit more about the people in the main series.
The two historical novels are Vengeance of a Slave and Jealousy of a Viking. In each of the books, which are standalone novels, the protagonist has to overcome a problem. As the tiles suggest, the first. the young man. Adelbehrt, has to overcome his desire for vengeance on the Romans, and in the second, the young woman, Helgha, has to overcome her jealousy of her lover’s wife.
Thank you for being my guest. It was such a pleasure to have you here!!
It was a pleasure, AJ. Thank you for having me.
Connect with Vivienne:
V.M. Sang was born and lived her early life in Cheshire in the north west of England. She has always loved books and reading and learned to read before she went to school.
During her teenage years she wrote some poetry, one of which was published in the magazine of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Unfortunately, that is the only one that is still around.
V.M. Sang became a teacher and taught English and Science at her first school. Her main subject was science, though, but she also taught Maths and what was then known as Computer Studies.
She did little writing until starting to teach in Croydon, Greater London. Here she started a Dungeons and Dragons club in the school where she was teaching. She then decided to write her own scenario.
The idea of turning it into a novel formed in her head, but she did little about it until she took early retirement. Then she began to write The Wolves of Vimar Series.
Walking has always been one of V.M. Sang’s favourite pastimes, having gone on walking holidays in her teens. She met her husband walking with the University Hiking Club, and they still enjoy walking on the South Downs. They also bought a kayak and have done quite a lot of kayaking in Brittany along the river Vilaine and the Oust.
Quieter things that she enjoys doing are a variety of crafts, such as card making, tatting, crochet, knitting etc. she also draws and paints.
V.M.Sang is married with two children, a girl and a boy. Her daughter has three children and she loves to spend time with them.
She now lives in East Sussex with her husband.
You can contact her on the following platforms.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23500375-vivienne-sang
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sang0566/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viv-sang-37427598/
Amazon Author Profile: http://viewauthor.at/VMSang
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carthinal/
Vivienne’s Books:
THE WOLVES OF VIMAR
The Wolf Pack
book 1
https://books2read.com/u/m0lxEy
The Never-Dying Man
book 2
https://books2read.com/u/3R6ozR
Wolf Moon
book 3
https://books2read.com/u/mvWjXe
ELEMENTAL WORLDS
The Stones of Earth and Air
book 1
https://books2read.com/u/mYygKV
The Stones of Fire and Water
book 2
https://books2read.com/u/brwoVE
VIV’S FAMILY RECIPIES
https://books2read.com/u/mVR7dM
A FAMILY THROUGH THE AGES.
Vengeance of a Slave
book 1
https://books2read.com/u/3kLZxR
Jealousy of a Viking
book 2
https://books2read.com/u/bMYGKk
WOLVES PREQUELS
Jovinda and Noli
I apologise for this, but I’ve lost the universal link for this book!
The Making of a Mage
https://books2read.com/u/mddNNO
Dreams of an Elf Maid
Writer's Treasure Chest 
Thank you so much for having me, Aurora. I enjoyed answering your questions.
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It was my pleasure, Vivienne! Please, come back anytime!
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A great interview, thanks Aurora and well worth a read. Viv some of the new stuff sounds great. Thanks. I will reblog it.
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Thanks a million, Ray!! I really appreciate it! ❤
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