Author Vina St. Fran Talks about Her Debut Multicultural Romance Novel

Today we’re speaking with romance author Vina St. Fran. Her debut novel, One Foot Outside The Door was recently released by ZAM Publishing.

Thanks for joining us today, Vina. We’re thrilled you could be here.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How long have you been writing? Who or what inspires you the most?

A: Sure! I am a writer originally from Detroit. I started writing poetry at the age of seven and by junior high and high school, I was writing short stories and plays. People are most inspiring to me because there always seems to be an invaluable lesson, whether negative or positive, that I am taught from them. This helps me with the creative process.

Q: What is your writing schedule? Do you write every day or whenever you’re in the mood? Are you a morning writer or nighttime writer?

A: I have a flexible writing schedule. I can’t be tethered to a set schedule. When I begin a story, I can usually run with it, writing frequently until the end. I am a nighttime writer. The later I start, the better.

Q: How tough is it to break into the romance market?

A: It’s challenging to break into the romance market. There are many authors who have great stories to tell but they don’t pique the interest of a small or traditional publisher, because they are considered unknowns. And on another hand, your book isn’t a cookie cutter version or similar to another author’s work that publishers deem appropriate to release. You really have to gain your audience who will create a demand for your books.

Q: Have you received many rejections? How did you keep from getting discouraged?

A: I queried over fifty agents and publishers, and had three that weren’t rejections. It’s disheartening as a writer to experience this; yet, it’s motivating as well. I am thick-skinned, meaning I don’t believe in the word no. There are ways around it which can and have been quite beneficial to me in the form of self-publishing.