Victoria Fox's Blog, page 278

Ultimate Fantasy

I am good at fantasising. All right, I’ll say it: I’m really good. Growing up I spent way more time arsing about inside my own head (that sounds horrible) than I did in the real world. I thought I might leave behind this wistful-sighing-while-staring-out-the-window-and-wearing-a-glazed-expression-and-dreaming-of-outrageously-cheesy-and-far-fetched-love-stories in the annals of my pre-teen weirdness, but I haven’t. And this is helpful, right? Because where would an author be without fantasies? Where would a bonk-author be without LOVE and SEX fantasies? Books are great big fantasies, they’re fantasies all written down. The nice thing about this is that you can share them with other people.

It’s not the same as daydreaming. Daydreaming doesn’t require concentration, but a really good fantasy does. It started with my girlhood crushes, of which there were many, oh yes there were many, and each one was the absolute be all and end all and surely I’d curl up in a ball and die if I never got to hold their hand or kiss them… Beyond that, I didn’t think too much about what I’d do. I was an innocent then. Early fantasies were about meeting and falling in love and that’s kind of where it ended. Occasionally he might stick a hand under my T-shirt (in my fantasy I was ‘of age’, of course, and bore a suspicious resemblance to Stephanie Zanoni out of Grease 2) but then it was a quick skip-to-the-end dot-dot-dot – all very chaste.

Anyway. Jared Leto, Mark Owen, Joey Joe McIntyre, River Phoenix, Michael J Fox (Will I ever meet a man like Michael J Fox? I lamented to my sister while lying on the spare room bed), Kevin Costner (yikes! for five minutes in Prince of Thieves), Eddie Furlong, Vanilla Ice… OK, that last one is especially bad, but I was eight. Once, I fantasised that Vanilla rescued me from the top of the water tower in our village – the glamour! – and his spiky hair with its little rat-tail braid advanced like a bloody soldier into battle as bravely he scaled the rust-caked ladder to secure my safe return… These were always troublesome fantasises because I never liked calling him ‘Vanilla’. It was silly. You can’t have a boyfriend called ‘Vanilla’.

I have just eaten four Bourbons in a row while thinking about this.

I used to like nothing more than to get into bed with my cranky old Walkman, press play, close my eyes, and imagine I was entering another world. These fantasies were always intricately drawn. It might be an elaboration on a movie I’d seen them in, or maybe I met my crush in real life and it was love at first sight… Whatever the premise, what I enjoyed most was getting a detail just right about someone, so it felt REAL. When I’m writing today, I get a thrill from the same.

My sister put together a ‘Love Compilation’, featuring Maria McKee ‘Show Me Heaven’ and ‘Move Closer’ by Phyllis Nelson. I think this was around the time of my Keanu obsession because I was fantasising nightly about being a surfer in Point Break (anyone who knows me knows this is a hilarious proposition). The edge got lost slightly when the Walkman batteries started running down and the whole affair was tinged by a groaning slo-mo carousel of whatever it was I was listening to and made it more horror movie than Princess Bride. Sometimes I’d have to fast forward the fantasy to make way for this, because GET TO THE HEA I MUST! It’s a finely honed art.

Nowadays I fantasise less about men I can’t have (er, I have to say that because I just got married, but in reality it totally still happens) than I do about book ideas. I fantasise A LOT about book ideas. Sometimes I’ll watch the whole book in my head like a film, a shortened version obviously, just like all the main bits and pieces, and then I’ll know I have something that works. All authors are master fantasisers – we have to be. I got to thinking about this recently because I just came back from a month in Argentina, where I fantasised basically the whole time. It was lovely. I looked out of aeroplanes and coaches, across the Pampas, over mountains, into the sky and the sea, and dreamed of new places and characters. I listened to albums and thought up stories and it was wonderful. Sometimes we need a break because when it’s rested our mind throws up all sorts of waking dreams, every one of which carries the seed of a story. Working a fantasy from this seed is the first step to writing a book.

But I won’t be putting Vanilla in my next novel, water tower or not.

Here is a present. You can thank me later.

Victoria x

 

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STARS of 2013!

Each year that passes I think the world of celebrity can’t possibly get more outrageous and brilliant – and then it does. This means I never have to look far for a gripping, scandalous storyline for my next bonkbuster. Real-life people, a seed of something special that catches my eye and makes me want to know more, inspire much of my books. Who’s grabbing headlines? Why? What really goes on in the fastest lane of all? Here’s who stood out for me in 2013…

 

Miley Cyrus

OMFG: put your tongue away! 2013 was undoubtedly The Year Of Miley’s Tongue, and we didn’t need to see it in the first place let alone twelve hundred times. Yes, the queen of squeaky-clean Disney reinvented herself this year by sticking us the finger, and what a show it was: We Can’t Stop featured stuffed deer, Barbies snogging in swimming pools and faces made of bread; she managed to get twerking into the dictionary; did that performance with stripy-trousered Robin Thicke at the VMAs; and, of course, had an open slanging match with troubled singer Sinead O’ Connor. Never one to be deterred by the critics, Miley answered back with her much-parodied video for Wrecking Ball, in which she licks a sledgehammer. And, er, rocks about on a lump of concrete wearing nothing but a pair of DMs. Contrary to popular consensus, I don’t believe that Miley has lost it. I think she knows exactly what she’s doing and she’s doing it well: she’s manipulating the machine that manipulated her. Miley’s a smart girl, and I can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring. Just hopefully not nearly so much of the inside of her mouth.

 

Robin Thicke

Back to Stripy Pants and Ms Cyrus’s partner in crime at the VMAs: 2013 was the year in which Robin Thicke burst on to the scene with his oiled otter hair, indoor shades, borderline-Benny-Hill vid for Blurred Lines, and a hand clamped on a fan’s arse, which, unfortunately for him (and his wife) was rumbled when he decided to pose for the picture in front of a mirror. Like Miley, Robin has been in the industry a long time, and has waited years for his big moment. I did a little investigating (it’s research, ahem) and found a disturbing single RT produced a few years back with Snoop called ‘It’s In The Morning’. This track needs to be listened to in order to be fully appreciated, but basically it’s about Robin advancing menacingly on someone the second they wake up, and in it he talks about his girl being ‘marinated overnight’. Make of that what you will. I made a sound like sick coming up in my mouth.

 

Justin Bieber

So is it better to toil for ages for the big reward, or to have it from the very start? 2013 has been a rollercoaster year for the Biebs, racking up a catalogue of nightmares for his PR by weeing in restaurants, punching paps, swearing at fans, writing in the visitor book at the Anne Frank Museum the immortal words ‘Hopefully she would have been a belieber’, and generally losing his shit. In December, along came news of his alleged retirement. Justin certainly could, it’s not like he needs the money – but does he need the fame? Could he survive without the attention, if it’s all he’s ever known? I find this one of the most intriguing aspects of fame – same with Britney, arguably Miley – what happens when that person loves and loathes their celebrity in equal measure? Does it become an addiction, a punishment, both? What might Bieber do next? I for one can’t wait to find out, whether he’s still in the industry or not.

 

Lady Gaga

Perhaps as accustomed to the limelight as Biebs is the irrepressible steak-bereted Gaga. The pop pioneer’s comeback this year wasn’t as electric as she’d hoped, especially when Applause got eclipsed by Katy Perry’s return shot Roar (but give me Gaga’s quirky, weird brilliance any day over KP) but it made me very happy to have her back on the scene. A highlight was Gaga’s bizarre and vivid performance on UK X Factor. Bloody hell – I mean what was that? Gaga writhing around the stage, ripping wigs off, gyrating on a piano, pretending to be The Birth of Venus. It was a raw, strange, peculiar showdown but I couldn’t take my eyes from it. X Factor received a ton of complaints, but whatever the critics say no one can deny that Gaga – unlike many of the show’s contestants – has that star quality in spades. Gaga is a rare icon these days, a genuine chameleon that manages to sustain an air of mystique despite rampant and relentless media surveillance. She’s got my applause.

 

James Arthur

Also skulking out on this year’s X Factor was last year’s shamefaced winner. James could have nailed 2013. His debut single was really good and his voice is, I think, superb. But James choked on his fame too soon. He became a twat. At first his Twitter outbursts were funny, and some of them I kind of agreed with, but then he set a bomb under 1D fans and you never want to mess with those. Soon he was slating anyone who dared express an opinion against him, then capped this off with an acid rant against fellow contestant Lucy Spraggan after she called up him on a stupid thing he said in one of his songs. The odd thing is that James is so fiercely anti the marketing machine that drives all these acts – including his own. He slags commercial enterprises (making an exception for Little Mix because they are on his record label), and yet he is a product, and has these opportunities, directly because of one. James needs to shut up for a while and do what he’s good at, which is making music.

 

What fascinates me is how different celebs deal with fame, and at what cost. Some can, some can’t. Some reinvent, some retire. But they are always fantastic springboards for a bonkbuster, and for that reason I cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring… Can you?

Victoria x

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Hollywood Sinners Stateside!

I’m hugely excited to announce that my first book Hollywood Sinners is published TODAY in America. This is a dream come true for me. So many of my stories, their characters and settings, unfold in the US and I’ve always believed I can find a big readership there – fingers crossed I’m right!

It’s a massive market across the pond and it’ll take a lot of faith and flair to make our mark. Thankfully I’ve got the cream of digital publishing on my side – the fabulous Bookouture – and with their expertise and ambition I’m confident that the sky is the limit.

Wish me luck!

Love, Victoria x

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Team America

Ta-da! Here I am, at long last, finally emerged from the cocoon of writing my fourth bonkbuster. This was my most intense writing experience to date. 130,000 words in four months, seven celebrities, one plane crash and a seriously sexy summer of jungle survival…

So what do you need to know about Power Games? Well, it’ll be out next June. Someone in it gets their tit bitten off by a crocodile. And someone else has sex with a tree.

But look! I have a brand spanking-new website. This is partly to make it easier for me to keep in touch, run some great competitions and keep you up to date with everything, but it’s also because my first three books are about to be published in the States. Woo! Hollywood Sinners, Temptation Island and Wicked Ambition have all had sparkly cover makeovers, and courtesy of the fabulous people at Bookouture they will hit the ebook market across the pond from December. If you haven’t seen the new looks yet, check out my home page where they pop up in all their glory on my whizzy slider!

What else is new? Last night I was at Hackney Picturehouse with CosmopolitanUK for their inaugural Author Masterclass, alongside bestselling authors and lovely ladies all, Lisa Jewell, Tasmina Perry and Lindsey Kelk – though Lindsey was only half in the room because she had just found out that Busted and McFly were about to go on tour together. Despite Charlie Simpson not being involved, I too was distracted after the news.

We chatted about all things writerly, and even though I’ve published a few novels now, it’s so helpful to listen to how other authors do it. Everyone approaches writing differently, it’s a personal thing, and I picked up some great tips. We had a fantastic crowd, were asked all sorts about our writing routines, ways to get started, how to persevere, how to approach agents and lots more. My favourite questions were about sex, but then they always are. Afterwards we had a book signing, a goody bag and drinks in the bar – all in all, a stellar night.

Here we are, L-R host Suzy Cox, Lisa Jewell, Tasmina Perry, me, and Lindsey Kelk.

Next time I’m going to blog about X Factor. I need to talk to you about Luke Friend.

Lots of love, Vx

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Wicked campaign

It’s hard to believe my new book WICKED AMBITION is published in 3 weeks’ time. It was so much fun to write and I’m really hoping it entertains you as much as it did me.

In the meantime, here is a sneaky peek at the altogether glam-tastic poster campaign that my publishers Harlequin MIRA have designed for the launch. These posters are gigantic and they’re going on the London underground from June 6. I am beyond excited!!!

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WICKED CAMPAIGN

It's hard to believe my new book WICKED AMBITION is published in 3 weeks' time. It was so much fun to write and I'm really hoping it entertains you as much as it did me. 

In the meantime, here is a sneaky peek at the altogether glam-tastic poster campaign that my publishers Harlequin MIRA have designed for the launch. These posters are gigantic and they're going on the London underground from June 6. I am beyond excited!!!

Victoria x

 

Sunlounger

Struggling for a book to take on holiday this year? Too many authors to pick from? Fear not, for Belinda Jones and the Sunlounger team have found a way for you to take THEM ALL on your sizzling sunshine escape. Our Sunlounger anthology is out in July and features my story ‘The Venice Trap’ alongside a legion of other amazing women’s fiction authors, including Tasmina Perry, Ilana Fox, Anna-Lou Weatherley, Carrie Duffy and Abby Clements.

We all had such a fun photo shoot back in the spring, which involved dressing up in fabulous vintage clothes and having our hair, make-up and nails professionally done. Cocktails were drunk, gossip was exchanged, and I wore a pair of heels that made me seven feet tall.

Check out our adventures on the beautiful new website: http://www.va-va-vacation.com/

Below L-R: me, Lucy Lord, Carrie Duffy, Belinda Jones, Michele Gorman, Anna-Lou Weatherley and Lucy Robinson.

What are you waiting for? Grab your passport and head for the skies!

The post Sunlounger appeared first on Victoria Fox.

SUNLOUNGER

Struggling for a book to take on holiday this year? Too many authors to pick from? Fear not, for Belinda Jones and the Sunlounger team have found a way for you to take THEM ALL on your sizzling sunshine escape. Our Sunlounger anthology is out in July and features my story 'The Venice Trap' alongside a legion of other amazing women's fiction authors, including Tasmina Perry, Ilana Fox, Anna-Lou Weatherley, Carrie Duffy and Abby Clements. 

We all had such a fun photo shoot back in the spring, which involved dressing up in fabulous vintage clothes and having our hair, make-up and nails professionally done. Cocktails were drunk, gossip was exchanged, and I wore a pair of heels that made me seven feet tall.

Check out our adventures on the beautiful new website: http://www.va-va-vacation.com/

Below L-R: me, Lucy Lord, Carrie Duffy, Belinda Jones, Michele Gorman, Anna-Lou Weatherley and Lucy Robinson.

       

What are you waiting for? Grab your passport and head for the skies! http://www.va-va-vacation.com/sunlounger-book

Victoria xxx

Wicked Ambition

Here is a sneak peek of my new bonkbuster WICKED AMBITION, out in June! It’s a sexy, sizzling, glamorous revenge thriller set in the music industry… 

I hope you love it! I had such a blast writing it. This is the synopsis:

Some will do anything for fame. Others will do anything to bring the famous down.

Three superstars. Three sensational secrets. Three deadly games.

For Robin, Kristin and Turquoise, the spotlight burns brightly. But ambition always comes at a price…and the devil is waiting to claim his dues.

Reality TV crowned Robin the people’s queen but a dangerous past lurks poisonously in the shadows. Only something truly sinful could shake child-star Kristin of her angelic reputation… Turquoise’s mega-star façade masks a shameful secret – an exposé would blow the lid off Hollywood!

Vengeance is waiting. The atmosphere is heady with sin. This year, fame is a murderous word.

It’s a long way to plummet from the glittering heights of stardom… Who will fall first? 

The post Wicked Ambition appeared first on Victoria Fox.

WICKED AMBITION!

Here is a sneak peek of my new bonkbuster WICKED AMBITION, out in June! It's a sexy, sizzling, glamorous revenge thriller set in the music industry... 

I hope you love it! I had such a blast writing it. This is the synopsis:

Some will do anything for fame. Others will do anything to bring the famous down.

Three superstars. Three sensational secrets. Three deadly games.

For Robin, Kristin and Turquoise, the spotlight burns brightly. But ambition always comes at a price…and the devil is waiting to claim his dues.

Reality TV crowned Robin the people’s queen but a dangerous past lurks poisonously in the shadows. Only something truly sinful could shake child-star Kristin of her angelic reputation... Turquoise’s mega-star façade masks a shameful secret – an exposé would blow the lid off Hollywood!

Vengeance is waiting. The atmosphere is heady with sin. This year, fame is a murderous word.

It’s a long way to plummet from the glittering heights of stardom… Who will fall first?