“Write with passion; edit with intellect.” – Author Vicki Stiefel
Vicki Stiefel, who also goes by her pen name Sanna Brand, is the author of The Bond. It’s the first in The Secret Tales series. I read and reviewed this book a couple of months back, and I wanted to follow up with her because it was the first time I’d read a Regency novel. The wording was different, there were colorful characters, and the plot was very detailed and engaging, so I became curious.
What was the inspiration behind this novel? What was her writing process like? Did she receive any encouraging words from others to help motivate her along? What advice would she give aspiring authors? I wanted to know Stiefel’s thoughts, so I reached out to her, and this is what she had to say!
VS: Some might say my life is a bouillabaisse of professions and passions. Others might call it a motley mix of careers and crazy. Both would be correct. I grew up in professional theater—my family began and ran the Ivoryton Playhouse, an Equity summer stock theater for many years, and I planned to become an actress. Instead, I slung hamburgers, taught high school, managed a scuba shop, and taught Writing the Novel and other writing courses at Clark University, loving every minute of it.
I discovered my fervor for the written word when I started my first novel later in life. My writing comes from within that same creative place as my desire to perform.
MLR: Speaking of that creative space, what inspired your novel The Bond?
VS: This may sound bizarre, but one night as I was falling asleep—you know, that surreal place between waking and sleeping—the idea for The Bond appeared: A girl. Amazing with horses. With a terrible childhood secret. The idea must have been percolating somewhere in my subconscious, and it had finally surfaced. I began to write, and each night as I fell asleep, I couldn’t help but think up new scenes for the novel. And The Bond was born.
Stiefel says she’s always enjoyed historical fiction but only ventured into that genre once she wrote The Bond. Her passion for writing hasn’t ceased. She’s written non-fiction books and articles on scuba diving, film, and the art of writing. “When my husband fell ill, I could no longer write fiction, and I conjured up a knitting book—The 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters. But though I left fiction alone, the stories wouldn’t do the same for me. Thus, I dived back into fiction and wrote four books in the award-winning Tally Whyte Homicide Counselor series, three urban fantasy books, and three science fantasy novels.”
Stiefel is working on part two of The Bond, conveniently titled The Deception, and she urges writers that there is much more to a book than writing it. “Once you’ve written the book, you must market it. Without the author marketing the book, it will most likely not reach readers. I mention this because it’s essential for just about any published author. Stephen King, not so much, but Colleen Hoover turned herself into a bestselling author with her marketing. I have yet to meet an author who enjoys the process, but marketing is a must-do. It also takes an enormous amount of a writer’s time. But I keep telling myself that while penning a novel is both an art and a craft, it is also a job.”
A job indeed. One that has Stiefel open to accepting new challenges. She describes herself as adventurous and loves a new challenge. “When I left mystery novels for urban fantasy, the adventure of it compelled me. I tend to lead with my heart, and I love trying different genres, even if they’re a risk because it’s a delight and a thrill to enter a new world.”
Stiefel is persistent with her craft and encourages aspiring authors to be steadfast with theirs too. “Believe in yourself and your work. Persist. I didn’t sell my first novel until I had written four previous unsold ones. I came close many times, but as they say, selling a book is not horseshoes. Persist in your passion and make it happen.”
MLR: Is there any memorable advice someone has given you during your book’s writing and publishing process?
VS: I learned a great deal from my late husband, William G. Tapply. He was an astounding writer and a wonderful man. Bill was all about the reader and the story. He would often say, “Don’t flaunt your words.” An extensive vocabulary is marvelous, but I never use my words to impress a reader. That can hurdle them right out of the story. I suspect most writers want their readers immersed in the world and feelings of their characters. I do. Words are like gems and must be used carefully to advance the story, not to show readers how brilliant you are.
She continued, “Give yourself a goal—not a huge one. Mine is 500 words a day which equates to two manuscript pages. Not very much at all. I write whether I’m in the mood or not. Think of writing as a sport. By writing every day, you build muscle memory, so soon writing becomes habitual, and voilà— you end up with a novel. People want to experience your characters’ feelings and actions, and your ardor for your characters, your settings, etc., translates to the written word. Write that first draft passionately, and then dig in and edit using your craft and intellect to see you through to a marvelous creation.”
When she’s not busy working on her second book in The Secret Tales series, Stiefel spends time with her sons and plays with her two dogs, Penny and Bash, and her cat, Sammy.
The Bond is available in paperback and all e-book formats (iBooks, Kindle, Nook, etc.) and on various platforms, from Smashwords to Amazon to Apple Books. You can order the paperback version online or from bookstores. And here’s where you can connect with Stiefel on social media:
Morgan Lee Reviews 