JAMES L. KING: Who makes better authors? Men or women?
VCM: I don't think gender has a thing to do with the gift. It comes from God and He certainly doesn't care who He gives the gift
to.
JAMES L. KING: If you could write a great novel that would be turned into a movie (think Roots, War and Peace)...what would
it be?
VCM: If I knew what that was, I would've already written it. I have no idea. I just write what's in my heart at the moment.
JAMES L. KING: Why do you think the major publishing companies are not signing on new writers to big book deals anymore?
VCM: This is a business just like everything else. There isn't money for publishers to sign writers to big deals. Each publisher
has to do a profit and loss statement on every book and with many authors are selling far below 20,000 copies, so there's no
money to give out.
JAMES L. KING: With bookstores almost being a thing of the past, what are some
alternatives for book signings?
VCM: I think book events are still very popular. Readers want to go to an event where they
can meet more than one author, spend a little time with the author, and have some fun. So,
events like the National Book Club Conference in Atlanta and the Cavalcade of Authors in
Chicago are still big events.
JAMES L. KING: With eBooks being a major way people read books, how can we still keep
traditional books in our lives?
VCM: We can't. Just like music, we have to go with the times. The world is digital and we
have to accept that. Trying to keep traditional books is like the Republican Party pretending
that the world still looks like it did in the 1950's. If the Republicans don't change they will
never win another national election and if authors and publishers don't realize that our world
has changed, we won't win either.
JAMES L. KING: When was the last time you have been to a library and why did you go?
VCM: I do signings with at least one library on every tour. My last time at a library was sometime in 2013 for my last book,
Never Say Never.
JAMES L. KING: Do you support young people becoming authors?
VCM: Absolutely! Especially since I wanted to become an author when I was young.
JAMES L. KING: What are you reading, who is your favorite author and why?
VCM: I'm currently reading Game Change -- the story about the Obama/Clinton/McCain/Palin election. I read it before, but I just
finished reading the sequel, Double Down and I had to go back to remember where it all began. I'm a political junkie.
JAMES L. KING: Where do you do most of your writing?
VCM: I can write anywhere, but the places where I write the most are in my apartment in DC, my home in LA, any Starbucks in
the county and any plane in the air!
JAMES L. KING: Is there a secret to your success in this business that you have ever shared with anyone?
VCM: I share every single thing I know about writing and this business with everyone who asks. I don't have any secrets to
success. All I know is that readers make the best writers and the only place where success comes before work is in the
dictionary.
JAMES L. KING: Do you think that any of your books will ever be turned into a movie?
VCM: I've had several books optioned: my teen series -- the Divine Divas and then three of my adult books have been optioned:
The Ex Files, Destiny's Divas, Never Say Never
JAMES L. KING: What advice would you give book clubs or someone who reads many books?
VCM: Keep on reading! Best entertainment in the world.
JAMES L. KING: What advice do you have for the new author who thinks they know everything?