Interview with Val Prozorova

Val also writes under the name Velvl Ryder.

Tell us about your latest novel or project:

I published my first novel - The Unmentionables - 6th September 2017! It’s set in 1950s America, during the Lavender Scare, and follows two men and their forbidden love through a time when being homosexual was not only dangerous but illegal. Frightening as it sounds, it’s a very hopeful book, with a good ending for all parties involved. My co-writer and I did a lot of research for this and it was incredible to watch the book come alive.

What got you started writing?

I honestly can’t remember. There is a recording of me when I first started speaking, when I was telling mum stories. Long, convoluted, irregular and illogical stories, but I would tell them for hours. I guess telling stories was always something I wanted to do, and eventually it manifested in my writing!

What challenges did you face when you first started writing?

Honestly? My own confidence and lack thereof. It took a long time for me to feel at all good enough to even begin to submit my work to publishers and anthologies, and after the first few rejections I considered quitting altogether. After that, it was location.

Do you ever get the opportunity to travel for your writing? Either to market or to research.

I’ve actually been incredibly lucky to have traveled for my writing! I was invited to speak at Eroticon in London last year, and have attended a retreat and given a masterclass on writing vulnerable characters in Connecticut in August. I hope to some day travel all over the world with my work.

Who in your life is your greatest cheerleader or support in your writing?

I have the most extraordinary friends; they’re had commissioned me for stories when I was down on funds, they have promoted my work and reviewed it, they have helped with criticism and feedback that has been completely invaluable. And, of course, my mother. She edits all my stories, and she’s not kind about it!

What is it like writing in New Zealand that would be different if you lived anywhere else?

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t enjoy being a writer based in NZ. I find that the culture in this country is more sport-based than arts-based (or, possibly, that’s just Auckland) and a lot of artistic and creative people end up overwhelmed with just keeping themselves out of debt and find little time to write. I’m not sure if it would be different in another country. Having traveled now, I don’t have the rose-tinted-glasses view of the world anymore, so I understand that everywhere would be a struggle. But I think that being based somewhere more central, perhaps in Europe, would allow for me to visit more places, attend more conferences, meet more people, and grow as an author, in a way that I feel I can’t here.

Where do you get your ideas? Is there anything about New Zealand that has inspired you to write?

A lot of my ideas come from listening to podcasts. I’m a huge fan of podcasts hosted by ex-FBI agents and criminal profilers - I get the best ideas for characters there. They present such an incredibly raw and honest view of people that it makes building a character a lot of fun. I also love listening to science and folklore podcasts, and use those ideas in my work as well.

Why do you think readers are fascinated by books written about New Zealand?

I think to a lot of people NZ is still seen as an “exotic place” to visit, and because of that, anything set there is immediately exciting. As someone who lives here, I don’t see the country that way, but then again, anything set not-in-New-Zealand is exciting to me, so I understand why people find it pretty cool!

Who is your favourite New Zealand author and why?

I was a HUGE fan of Sherryl Jordan growing up. I think a lot of her work has influenced mine; the way she would delve into the psyche of a character, show their flaws and their faults as well as how heroic or wonderful they were. I found her books so easy to drown in and I would be lost for hours in them. I still reread a few once in a while, I have most of her works on my bookshelf.

What advice would you give for other writers in New Zealand?

I’d say: apply to overseas publications. Apply to retreats and scholarships. Apply to speak at conventions. I have found most of my success has come from getting out of NZ rather than staying in it.

Do you get to network or meet up with other New Zealand authors?

I haven’t had the chance, since I worked full time. Since my situation has changed recently, I would like to see if I can.

What was the first thing you did after your first book was published?

Honestly? I think I cried. It was such a cathartic experience, and I was so overwhelmed after months and months of work. It was an amazing feeling.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you handle the good and the bad ones?

I actually make it a point to answer most of the reviews I get - it’s something I started to do recently so there are a few older reviews I’ve missed. I am very humbled by the positive reviews. I know I work hard, and I know I put my heart and soul into my work, but it is still extraordinary to see that other people feel those emotions, and react to you as well as your characters. As for bad reviews, I take them into stride. I have a rule that I am allowed to be upset or angry at a bad review for a single day, and then I move on. I take them as learning curves. But don’t assume I let it wash over me! Some bad reviews really get me down.

It seems like everything has Easter Eggs (surprise reference to your other work) do you have any Easter Eggs in your books?

Since I am mostly a short story writer, I tend to have a few in those. They’re subtle, nothing that would be confusing for people who didn’t know, but something small and fun for those that do.

How long does it take you to write a book? Do you have any secrets to productivity?

As I said, I’m primarily a short story writer, but when it comes to longer work it honestly ranges between a few months and a few years. Some ideas just grab a hold of you and don’t let you rest until you’ve written them. Others take their time telling you their story.

Where did you get the idea for your first or latest book?

I’ve always been interested in the history of homosexuality around the world. My co-writer is American, so I thought I would like to learn something about history there, since in NZ we don’t cover American history much in school. It also coincided with an anniversary for Stonewall, and felt like a good time to have that story told.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I drink a lot of tea. A LOT of tea. I brew up a teapot-ful and sip it throughout my time writing. I change flavors when ideas don’t flow too well.

What is your best experience meeting a fan?

As a writer of fanfiction before I got into publication, I had wonderful encounters with fans of my work. I’ve never been more humbled or honored than when an ex-marine write me a private message telling me how she wanted to thank me for accurately portraying PTSD and the power of returning home from a veteran’s perspective. Considering I am in no way war-inclined, and I personally don’t have PTSD, I felt it was a great reflection of the research and effort I put into my work. I’ve carried that experience with me since.

If any of your books was to be made into a film, which one would you pick and who would you have play the main characters?

I would love to see The Unmentionables picked up for a film. I think it’s a relevant story for our times and it would really resonate with a lot of people. I have casting in mind for just a few of the characters, but not all. Some haven’t quite manifested physically yet.

I would also love to see a short story I’ve written made into a film: Named. It’s a strange little tangle of personal reflection and magical realism that I would love to see brought to the screen.

How important do you think marketing is for authors today?

I think it’s very important to show you understand what marketing is, and how important an image is. But sometimes it feels like a popularity contest: who has the most followers, who has the larger email list, who pumps out books the fastest. I think some people are exceptional at it. I think I’m still finding my feet.

Do you have any book you have written that won’t ever see the light of day and why?

I have a few stories that will never see the outside of my writing folder. Mostly because I no longer feel the stories like I did when I first wrote them, and they feel trite or dull to me now.

Many authors have a word or a phrase they automatically use too often. Do you have one?

I have so many! I’m a terrible over-user of adverbs; it’s quite embarrassing. You’ve probably noticed that from previous answers.

What quirk or trope of your genre do you like or dislike?

For romance, I HATE the “damsel in distress” trope, applied to characters of any gender. Considering I am a rather hapless and fumbling human being, I’ve yet to be swept off my feet by anything but a breeze, and I find it unrealistic and overdone. For science fiction, I’m not a huge fan of stories where everything is “team based”, going off of things like Star Trek and Star Wars. I love stories about the lone wanderer, or just the internal struggle of a human being.

Often writers get to approach some serious subjects. Which serious subject are you most proud to have written about or was the hardest to write about?

As above, I love to write about LGBT history and the effects that history has had on youth today. I love to dive into controversial topics in my work, because I feel they need to stop being controversial. I am completely open about my mental illness and my struggle to control my mental health, and a lot of my characters are thus the same. I’ve covered topics such as child abuse and trafficking, PTSD, war, murder and redemption, gaslighting, hunger for power, privilege, sexuality, and many others in my stories, and I hope to have many more such topics.

Thank you so much for sharing some of your story and good luck with your future projects.