"Who in their right mind wouldn't want to read a book by Mark Barry!" (Mary Quallo, St Louis)

"Who in their right mind wouldn't want to read a book by Mark Barry!"  (Mary Quallo, St Louis)
Coming next week - Carla Eatherington

Monday 21 July 2014

Evolution Trilogy author Vanessa Wester is...around the Cauldron!

Vanessa Wester

Vanessa Wester is the well known creator of many novels, as you can see on her fulsomely populated Amazon Author Page.  

As you will see later, she writes a variety of genres with passion and enthusiasm and loves what she does, which is no bad thing.


A regular on Twitter, she is an interviewer too, which makes her visit around the Cauldron something of a Busman's Holiday. I caught up with her as she enjoyed the sunshine on the Isle of Wight, one of Gt Britain's pleasure paradises tucked away on the south coast.  Here's what she had to say...

Tell us about yourself, Vanessa?

Where do I start? I was going to tell you what I have done, but that is not really who I am it is what keeps me busy! 

As I say in my Twitter description, I am an “author who is either being mum, reading, writing, walking, teaching, or watching TV! Phew!” I am also planning to get back to swimming for fitness very soon!


Overall, I am fascinated by the decisions we each make and the relationships that bind us to one another. I also believe the past is something to be proud of, regardless of what happened.



You have lived all over the world. Which has been your favourite place to live? Where were you happiest?

I would not say all over, I have mainly stayed in Europe. I have to admit that I am happiest where I am – the Isle of Wight. I love the peace and tranquillity of living in a small place, and having been brought up next to the sea am glad to have found a place in England where I can have a similar view.


 You are an author. In what genre do you write?

I enjoy writing romance, paranormal, historical and science fiction…

Tell us about your latest work

I am currently working on the story of my great grandparents. Both born in Liverpool around 1840, they led a varied life before they married in Jamaica and immigrated to Gibraltar. It is historical fiction since I am having to use my artistic licence a lot!



Can you share an extract of your work?

WARNING - This is an EXCLUSIVE!!!!

It has only had one edit and the book is nowhere near completion yet…

Bolton clenched his fist and fought back the urge to thump the boy. It was not his fault he had been named after a place and his dad. He tried to shake it off, but it really bugged him.‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,’ he replied, as he folded his arms across his chest.‘Bolton, Bolton, Bolton,’ the boy chanted, as others started to take it up.Bolton glanced at his brother, Emmott, whose nose was now flared, lips tight. Bolton shook his head from side to side, but it was too late as he saw Emmott lunge at the boy. With his eyes raised to the sky, he groaned knowing there was nothing else for it.A while later, as Bolton limped home and tried to wipe the blood off his cheek from his bloody nose, Emmott chuckled, ‘I may have some cuts and bruises, but he was worse off.’‘Sure he was,’ he sighed, ‘but, I didn’t need you to take up the fight. I knew what I was doing, he wasn’t going to do a thing.’‘And let him think we’re cowards?’ Emmott said, defiant, ‘I’ll never be scared to fight. It makes us men, not boys.’‘Okay, fine… you be the man. You think because you got some hair on your upper lip, you’re all grown up now?’‘I’m not far behind you, Brother. Just you wait. I’ll catch you up and then we’ll see who’s the toughest,’ Emmott said, his feet on tiptoes as he tried to reach Bolton’s height.Bolton laughed, ‘We’ll see about that.’ He grabbed Emmott by the shoulders and put his chin on top of his head. ‘There’s still a fair bit for you to catch up with me. Then there’s your build. A bit scrawny to be a man.’‘You’re not much bigger,’ Emmott huffed, sticking his tongue out.Bolton knew it had not been that long ago that he’d been like Emmott, but it was worth stringing it out a bit. To be honest, he was not sure how he felt about his deeper voice and larger build. It was not that exciting to become a man.



That's excellent, Vanessa. Your debut novel – which is free – has garnered rave reviews. How does that feel? Was it unexpected? 

I had no idea what to expect. In fact, sometimes I wonder if I really wrote it! It is a mystery to me that I have managed to do what I have, and any sales I get always make me smile. I am an unknown author with no agent, publisher, or representative. Everything I achieve is a miracle.

Download "Hybrid" by Vanessa Wester (41 5* reviews) here FREE!!!


Smashwords http://ow.ly/vW2mf 

TETrilogy 





Do you recommend Permafree marketing? Has it worked for you?

I think it has, but I don’t get as many reviews as others. I have had more sales of the subsequent books since it went permafree, but I think a lot of them have come about due to advertising opportunities. Going “permafree” is a risk – bad reviews also happen from readers who would never have bought my book. However, in my case, what have I got to lose?



You play on Goodreads. Has it improved since Amazon took over or is it still a pit of bullies with egos the size of monsters?

No idea. I post reviews, read the odd threads, and friend people. I don’t like to get into “politics”. Sometimes, the braver option is to step away when things get crazy.

Hyper-evolved Gibraltarian monkeys with near-human intelligence, follow you home and kidnap you. 
It is not clear why and you are bemused. Some imagined slight from the time you lived out there, perhaps. You are thrown in a cave and guarded night and day. Geppo, a friendly Barbary monkey, throws in a sack along with your wooden bowl of grave. In the sack you find two books, two CDs and a DVD. What would you like them to be?

BOOKS: “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” by Sarra Manning... 


...AND an Agatha Christie Collection of Mrs Marple books (it is one book!)



CD's Twilight...Mecano (see below)


DVD: BBC - Pride and Prejudice

Invite a writer, an actor and a figure from history to dinner. 

John Grisham

Brad Pitt


and Queen Victoria!


And what culinary delight would you supply?


Starter: Prawns in a garlic & chilli sauce  (Yuk - think I'd arrive late, Vanessa :D - Ed)

Main: Paella


Tea, coffee & mints! HA!

 And finally, what do fans of Vanessa Wester have to look forward to in 2014 (and beyond!)

Hopefully, I will actually finish some of the novels I have started – about 10 now! I am still young and I have years to write and have fun! My love of reading is too big for me to ignore books to write. I now do what makes my family and me happy.

So readers will have to be patient…


In an ideal world, an agent will snap up my historical fiction and the next time you hear from me will be via a massive billboard! What can I say, I am a dreamer…

Vanessa, its been an absolute pleasure to speak to you. Thank you also for hosting all us crazy interviewers on your FB group too...


Thank you, Wiz. I have enjoyed it - and you're welcome!

For further info, links, articles and other hi-jinks, visit Vanessa's Blog


First Date - Romance


                                    Three weeks before he died, Hendrix played the IoW Festival






11 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for this amazing interview - I love what you have done! AWESOME!

    I can't believe you don't like prawns though... and my desert is missing - Tiramisu! HA!

    I am now watching the Mecano song on your blog - best group ever! The lyrics are fantastic... lucky I speak Spanish! :)

    Thanks again,
    Vanessa ***HUGS***

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    1. That starter was far too much for me, Vanessa :D :D. I wenf for dinner with a friend when i was in my twenties and he ordered Moules Mouniere for his main course. I have never been able to eat fishy stuff nor anything dark green since hehehehe. Even writing down dark green starters makes me seasick. Sorry about missing your dessert...cannot explain that! :D Great interview - really enjoyed doing it, Vanessa. best of luck...Mark

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  2. Great interview guys, good to get to know more about you Vanessa and thanks for the free book :-) And is it the prawns Wiz? Or the garlic and chilli sauce? Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing Gxx

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    1. You said the G word, Georgia ha ha ha. *shivers* I'm afraid I am one of those fussy eaters who can only eat certain foods - usually tinned, boxed, dehydrated, wrapped up or from a takeaway :D Thanks for reading the interview! :D Mxx

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  3. Great interview. Vanessa is one of life's special people.

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    1. I'm sure she is, Carol. Really enjoyed this one - I am one of your many followers, btw - nice to meet you! :D Mark/Wiz

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  4. Ah, the Wizard interview, tis always fun to do and read!!!! I do envy you living on the Isle of Wight - can't believe I've never been there!!!

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    1. I knew a bloke from Guernsey once, which is pretty close by, Terry. Apparently it's really sunny in the IOW and the people are supposed to be very friendly. Might visit there next year...

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  5. Great interview; best of luck with sales, Vanessa.

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  6. Thank you for reading, MAB! :D Mark

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  7. I just looked at this interview again and it brought back great memories - thanks for all the comments everyone :)

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