Indie Support Sunday: Victoria Covelheart

Nov 9
7 min read

I’ve said it before, but one of my favourite things about doing this weekly interview series is connecting with new authors. Victoria Covelheart is one of those new people and I really enjoyed getting to know her through this interview. Her debut, Time After Time, is the first in a three-book series of interconnected standalones set in a small town. I love that all three books will have time playing a central role—something we want more of and take for granted every single day!

Victoria also has some really good advice for fellow authors, whether you’re starting out or not. When asked what she’d like to experiment with outside of the romance genre, Victoria says gothic literature’s dark and captivating vibe is really enticing. I get it, it’s the unknown that draws us in.

She’s currently working on the second book in her Golden Sands series, but you can read the first one in Kindle Unlimited right now!

BEING AN AUTHOR

Who or what inspired you to write?

I think what I read and watched had a huge impact on me. As a kid, movies like The Chronicles of Narnia would set my imagination on fire. They made me want to write my own stories, and that’s really how it all started.

What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?

The most wonderful thing is having complete freedom. It makes you feel bold, courageous, and proud of yourself for how hard you’ve worked to turn a dream into reality. But the hardest part is dealing with the people who will try to hurt, deceive, or bring you down. If we have to choose who we want by our side in life, we need to make that decision even faster in this journey.

Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?

Freedom. I always assumed it would be a lot of work for just one person, but it turned out to be even more than I expected. Still, I had a clear vision for the story, the cover, everything—I thought traditional publishing would take away some of that control. But I’m not ruling out the possibility of that route someday.

When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

Reading other books, listening to music, or simply drawing are all activities that usually inspire me, whether it’s for a future novel or the one I’m working on right now.

What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?

Don’t let others make you doubt your process. There’s no one “right” way to write. You’ll experiment with different methods and find what works best for you. Just keep going.
Write down your ideas. You might come across books that seem similar, but no one will write exactly the way you do.
Have beta and alpha readers. They’re invaluable for helping you see your work through fresh eyes, offering insights you might have missed.
Read within your genre.
Rest. Self-publishing is tough, but it’s also rewarding if you love what you’re doing. Take time to recharge and take care of yourself.

ROMANCE AS A GENRE

Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?

I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. While I enjoy a variety of genres, I always find myself returning to romance. Nearly every story idea that pops into my head has some form of love at its core. Romance is a genre that stirs so many emotions all at once. It's hard to put into words. It has this incredible way of cleansing you from the inside, leaving you feeling a little more hopeful and excited about everything.

If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?

Outside of romance, I’d love to write gothic literature. There’s something so captivating about how authors in that genre evoke dark, mysterious atmospheres. As for romance, I’m kind of drawn to romantasy.

What are your most and least favorite tropes?

My favourite tropes change all the time, but age gaps and single parent stories always seem to pull me back. As for my least favorite, cheating is definitely one I can’t stand.

What are some tropes you want to write in the future?

Surprise/Accidental pregnancy and marriage of convenience/fake marriage!

What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?

I’ll never get tired of seeing representation in all kinds of ways. Inclusivity isn’t something that needs to be forced; it’s just how the world is, with so many different people going through so many different things. When I was younger, I really would’ve appreciated reading about FMCs who went through the same stuff I did.

If you write open door romance, why did you choose that and what inspires your sex scenes?

I used to stress over whether to go for open door or closed door romance, but I’ve realised it depends on the story. For me, open door works because physical intimacy is a normal part of many relationships, and I want to show that. If a book feels like it should be open-door, then that’s what it’ll be. Same if it’s closed-door. Honestly, I don’t really have a set inspiration for those scenes—it’s all about the characters and the story. It just flows naturally.

YOUR BOOKS

What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?

My debut novel takes place in a small fictional town called Golden Sands. The feelings I wanted to capture—hope, joy, warmth—were all inspired by a place I vacationed. After going through a tough time, that spot became my escape, a place where I could just let go of everything. One night, while I was there, the story hit me, and I literally jumped out of bed to start outlining it.

Can you briefly tell me about your debut?

Time After Time follows two childhood best friends who feel like time is running out. Geneviève is desperately trying to find her passion before the summer ends, while Sebastian is determined to leave their small town of Golden Sands and follow his own dreams. Despite all this, he’s always there for Gen, helping her search for her passion. But, oh well, you see—he’s been in love with her for as long as he can remember. When their friendship crosses into something deeper, everything starts to get complicated.

This book is the first in a series of three interconnected standalones, where the theme of time plays a central role in each story—each in its own way.

Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?

Gosh, that’s a tough one. I didn’t expect to love Geneviève and Sebastian as much as I do. They’ll always have a special place in my heart that no one else can take. But I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Sylvie, Geneviève’s older sister and the FMC of book 2. I’m sure some readers will hate me for not picking Cooper (the headbutting pig from TAT) XD.

If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?

This question was HARD! I’m not super familiar with actors in their 20s, so I ended up asking one of my alpha readers for suggestions. I think Asha Banks would be perfect as Geneviève, but as for Sebastian... I’m still not sure. I’ll have to do some more research!

How much of yourself do you put into these characters?

I think there’s always more of myself in my characters than I realise. I tend to think it’s just small quirks or habits, but when I really look at it, it’s more than that.

What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?

After I finish the Golden Sands Series (three books), I definitely want to write a story with an FMC who’s overcome an eating disorder but still deals with its aftermath—things like body image issues, etc. It’s important for me to include that kind of representation, but without focusing too much on the explicit behaviours of an ED. Based, of course, on my own experience.

Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?

I think I’ll need to write more and dive deeper into my future stories to fully answer this, but for now, I can say there will always be some kind of sunset in my books. It’s something I love. They are peaceful, emotional, and just beautiful. And there will definitely be references to classics, especially Jane Austen.

What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?

I’m currently working on the first draft of Book 2 in the Golden Sands Series. It’s definitely going to dive into some tougher topics for both the MMC and FMC. And once again, time will play a big role, but in a very different way than it did in Book 1.

When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?

I want readers to feel like they’re truly a part of the book, not just reading from the outside. I want them to be able to close their eyes and know they’re in the world I’m describing—living the moments with the characters, feeling everything they feel: love, hope, vulnerability, fear... all of it.