Astrid V.J.

Many readers have called my books "whimsical" and I guess that's as good a description of my style as any. Since the main focus through all my books, irrespective of which subgenre of fantasy, is on the characters' inner transformational journey based on their outer experiences through the plot, there is a lot of focus on how our thoughts create our outcomes in life. I enjoy weaving principles of transformation into my stories to help readers grasp more tangibly how these can be applied to life while also offering entertainment, upliftment, and empowerment.

I grew up in South Africa during the transition from Apartheid to democracy. It has absolutely influenced my writing. It's the reason I started writing in the first place. By the time I was 12, I'd read a lot of fantasy and fallen in love with the genre, but as a child growing up in a diverse and multi-cultural society I was disappointed in the fact that the fantasy cultures and magic systems I'd read up to that point were all based on European culture. The first series I ever wrote is still in the works, but that original impulse to write fantasy that better represents the cultural complexities I grew up with is still evident in all my writing.

A voracious one. I'm still known as "the bookworm" among my old school friends. None of them are surprised I upgraded to "writer".

My style is heavily influenced by Jane Austen and Guy Gavriel Kay. I absolutely adore how these two authors work with words, and aspire to achieve that level of proficiency in creating beautiful phrases.

This is hard. I have read a lot of amazing books in a whole range of genres and languages (as I'm a polyglot).

Not previously mentioned, traditionally published, and English only: Philip Pullman, George Elliot, JV Jones, Agatha Christie, Michael Swanwick

There are also a load of independently published authors whose books I absolutely love. These are the ones I'll drop everything for if they have a new release: Alice Ivinya, Rachel Rener, Susan Stradiotto/ Anja Barrons (same person, different pen names), Xander Cross, ML Broome

Again, this is terribly difficult to answer because I choose bookish gifts based on the person I am gifting and all my friends and family read very different genres and enjoy varying styles.

My latest bookish gift was "The Last Green Valley" by Mark Sullivan, which is a historical fiction novel with a transformational fiction inflection and is just the thing for my husband. However, it wouldn't be a good fit for some of my other friends.

Like all children share 50% of their mother's genetics, all of my main characters are strongly influenced by my own personal journey.

Elisabeth from "The Siblings' Tale" exhibits a combination of my worst traits and the achieved potential of all my best ones.

Viola from "The Apprentice Storyteller" is stuck in my disbelief and overcomes obstacles the way I have learned to thanks to my training as a transformational life coach. She is also my alter ego, featuring the inverse of my pre-marriage initials. I am A.V. she is V.A.

Zafira from my current WIP, "The Lion, the Lark, and the Lady" exhibits my love of science and math, and puzzling over solutions.

Like I cannot choose a "favorite child", I love my books all equally because each one has made me learn and grow and become a better version of myself.

I currently don't have a designated space. I'll work wherever I am able. Often in bed or in the living room on the couch. If I have a longer writing session I'll sometimes evict my husband from the desk or take over the kitchen table.

I read anywhere and everywhere. I listen to audiobooks while I cycle around town or when doing brain-dead administrative work tasks. I read ebooks while waiting for my kids at their extra-curricular activities. And I'll snuggle up with an ebook or paperback for a few chapters before bed time. In the summer, I'll read outside under a tree. In the winter, I'll grab a cuppa tea and curl up on the living room couch when the sun is shining in. Anywhere I have the chance to sink into a story is the ideal place to read.