Welcome to New Faces, where you'll meet brand-new authors in the romance arena! We're pleased to introduce Victoria Malvey, whose historical romance Portrait of Dreams is a Pocket Books release. Victoria talks about her background and getting that first book published.

So, tell us about Victoria Malvey.

As a born and bred Jersey girl, the raw sounds of Bruce Springsteen's music speaks to my soul. Seriously, though, I was born in Basking Ridge, NJ, a lovely town in central NJ. I'm the sixth child of seven in a large, loving family. My parents were fantastic, enjoying the mayhem instead of despairing over it. Amazingly enough, they're both still sane!

I married very young (20 yrs old) to this great guy who still makes me smile. After putting him through college, I achieved an Associates degree in Marketing from University of NH. My husband, Steve, and I had moved up to Portsmouth, NH after he got out of college. However, my roots in NJ were too deep and we returned home after five years up north. It was too hard for me to be away from my family and childhood friends. Nope, Jersey girl through and through.

Do you work outside the home, or are you a full-time mom?

I stay home full-time with my two boys, ages 9 and 6. When my youngest was a baby, I quit my part-time job and became a full-time mom. I consider it a luxury to be able to do so. My guys are great fun and I love owning the house where all the kids come and play! It's always crazy around our place, but, boy, oh boy, is it fun.

Tell us what got you started in romance.

When I was 12, my mom put a Harlequin romance (The Bartered Bride by Margaret Rome) in my stocking. I LOVED it!!!! I'd always been an avid reader, but as soon as I read a romance, it was as if I'd found my true calling. My appetite for romance novels grew until I expanded out into single title works. My first historical romance was SHANNA by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I can remember my mother yelling at me to put down that book and go DO something. I couldn't put it down. I just couldn't. And, believe me, no matter how hard I tried to explain to her that Roarke was just about to surprise Shanna in her bath and I HAD to read that part, my wonderful mom didn't understand. But, but, MOM, Shanna just called him 'her dragon!' Nope. Nothing I said budged my mother. Sheesh! It was pretty obvious that romance didn't call to HER soul. :) Luckily for me I've since managed to convert her.

Tell us about getting your first book published.

Well, to be perfectly honest, I used to believe I'd paid my dues, but then I started hearing some awful, I mean, just terrible horror stories. It didn't take me long to realize that I didn't have it so bad. One year after I started writing, I was lucky enough to get an agent, the wonderful Pam Hopkins of Hopkins Literary Agency. Pam stuck by me for the next two years as I tried to sell to various houses only to be rejected. I was fortunate to never have received a form letter rejection, but the letters I received were just as hard to accept. All I ever heard was praise about my writing, the plot, the vivid characterization, etc., then they would have to add that dreaded word. BUT.

Yep, I'd be coasting along reading all this praise about my writing only to hit that horrid word, but. It was all downhill from there. That's the point where I'd read 'sorry we're not taking on new writers' or 'it's not exactly what we're looking for-what else have you got by this author?'. Believe me, enough of those letters and they can be as hard as any form letter. Still, I was very, very lucky to have an incredible agent who never stopped believing in me. Then, God decided to take mercy on me, and He gave me my terrific editor, Amy Pierpont at Pocket Books. We clicked. She was willing to take on a new writer and all the work that entailed. I consider myself a very fortunate lady.

Who are your influences as a writer?

I can honestly say that I read so much over the twenty years it took me to begin writing, that no writer has "influenced" my writing style. There are a number of writers whom I admire greatly and buy automatically. However, I strongly believe that my voice can't be compared to any one specific writer. It's a blend of all the elements I love about reading romance, twisted with a unique flavor into my own story.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

My darling husband of 15 years tells everyone who will listen that he inspired each and every love scene in my books. Honestly, though, Steve is an incredible guy and I am so very lucky that he's still madly in love with me. He couldn't be prouder. My parents are great too. My mom has stopped in at every bookstore near her in MA (where they retired) and made sure that they ordered my book. My dad did the same thing at the library where he volunteers his time. Everyone in my large family is eager to purchase a copy and have told all their friends about it. I swear that if my sales are good, the main reason will be because I have such a LARGE family! Heck, between the extended cousins and their friends, Pocket books will need to go in for a second printing.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I signed a three book deal with Pocket books. The first novel, PORTRAIT OF DREAMS, is a September '98 release. My second book, ENCHANTED, is currently scheduled for an April '99 release date. If you'd like to read about ENCHANTED, check out my website at www.victoriamalvey.com. I'm very excited to be with such a great publishing house like Pocket. My life with my guys is perfect, but let me tell you, being a writer adds a lot of shine to it. This is one fantastic ride I'm on and I'm going to enjoy it for all it's worth.

Good luck, Victoria!

Don't miss TRR's review of Portrait of Dreams.

August 17, 1998