Interview With Author Estelle Van de Velde
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Belgian author with two self-published books. I love playing video games and hiking (mainly with my husband and my son). Other than that, I’m also making videos on YouTube, where I talk about writing, publishing and marketing books.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “The Londoners”, simply because I lived in London (UK) for about five years and my granddad called me and my (now) husband that way so it stuck. I loved writing this book. It is something I’ll always cherish as it is the physical proof of us moving to the UK from Belgium.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call it unusual, but I love sitting on my chair and listen to white noise while writing. I need complete silence so I can concentrate, and with an eight-month old baby it’s kind of difficult to find that, haha.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I adore Victoria Schwab and Neil Gaiman. They can bring worlds in such ways that I’m always inspired when I read their works. I’m particularly fan of the Shades of Magic series and The Graveyard Book.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on two projects: one is a memoir on pregnancy and motherhood that I intend on releasing around September 2023 (self-published). The other one is a middle-grade fantasy novel that I’m currently querying (traditional).
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Creating a reader community is the most important thing you’ll have to do as an author to promote your books. They then can talk about your books whether online or in real life, and believe me: word of mouth is still incredibly powerful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I can give is keep going. Keep being consistent. Write what you love and you’ll see that people will come back to your books. How you publish it isn’t important, the important thing is you keep going.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Sit down and write. You can’t promote a book that doesn’t exist, right?
What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Successful Hybrid Author” by Katlyn Duncan.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m releasing my next nonfiction memoir in September and am currently finishing up the first draft so there’s still a lot to be done.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh, great question! I’d say “Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab, “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shanon, “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman and “Dreaming about the Boy Next Door” by Sarah Sutton.
Author Websites and Profiles
Estelle Van de Velde Amazon Profile
Estelle Van de Velde’s Social Media Links