Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Mozambique in the sixties and lived there until I was twelve, but the revolution and regime change in Portugal that led to Mozambican independence, as well as the civil unrest that followed, forced me and my family to leave Africa for good. I’ve lived in Lisbon, Portugal, with my family, ever since.
I pursued an executive career in the financial area but have always loved to write. For a few years now I’ve run the blog The Many Stories of a Woman. At this point in my life I have many stories to tell – stories lived and shared… And all these memories of places I love, music that moves me, books that have inspired me. These are a few of the reasons I began writing.
I love going to the beach and spending time with my sons and my friends. And, like most Portuguese, I would be entirely unable to exist without my cup of espresso!
So far I’ve only written one novel, “Love Secrets Lies”.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Love Secrets Lies” was loosely based on my experiences growing up in Africa and then moving to Europe. It deals with the pain of losing the place you’d always called home and the need to readjust, to reinvent yourself even, in a wholly different environment, while also dealing with the awkwardness and challenges of your teen years.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
This may be the blandest answer of all time, but I just sit down and start typing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would only mention a few authors. Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Emily Brontë, Barbara Erskine, Juliet Marillier, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Joanne Harris…
Now, books. I read “Wuthering Heights” at 13 and it overwhelmed me with its emotional intensity. Characters like Heathcliff and Cathy will haunt you, they’ll hound your thoughts. I reread it two years ago, and once again felt its power. It is relentless. If “Wuthering Heights” doesn’t make you want to write a novel of your own, I don’t know what will.
What are you working on now?
I’m developing a couple of short stories which I intend to publish in the near future. Oh, and “Love Secrets Lies” is going to have a sequel, which I am working on right now.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a tough one. I’m still trying to crack it. Instagram has turned out to be a powerful platform to discover new books and authors and, of course, promote your own. Goodreads I’ve found quite useful as well! Obviously I myself am open to tips and suggestions!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, I’m a new author, so all I can say is, write something you believe in. Write with passion, it’ll make a world of difference in the end.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My editor has never been afraid to tell me certain scenes in early drafts of “Love Secrets Lies” were bland and unimaginative, and he pushed me to add depth and realism, to flesh out characters, to go into physical sensations like sight and taste and smell, to think of details as seemingly random and irrelevant as air temperature on a given day. It’s hard to distill his advice into a single sentence, but the book wouldn’t have turned out the way it did otherwise.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading “Sidi” by Arturo Pérez Reverte, the story of El Cid, the most famous Spanish hero of the Middle Ages.
What’s next for you as a writer?
There’s a ton of stories in my head waiting to be told. All I need is time. And I certainly want to continue improving my craft, because in this line of work you really never stop learning.
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?
“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë, Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s “The Shadow of the Wind,” “Lady of Hay” by Barbara Erskine, and Orwell’s 1984.
Tough picking just four, though.
Author Websites and Profiles
Teresa Vale Website
Teresa Vale Amazon Profile
Teresa Vale’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile