We’re pleased to spotlight Victoria Raschke and her writing life. Thank you for helping us spread the word on how the KWG supports our writing community for writers at all stages of their writing journey.
- How long have you been a member of the KWG?
I’ve been a member for almost five years. - What is your day job?
I work for the Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets as membership and outreach coordinator. My job mostly involves promoting membership and helping the board organize educational opportunities for farmers market managers. - What project are you working on now?
Having wrapped up the Voices of the Dead series with Strange as Angels, I’m deep into the research for a new project with a new set of characters. It will still be in the urban/contemporary fantasy genre but revolves around the art world. - What is your writing goal?
I think my main goal is getting the ideas down on paper, or more accurately arranged into pixels. Having said that, I would love to be able to write full time. - A recent writer feel-good moment?
Funnily enough it was when someone on Twitter commented on my Twitter-length blurb for the most recent book. I hate writing blurbs. Writing a whole novel seems easier by comparison, so any praise for my effort was welcomed. - Who inspired you to write? How did this person inspire you?
Roma Lingerfelt, my fifth-grade teacher. She inspired me in two ways. She would read to us on Fridays from the Rats of NIMH. I was already a voracious reader but watching everyone in my class fall under the spell of the story was magical. I wanted to be able to do that. She also encouraged us to write and held a writing contest. My haiku won first place and I was hooked. - Do you have any writing rituals, favorite snacks or times/places to write?
My favorite place to write is Wild Love Bakehouse followed closely by Pearl on Union. I wrote most of the series in those two places, bolstered by perfect café lattes. I’ve missed it with the pandemic measures. - What helps when you get stuck?
A change of scenery or a hot shower. I’ve solved most of my plot point problems wandering aimlessly or getting soap in my eyes. - What are your favorite excuses for not writing?
Laundry. Rearranging the spices. Things that “need” to be done. - What’s the best thing you’ve read lately?
With the coronavirus pandemic, my attention span has deteriorated to that of a toddler hopped up on Halloween candy, so I’ve been reading fluff: steampunk urban fantasy and mysteries. I think I’m almost ready to take on something more substantial. - What is your secret talent?
I’m not sure I have a secret talent, but the thing I’ve been proudest of lately is coming up with decent meals from random pantry items. That may not make me the most useful member of a zombie apocalypse survival party but it’s useful for now.
Victoria Raschke writes books that start with questions like “what if you didn’t find out you were the chosen one until you were in your forties?” When she isn’t holed up in her favorite coffee house to write, she can be found at the nearest farmers’ market checking out the weird vegetables or at her home where she lives with a changing number of cats and her family who supports both her writing and her culinary experimentation – for the most part.
Find me at readvictoria.com