Meet Newfoundland’s newest romance novelist: Victoria Barbour

I am pleased today to have the opportunity to host debut novelist Victoria Barbour as she continues her blog tour celebrating the release of her new romance novel Against her Rules. Available on e-readers everywhere, this witty Newfoundland based romance novel was a pleasant departure from my usual reading fare. Elsie Walsh is a B&B owner in Heart’s Ease who has one rule: no sleeping with the guests. That is, until Campbell Scott shows up. The result is a fun summer read with a wonderful cast of characters.

When I was given the opportunity to interview Victoria for her blog tour, I knew exactly who I wanted to focus on.

Aunt Ida! A colourful, strong-willed 96-year-old supporting character who is guaranteed to make you smile every time she shows up.

LR: I’m new to romance and I expected a romance story to focus primarily on the main characters. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the strong supporting cast in this story. For me, it was a well rounded “story” rather than what I half expected with a romance which was “girl meets guy” soap opera. Is this typical of romance stories or is this something different?

VB: It’s very typical of good romances, and I’m not saying that to tout my own horn. I have read a lot of fantastic romance novels, and the reason why they drew me in is the attention to secondary characters. Secondary characters are really important in romance, because we often build second, third, even fourth books, off of those characters. For instance, Asher, who is a strong supporting character in Against Her Rules will get a book. And Cam’s sister Daphne will also get a book. I’m a strong believer that you need a strong supporting cast to really flush out the characterization of your primary hero and heroine.

LR: Is Aunt Ida based on a real person? If not, what inspired you to create such a colourful character?

VB: Aunt Ida lives in my head. I wish I had some sort of character sketch of her, but I’m really not an organized writer. I started to write the opening scene of the book and she just showed up. As the book progressed, Aunt Ida just got stronger and stronger. Creating a strong, opinionated elderly woman was pretty easy for me, however. I come from a long line of strong women, and on both sides of my family, the women live good long lives. Now that I can take a look back at Ida, I see elements of some of my own aunts, and my grandmothers. Newfoundland women are not meek and mild. And I think it’s quite likely that anyone who goes to an outport in Newfoundland will meet some version of her.

LR: Have you considered a separate story for Aunt Ida?

VB: I haven’t. I like to write books with a happily ever after, and since Ida is 96 and single…. Hmmmm. I wonder if there’s a market for a romance for a 96-year-old woman? You’ve given me something to ponder Lesleyanne!

LR: Did you fear that having such a strong supporting character might detract from the central, romantic story?

VB: To the contrary. I think not having a strong supporting character would detract from the story. Ida is essential in Elsie’s transformation. I think her meddling, and her candid chats really helped the romance grow.

LR: And if you had to pick, which of the Golden Girls is she most like in your mind?

VB: Oh, she’s Sofia (Ma), Estelle Getty’s character. The permed hair, the seemingly-frail body with a strong will, the sometimes off-colour wisdom. Yup. Definetly Sofia.

LR: Pampers or Depends? 🙂

VB: Since I spend my days changing them on my ten-month-old son, I’ll say cloth diapers.

Thanks, Victoria.

For an excerpt, I requested my favorite Aunt Ida scene. Enjoy!

   “Do you want a cup of tea, Auntie?” Elsie asked as she ushered the woman into a cozy, upholstered rocking chair by a huge bay window that overlooked the water.

  “Your mother is getting me one,” Aunt Ida said, as she brushed a white curl away from her face. “Now sit down because I want to talk to you before she comes in.” She lowered her voice. “It’s personal.”

  “What is it?” Elsie asked, settling into a red damask wing-backed chair.

  “I wants a job.”

  “A job? Here?”

  This was not what Elsie had expected. The last personal conversation between them had involved her aunt trying to fix her up with a recently widowed sixty-four-year-old man. Apparently a thirty-three year age difference was quite common when Ida was a young girl.

  “Yes. Not for a long time, mind now. But I want to save up a bit of money. I’m thinking of taking a trip.”

  Elsie opened her mouth but no words came out.

  “Now don’t start. This is why I’m not telling your mother, or father.” Aunt Ida religiously permed her hair every six weeks, and the tight curls bounced as she shifted to face Elsie with conviction.

  “I’m an old woman, Elsie. My parts are givin’ out on me. And I’ve never gone anywhere or done anything other than the scattered trip into St. John’s. I’ve never been on a plane. It was alright when I was younger. I didn’t know what I was missing. But everything I see on television, all those places and people and I can only see it on that box. I want to go to Scotland. My mother’s people came over from Scotland and I want to see it. Men in kilts, wooly cows, real heather. I want to see it all for real.” Rather than looking sad, the elderly woman’s eyes danced with excitement.

  “Aunt Ida, if that’s what you want, I can take you on a holiday.”

  “No, Elsie. I don’t want to be taken. I want to go.” She thumped her cane on the floor, narrowly missing Elsie’s toes. “I want to earn my own way, and do what I want to do. If you pay for it, then it’s your trip. I want my own trip. I want to plan it, and I want to go on my own.”

  There was no way anyone in the Walsh family was letting the woman, who was nearly a centenarian, for Pete’s sake, go off to Scotland on her own. They wouldn’t even let her wander around the mall on her own when they took her to St. John’s. Still, Elsie couldn’t say no.

  And so it was that Heart’s Ease Inn hired its very first concierge. Ida had done her research and figured that was the best job for her. She knew every nook and cranny around and was sure she could ensure guests got the inside scoop on everything they needed to know to enjoy their stay. Elsie just hoped she wouldn’t come to regret it.

Victoria Barbour

Victoria lives on the island of Newfoundland, and is fiercely proud of her home. She can imagine no better setting for her works, and hopes that her readers will one day come to witness Newfoundland and Labrador’s rustic beauty for themselves. When she’s not writing, or trying to convince people to visit her home, she’s busy with her day-to-day life as a mother, wife, and marketing communications specialist.

She was born in St. John’s, and raised above her family’s fish and chips restaurant. She has traveled and lived in other parts of Canada, but chose to make her home where her heart has long resided. Victoria has a degree in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland, with a minor in Newfoundland Studies. The only thing that stands between her and a Master’s degree in History from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia is her thesis. She has a background in broadcast journalism, advertising, and marketing. She is a proud member of both the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and their affiliate chapter, Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada (RWAC).

Victoria counts herself lucky to be surrounded by an incredibly supportive family, and thanks her husband daily for his unerring faith in her, and for being a wonderful father to their infant son.

To find out more about Victoria and her writing plus where you can purchase her book, visit her website!!