After settling down in Chicago Geneva Vand decided to start adding her own stories to the world. So far she’s sticking to romance. Her books tend toward light, low-heat escapism with a focus on LGBTQ+ characters. She was nice enough to have a discussion with us about writing and her works.
Q) Your latest Sapphic work is The Taste of Winter, what inspired you to write it?
The book cover, actually. It’s a premade cover from Sleepy Fox Designs and I fell in love with it. Then during the start of COVID when I needed something new and stupendously silly and light to write, I wrote Hailey and Lizzie.
Q) You have crafted one book series, the Iska Universe, do you have plans on expanding any of your other books into more than just stand-alone novels.
I have a very persistent plot bunny for a follow up to Evergreen. It would actually be the sisters of the main characters from Evergreen. I’m not sure when I’ll get it written, but I have the idea and a few scenes down, so it’ll probably happen eventually.
Q) You work in a lot of different genres; do you take different approaches to crafting stories? What kind of genre would you like to explore next?
Honestly, I’m happiest in fantasy and paranormal and that’s probably where I’ll mostly be from here on out. I have a paused WIP that has a gothic fairytale vibe to it, but it’s still fantasy at its core.
The main differences in my approach are in my language choices. My fantasy books probably sound a bit stuffy compared to my contemporary ones, just because I can’t bring myself to use some modern words that my brain says just don’t fit. But writing is writing is writing to me, and my approach doesn’t vary much. Perhaps that would change if I tried to write something darker or more serious, I don’t know.
Q) Do you outline your stories before writing, or do you prefer to let them develop organically?
I loathe doing traditional outlines. The closest I get to an outline is notes to myself inserted into my working file. I do think my stories to death before I start writing though. I usually know what my end goal is, what I want the happily ever after to look like, and many of the big plot points even if I don’t know for sure how I’m going to get there.
Q) You self-publish your work. What is the best and worst parts about not working with a publisher?
The best part is the control. I get final say on everything and I always know the current status updates. The editing, the cover, release date, distributors, all of that. I especially love getting to work with graphic artists on cover design. In trad pub, even small presses, you don’t always get a lot of input into that.
The worst part is that it can be hideously expensive to self-publish. And you have to write your own blurb.
Q) What is your next project you are working on?
I have two, both are paranormal. The one that’s closest to being finished is two witches who suddenly find themselves tossed together by their very pushy familiar. The title is Familiar Souls and it’s M/M. It will be out…eventually?
Q) If people want more information about your or your projects, where should they go?
My website: www.genevavand.com. All my book info is there, as well as any blog posts I make, which you can follow via WordPress. I also have a newsletter you can sign up for. I have social media, but I’m really inconsistent; when my energy levels are low, social media is always the first to go and the last to get picked back up.
Final four questions –we ask everybody.
Q) When the zombies take over the world where will you be?
Hiding in an attic somewhere. Zombies are NOT my thing.
Q ) What is your favorite Fandom
I’m not really active in fandoms. Awkward introvert, here, lol. But when I lurk on the fringes, the Supernatural fandom has great stuff. And Good Omens. And I adore all the Myka/Helena stuff from Warehouse 13. Basically anything sci-fi or fantasy.
Q) What piece of art, be it in the form of music, a book, a film or picture, do you think people must experience before they die?
I think art is so subjective that this answer will be different for every person. Something that affected me deeply will mean nothing to someone else. That said, the U.S. Army Chorus recently used music to stage an amazing piece of artistic protest and I do think people should watch the video of that. It’s stunning.
Q) Give one fact that most people would not believe about you?
I was almost a wildlife biologist. My college degree is in wildlife conservation, though I stuffed so many fine arts classes into my schedule that somebody maybe should have figured out something was wrong there.
Paper Phoenix ink 