Ask the Author: Victoria Dowd
Answered Questions (3)
Victoria Dowd
Hi Linda, Thank you very much! I do outline the stories on large pin boards a lot of the time. So for instance, with book 3, it’s set in a village on Dartmoor and the starting point was to draw out the village and the houses. Then I moved on to the characters living in those houses and how they relate to each other. However, the driving force behind the visit is the Smart women. They guide us around the new world and, in particular, Ursula is our eyes so what she sees is incredibly important. What she doesn’t see is also very important. I layer it really. I give them a setting and all the characters set out and they then drive the action forward. I go over and over it though putting very small clues and red herrings in. I hope that makes sense. Sometimes it does! Thanks so much for the question and I hope you enjoy the series. Best wishes, Victoria
Victoria Dowd
It’s really an homage to Agatha Christie and all the wonderful Golden Age crime books. I adore them and have been a fan since I was very young. I was really inspired by the idea of the classic murder mystery in a country house but set in the 21st century with a collection of unusual characters, with all their strange and difficult relationships.
Victoria Dowd
I’m currently working on the second book in the series. This time the Smart women embark on a survival course on an uninhabited island.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more