Victoria Wells is a Philadelphia native. She has been an avid reader since childhood. Wells’ interest in writing took root while taking a creative writing course in college. Her most memorable assignment was the rewriting of the last chapter of The Color Purple. Though she did very well in this course it would be years before she would pen a novel.

Professionally, Wells earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Nursing from La Salle University. Over her seventeen-year career as a nurse, Wells has written, lectured, and presented at national conferences extensively on sickle cell disease. Her dedication to caring for patients with this disease earned her the Regional and National 2005 Nursing Spectrum’s Nurse of the Year Nursing Excellence Award in Clinical Care. Wells’ dedication to the nursing profession and work in the African American community organizing and running a free Hypertension Clinic at her church in 2006 earned her the Movers and Shakers Award and a Citation from the City Council of Philadelphia.

Using writing as a tool to escape the hassles of everyday life, Wells decided to pen a novel. In November 2006 self-published debut romance novel, A Special Summer was released. After receiving positive feedback Wells decided to submit her manuscript for traditional publishing. In August 2007, Xpress Yourself Publishing made an offer to re-release A Special Summer, March 4, 2008.

Wells works as an adult nurse practitioner. She is married and the proud mom of three children. You can visit her website at www.victoria-wells.com.

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Victoria. Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title(s) of your book(s)?

Thanks, Beyond the Books. A Special Summer is my first published novel which was released on March 4, 2008.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

A Special Summer. The title of the book holds a significant meaning. It’s assumed that I’m referring to the season when in actuality I’m not. The reader gets the true understanding of the title once they’ve read the book.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

Originally, I self-published my novel before I decided to submit my manuscript to traditional publishing houses. I submitted to three publishing houses. I was rejected by one. However the others were interested in my story and I was left with making a decision on which one to go with.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

It made me feel awful considering the fact the rejection letter I was sent stated my story had enjoyable aspects to it but didn’t fit their needs at the time. Fortunately after receiving the bad news a week later I received a letter from one of the other publishing houses expressing interest in my story.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

Xpress Yourself Publishing was the company I went with because it’s a small publishing house with about a roster of 15 authors. The publisher was very accessible during my submitting process and continues to do so after being signed. I also appreciate the fact that the publisher allows the authors to have artistic creativity especially when it comes to choosing book covers.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

It felt awesome. I couldn’t believe that someone was taking a chance on a new author. Sometimes I still can’t believe it. My husband and I went out to dinner and I drank raspberry martinis all night.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

One of the first things I did was get bookmarks, brochures containing an excerpt and business cards made up and handed them out to any and everybody. If I was on the train, at work, church, or out shopping I made sure I had one of these promo items on me to hand out.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

No. I have a lot of respect for self-published authors. It’s a lot of work promoting yourself. Being with a publishing house is hard work as well. However, from my experience the only difference is that as an author I seem to have more credibility now that I’m with a publisher.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

I am constantly learning and growing as a new author. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learn is that self promotion is the key to spreading the word about my book. I quickly come to understand that promoting my work is a never ending process. Since by nature I’m shy and a background person, it took a while for me to “grow” into a level comfort when sharing my book with others.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

Honestly, I’m not sure if there’s anything I could have done to spend up the process. Once your manuscript is in someone else’s hand all you can do is sit back and wait. The one thing I would have done differently is submit my book to publishing houses before self-publishing. I wish I had had more confidence in my work.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

Having Romance In Color rate my book a 4+ out of 5 and doing a feature interview on me in their New Face section for the month of May.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Although I love being an author, nursing is my first love. I would however, love to one day be able to devote more of my time to writing and work less hours as a nurse practitioner.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

I see myself as a full-time writer with multiple romance titles!

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

If you have a story in your heart that you know will touch others, don’t give up on your dreams.