Inside Publishing: Victoria Chatham Discusses Her Career, Publishing & Advice to Authors

If you like a good story, Victoria Chatham (website here) has got plenty to tell you. A very talented author with decades of experience, Victoria is now primarily focused on writing books. Some of the common traits of these books include lords, ladies, manners, and wit, with dashes here and there of adventure. She has consistently appeared on the “Books We Love” bestseller list with her relatable, likeable historical novels. Prior to moving primarily to novels, Victoria was active as a writer for short stories and articles that appeared in magazines and online forums.

Born in Bristol, England, Victoria now calls Calgary, Alberta home. She has been active in her local writing community for years now. She has also taught Introductory Creative Writing classes and presented workshops for writing groups and at writing conferences. Victoria is a longtime member of Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter CaRWA, the Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America. As an author, she reads a lot but also derives inspiration from films and television. Check out Victoria’s novels Loving Georgia Caldwell and Phoebe Fisher.

What’s the most overlooked aspect of an author’s development?

Victoria Chatham: “That must be time. Many people say, ‘I could write a book.’ Yes, they probably could, but it takes time to learn the craft of writing. Anyone starting to write is often unprepared for the time required to clearly understand the elements of character development, world-building, plotting, point of view, subtext, subplots, syntax, and more. Someone may develop a great story idea, but has that author the skill to flesh their story out over a good set of bones to carry it into a full-length novel? Having taught creative writing, many of my students commented that there was so much to learn and how long it took to learn it.”

Victoria Chatham, photo courtesy Victoria Chatham

What advice would you give to new authors deciding whether to sign with a major publisher or to remain independent?

“My very first editor asked me what I wanted to achieve from my writing, and I would ask that question of any new author. For some, it is simply the satisfaction of seeing their book in print. Others want to make their writing a source of income. Both avenues have pros and cons, and neither is an easy choice. I would advise any new author to think seriously about precisely what they want from their writing and choose based on the answers they give themselves.”

What’s one common mistake authors make regarding their public image?

“They are not promoting themselves enough. I get this, as I find social media hard. I prefer being out of sight under my writing rock, scribbling away at the next novel. It doesn’t matter how long or hard it has been to build that book; if readers don’t know who an author is or what they write, how can the author expect them to rush out and buy their book?

“The first step for each author is deciding which social media platform will be the best for them. Time was that Facebook and Twitter (now X) were the time-honoured first steps. Now, there are so many more platforms, and it depends on the author’s age group and genre as to where they would be best placed. Personal videos, video book trailers, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, news releases, and book clubs are many options an author can utilize for that all-important self-promotion.”

Victoria Chatham “Phoebe Fisher” book cover

What’s the one hard truth about the publishing industry that newcomers often aren’t prepared for?

“Again, it is the time factor. The time it takes to write a book depends on whether the author is a quick or slow writer. Then, it takes time to edit and revise before submitting your work. Typical response times from traditional publishing houses can be three to six months, sometimes longer, if that house accepts unagented submissions. If you are working with an agent, there is the time they take to consider your submission. They may ask for revisions before offering representation, which is another delay, with no guarantee that they will sign you. Then, the agent spends more time shopping the author’s novel. By the time it sells, if it does, it can be up to two years before your book might appear on a bookshelf somewhere.

“Self-publishing is a faster route. Once an author has taken the time for their book to be beta-read, revised, and edited, they can publish their work as an e-book. With that done, it can be on Amazon tomorrow, along with approximately 50,000 other books for whatever month it is published. It will also take time to build your readership beyond mom, aunty, and a handful of friends. If an author has the means to publish their novel in print, they have to be prepared for the time taken to engage a cover artist, time for editing, revisions, and then find a printer and wait for a place in a print-run. Publishing is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards are there if an author perseveres.”

Victoria Chatham, photo courtesy Victoria Chatham

Do you think authors today need a deeper understanding of data analytics to succeed, or can they still rely on pure storytelling?

“Storytelling every time. Readers do not care about data analytics; only great stories engage readers, so an author should concentrate on writing that. Some authors may understand the technicalities of data analytics, but I would guess that the majority don’t.”

How do you maintain your artistic identity while keeping up with industry trends?

“Simple, I don’t worry about industry trends. I am not a fast writer, so there is no way I can keep up with the market. If an author knows their genre and sticks to it, or even if they write in one or two genres, staying within their comfort zone is where they will likely produce their best work.”

The publishing industry is known for its fast pace. How do you deal with burnout, and what advice would you give to newer authors struggling with it?

“Unless there are contractual deadlines to consider, I’d recommend that any author facing burnout take a break. After releasing three books in one year, I thought I was done. I simply could not face my computer other than to check emails and play word games. So, it is about pacing yourself. I know many authors who regularly publish three or four books a year. Speaking for myself, I’m happy with one book a year.”

Victoria Chatham “Loving Georgia Caldwell” book cover

In retrospect, how much of your success do you attribute to hard work versus being in the right place at the right time? Can authors create their own luck, or is it mostly out of their control?

“I would say 60 percent hard work and 40 percent being in the right place at the right time. The hard work is learning the art and craft of writing, whether within a writing group, taking courses, or attending workshops and conferences. Then, of course, there is the whole experience of sitting in front of your computer, a typewriter, or taking pen to paper, whichever method an author chooses to complete that first draft.

“I submitted my first Regency romance to Harlequin Historical. I received a lovely rejection letter saying that while the editor considered it publication-ready, it did not quite fit their guidelines. Next, I sent it to Kensington Press with another favourable response, but unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, closing everything down. I don’t know if Kensington would have published me, but I didn’t want to wait to find out.

“At that time, I was approaching my 70s and really wanted to be published sooner rather than later, so I withdrew my submission. Then, I met my current publisher, Jude Pittman of BWL Publishing Inc., and have been with her ever since. So yes, lots of work and then a stroke of luck.”

Do you believe the resurgence of physical books, like vinyl, is a passing trend or a permanent shift in consumer behaviour?

“Current statistics show that physical books are outselling e-books. Looking back, there was a time when it was considered that the emergence of computers would reduce, if not eradicate, the need for paper. However, many people still prefer to read a paperback book, and I can’t see that changing. An e-reader means being able to take your library on holiday or travelling, but there is nothing quite like the feel or the smell of a proper book. Long live bibliophiles.”

How do you think the rise of AI-generated writing will impact the careers of human authors?

“I don’t think it will to any significant degree. I see AI as a tool that may be capable of writing a book, as has already been done, but which I think cheats the reader. A human author puts their heart and soul into their book. They show all the nuances of their characters and twists in their plots. AI can’t replace authors’ voices, and I believe readers get that.”