About Vicki Pettersson
Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas where the Zodiac Series is set, Vicki has always
been a voracious reader and writer. However, a post-college stint in PR convinced
her she didn't want to spend her days writing on assignment ... so she did what
any self-respecting Vegas girl would do. She became a showgirl. Ten years later
she traded in her sequins for a laptop. She can most often be found haunting the
true-life locales that appear in her urban fantasy series.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you get your ideas?
The New York Times.
Stop with the sarcasm. Really. Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. At every turn. More ideas pop out at me in an hour than I could ever
use in a lifetime. It's just a shame I write so slowly.
What's your daily routine?
Well, I'm a mother so it depends on my kid's routine. Basically I've trained my
mind to focus well enough to make good use of whatever time I have (though I often
make more of it by getting up early, staying up late, or telling those around me
what else I need in terms of support).
My routine also depends on what I'm working on at a given time. I like to write
straight through from beginning to end in multiple drafts, and if it's my first
draft there's a lot of sitting around and thinking. And cursing. Interspersed
with this messiness are bouts of 2K a day writing stretches. Unfortunately these
only last for so long, and I'm soon back to rethinking, reimagining, and replotting.
And so it goes, in fits and starts.
Lately I've taken to writing in the morning before the rest of the household is
awake, and I revel in this quiet time. Even New York is still wiping the sleep
from its eyes.
Why dark urban fantasy?
I didn't choose it. It chose me. I'd love to write funny and short (90K instead
of 170K first drafts please!) but the darkness in these books were hairpin turns
I simply had to follow.
When is the next book coming out?
Each main book in the Zodiac series comes out in the summer, usually June or July.
CITY OF SOULS is the latest in the series, released in July 2009. I also contribute
to at least one anthology a year. 2009 brings an amazing line up of dark fantasy
authors in September's UNBOUND. Next year, look for a contribution in another new
urban fantasy collection, DARK AND STORMY KNIGHTS, edited by the awesome and prolific
P.N. Elrod.
Who are your favorite authors/greatest influences?
While there are loads of great authors out there, my top three – the ones who do
it for me every time, and whom I consider flawlessly pure storytellers – are:
1) Dennis Lehane. Good genre fiction explores relevant issues within the framework of
an exciting and satisfying story arc without being didactic, and nobody, in my opinion,
does this better than Lehane. And then he goes and tops it off with prose that stuns. It's
rare for me to read any book twice, but I've done a re-read of his entire crime series,
and every time I open one of his novels I'm floored by his skill, his heart, and his mind.
In short? I want to be him when I grow up.
2) Diana Gabaldon. I adore OUTLANDER and though I no longer write historical fiction
she continues to be a huge influence on me as a writer. For years I've watched her get it
done, listened as she told others what worked for her and why, and studied her purposeful
examples of prose at work. She's a true writer's writer.
3) J.D.Robb/Nora Roberts. Consummate storyteller, professional, and class act. If
you're not reading this woman due to a romance genre prejudice, then shame on you. You're
really missing out. In my down time I like to amuse myself (and give myself airs) with
thoughts of my Joanna Archer throwing back a few drinks with Eve Dallas. I think they'd g
et along just fine.
Who else do you recommend in the Urban Fantasy genre?
Check out the list on my links page, but my passionate reads lately – the authors
who've really knocked my sock off – are Richard Kadrey, Charlie Huston, and Brom (who
has a such a dark retelling of the Peter Pan story it'll give you chills!). These authors
aren't strictly Urban Fantasy, but they are singly fantastic.
Any advice for beginners?
For true beginners I'm going to shamelessly steal Diana Gabaldon's advice, because I
think there's no better:
1) Read a lot.
2) Write a lot.
3) Don't stop.
This is the secret. This is what I do. Every day.
For people who've been writing a while, and who have the grammar and the basics of
storytelling down, but who are having trouble finishing or taking their writing to
the next level, I'd add to the above: Writing is one big mind game. Your greatest
task now is to master your mind. Teach yourself focus so that while life is throwing
you yet one more ball to juggle, you can turn your mind to the page and keep it there
until you've met your goals. If you can keep your head down long enough to beat
procrastination, doubt, the urge to compare and compete, and the ambiguity that comes
with a writer's life, then you've managed to do something most people can't. And maybe
be a little hard on yourself sometimes, too. "Shut up and do it," always works for me.
So are some of the places in the books real?
Yep. I give a literary shout-out to some of my favorite places in Las Vegas; many that
meant something to me as I was growing up, and others I simply think are unique to my
city.
Clearly I adore the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill. Located right in the middle of
the Strip, it's retro, old-school, mildly cheesy (In a good way!) and I love it. It
was also voted best place to take a secret lover, best place for a first date and best
make-out bar. If that's at all a consideration.
The Neon Boneyard also happens to be real, as evidenced by photos of my visit there.
But it's surrounded by a wire fence rather than a brick wall (This was purposeful as
I could just see someone trying to enter the boneyard in the fashion of the agents of
Light and the next day I get to hear from the boneyard's lawyers. It's called Literary
License, aka, Covering My @ss.). There's also a lamentably hefty charge of fifty bucks
to get in to see the old signage unless you're with a tour group. Hopefully that'll
change in the future.
Other sites appearing in the series: The Blue Angel, the lookout over McCarran's landing
strip (another popular make-out spot), the Guardian Angel Cathedral, the Viva Las Vegas
wedding chapel, First Friday, the Downtown Cocktail Lounge, and Cathedral Canyon. Like
the world of the Zodiac, these places could only exist in Las Vegas.
I'm an aspiring author writing in your genre. Can you read my work? What about fan
fiction?
No, I'm sorry. I can't read it due to both time constraints and legal reasons, but I do
wish you all the best with your work. Pre-published or not, we're all on the same path,
though different places on the continuum. While I honor the work you're doing, and
encourage you to keep writing, I can't read it.
How do I get an agent/editor/publisher/money for my work?
Finish a book, for one. (You wouldn't believe how many people ask that question when they
don't yet have a completed text.) That, my friends, is all agents, editors, and publishers
care about. And quality, of course, but first they need to know that you can complete a
novel. More importantly, you need to know it. So do that first. For those of you who
already have, I'm going to be lazy and refer you to Jeaniene Frost's
page on this very subject. If you're asking this of me, my guess is that you're interested
in Urban Fantasy, and she has already addressed this in full (though her advice is
certainly applicable to other genres as well).
I'm coming to Vegas! Can we meet up/party/have coffee/get a drink together?
No.
I mean, I'd love to, but do you know how many people come through Vegas in any given year?
Forty million. (No, I didn't make that up.)
This is my home, it's where I work and raise my family. I'm thrilled to meet up with you
at a conference, or interact through the website, but when I'm in Vegas my time is divided
between friends, family and writing – more than enough to keep me busy. I'm a pretty good
multitasker, but dudes, I'm no superhero. *grin*
Okay, so can you recommend some places to go and things to do while in Vegas?
Now that I can do! The current nightclub hotspots are Tao at the Venetian, Pure at Caesars
Palace, and Light inside Bellagio. I'm not going to make any recommendations here because
these places don't interest me, but go ahead and knock yourselves out.
The dining scene here is insane right now, and the top three names I hear bandied about are
N9NE at the Palms, Tao at the Venetian, and Delmonico at the Venetian. I'll second the N9NE
nomination, add Picasso's at the Bellagio for their prix fixe menu, and Ventner's Grill on
Charleston (though it's quite a distance from the Strip).
Cocktails! One of my favorite subjects ... must haves are the bellinis at Spago's in the Forum
Shops, the eponymous Bellagio cocktail (the Fontana Bar is great, but there's better
people-watching at the Petrossian Bar), and martinis you can swim in at Del Frisco's (off of
Flamingo). I also just had an amazing summer cocktail in MGM's AquaBlue called the Hendrix,
made with cucumber. It was oh-mah-god good, so if you're in the area ask Primo to make you
one. Tell him Vicki sent you. *grin*
It's clear from the above lists what the hot hotels are right now, too, but my pick is Mandalay
Bay. Great clubs, restaurants, and a view from Mix (dinner or drinks) that's my favorite in Las
Vegas.
There's no dearth of entertainment options in Vegas, but I'd recommend attending a UFC (Ultimate
Fighting Championships) event, just for something a little left of center. If you'd prefer a
more traditional vacation activity, I hear the Caesar's Palace spa is blowing even those in
the industry away. It's next up on my list, so maybe I'll see you there.
Mind, none of this is cheap, but did you really expect it to be?
Contact
Vicki loves to hear from her readers so feel free to drop her a line via e-mail using the form below.
If you'd like to receive her newsletter, please type "Newsletter" in the subject line, and you'll be added to the list. Rest assured that your email address will be shared with no one ... save the odd agent of Light.
If you have questions about writing or the Zodiac series, please join Vicki and other readers on her message board.
All business queries regarding cover quotes, book rights, and adaptations should be directed solely to Miriam Kriss at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.
Mailing Address
Vicki Pettersson
Box 777365
Henderson, Nevada 89077-7365
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