Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Vinni George! I’ve been a romance reader since I snuck one of my grandmother’s Harlequins when I was in middle school. I started working in the industry as an editor and still edit for others, even though I’ve started writing my own stories. I write MM/LGBTQ contemporary and shifter romance (both with and without MPREG), and I published my first novel, Hold the Door, in April 2021. Hold the Door was a finalist and runner-up in Gay Contemporary Romance in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. Outside of writing, I’m a title-holding burlesque performer and pin-up model, and I love to cook and travel. I live in Ohio with my husband and son.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

The subsequent books in a series are always harder for me. The first book has the benefit of being exciting and new, and there’s a certain kind of energy that fuels that.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

When I writing a series, I usually map out the main chat for each novel and the tropes and general meet-cute scenarios at the beginning so I know where I’m heading and know how things are going shake out and that I won’t be replicating the same thing over and over again. For me, a sense of place is really important, so I make sure the settings are changing, even if the location of the story doesn’t. That kind of world-building keeps me excited and engaged.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

My biggest piece of advice is to just do it. Write every single day even if it’s a haiku or a journal entry. I have a piece of art on my wall that says, “Create something today, even if it sucks,” and those are words I live by.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

Since I’m also a full-time editor and full-time mom, I usually get only two to three hours of solid writing time in…if I’m lucky. But I prioritize my writing early in the day, so I know I’ve put words on the page even if the wheels fall off the bus for the rest of the day.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite character that I’ve written is Hank, a.k.a Summer Sausage, the aging drag queen from Revolving Door, book two in my Open Doors series. He was based heavily on several friends in the drag community and the late, great Leslie Jordan. He’s a side character but a scene stealer, and he’s just the best.

If any of your books were to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it? What book and who?

This is a really hard question. I’m really bad at finding celebrity face casts for my characters. Outside of Leslie Jordan, who would have been the ONLY choice to play Hank from Revolving Door, I’m just not sure.

What is your definition of success?

Oof. my definition of success has changed a lot over the years, and I feel like it’s something that is constantly evolving for me. I used to work in sales for a big three publisher, and then, my definition of success was always reaching some external quantifiable number or percentage. Since I’ve left the corporate world my definition of success is more about happiness and being able to balance the various facets of my life so I feel all are getting the attention they deserve. Some days I feel really successful and other days not so much, but on the whole, I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and that feels pretty darn successful.

What are your social links?

All my social and buy links can be found here https://linktr.ee/vinnigeorge.

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2023?

They are available starting November 4th at Writersontheriver.com

$45 VIP sell out quickly – 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included.

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party.

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.