I’ve sung in gospel choirs from Sydney to Brooklyn to Brunswick over the years. Singing is such a beautiful break from constant reading, writing and editing; it uses a different part of the brain.
2. What is your nickname?
We weren’t very big on nicknames growing up, but I always answered to Vicki as a child. Now it’s Mum.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Besides spiders, you mean? Nothing much. The only thing I’m fearful about is seeing a big, hairy huntsman spider hanging from the bedroom ceiling. That happened in Sydney. I moved house.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Never underestimate one’s audience -- intelligent writing for curious kids.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Committed, creative, playful, gentle, happy.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Milo from The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster because I always wanted to drive through the magic booth and visit Dictionopolis, where you can always collect a few extra words.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Ancient Rome, first century AD, to discover exactly how different or similar the lives of the Romans were from our own. And because I might have been a mosaic maker in a previous life.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Thanks for keeping my books!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Raymond Carver for short fiction and A.S. Byatt for long, intricately woven stories. I keep coming back to them every few years.
10. What/who made you start writing?
The corridors at home were lined with books and Dad was often reading in the lounge. I was a big reader as a child and starting writing stories and making my own books from about the age of nine. I have a prize from the Puffin Club won at age 10 for a limerick (now lost). Since then, writing has been reflexive and I’ve been lucky enough to write for work every day since I was 17 years old. Only the subject matter has changed.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Sumptuous, because it sounds like what it means.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is so unfair because on Desert Island Discs you at least get to choose ten records. How about The NeverEnding Story?
Victoria Lane is an award-winning journalist
and writer who has lived and worked In London, New York and Sydney and
now calls Melbourne home. Her career as a correspondent and editor spans
more than 25 years, including seven in New York where she won two
journalism awards. She spent 17 years as a correspondent for Reuters,
the international news wire, where she reported on fun stuff like
economics. Her articles have been published in the world’s leading media
including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian. Celia and Nonna is her debut picture book.
For more information about Victoria and her writing, visit her website or Facebook page or follow her on Twitter (@vthieberger).
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