This week I’m joined by the wonderful Virginia Evans, whose debut novel The Correspondent captured my heart. And I don’t say that lightly. Her main character 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp is the best! We dive into the joy of epistolary storytelling, explore the wide world of the smart, snappy and funny Sybil, and talk about how letters can hold so much power in today’s digital world.
Virginia shares the wisdom she’s gained from her mentor, the superstar author Claire Keegan, the challenges she faced on her long road to publication, and the magic moments that kept her going. Along the way we laugh about family, gush over favourite books, and celebrate the perseverance it takes to follow your creative dreams.
If you love heartfelt, character-driven fiction or simply need a reminder of why storytelling matters, you’ll adore this conversation. 💌
Highlights:00:00 – Meeting Virginia Evans02:50 – Why epistolary novels still shine05:34 – Lessons from Claire Keegan11:10 – Crafting Sybil’s world24:00 – The magic of letter writing28:43 – A touching family moment29:43 – Favourite books32:05 – Advice for aspiring authors35:09 – The journey to success37:40 – Overcoming writer’s block40:43 – Upcoming projects45:16 – Closing thoughts
