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 Evans
02:50 – Why epistolary novels still shine
05:34 – Lessons from Claire Keegan
11:10 – Crafting Sybil’s world
24:00 – The magic of letter writing
28:43 – A touching family moment
29:43 – Favourite books
32:05 – Advice for aspiring authors
35:09 – The journey to success
37:40 – Overcoming writer’s block
40:43 – Upcoming projects
45:16 – Closing thoughts
