An Interview with Verity Thornhill

Verity Thornhill is an emerging voice in sweet, small-town romances, creating stories that make readers believe in the wonder of realistic, enduring love. Her stories are fade-to-black tales that are deeply character-led, focusing not just on the sparks between the different love interests, but also on the strong, fun-filled relationships that anchor her main female character to the town or village she’s in. To keep things interesting, she also likes to weave a gentle mystery into the background too.

Her writing journey began as a child, writing her first novella at the age of fifteen as a fanfic to continue the story of Alanna by Tamora Pierce – Verity just wasn’t ready for Alanna’s story to end! Fast forward to the last six years, and her writing found audiences through winning competitions for two short stories that were published in national magazines. The first short story appeared in Prima Magazine in 2019, and a second story was printed across multiple Sunday supplements, including Love Sunday, S Magazine, and Notebook in 2021. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from both editors and readers of these pieces motivated her to pursue novel-length work.

While Verity has also published academic chapters on inclusion and the underachievement of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children, her heart truly belongs to romance. She is an avid reader and dedicated watcher of all things romantic, and she aspires to bring genuine happiness to the people who read her stories and inspire them to see the joyful love that might be waiting just around the corner. Verity lives in Kent, England where she is currently working on her next sweet romance.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

In 2019 and 2021 I won two short story competitions, and the feedback from readers spurred me on to writing longer fiction again. Rose was a character who had been living in my head for a little, different parts of her story often coming to me just as I would drift off to sleep.

Back in the early nineties, my family and I went on a holiday to Robin Hood’s Bay and I fell in love with the village then. When I started writing Rose’s story in Whispers from the Past, and she needed somewhere to move to, I knew exactly where she needed to go.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Originally, the book was called The Book Nook after the bookshop that Rose moves to Robin Hood’s Bay to work in. But this was always just the working title as I like my stories to always have a title whilst I write. The further I got into the story, though, I realised that Rose’s past – and the pasts of the other characters in the book were what was coming to the forefront for me. So, then I played around with titles focusing on this until I was happy with Whispers from the Past.

Describe your dream book cover.

My dream book cover is modern and eye-catching with bold colours. I picture it sitting on a bookshelf, or in a bookshop and standing there proudly calling out to a reader to pick it up.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Good question, as this book has a very definite soundtrack! Each chapter title is a different song that refers to something that happens in the book. Some of the key songs for this book are: We’re Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes, Days by The Kinks, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by the Backstreet Boys, Flowers by SFA, Why Does It Always Rain On Me? by Travis, This Kiss by Faith Hill, and Me & You Vs The World by Space. The full playlist is included in the book.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I’m reading books all the time, often juggling a few at a time via a physical book, an eBook, and an audiobook – this maximises the time I can read throughout the day! I’m currently reading Brimstone by Callie Hart – and doing well with avoiding any spoilers. As Christmas is approaching, I’m also reading some festive romances and have just finished The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore. Next on my festive romance TBR list is Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve been a teacher for over twenty years, working in both mainstream and specialist settings and previous students have often been the catalyst for me reading a book when they’ve been desperate for me to read and enjoy the same books as them. It’s lovely to share in this excitement with them.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favourite place to write is at home at my bureau. I bought it second hand and got hopelessly lost picking it up – arriving at the wrong house and then struggling to reverse my car out of the poor unsuspecting person’s driveway. I had to knock on their door for assistance in the end! But I eventually found the right house and loved the little desk immediately. I’ve filled it with knickknacks, mementos…and chocolate.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

I would advise my past self to keep writing and believing that other people want to read what you’ve created. Writers can be so hard on themselves and our own worst critics, and it can be daunting to share your work with the world. But when you get wonderful feedback from readers, it is the best feeling!

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I want the readers to feel happier through reading my writing; to smile and laugh. I want them to believe in love and the wonder that it can bring to their life – and not just the showy, exuberant love, but the quiet love that could be waiting just around the corner.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.