Victoria Aldridge Washuk, author of World War II London Blitz Diary, discusses her book, her great grandmother, and self-publishing on Kindle.
DAVID WISEHART: What can you tell us about World War II London Blitz Diary?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: I am the great grand daughter of Ruby Alice Side Thompson. I inherited forty-three diaries that span from 1909-1969. These diaries are personal experiences and opinions of Ruby’s marriage and the war she lived through, often not knowing if her house would be the next target of destruction. I cannot imagine having to endure these experiences. Ruby was not able to express her opinions or feelings about either the war or her marriage except in the privacy of her diary. Being able to do so was her saving grace. These are Ruby’s outpourings of her experience during the World War ll Blitz bombings that she could not always speak about. Many of the things she says in today’s world would be considered politically incorrect. In this very personal and historical account Ruby writes about her truth of the war and her marriage which she shares with no one but her diary. Some of her opinions will be disturbing to some people. To edit out Ruby’s opinions would be a disservice to Ruby so her words will stand as she wrote them.
DAVID WISEHART: Who do you imagine is your ideal reader?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: The ideal reader is someone interested in World War ll history, British history in particular, also any one who would like to learn about the ordinary citizen surviving a bombing blitz and living day to day under horrific circumstances. Also this book appeals to feminists, educators and women’s study groups as my great grandmother Ruby was very forward thinking for her time.
DAVID WISEHART: What is your writing process?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: I did not write the diaries, I edited and published them. They were written during 1939-1945. This is volume one of four being published.
DAVID WISEHART: What authors most inspire you?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: I loved Dominick Dunne, I also love Jane Austen, and in the genre of my book I love Anne Frank.
DAVID WISEHART: What one book, written by someone else, do you wish you’d written yourself?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed.
DAVID WISEHART: How have you marketed and promoted your work?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: I have a blog https://womanlondonblitz.blogspot.com/ that is followed and viewed by many. I have a twitter account in which I post excerpts of the diary daily, and I have also sent press releases and inquirys to many and am mentioned on many websites. For an example: https://www.newbestsellers.net/page/3.
DAVID WISEHART: Why publish on Kindle?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: I love Kindle it is so easy to use, CreateSpace is awesome and I think it is the wave of the future.
DAVID WISEHART: What advice would you give to a first-time author thinking of self-publishing on Kindle?
VICTORIA ALDRIDGE WASHUK: Go for it, you have nothing to lose and KDP is extremely helpful throughout if needed.
DAVID WISEHART: Thanks, and best of luck with your books.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Aldridge Washuk, great granddaughter of Ruby Alice Side Thompson, received her B.A. in Psychology from Fairfield University. She currently works in the financial services field. Victoria is married and is the mother of three daughters living in Milford, Ct. Read her blog, find her on facebook, and follow her on twitter.