Multi-talented; musician, painter, cross-stitcher, and yes, author.
Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.
Hello. Thank you very much for having me here. My name is Vivienne Sang and I write under the name of V. M. Sang. I was born in the north west of England but now live in the south east, not far from the coast. I live with my husband of many decades. We have two children, a girl and a boy and three lovely grown-up grandchildren.
I was a teacher until I retired. I taught in several parts of the country, mainly Science, English literature and Maths at Teacher Training College in Manchester England.
Hobbies
Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them?
I learned to play the piano when I was growing up. I had an aunt who was a music teacher and she started teaching me when I was around 6 years old. I didn’t play for many decades after I was a student, but then my son gave me his old keyboard and I started again. I bought a new, full-sized keyboard and I love it. I even took some more exams!
As well as music, I enjoy painting and making cards. I also tat, knit and do cross stitch, although my latest one has been on hold for a couple of years as my eyesight isn’t what it was and I find it difficult, as this one is very fine. I also love travelling and visiting different countries. Everywhere has something worth seeing.
If you are a writer, are you an avid reader?
I love to read. Almost anything. I even read notices and things I see when travelling around! Any genre and classical literature, although not erotica. When I’ve finished a book, I always try to leave a review, too. I know how important they are. I love your books, Mary.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I ran a Dungeons and Dragons club at the school where I was teaching. I’d read the Dragonlance Saga and learned that those books were based on a D & D game scenario. I’d written a scenario for my players and thought it would make a good book.
I began writing and the story gradually morphed into a series. I’m now up to book 4! It has changed considerably from the original scenario as the characters took over.
My first historical novel had been sitting at the back of my mind. When I was in my early teens, I went for a day out to Derbyshire with a friend and her family. We came upon a ruined house. It had been a large manor of some kind. We speculated on how it had become a ruin and the family that had lived there.
This must have been incubating in the back of my mind for decades, because I suddenly decided to write about that family, going back centuries. Thus, A Family Through the Ages saga was born. It starts in Roman Britain. (Vengeance of a Slave) The second book is set in Viking Britain, (Jealousy of a Viking) and I hope to continue with many others. The third book is on its way. It begins in 1066 with the Battle of Hastings.
First Book Read
Do you remember the first book you read?
Well, the first book I remember was one that was read to me. It was about two little pandas who were given umbrellas and how they gave them away to help Mrs Bunny, whose burrow was leaking, and Mrs Birdie whose nest was becoming flooded.
The first one I actually remember reading myself was about a dog. It was called Shadow the Sheepdog by Enid Blyton. I believe it’s still in print. That inspired me to write my first story. It was also about a dog. The only thing I can remember about it is that I spelled of as it is sounded; ov, so I couldn’t have been very old.
When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice?
Don’t give up. It’s not an easy job, but look around you. Use what you hear in the news or in newspapers as the basis for an idea. Use what people say to you. (I’ve used something a neighbour’s child, now grown up, said to me one day. When he came for their ball, kicked over the fence, he said, “I hate being the youngest. They always make me come for the ball.”
How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you?
I would like to think that others see me as an understanding and sympathetic person, but also fun to be with.
It’s only important how my family and close friends remember me. I hope they’ll think of me with fondness and talk about me when I’m gone.
Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events and special offers? Include HTML links to any and all of your sites.
My Blog: http://aspholessaria.co.uk
Facebook: https://facebook.com/Carthinal
Instagram: https://instagram.com/v.m.sang
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-m-sang-8297a32a3
Bluesky: @aspholessaria.bsky.social
Read An Excerpt
https://writeanygenre.com/2025/10/21/v-m-sang-2/
Thank you for having me on your blog, Mary. It is greatly appreciated.
Interviews give readers and potential readers a way to better know their favorite authors.
Absolutely.
I think I agreed to have you make a reciprocal visit. I’ve had a lot going on in the last few months and completely forgot. If you are feeling up to it, I can send you the questions.
I hope you are feeling better.
Thank you for sharing this interesting interview with Viv. I am pleasantly surprised at how much we have in common from writing to creative undertakings to loving travel. I’ve had to give up cross stitch too as my eyes don’t like it.
Interviews can be eye openers, in that we authors and readers have very much a kinship.
So many of the authors I know from their websites are similar to me.
It’s odd, but maybe it’s all to do with the creative minds.
I still look at the half-finished piece, Robbie, and think I should really have a go at finishing it. I even thought of buying a magnifying glass on a stand, with a light, but haven’t got round to it.
I have a piece like that too. It is rather sad to have an unfinished work 💓
Nice interview, Mary and Vivienne.
Yes, very interesting when authors show their multi-talents.
Thank you, Anneli. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Viv, I would love a reciprocal visit. I would be slow in responding due to what’s happening in my life right now. But I would love to do it.
A fun interview! I love it that Viv has so many hobbies and has started up playing a keyboard again (a dream of mine). And it was interesting to hear about the inspirations for her books, many of which I’ve enjoyed. Thanks for the interview, Mary and Viv. Have a beautiful day and Happy Spring.