Author V.D. Bucket is a prolific author who writes about his experiences living in Greece. Read on to learn more about him and his work.
Q&A with V.D. Bucket
I am so happy because V.D. Bucket, a.k.a. Vic, my friend and fabulous writer, has agreed to join us for an author spotlight!
Vic joined us on the condition that we don’t call him a best-selling author. His series ‘Bucket to Greece’ tops the Amazon categories for Greek travel and humorous essays, but I will respect his wishes.
Before I published my first book, I asked Vic, an experienced writer, for advice which he gladly gave. During our conversation, he also asked about my publisher. I told him. Vic spent his time researching the company, books published, sales performance, and author feedback. An hour later, he sent me a message.
“My advice, get out NOW. They will do nothing for your credibility.”
After conducting additional research on my own, I came to the realisation that Vic was indeed correct. It became evident that they had scammed me. If I had proceeded with the publication, my book would have been simply buried and never seen again.
Now, three books later, I look back on his wise words and thank him every day. Being a relatively new writer, I am still that little remora fish that swims with the king of the sea.
Vic is the best among us, and his books continue to lead the way. Happily, mine are listed in the same category as his. Unlike the corporate world, we writers encourage each other. And readers don’t just buy one book; they look around for similar titles on their favourite subject. If Vic’s book is showing on the bestseller list, then they are likely to be interested in other books on the same subject. His success has certainly had the effect of boosting my sales. Keep writing, Vic! I hope you don’t mind giving me that piggyback ride.
Friends, I proudly present Mr. V.D. Bucket!
ABOUT V.D. BUCKET
Where are you from?
Drizzly Manchester in the UK.
LIVING IN GREECE
When did you first go to Greece?
We enjoyed many Greek holidays over the years on the islands and mainland. It was discovering the Mani that prompted our move to make Greece our permanent home.
When did you move to Greece?
Back in 2002.
Can you tell us the region where you live?
We live in a remote mountain village in the Greek Mani, situated in the Southern Peloponnese. Just as I gave myself a pseudonym to preserve my anonymity, I conjured up a fake name for the village, choosing the honeyed Meli.
Tell us about your intro to Greek life.
It’s all in Volume 1 of Bucket to Greece.
Does Greece feel like home?
Of course, it is home.
Was Greece what you expected?
I’d say it has exceeded our expectations.
How’s your Greek coming along?
My Greek will always have an accent that gives me away as a non-native speaker.
WRITING ABOUT GREECE
When did you know you had to write about your experiences?
My wife, Marigold, thought it would be a good idea to keep me from getting under her feet. Plus, she’s always been a bit of an addict when it comes to moving abroad books.
Why do you use a pen name?
A pen name was necessary to avoid embarrassing my wife, so I dusted off my original name of V.D. Bucket, the name I was stuck with after being abandoned in a bucket as a baby.
When did you publish your first book? Tell us about it.
June 2019. It did so well from the off that I knew I had to continue adding to the series. When lockdown struck, the binge reading really hit and spreading some cheer became the Bucket speciality.
How many books have you published so far?
Twenty-three in total. Sixteen Volumes in the ‘Bucket to Greece’ series, with more to come, 5 Collections each featuring 3 volumes, and 2 ‘Bucket to Greece’ Shorts.
How have they been received?
Amazingly well. The on-going popularity of the series is quite remarkable. The absolute slew of fabulous Bucket readers I’ve gained is quite astounding, many of them letting me know they’ve devoured the whole series multiple times. I could never have predicted that loyal fans would stick with a series through 16, thus far, volumes. I am particularly delighted that Amazon recognises my books as KU books that particularly delight readers, awarding them Amazon All Star status which comes with a welcome cash bonus.
Tell us about your latest book?
Bucket to Greece Volume 16 was a long time in the writing with a large gap between books due to a rather pesky quadruple bypass surgery and medical matters taking over more than a tad. The vile cocktail of meds left me with no focus to write. The worst of that now seems to be behind me and it was a massive relief to launch Volume 16 into the world.
WRAPPING UP
What would you say to someone who is considering a move to Greece?
Go for it. Be prepared for bureaucratic nightmares, scorching summer heat, and mossies that will suck all your blood out, but balance that against the wonderful people, the relaxed pace of life, the magnificent scenery, and the marvellous Greek cuisine.
What’s next for you?
Due to popular demand, I will continue to add new volumes to the ‘Bucket’ series. At some point in the not-too-distant future, I plan to turn my hand to fiction with a Greek setting but haven’t settled on a final genre yet, maybe cozy, time travel, EMP, or even Greek zombies.
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