Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin, aka Bestselling Author Sam Blake
Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin is the founder of Writing.ie, the award-winning writing resources website. The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy and Murder One, Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival.
She has developed and spearheaded many projects from Writers Web TV to the National Emerging Writer Programme. Vanessa is a board member of the Society of Authors, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Always looking for new talent, she is Ireland's leading literary scout. As Sam Blake, she writes bestselling, Irish Book Award shortlisted, crime fiction - Keep Your Eyes on Me is out now with The Dark Room, her fifth book, out in January 2021.
She is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland for more years than she lived in the UK.
“I never see limits, only opportunities. Everything I have built has been as a result of needing to make my writing better and passing on that experience and knowledge. Sometimes you have to pivot - not necessarily start again, but reorientate and look at something from a new angle, to think outside the box.”
Vanessa Fox
Vanessa Fox, LinkedIn, Sam Books Twitter, Inkwell Twitter, Facebook & Instagram
Tell us about your current role and what you like about your career/role or areas of focus.
I work across the world of publishing in a rare 360-degree role. As the founder and director of The Inkwell Group which includes the award-winning website Writing.ie, the leading online magazine for writers in Europe that is packed full of resources, and Inkwell itself which is a one to one publishing consultancy.
I'm a bestselling crime writer under the pen name 'Sam Blake' and founded the International Crime Writing Festival, 'Murder One' as an extension of that.
I also run an online writers group called Writers Ink and have a weekly Facebook live series called Winning The Writing Game that I run with my literary agent Simon Trewin on Fridays at 12 noon GMT.
I'm on the board of the London based Society of Authors. I love working with new writers and passing on the tips I've learned from my own experience but also having spoken to hundreds of the world's top writers - but I love writing my own books most of all!
What inspires you, motivates you, helps you to make each day count?
I get huge satisfaction from others' success - I can make a huge difference to a writer with the right piece of advice or introduction.
I believe you can create your own opportunities in life, and I can create those opportunities for those who connect with me. Something that feels very tiny to me can be life-changing for someone else.
Outside of your professional work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Writing is my hobby as well as my job, so I use every spare minute to make my work better - my last book 'KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME', has just come out in paperback.
It's a bestselling standalone psychological thriller - Strangers on a Train meets Dial M For Murder - about two women who meet on a flight to New York and discover they can help each other with the men in their lives who are causing them distress.
The next book 'THE DARK ROOM', is out in January, and I'm working on book 6 now. When you love your work, it's not work, it's part of you.
When it comes to your life chosen career, is there a phrase, quote or saying that you really like?
I found this when I was in University (Queen Mary in London), and it's stayed with me since then.
Febvre said, "there are no necessities, but everywhere possibilities; and man, as a master of the possibilities, is the judge of their use."
Possibility is opportunity, it's up to us to harness it.
What are you most proud of in your life?
My debut novel is going straight to No1 in Ireland and staying there for four weeks, and then spending another four weeks in the top 10.
It was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Building the world's only national writing resources website, being an innovator. I never see limits, only opportunities.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Everything I know now! Everything I have built has been as a result of needing to make my writing better and passing on that experience and knowledge.
I'm a fifteen-year overnight success - in sharing my experience, I know I can help people get to where they need to be much faster!
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles?
I work with a journalist and NLP and business coach Maria McHale - I find her constantly inspiring. Jim Rohn said that "we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with." I've met many great writers and business people who I admire - people who are at the height of international success, but it's the five people closest to me, who include Maria, my literary agent Simon Trewin, and TV presenter Andrea Hayes who I constantly spark off.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Bookshop.org is a new online player who I hope will change the face of bookselling, building business for independent booksellers and biting at Amazon's heels. I was very excited to see them come into the UK market after their success in the US.
The Society of Authors does invaluable work advocating for authors and spearheaded a million-pound Emergency fund for writers when Covid hit, decimating their income. They are the support for writers all over the world, working at government level on an ongoing basis.
Personally, I'm very brand loyal when I find out what works for me. I use the whole range of Boots No7 makeup, I adore my Samsonite carry-on (pre-Covid I used to travel to London once or twice a month), I swear by Carbonite Cloud back-up (numerous disasters averted there), and I drive a Mercedes.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Just keep writing", without a doubt - Malcolm Gladwell's theory of 10,000 hours applies to writers too.
What drives or motivates you each day in a work environment?
I want to be the best that I can be in everything that I do.
What are your thoughts on the future of social media?
Social media is an incredibly powerful tool and constantly evolving. Each platform has its own culture and requirements, and I think those divisions are going to become wider and more distinct over time.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I was an early adopter of Twitter and loved it, but recent world events have turned it into a bit of a toxic swamp.
I'm focusing on Facebook for growth and connecting with my readers now, although readers are everywhere and I so need to be everywhere too.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever been a mentor to anyone?
I mentor lots of people, formally and informally. I've had a couple of significant conversations with mentors over the years that have reset my thinking. They have been invaluable, but I find my circle of 5 constantly enriching.
How do you network? What is your prefered way to network?
I'm a talker and a communicator, so I network everywhere I go, whether it's on the train or at an event.
I'm fascinated by people and their stories, and I'm a huge believer in connecting others where there is a mutual benefit - I love putting people together. Listening is 99% of that process.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work?
'Just keep writing!' Get to know the publishing world - the business model is quite different from any other, so understanding it makes an incredible difference to your role and outlook.
I work across all areas of publishing and advances in the industry mean that there are opportunities for everyone.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
In my business rejection is huge and constant. It's vital to understand that it's not personal, it's about the work and may have absolutely nothing to do with its quality. There are so many variables that you have no control over - you just have to keep going, looking to create those opportunities.
Knowing how to listen and take advice is crucial, our success really is the sum of our experience and those around us - if you're lucky enough to have an expert give you their opinion, listen to it!
I also think being flexible is vital. Sometimes you have to pivot - not necessarily start again, but reorientate and look at something from a new angle, to think outside the box.
I left University in a recession, and I moved to Ireland in another recession, I pivoted to save and grow my business when the banks collapsed here in Ireland. I've built everything from nothing, through sheer hard work and creative thinking.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience?
For me, success is a constantly evolving concept - as I reach each goal, there's another one beyond it, but that keeps me moving forwards and keeps me creative.
Constantly improving is a success, feeling that I've had a fulfilled and useful day, that I've made a difference.
What skills do you feel have helped you to become successful?
Positivity and flexibility. I'm a solutions person in everything I do (sometimes maddingly so) - there's always a way. Problems create opportunity and force you to look at things in a new way.
Is there anything new that you are working on or involved in that you would like to share?
My new book 'THE DARK ROOM' out in January in Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in print audio and digital - the advance copies are getting an incredible reception already, and I'd love to reach new readers! (Check out the link here).
The Dark Room - Sam Blake (Click on the link to get yours).