Frequently Asked Questions: About Me
Is Toria Howell your real name?No, it’s a pen name. I used to work in television which has resulted in there being stuff about me on the internet and I didn’t want readers to get confused if they tried to find my books online. So I changed my nickname (my real name is actually Victoria) but kept my actual shortname (Tor).
Is it okay if I contact you?Absolutely, I love to hear from readers! Please visit my contact page for more information on how to reach out.
Do you have any pets?I have two cats, a brother and sister, who are (I kid you not) arseholes. I realise that’s not usually a good way to describe your pets but I aim for accuracy over hyperbole. They love to destroy everything, Nyx especially. Salem is a lot more cuddly than she is … although I use the term ‘cuddly’ very loosely.
Where do you live?My home is in Wales (in the Valleys) but due to family commitments, I spend a lot of time in Hertfordshire with the kid (who’s no longer actually a kid and needs a nickname upgrade). Despite its proximity to London (and from there, easy-access to Paris), I prefer my home in Wales (don’t tell Hertfordshire!)
Are you really a cunning woman?Simple answer: yes. But it’s a subjective term, it’s just one I prefer over ‘witch’ as that conjures certain expectations (pun intended) around magical working that I don’t believe are necessary. I don’t need incantations or crystals or other tools to work magic, to me magic is the tool. Which is partly why I use the term ‘cunning woman’ because I work magic in service of others (or my desire for a dry day to drive cross-country), it’s a different approach and, therefore, a different name.
Do you go to Paris/France/Europe a lot? How many languages do you speak?Nowhere near as often as I’d like! Two cats and one dependent means I can’t go for as long or as often as I’d like, but I enjoy taking myself off for a day of flâneuring in Paris at least twice a year. I head to Italy to stretch my language skills whenever I can squeeze in a short trip but, at best, it’s once a year (if that!). I speak English, French, Italian and Welsh … with varying degrees of success.