Victoria Goddard is a fantasy novelist who has a diverse range of experiences and interests. She has a PhD in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto, where she focused her studies on poetry and philosophy in the works of Dante and Boethius. This academic background is evident in her writing, as she often incorporates philosophical and poetic elements into her stories. Goddard has a particular fondness for writing about the ordinary lives of magical people and the extraordinary deeds of ordinary folk, often on "the other side of the looking glass."\n \n In addition to her work as a novelist, Goddard is also a gardener and has a keen interest in the natural world. She has walked across the length of England in 2013, fulfilling a long-held dream. Currently, she is residing in Nova Scotia and serving as the sexton of an Anglican church, where she is responsible for opening doors and shuttering alarms. Goddard's experiences and background in academia, gardening, and church ministry have all influenced her writing in various ways.
Goddard counts Patricia McKillip, Connie Willis, and Lois McMaster Bujold among her favorite authors, and she aims to write in a similar vein as these authors while also incorporating elements of Neil Gaiman's 'Stardust.' She has a particular fondness for McKillip's 'The Riddle-Master of Hed' trilogy and 'The Bell at Sealy Head,' as well as Willis's 'Bellwether' and 'To Say Nothing of the Dog.' Bujold's 'The Curse of Chalion' and its sequels are also favorites of Goddard's. Through her writing, Goddard seeks to create a unique blend of fantasy, poetry, and philosophy, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources and experiences.