Guest Blog and Giveaway with Marta Acosta

First, I’d like to thank Roxanne for having me here at Fang-tastic Books! One of the best things about being a writer is meeting all the book lovers who spend so much time and energy sharing the book love.

I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard an interview with Woody Allen. The reporter was asking him if characters were based on him and he said no, that that’s always the assumption, but that he makes up stories. And I thought, oh, it even happens to famous directors/writers – because that’s the question most people ask writers: “Who are you in your book?”

The answer is “None of them and all of them.”

Writers are grown-up versions of kids who spent all their time daydreaming and making up stories and games. We treat experiences, facts and observations like an interior designer treats an economy motel room. We alter and arrange them until we’re happy. We’re always thinking “what if?”

Urban fantasy and paranormal romance give an author the freedom to say “what if?” about any situation. So I thought, “What if there were vampires and they were as wealthy, sophisticated, and attractive as the stereotype? Wouldn’t they be terrible snobs? What if a quirky, broke, bright, and fun girl got involved with them?” That’s how I thought of the premise to my Casa Dracula series.

And Milagro, my heroine? I created her with the traits I loved most in fictional characters: cheerfulness and determination, a lively mind, and an affectionate and impulsive nature. Because she’s young and optimistic, she tends to believe people who shouldn’t be trusted. She’s got a sense of humor that helps her survive. She tries to do the right thing even if it means that she’ll suffer for it.

I’m a Jane Austen fan and I was always fascinated by the decadent and charming brother and sister in Mansfield Park. (To the best of my knowledge, I’m the only living person who likes this novel.) Henry and Mary Crawford are attractive, sophisticated, fun, and all kinds of wrong. I adored them and wanted to use that idea in a book. So I came up with Ian Ducharme and his sister Cornelia.

A few characters come to me whole, like Edna Grant, the snarky grandmother. As soon as I imagined her, I knew what she’s look like, what she’d say, and how she’d behave.

While I research some locations and settings, others are taken from places I’ve been heard about. One of my friends was humiliated when she failed a test for a job polishing silver at a department store. I worked that into Milagro’s story.

Writers like to claim that writing is really hard work. Oh, it’s so difficult, it’s so terrible, it’s a struggle! But the next time you see a few children acting out imaginary characters, ask them if it’s hard.

This book is the conclusion of my Casa Dracula series – and the really hard part is letting go of Milagro and the other wonderful imaginary friends I’ve had in her world.

~Marta

Learn more about Marta & her books:

website: http://www.martaacosta.com/

Vampire Wire: http://www.vampirewire.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MartaAcosta

Vampire Wire Twitter: http://twitter.com/vampirewire

Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Marta-Acosta/615530904

Newsletter: http://www.martaacosta.com/contact-me/

Giveaway Time

Marta is offering one lucky reader a copy of Haunted Honeymoon

US and Canada shipping only please

To enter leave a comment and tell us

did you ever have an imaginary friend?

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One Winner will be chosen

Winner TBA Announced Wednesday Oct 13