Loading ...Interview and Contest With Author Marta Acosta
Exclusive Bitten by Books
Interview with Author Marta Acosta
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN one the great prizes being offered up today, including an amazing prize package to one participant including AUTOGRAPHED set of the first THREE books in her Casa Dracula Series! Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Interview:
Hi Marta!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Marta’s latest release The Bride of Casa Dracula
BBB: What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing?
MA: I think that working out the plot and having all the subplots and details work together is difficult. Sometimes I know where I want to go with a story, but I have to figure out a way to get there. It’s like being on a mountain road, asking someone for directions and he tells you, “You can’t get there from here.” Of course you can, but it’s going to take some work. Or sometimes the route is really dull and I have to think of a more scenic and interesting path.
BBB: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you?
MA: When I get an email from someone far away telling me how much she liked my books, it’s really thrilling. I just got copies of the Russian editions of my Casa Dracula series. That’s something you never think about when you’re writing – that someone in Russia will be reading your stories. Now I don’t feel resentful for all the time I spent reading Dostoyevsky.
BBB: What or who was your muse that got you started writing?
MA: I started writing as soon as I knew how to write, because I enjoyed words and stories. I was a voracious reader and I went through my school library and at the small local library. No one was guiding my reading, and so each book was an adventure. My taste is still eclectic.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle to the environment?
MA: I have no frickin idea. I want to pick up a book, feel the heft of it and the texture of the paper. I like old hardbacks with deckle-edged pages and beautiful typefaces. I like the look of books on shelves and the smell of libraries. I like used paperbacks that I can shove in my purse, and I like old paperbacks with lurid covers. I instinctively hate electronic readers. But my animosity has no particular influence in the world; otherwise raspberry flavored coffee wouldn’t exist.
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
MA: Oh, I’m sure electronic readers will eventually be a way to screw authors out of their pitifully small royalties. Which is a bad thing.
BBB: Who among your characters is your favorite and why?
MA: Of course, Milagro, the heroine of my series, is my favorite. She’s affectionate, funny, smart, impulsive, and a little clueless. She stumbles and falls, but always gets back up again and she doesn’t become bitter.
Among secondary characters, I have a deep and abiding fondness for the sly, cynical tabloid writer Bernie Vines, who’s in my second novel, Midnight Brunch. At one point he says, “Everyone knows that writing isn’t work.” My editor tried to get me to cut out his character, but I kept sneaking him back in.
BBB: If you had to pick a secondary character as a favorite, who would it be and why?
MA: In the first novel, it’s Edna Grant, the grandmother. She’s snarky and difficult. She starts out expecting to dominate Milagro, but learns to respect and care for her. In the second book, there’s Thomas Cook, the egocentric, has-been actor. In my upcoming novel, my favorite is Ian Ducharme, Milagro’s former lover. He’s dangerous, charming, and he also appreciates Milagro for her true character.
BBB: Who was your inspiration for Milagro De Los Santos? Is there a reason you gave her a last name that means “of the Saints?”
MA: Her full name means “Miracle of the Saints.” I’m writing humor so I wanted her to have a silly name. She’s got a history of surviving against all odds, so the name suits her, but she’s always a little humiliated when she has to tell someone.
BBB: Can you tell us how many more books are planned for the Casa Dracula series and when we can expect the next one?
MA: So far I’ve got one more Casa Dracula book, which will be published in 2010. It seems like a long way off, but I’ll also have a romantic comedy published in 2009.
BBB: What genre would you classify your Casa Dracula series? Urban Fantasy, Horror, paranormal a mixture?
MA: I classify my books as contemporary fiction, and they’re placed in the general fiction section of bookstores, where no one finds them. I wrote the first book as a comedy-of-manners. I threw in the vampire theme because I wanted to spoof the clichés. Since that novel, the structure of the stories has changed. People who know more than I do about categories call them urban fantasy.
BBB: Do you have any plans to write any YA paranormal in the future?
MA: I just finished one! It’s a gothic set at an exclusive all-girls school and it’s dark in tone. My agent has it now, so I’m in that waiting-and-hoping place.
BBB: What kind of research did you do to create the physiological basis for your vampires?
MA: I asked a brainiac doctor buddy to provide me with plausible medical explanations for the vampires’ (and other creatures’) conditions. There really are people with allergies to the sun and people who have odd cravings. Coming up with an explanation for an incubus was harder. Not for me, but for my doctor pal. For some reason, they don’t teach that in med school.
BBB: What is your favorite paranormal book of all time?
MA: My favorite paranormals aren’t books; they’re shows. I was a rabid “The X-Files” fan, and I loved “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.” The creators of those series, Chris Carter and Joss Whedon, are amazingly talented writers and their love of language is evident in the shows. These series have complex, interesting, courageous, yet flawed characters, lots of exciting action, chills, thrills, intelligent plots, and emotional depth.
BBB: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?
MA: I’m a Californian so I need a certain amount of sunlight in my life. So a vamp is out. Zombies are so tacky and monosyllabic, so they’re out. A shapeshifter would be cool if the shapeshifting wasn’t compulsory. Women have enough things to worry about on a monthly basis already. I’d be a bird of prey shapeshifter. That way I could travel places and I wouldn’t have to arrive at an airport three hours early.
BBB: What did you do before you became a writer? Do you write full time?
MA: I’ve been writing full-time for the last few years. Before that I worked for non-profits in community relations and public affairs. It was good experience because I learned how to just sit down and write a letter, a press release or a report.
BBB: What other books/series are you working on?
MA: I’m finishing up a romantic comedy called Nancy’s Theory of Style. It’s based on Milagro’s wealthy, extravagant friend, Nancy Carrington-Chambers. I had so much fun writing Nancy’s scenes in my last novel that I wanted her to have her own story. She’s separated from her awful husband and trying to start a business as an event coordinator. She’s rather good at it, but there are people who are trying to sabotage her for their own reasons.
BBB: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with our readers here today?
MA: Eat your vegetables, read books, appreciate your family and friends, and be glad that you can go out in the sun and not sizzle to a crisp.
Readers, if you haven’t visited Marta’s website over, click here to check her out there. You can also read reviews of her books here.
Questions and Contest: Now, I am going to open up the internet floor so to speak and let our readers ask some questions. Feel free to post as many questions or comments as you like. Marta will be answering them at intervals the rest of the day.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do one or all of these things, and each one will give an additional entry and thus MORE chances to win. This is to win the prize package including AUTOGRAPHED copies of Marta’s amazing books!!
The contest runs until 12 pm on the 12th to give our east coast and international readers a chance to participate.
1. Ask the author a question (max two questions count towards entries) and, your name will be entered for a chance to win one of the fabulous prizes mentioned above.
2. SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only.
3. Post links to the interview here today at another blog or website and you will be given additional entries to win. You MUST post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word!
4. Purchase copies of any of Marta’s books here:
Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Midnight Brunch
The Bride of Casa Dracula
and send us a copy of the receipt for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for an additional entry. You get an entry for each of Marta’s books you purchase. NOTE: We do not share the receipt info or use it in ANY way. Once your entry has been logged we delete the info.
5. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
Add us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/weirdstuff
6. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says share that you can use. 
7. Read any of the reviews at Bitten by Books of Marta’s books here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Marta%20Acosta
Then leave a meaningful comment that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions. You get an additional entry for each one you post on. You only need to comment one time to get an entry on one or both reviews.
8. Twitter the URL to this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=1122
Be sure to include an email and name where we can contact you if you are a winner.
We will be awarding the prizes and posting the winners to the Bitten by Books website later this week.
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Marta, I’m been curious about these books ever since we became friends on Facebook. I’m going to have to hunt down book 1 soon.
I’m always interested to know what authors are reading. So, what are you reading now, or what book have your currently read that you loved and would recommend to others?
Jen
jkaralfa@gmail.ocm
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Thank-you for the interview today. I was excited like you that a reader from Russia contacted you regarding your book. I never really thought of that too. What was farthest place you heard from a reader from around other countries? Keeping my fingers crossed for the book you just finished “gothic set at an exclusive all-girls school and it’s dark in tone” That sounds so exciting!
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Hi, Jennifer! Since I’m in the middle of rushing to finish a manuscript, I’m not reading any novels. I find that I can’t really get engrossed in a book if I’m preoccupied with writing one. I am reading lots of news about the election.
The last book that I read that I thought was significant was KINDRED by Olivia Butler. It is not a perfect novel, but it is an important one. Butler used her novels to address issues of race, gender, sexuality… KINDRED is a time-travel story in which a modern-day African-American woman finds herself suddenly cast into the antebellum South — where she must save the life of her slave-owning ancestor if she wants to preserve her own existence. The woman’s modern conceptions of herself and slavery evolve as she experiences the reality of slavery. It’s one of those books that goes right to your soul.
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Hi, Tamara, well, I have readers in Australia and New Zealand. And I recently got something from South Africa.
I’m excited about the gothic, too. I like spooky, atmospheric novels with a dark mystery at the center.
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Marta!
My favorite Vampire queen.
Thank you for being here today. I have a question…is there a reason you decided on the method of blood drinking in your series versus the old tried and true “by the fang” method?
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Howdy Marta; I loved Happy Hour at the Casa Dracula. I am currently waiting for my local bookstore to get Midnight Brunch, and The Bride of Casa Dracula.
If you can. Can you please share a little more on the upcoming book; Exclusive All Girls School?
What were some of the other creatures that you ask the amazing doctor pal on?
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Hi, Rachel, thanks so much for having me here at your great blog!
For me, magic is not the things that are impossible in the universe, but all the amazing things that are possible, but not understood. Most myths have an interesting genesis and then become altered by fears, rumors, superstition. So I wanted my “vampires” to be people who have a condition that’s made them feared and hated, just as real people today have conditions or cultures that make them feared and hated.
Besides, fangs always seem as if they’d give you a severe overbite and would be uncomfortable.
Hi, Cander, thanks! My gothic story is tentatively titled Shadow Girl of Birch Grove. The character was inspired by Jane Eyre (and I love that novel). She’s a young orphan who is invited to attend Birch Grove Academy for Girls, a very exclusive school. Jane is drawn into the world of the headmistress and her family, which includes two very different sons. She also receives threats from an unknown assailant while trying to adjust to a world of the wealthy and educated.
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Oh, Cander, I made my doc friend come up with a possible explanation for shape-shifting. Next I think I’ll ask him about zombies.
Bobbi, thanks so much! I’ll have to check out your blog. I wrote a stand-alone novel that my editor liked so much, she asked for a series. I really wanted to write a comedy-of-manners. With humor, you often throw two very different things together, so I added the vampire theme. I’ve always been a fan of funny paranormal stories, primarily on the big and small screen. I like having logical characters trying to figure out a way to deal with unreasonable situations.
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http://twitter.com/MarnieBelle
I posted your interview and contest on my twitter. ( I don’t have a blog yet)
Marta - If you had the chance to choose one of you characters to spend the afternoon with - who would you? I am talking they would appear in the flesh. I know who I would.
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Hey Marta, thanks for joining us today
As to my questions:
Do you like to listen to music while you write, and if so, what?
and if writing the plot, subplots, etc. is the hardest part of writing for you, what is the easiest?
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What is the name of your prospective YA story? My dd is interested in vampire books these days.
-I posted about contest on http://www.bee-mused.blogspot.com
-followed on Twitter
-added Myspace friend
-Added on Facebook
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Hi Marta,
What are your interests when you are not writing?
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Reading about vamps is my favorite, hoping to add your books to my TBR pile. Do you have a favorite actress, actor and band? Great to see you here today!
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Hi Marta! I’ve heard great things about this series, and the YA book sounds terrific, too! I’m sure that a lot of book lovers and authors get starstruck about meeting other authors; is there any author whom you would feel absolutely giddy to meet? Also do you belong to a writing group and/or have a critique partner for your work?
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MarnieCollette, thanks for posting the interview. Okay, beyond the obvious choice, I’d probably like to spend an afternoon with Edna. She had a wild life and has lots of stories if I could only get her to talk. She’s funny, smart, and snarky. I’d like to hear about her youth, when she was at the center of scandals.
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Sarai, I do listen to music when I write. My iTunes is playing now and my songs are a mix of things. I’ll listen to about anything so long as it’s not whiney: punk, rock, mariachi, jazz, soul… The subplots are definitely the hardest to write. They help drive the plot forward and are key to giving the story depth and texture.
Dani, my book is tentatively titled The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove. It refers to the lead character, who was always in the shadows and to the mysterious disappearance of one of the students.
Estella, when I’m not writing, I’m hanging out with my husband, family and friends. I like movies, books, loud music, going out with my girlfriends shopping, gardening. I spend a lot of time going out to the coastal parks with my dogs.
Teresa, I have a million of them! My favorite actor changes all the time, but I really like Clive Owen. I think Gabrielle Anwar is terrific these days. Both would make great vampires! As for bands, I couldn’t even choose. There’s so much great music out there — and it’s so easy to discover new music via the internet.
Kimberly B., I’m not a group type person, so I write on my own, no critique partner. Groups are great for most people, though; I’m just an oddball.
All the writers I’d be really giddy about are dead (Twain, Austen, Bronte, Waugh…) I’m more of a stage-struck person, so I’m giddier when meeting actors and performers than when meeting writers.
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Hi Marta,
I love your Casa Dracula series. Can’t wait to read Nancy’s story. Which brings me to my question, is ‘Nancy’s Theory of Style’ a stand alone or possibly a start of a new series?
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Hi, Lilly K., right now Nancy’s Theory of Style is a stand-alone novel. And if I don’t finish it soon, I’m in serious trouble with my editor!
After the Nancy book, I’ll be writing a fourth Casa Dracula novel. I can’t think any further away than that.
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I have to ask which urban fantasy books do you enjoy? Do you read the genre or do you prefer others?
(sneaky way of getting book recommendations, I have no shame) Since you enjoy Joss’s shows, do you like Firefly?
Also, when is the potential YA series going to be coming out? I need more young adult books to read as well.
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We’re already linked on MySpace and Twitter.
Have a lovely day!
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Hi, Shartyrants, my favorite series so far is probably Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire books, and I’ve got her new one that I’m waiting to read until I have time. At the top of my wish list are the Harry Dresden books because I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. But there’s lots that I want!
My reading is not genre specific (I like all types of books), and Rachel here would probably give you a better list of really great new series out there.
I have seen some episodes of “Firefly” and also “Serenity.” I want to rewatch the whole thing. I always get a kick out of Nathan Fillion popping up in Joss’s shows.
Hi, Tez, thanks! I still haven’t figured out exactly whatTwitter is. I’m tech-impaired.
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Hi Marta! Great interview!
If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
If you could talk to one person dead or alive, who would you pick?
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Amy, you ask the hard questions! If I could have one superpower it would be flying. I love to travel, but I hate the problems with air travel these days and the cost.
If I could talk to one person dead or alive, it would probably be a dear friend of mine who died too young. We had many long, late night conversations when he was sick, but I’d still like to hear his voice again.
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Hey Marta!
Thanks so much for being here today. Do you feel you live a pretty well balanced life in general? Living with a creative person, I know sometimes they tend to really get into something and everything else falls to the wayside while they “birth” through the process.
How do you find that balance when you are in creation mode?
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Hi Rachel
Hi Marta
Great interview ladies. I have all 3 Casa Dracula books so no need to enter me in the contest. I just wanted to drop by, say hello, and encourage everyone to read the hilarious adventures of Milagro De Los Santos.
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Hello,
I was wondering what inspires your writing processes the most?
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Hi, Marta! Absolutely loved your interview, and can’t wait to check out your series.
Do you think your YA book that is in the works will end up being the first in a YA series, or do you foresee it being a stand alone?
Thanks!
RebekahC
littleminx at cox dot net
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Hi Marta!
Do you have a favorite book in the Casa Dracula series that you enjoyed writing the most? Also, do you enjoy doing promo for your books or would you rather spend the time writing?
I’m looking forward to the release of The Bride of Casa Dracula!
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Morning Marta!
Do you envision any particular people (actors, models, etc) portraying your characters when you write? Sort of putting a face to the character so to speak. If so, who do you see for which characters?
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I let my Gather friends know about your contest and great interview here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977447046
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Ah… I think I am late getting a question in. So I will just say… 2010?!?! I know, I know, I need to learn some patience. This will be good practice. *sigh* LOL
Great interview. I am an Ian lover, I cannot wait to read more about his naughty ways!
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Marta, thanks for coming today and letting us all grill you! =)
Your books seem to be very humorous, and thank goodness for that! Are there any of your characters that really give you the willies or creep you out? I’m not sure I could write a character that really scared me. lol
Rachel,
also for the contest:
I posted to a social networking (Myspace)
I twittered.
I read (well, re-read, lol) the reviews of Marta’s previous books in the series and commented.
I am already your friend on myspace, already on the mailing list and already follow you on twitter. (My husband says that I have more online contact/following/etc with YOU than I do with him! rofl!)
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Rachel, I am fairly balanced in spurts. But right now I’m completely unbalanced because I’ve been writing one novel as another is coming out. So I’m chained to my computer, no holidays or weekends off. I could definitely use a break.
Hi, Patricia, thanks for the kind words!
Michelle, I’ve always written as a way to keep myself entertained when I’m bored. One of my big motivations is the desire to make people laugh. It doesn’t matter if I’m doing it in an email or a novel, I get the same kick.
Rebekah, I wrote the YA as a stand-alone, but I left open the possibility for follow up novels. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of characters that you love.
Annalisa, I get engrossed in each story as I write. That said, I had a lot of fun with the wackiness and all the eccentric characters in MIDNIGHT BRUNCH.
Re: promo vs. writing. I like writing best, of course, but what I like about publicity is the opportunity to connect with readers, bloggers, and booksellers. I love talking to booksellers about books and I’m very happy when I have an excuse to visit a bookstore.
Daelith, I know a lot of writers like to visualize actors as characters because it helps the writing process. I see the characters in my mind, but they don’t look like any specific actors. I did put faces to characters when I made my very silly, very amateurish book trailers. You can find them on YouTube.
Thanks, Desire!
AriesRain, I know it seems a long way off! It makes me crazy that one of my favorite writers takes about two years between the books of her series. And you’ll be happy with the Ian scenes in The Bride of Casa Dracula.
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I like the fact that you were suprised that we email you. At first I thought you would think I was a stalker but I was so surprised and happy when you took the time to answer.
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Hi, Gayle, I’m delighted that people take the time to look up my website and then send me an email. And I think it takes a little bit of courage, too, writing to someone you don’t know. I know I always second-guess myself when I’m considering writing a fan letter to a writer. And I remember the ones who don’t bother with even a “thank you for your letter.”
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Hi Marta,
I know that you’re busy, but do you try to check out blogs where people review your books?
Thanks, Dina
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Hi,Janece, yes, a few of my characters creep me out. Probably the top one would be Silas, who comes off as a pleasant, harmless academic fellow. But he’s power-mad, manipulative, and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed with his vampire extremist project. But, no, he doesn’t scare me because he’s just made up. I can put a stake through his heart in a New York second.
Dina, sure I check out blogs where my books are reviewed. I generally know about the review because the blogger has told me the review will be up. And, like a lot of authors, I have a “google alerts” which sends me an email when my books are mentioned on the internet. Of course, I get a bunch of unrelated alerts anytime anyone decides to host a Midnight Brunch!
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I never thought of that, when someone googles, it shows that.
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Oooh, these books are looking great to me–and I joined your newslettter and added you as a MySpace friend and now I’m off to read some reviews in hopes of finiding out some more great book-ness
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Hi, Dina, I also use Google Alerts to get news about paranormal books and movies for my blog, Vampire Wire, http://www.vampirewire.blogspot.com. It really helps me keep up on stories that would interest my readers.
Lucile, thanks! There are lots of links to reviews of my books on my author blog, http://www.martaacosta.blogspot.com.
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[...] Marta Acosta, author of the Casa Dracula series, by Bitten by Books. There is also a contest for all three of the novels [...]