Last month we wrote about Haunted Honeymoon, the latest release from Marta Acosta (author of Happy Hour at Casa Dracula). We can't wait to read the upcoming book, which is the fourth and final novel in the Casa Dracula series, and we talked to Marta to get the lowdown on heroines, happy endings and an exciting new project...Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
Blood-drinking chick torn between aristovamp lover and serious doctor, and someone's trying to kill her.
What inspired you to write Haunted Honeymoon?
I really wanted to give my heroine, Milagro, the happy ending that she deserved. When I started the series, she was still trying to figure out her life and find a home, family, and establish herself as a writer. Each book has taken her a little farther on her journey.
Where do you do most of your writing?
I have an alcove off my bedroom that serves as my office. In a moment of madness, I painted it apple green, so it's belligerently cheerful. My desk is in front of a window facing the back garden, and I get to watch birds and squirrels on the pergola and my dogs running around.
What is your favourite book?
Oh, a difficult question! I have a hundred of them. Let's say Persuasion by Jane Austen. I may like it better than Pride and Prejudice. I'm also the only person who likes Mansfield Park, and Austen's charming and decadent siblings, Henry and Mary Crawford, inspired my own charming and decadent siblings, Ian and Cornelia Ducharme.
Which part of Haunted Honeymoon was most fun to write?
I really enjoy writing Milagro's conversations with her eccentric associates, from her ex's snarky grandmother to her college roommate, who adores malapropisms. Milagro has some fun conversations with a loony little man who claims to be a spiritual leader and shapeshifter.
Who is your favourite heroine?
I think it has to be Jane Eyre. She's so determined and quiet, but she can also be passionate and heartbreaking. I love the scene where she tells Mr. Rochester, "Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?--You think wrong!"
Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?
I highly recommend having a trust fund and being related to a famous author or publisher. If that's not possible, then I suggest being tenacious and willing to learn. Ask questions and listen to advice. You don't have to take it, but you should consider it.
Are you working on anything new at the moment, and if so, can you tell us?
I've just sold a young adult gothic, The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove, to Tor Teen. It will be published in 2012, so I'll be working with my editor on that. I'm also writing an adult gothic that's set in California in 1850 and 1990. I can't say more yet!
Thanks, Marta!
You can read more about Marta Acosta on her website.
