Winner - Casa Dracula Giveaway with Marta Acosta

Hello happy readers! 

Thank you once again for visiting and sharing your time with us Marta!  One lucky winner wins one book of their choice from the first 3 Casa Dracula books!

The Winner Is:
Elizabeth Kolodziej

Congratulations Elizabeth!  Please email me through my blogger profile with your book choice and mailing address so that Marta can get your copy out to you!

Happy Reading!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Q and A With Marta Acosta - Book Giveaway Too!

Hello there Readers!  Marta Acosta, the author of the Casa Dracula series, and Nancy's Theory of Style, is visiting with us today.  Feel free to ask her a question in the comments, or simply leave her some fan love.  A lucky commenter will winner's choice in winning one of the first 3 books from the Casa Dracula series!  Be sure to check back on September 29, 2010 to see who the winner was!

Hi Marta!  It's always a pleasure to visit with you, thanks so much for joining us today for this Q and A. 

Thanks for having me here!  Darque Reviews is one of the first paranormal/urban fantasy review blogs I discovered, and it’s still required reading for me.

DR:  Saying goodbye to Milagro is tough for us fans who have really grown to love her.  I can only imagine how difficult it is for you.  What will you miss most about Milagro?

I’ll miss her optimism and happy-go-lucky nature.  She may grumble and snark, but she’s generally so cheerful no matter what she’s suffered.  I love that about her.  I’d want to hang out with her and hear her loony ideas.  I want to go hear a band with her and read the crazy horror stories she writes.  Many times when I was writing, I’d have to stop myself and think, “No, that’s how a normal person reacts.  How would Milagro react?”  She finds the good side of things.

DR:  You did an amazing job of answering questions and wrapping things up in Milagro's world.  How did you know it was time to end the Casa Dracula series? 

I wrote the first book, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, as a stand-alone.   I never expected to write a series, or even to stay in the same genre.  When my editor asked for another, I thought, “How in the heck do I say anything else?”  These additional books have been both a challenge and a treat for me, because I was always discovering more that I wanted to say.  Milagro’s quasi-friend Thomas Cook tells her, “You’re a happy ending sort of girl,” so I wanted to give her a wildly happy ending for this part of her life.

I think the temptation of writers and publishers is to keep going forever with a series and to churn them out so fast that the books rapidly decline in quality.  I didn’t want to do that to Milagro.  I wanted her to go out at her strongest. 

However, if any publisher asked for a few books about Milagro’s adventures with her fabulous husband, I think I could manage that!  You know, a little like Nick and Nora of The Thin Man – parties, danger, clever banter, mayhem. 

DR:  With the Casa Dracula series coming to a close, we're all curious about your future plans.  Can you share what you're working on now, and/or what we might see in the upcoming year?

My next big project is working on my young adult gothic, The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove, with my editor at Tor Books.  This book will come out in 2012.

Next year, one of my stories will be published in The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance.  I’ve never written romance before, so I hope readers like it.  I was researching romance websites to find out how graphic sex scenes were supposed to be!  I settled on “really sensual, but no clinical details.”

My other big project is a gritty, sordid adult gothic that takes place both in the present and in the 1850s.  I don’t want to give out any more yet, except to say that it’s a very dark tale and one I’ve been wanting to write for years.

DR:  One book that fans can expect to see in print is The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove.  What can you tell us about it?

Thanks for mentioning it!  I love this story of a foster girl who is accepted into the elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls.  Jane is quiet and watchful, but determined to make a better life for herself and she believes she can do that through excelling at school.  She works really hard to achieve a security that most kids take for granted.

Jane is finally able to escape her dangerous neighborhood and miserable foster home for a place that’s not only attractive, but safe.  Or so she thinks.  Even though Jane is stunned by being at a school which offers her so much academically as well as living quarters and spending money, she wonders why she’s been brought there.  She discovers that the headmistress has secrets – but so does Jane.

DR:  Just for fun...What one guilty pleasure do you wish you could give up?  Why?  (a T.V. show, a snack food, a drink, etc)

I have a love-hate-hate relationship with reality shows, like Project Runway, even though I know they’re heavily scripted and edited.  I’d love to turn them off and do something productive, like going through all my filing.  Also, can Michael Kors please wear something besides the same black jacket, black t-shirt and black pants? 

DR:  Is there anything else you'd like to share with us before you go?

Just that I hope that readers will pick up my Casa Dracula series and follow the adventures of smart, sexy, quirky Milagro.  These are romantic comedies, so while you won’t find a brooding alpha male who solves all the problems, you will find a lot of laughs, eccentric characters who will entertain you, and heroine who grows and matures, while still retaining her sense of fun.  The comment I get most from fans is “I want Milagro as my friend,” and I think new readers will feel the same way.

Where to find Marta:

Marta's website:  http://www.martaacosta.com/

Marta's Journal:  http://www.martaacosta.com/journal/

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

Thanks so much for spending some time at Darque Reviews, and thank you to the readers for making Marta feel welcome!

Kimberly, thanks so much for having me here!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Haunted Honeymoon by Marta Acosta

Haunted Honeymoon

Casa Dracula, Book #4

Marta Acosta

Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster, Inc.

ISBN# 978-1416598879

Release Date:  October 5, 2010

About the Book:

Will she get another chance with the vamp that got away?

As the only human to survive vampire infection, Milagro de Los Santos has become quite a celebrity among the blood-drinking elite. Too bad the perks of her condition—increased strength, super-fast healing—don’t pay her condo fees. There are other complications too. She feels guilty about her fling with decadent, enigmatic Vampire Council member Ian Ducharme, and she pines for her ex-fiancé, Dr. Oswald Grant . . . the fabulous man whose kiss changed her life.

It’s when Milagro—upset by Ian’s attentions to his neighbor—travels to London and enjoys a sexy flirtation of her own, that the blood really hits the fan. Suddenly, those around her are dying gruesome deaths and Milagro’s being interrogated. Who would kill to set her up as a murder suspect?

All she wants to is turn back the clock and have another chance to make things right.  No sooner has she escaped to Oswald’s ranch than an accident obliterates her memory.   Will the murderer come after her, and will amnesia spark a romantic do-over with Oswald—or will Milagro make all the same mistakes before she ever gets to say “I do”?

My Thoughts:

Haunted Honeymoon is the fourth, and final, book in the Casa Dracula series.  I've loved the free spirited character of Milagro de Los Santos since meeting her in Casa Dracula, and it's her fierce will to experience life that has kept me captivated with every book since.  Ms. Acosta is a master storyteller who wraps this series up with an action packed journey to the very end.  Haunted Honeymoon is fast-paced, fun, and filled with the unexpected.  Fans won't want to miss a word of Milagro's ultimate escapade!

If you're new to the Casa Dracula series what are you waiting for?  Be sure to start at the beginning for maximum enjoyment. 

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Haunted Honeymoon by Marta Acosta

Haunted Honeymoon
Casa Dracula, Book #4
Marta Acosta
Gallery Books/Simon and Schuster, Inc.
ISBN# 978-1416598879
Release Date: October 5, 2010

About the Book:
Will she get another chance with the vamp that got away?

As the only human to survive vampire infection, Milagro de Los Santos has become quite a celebrity among the blood-drinking elite. Too bad the perks of her condition—increased strength, super-fast healing—don’t pay her condo fees. There are other complications too. She feels guilty about her fling with decadent, enigmatic Vampire Council member Ian Ducharme, and she pines for her ex-fiancé, Dr. Oswald Grant . . . the fabulous man whose kiss changed her life.

It’s when Milagro—upset by Ian’s attentions to his neighbor—travels to London and enjoys a sexy flirtation of her own, that the blood really hits the fan. Suddenly, those around her are dying gruesome deaths and Milagro’s being interrogated. Who would kill to set her up as a murder suspect?

All she wants to is turn back the clock and have another chance to make things right. No sooner has she escaped to Oswald’s ranch than an accident obliterates her memory. Will the murderer come after her, and will amnesia spark a romantic do-over with Oswald—or will Milagro make all the same mistakes before she ever gets to say “I do”?

About the Author:
Marta Acosta is the author of the award-winning Casa Dracula books. She's also written Nancy's Theory of Style, a romantic comedy, under the pen name Grace Coopersmith. She blogs daily at Vampire Wire, http://www.vampirewire.blogspot.com//, which features paranormal and urban fantasy news and interviews. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and rescued dogs, Bosco and Betty. Her website is http://www.martaacosta.com//.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Winner - Book Giveaway - The Bride of Casa Dracula

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit and enter the book giveaway for The Bride of Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta!

By random drawing, the winner is:

Ruby (Mouth)


Please contact me at the email address in my profile with your mailing information ASAP. Congrats, and a big thank you to Marta for sharing a copy of her upcoming release!

Kimberly
Darque Reviews

Book Giveaway - The Bride of Casa Dracula

Hello readers! With the release of The Bride of Casa Dracula just around the corner, Marta Acosta is giving away a copy to one lucky winner here on Darque Reviews.
Thank you Marta!

So here's the deal...
All you need to do is leave a comment on this post with an answer to this question:

If you could choose a character from any book you've read to spend the day (or night) with, who would it be?

The cut-off for entry is Midnight Friday (September 5th, 2008) regardless of what time zone you're in. The giveaway is only open to US and Canadian residents this time please. Just leave your answer in the comments and check back Saturday (September 6th, 2008) to see if you're the lucky winner.

There's quite a few I'd love to spend some time with myself, but the first one that came to mind is Dante from A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix. Night, of course. *grin*

Good luck...and Happy Reading!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Q & A - Marta Acosta

Marta Acosta is about to have her third Casa Dracula release hit the shelves with The Bride of Casa Dracula. While she was kind enough to grant an interview last year, I thought it would be fun to do a short Q & A to see what she’s been up to, and where she’s going with her writing. She was kind enough to share more of her time.

Hi Marta…It’s great to have you back at Darque Reviews!

Q. The Bride of Casa Dracula will be available September 16, 2008 from Pocket Books. Can you tell us what project fills your days now?

A. I am in that crazy place where I’m trying to finish up my next novel, a romantic comedy, and also publicize The Bride of Casa Dracula. I have a new dog and a foster dog and a house filled with my son’s friends. I call them the dog pack and the boy pack. Today I tried to make a birthday pie for one of them and the results were tragic. I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with all my nonsense and obsessing about my books.

Q. Your Casa Dracula series is set apart from most vampire reads, what makes Milagro and her world special?

A. When I started the first book, I didn’t approach it as a vampire novel. I thought about the books I loved and what made them special to me. I love comedy and my favorite characters are those who are well-intentioned, but make mistakes and then try to correct the mistakes. I love ambiguity, so my characters misunderstand one another. (If you go back and reread a book, you’ll see those intentional ambiguities.) I try to weave my plots and subplots tightly so that there are no dangling threads.

Milagro’s special because she is good-hearted, but a little clueless, as most of us are as young adults. She hasn’t the experience that would make her cynical, but she is capable of learning. She’s had a very lonely upbringing, but she’s always hopeful. She’s also funny and finds humor no matter what her circumstances.

Q. If you could choose a specific trait from any of your characters who would it be from, and what would it be?

A. Oh, gosh, I would have to say Mercedes, the nightclub owner. She’s Milagro’s “moral compass” and she’s always calm and sensible.

Q. It’s easy to see how important the readers are to you by your online presence and interaction with them. Where can readers who have just discovered your work find you on the web?

A. I am all over the frickin web. There’s my website, my author blog, Vampire Wire, which is my paranormal entertainment blog, MySpace, FaceBook, and god knows what else I’ve signed up for. I like to visit several blogs every day –and Darque Reviews is one of my faves. I drop by the Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books blog frequently. And you’re right – it is important to me to connect with my readers. In fact, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Q. Aside from becoming published, what was your biggest goal when you began writing, and has that goal changed through the years?

A. My biggest goal was to survive as a writer. But I’ve got my fifth book deal and still don’t feel secure. My new goal is to be successful enough that I don’t have to worry so much and so I can focus on reaching out to those who love humor, but might shy away from something they perceive as just a shallow read.

Thanks for having me here, Kimberly! I love your blog and visit every day.

Thank you so much for joining us Marta, and I hope you see the best sales ever with The Bride of Casa Dracula!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - The Bride of Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

The Bride of Casa Dracula
Casa Dracula, Book 3
Marta Acosta
Pocket Books
September 16, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-4165-5963-4

From the author’s website:
Milagro de los Santos is having serious problems planning her wedding to fabulous Oswald Grant, M.D. Her future in-laws loathe her, her dog just died, and Oswald’s family has a genetic anomaly that makes them crave blood. Then her extravagant best friend hijacks the role of wedding coordinator, and the secretive Vampire Council assigns conniving Cornelia Ducharme to guide the couple through the ancient vampire marriage rituals.

To top it all off, Milagro’s career is on the skids. She’s reduced to ghostwriting the memoirs of a loony little man who claims to be a shapeshifter. And why does Cornelia’s decadent, way too attractive brother, Ian, always show up whenever Milagro is away from Oswald?

When a series of accidents interferes with wedding plans, Oswald worries that Milagro is cracking under the pressure. Is she just paranoid, or is a hidden enemy trying to make sure Milagro doesn't wed the undead?

My thoughts:
Milagro De Los Santos is a writer, a gardener, and soon to be wife of Dr. Oswald Grant. Her life could be perfect if there weren’t so much meddling going on, but since her best friend Nancy has taken over as wedding coordinator, Milagro has high hopes that at least this area of her life will play out without a hitch. Then the Vampire Council steps in to insist that they perform a vampire marriage ritual as well, and sends the worst candidate possible to help Milagro through the process.

As things appear to be coming together, Milagro takes on a writing job for a strange little man and soon after finds herself the target of an unknown enemy. Add to that the ever increasing annoyance of working with Cornelia Ducharme, and the chance meetings with her brother Ian, and the wedding may be the least of Milagro’s problems.

In this third installment of the Casa Dracula series, Milagro jumps in with both feet to plan her future as Oswald’s wife, taking fans on a mishap studded journey to the alter. Ms. Acosta adds new blood to the list of characters and ensures a wild and emotionally bumpy ride. The pace is fast and the plot is peppered with humorous misfortune, but it’s staying true to the characters that make Casa Dracula such a well loved series. Readers will find that the skillfully executed twists in The Bride of Casa Dracula make this the most surprising installment to date.

To learn more about The Bride of Casa Dracula, please visit Ms. Acosta’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews