Marta Acosta's world of vampires

Marta Acosta

Marta Acosta is the author of the popular, darkly humorous Casa Dracula series, featuring the smart yet clueless Hispanic heroine Milagro de los Santos.

In the story, Milagro becomes infected by a condition some would called vampirism. She's an outsider in a family of sophisticated, eccentric vampires and has to deal with their secretive, dangerous world and enemies.

I had the opportunity to ask Marta a couple of questions about her inspiration for the series and her fascination with vampires.

Thanks for being my guest today, Marta. It's a pleasure to have you here. Tell us, what compelled you to write Milagro's story?

I was inspired to write this story when I was watching a sci-fi movie with a bunch of guys running around in lycra jumpsuits. In the future, I’m pretty sure everyone will be wearing t-shirts, jeans, and flip-flops, not gray uniforms. Anyway, I was thinking about the clichés of some genre stories, and I decided to spoof them.

Why vampires? What is it about these die-hard fiends that fascinates people so much?

I’ve always been a fan of paranormal stories that have a strong humorous component as well as a quasi-scientific explanation for oddities – like the great seasons of “The X-Files.” But I don’t like angsty, whiney vampires, especially the rich ones. I think rich, sophisticated vampires would probably be pretty pleased with themselves, so I came up with my snobby, accomplished vamps.

Many people find the combination of blood and eternal life to be very exciting. As part of my research for a young adult gothic, I read vampire poems and stories that go back hundreds of years – and they’re still really marvelously creepy.

“The Vampire,” from 1748 by Heinrich August Ossenfelder, expresses the dark seductive theme that is still carried out in today’s vampire stories.

And as softly thou art sleeping
To thee shall I come creeping
And thy life's blood drain away.
And so shalt thou be trembling
For thus shall I be kissing
And death's threshold thou' it be crossing
With fear, in my cold arms.
And last shall I thee question
Compared to such instruction
What are a mother's charms?

There’s an amazing range of vampire fiction now: graphic books and manga; comics; horror novels; historical novels; paranormal romance; sci-fi interpretations; comedies; and urban fantasy. So no matter what your take on vampires, whether you like them horrifying and undead or urbane and charming, you can find it.

Thanks for sharing this with us, Marta!

I had the pleasure of reviewing the first book in the series, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, for The Dark Phantom Review. I have to say it was quite an entertaining read.

Marta keeps a popular blog for readers of paranormal and urban fantasy fiction. The blog is called Vampire Wire and features author interviews and the latest vampire book news.

I'll be reviewing her second and third books in the Casa Dracula series pretty soon. So stay in touch!

--Mayra Calvani, www.MayraCalvani.com.