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Interview with romance author Bonnie Mata
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My guest today is Bonnie Mata, author of the romance novel, Faith. Bonnie, it's a pleasure having you as my guest today. Why don’t you begin by telling us a little about yourself?
I live with my husband of twenty-two years and a son and daughter in Laredo, Texas along the border of Mexico, where every day in summer is the hottest in the US.
As a little girl, I was the biggest mentirosa, liar! Life was so boring in my hometown of Mirando City you had to think of something to spice up the day. When I grew up, the stories I told were not believable anymore. Lying was a bad habit I eventually had to give up because I was tried of going to confession! So now I write make-believe stories and everything is okay because now it’s call Fiction! Ay dios mio!
When did you decide you wanted to become an author?
I never thought I’d be a writer much less a published author!
Actually, it was very bizarre how my writing took off. The idea behind FAITH came when I was watching a documentary one day. In that moment the hero, Manolo Guerra, was born. From that day the story came together in my head and grew until one evening I stopped working and began to type to get the words out of my head. So I could clear it and be done with it. But guess what? It continued, as I was driving, cooking and trying to sleep I couldn’t get it out of my head as the thoughts kept coming, I kept writing until I came to the end of their relationship.
My degree is in Banking and Finance, so who would have thought that I’d be an author one day writing about my mentiras and here I am writing romance stories. I still can’t believe my good luck.
From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?
It all happened in 2000. Then the book just sat there for two years. I wanted to have somebody read it who could be honest and tell me what they thought. So one day I just happen to mention it to my friend Monica Garza. And she said: sure! I immediately took it to her and then it just happened that she got very sick with the flu. She was absent from work for many days, and guess what? Instead of sleeping, she read the book. Again, years passed and every time I would run into Monica or when she would send me a Christmas card she always asked, “And the book? Are you going to have it published? You should.” That was always her comment whenever she would see me. So finally in early May of 2008 I decided to do some research on how to submit a book.
What was your goal when writing this book?
Well, when the story started to form in my head it was about Latino/Hispanic people. Why not? I thought and still do think that there really isn’t much out there for our race as far as movies and books—they are very scarce. So my goal was to write for the Latinos/Hispanos, something that they could relate to even though I knew I would be cutting my readers in half, but that didn’t matter to me. What mattered to me was to write for my people. When I was a little girl back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, most of the dolls had blonde hair and blue eyes. They didn’t make dolls for all little girls of every race like they do now. So the same goes with this love story. This love story was going to be for the Latino/Hispano readers!
What type of writer are you—the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?
I have always been a daydreamer! You had to be creative growing up in a small town with not much to do, with little resources compared to what the children have nowadays. Times were hard and money was scarce! You had to wait for Christmas to get a present. Not four or five, but ONE present. As a child I would go to bed dreaming of owning the latest Barbie and all the accessories. As I got older I would dream of driving and owning a sports car and dating a handsome guy. That was then, now lazy mornings are when I’ll be daydreaming about what I’ll be writing about in my next chapter. I daydream about it all in my head then come downstairs and write about it.
When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl! My husband’s brother, Guillermo, used to tease me that I was a bruja (a witch) because I stay up late doing all sorts of things. I can burn the midnight oil till about two in the morning. Definitely NOT a morning person! But once I’m up that’s it, I get going like the Energizer Bunny!
Describe your working environment.
I hang out all day and night in my office, listening to music in the company of my pet dog Clyde, who's my baby. My desk is next to a window that overlooks the street, therefore, I know everyone’s business. When I get tried of sitting at my desk, I take the laptop upstairs with Clyde right behind me. He’s like my personal bodyguard! Visit my website to see what he looks like under Photo Gallery.
Do you have another job besides writing?
I have an internet business. I print invitations under Elaine’s Invitations AND I manufacture children’s soaps under E Soaps.
Do you have another book on the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects?
I am working on Storm Love, another Latin American Erotic Romance based in New York and South Texas. I hope to finish it soon and submit to an agent who is interested in Latin Romance!
Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?
My website is: http://www.bonniesmata.com
My blog: http://www.authoroffaith.blogspot.com/
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