We chat with author V. Castro about Maria the Wanted, which is a gripping tale of empowerment, desire and belonging, perfect for readers of A Dowry of Blood and Certain Dark Things.
Hello! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I am a Mexican American writer from Texas, but I live in the UK. I write horror, science fiction, horrormance, erotic horror, and all the genre blending stuff!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Since I was very little I wrote ghost stories with silly art. My mother saved it all and I still have it! I’ve been a bookworm my entire life with the school library my favorite place to be. As I got older it wasn’t something I pursued because it isn’t the type of “job” that seemed viable for someone who grew up poor in Texas. It wasn’t until my late thirties I began writing. Maria The Wanted was my first book.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Something Dr. Seuss
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Stand by Stephen King
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Dune by Frank Herbert
Your latest novel, Maria the Wanted, is out February 10th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Action-packed, brutal, hopeful, political, music
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect different worlds being explored through one character as her life is drastically altered and as time passes. I also wanted to show that a lot of immigration happens through destabilization and not criminality.
All of this with vampires, vigilante justice, heartbreak, and a woman finding who she really is beyond some border. She defines who she is in this world.
Later, there is a splash of dark romance with the handsome and persuasive Lucifer. But there is room for hope during difficuilt times.
Where did the inspiration for Maria the Wanted come from?
I had a very vivid dreamnd just started writing. Nothing came together in my mind like this. I’ve also always been a horror fan so vampires were not surprising for my first novel.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I liked writing Mordecai because I love history. In the book he is oldest of the vampires, but no one really knows how old or where he comes from. He is the key to a twist in the vampire origin story. Exploring it in the context of horror fascinates me. I also liked writing Vlad He is the son of the infamous Vlad the Impaler. I wanted a character who experienced war and conflict through the ages. Adam on the other hand comes from a family who gained wealth and status through trade. These are all things that have shaped our human world.
Do you have a favourite three vampires in pop culture?
All of them from What We Do In The Shadows, Akasha (in The Queen of The Damned), Blade.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
It was the first novel I had written and this time around I worked with an excellent editor. We had to decide what to keep and cut to zone in on the direction. We had a long chat and were both on the same page which was good.
What’s next for you?
Writing book two which will include another vampire from my vampire universe. There will be demons, blood, a love triangle, and of course lots of action!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I haven’t thought of that because I typically save time for blurbs. I want to do as much as I can for books from BIPOC writers. Two wonderful books I blurbed coming out this year are She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang and Hex House by Amy Jane Stewart. I am currently reading Bodies of Work by Clay McLeod Chapman.
