Interview with Author Denise Verrico

Hi everyone!

A few weeks ago I had the honour of reading and reviewing Denise Verrico's first three book in the Immortyl Revolution series : Cara Mia, Twilight of the Gods and My Fearful Symmetry. (Click on the titles to read my reviews.)

Today (the post is a bit late), I have the great pleasure of having Denise stop by on my blog to answer some of my questions. Don't forget to leave some comments or questions for her! :)

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and the Immortyl Revolution series?

 I currently live in Ohio, but I lived in New York City and the surrounding area for several years. My husband and I have been married for almost 22 years and we have an eighteen-year-old punk rocker son. Most of my series is set in New York, except for book three which takes place mostly in India. Immortyl Revolution is an urban fantasy series about rival groups of vampires competing to capture the secrets of immortality. It has elements of adventure, humour, romance and intrigue. The main characters in the first two books are Mia Disantini and her lover, Kurt Eisen, two vampires who rebel against their masters. The vampires call themselves Immortyls. In book one, Mia sets upon a journey as a female vampire in a very male-dominated world. She’s feisty and sexy and doesn’t give a fig for what she’s supposed to do. In book two, Kurt becomes a charismatic leader of downtrodden teen and child vampires known as sewer rats, and Mia navigates a minefield of politics and romantic rivals to protect him. Book three switches POV to the highly irreverent nineteen-year-old, Cedric MacKinnon. This kid would love to be a rock star, but fate leads him down a very different path. Living on the streets in London, he encounters a vampire named Raj, who takes him to the chief elder of the Immortyl’s court in India, where the boy becomes an adept of the ancient arts, an Immortyl temple artist and courtesan.


How/When did you become interested in writing?

In high school, I wrote comedy sketches and song parodies with a friend of mine, just for fun. In college, I majored in theatre and learned a lot about building characters and dramatic action from acting and analyzing plays. After I graduated from college, I started writing plays, but I didn’t get serious about writing until I was in my thirties. Around the time my son turned two and started to be a bit more independent, I felt a strong urge to do something creative again. I read a lot of Anne Rice around that time, and I always loved vampire stories since I was a little girl and a fan of Dark Shadows on TV. So, I set out to write my own vampire tale. About the same time I started writing Cara Mia, I wrote a play called Attempting Fate. This play was produced during a play festival in New York and subsequently by The Oberon Theatre Ensemble off-off Broadway. When this play was produced, I felt I could finally start calling myself a writer.


Did you learn anything from writing your books?

I learn new things all the time. It’s what keeps a woman of almost fifty years in a youthful state of mind. I tend to plunge myself into subjects that interest me. For my last book it was Indian art and culture. I always strive to be a better writer. I belong to two critique groups. I’ve learned how to take constructive criticism from others and apply it to my work.


If there was one book that you could hold up and say: "This is why I write" – what would it be?

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Sometimes a story is more than just a good read, it influences people. This book is so wonderful because it’s not just a terrific story with some of the most memorable characters in American Literature, but also takes racial inequality to task. I read it as a teenager, and it had a profound impact on me. I’m drawn to stories where people battle injustice.


What are some of your favourite books and authors?

Anne Rice will always be my favourite in the vampire genre, but I have to say I also love Richard Matheson’s science fiction vampires in I Am Legend. Both of these authors are an influence on me. I also enjoy Kim Harrison. I’ve always been a big fan of historical fiction by Mary Renault and Robert Graves. They both took historical figures and made them very accessible. Currently my favourite reads seem to be in historical fantasy, like Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint and George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series.


Where is your favourite place to write?

On my living room sofa, with my parrots nearby and a good cup of coffee or glass of Merlot.


What song best matches your books?

Queen’s I Want it All. Adventure seeker, on an empty street, just an alley creeper, light on his feet. A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt, with the pain and anger, can see his way out… Awesome song. I’ve read this song was inspired by youth uprisings in South Africa during Apartheid. It fits. I think of this all the time when I’m writing Cedric in particular. I’m a huge Queen fan.


When not writing, what do you like to do?

I ride roller coasters with my son and husband. I’ve ridden well over a hundred. We travel around to amusment parks and stop at local restaurants featured on the Food Channel.


Any tips for aspiring writers?

Read everything you can in all fiction genres. Also read non-fiction on all subjects, history, art, politics, fashion, science etc. You never know where the next good story idea will be found. Keep on writing. Work through that first story and share it with a supportive but honest critique group.


Where can readers find you for more information?


www.deniseverricowriter.webs.com


www.ImmortylRevolution.blogspot.com


I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.


This is a trailer for my first two books: http://youtu.be/OSGZ1yXXkSY


My books can be found on Amazon in e book and paperback, and are also available through other online retailers.

 

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Thank you so much, Denise! Over a hundred rollercoasters...Really?!? I'm a bit jealous! :)

Don't forget to leave a few words to Denise! :)