Spotlight on Dracula’s Author

CARMEN STEFANESCU IS IN THE HOUSE!

You can snag her latest books for only .99!

Hello, everyone, Carmen Stefanescu here! I’d like to take a moment to thank  Flossie for her support in helping me to promote my newest release –  a paranormal/ light historical/ light romance /light horror – Dracula’s Prodigy, sequel to Dracula’s Mistress.

1. Welcome to Conjuring the Magic, Carmen! Would you tell us more about your genre and what inspired you to write in it?

Though I read almost all genres in fiction, the one I prefer to write is paranormal.  I’ve always been interested in all the things that go bump in the night – ghosts especially.

A topic that fascinates me is reincarnation, karmic retribution. Perhaps I will myself to believe that there’s something more after  we leave the Earth world.  The hope  and belief that life here is just a step in the ladder of spirituality is the one that makes me write stories like Shadows of the Past and Till Life Do Us Part.

2. Those same mysterious topics fascinate me as well. Tell us a little about your writing process or habits. What drink do you tend to have by you?

I must admit that I am not so disciplined as many of you are, or as disciplined as I should be. Life gets in the way, or so is the excuse. I write when the  “muse” urges me. There are moments when a sentence, a line in a song, a paragraph in a newspaper triggers the inspiration; when I feel deep in my bones that this is a story worth telling. Coffee is my permanent companion whenever I write. And not only then. Black, no sugar or sweetener, hot.

3. I’m delighted to find another black coffee fanatic! Carmen, what do you love most about your latest books?

I am glad I managed to tell Vlad’s story, to show what were the social, political, historical circumstances of those times and why he came to be known for eternity as the most evil creature in history – Dracula. As a native of his country my perspective is different. The story is woven with characteristic traditions and customs in Romania, former Walachia.

4. I’m certainly thrilled you tackled the historical facts and climate around Vlad, known as Dracula. You were born to write that story! I loved Dracula’s Mistress and can’t wait to get into Dracula’s Prodigy. What was hardest for you in writing these?

Dracula’s story was assigned an editor when it was accepted by the publisher – Wild Child Publishing at that time, (they closed doors before the release of the book). She advised me to reduce the number of POVs in the story, though I read a couple of books with multiple POVs. Reluctantly, I took her advice and rewrote 5 POVs! I was sorry to see those characters go, but, in the end, I think she was right.

5. That was certainly a lot of work, and the end result was worth it. What is the one thing you do every day that most ensures your writing success?

I don’t think I have a one such “wonder”performing activity, sorry  to disappoint you. There are moments when I feel guilty I haven’t written a line that day. Then, I think that writing must be something that gives me pleasure and thus allows me the luxury of not blaming myself.

6. We’ll move on to tickling our taste buds then. Chips, cake, pie, or cookies?

Chips and cheese pie – Romanian recipe!

7. Carmen, you have shared pictures of your Romanian cheese pie, and look how delicious. It makes my mouth water. I hope to try it one day. Since you are one who loves history as much as I do, what historical period or person would you most like to visit and why?

I  would like to meet Shakespeare face to face, though I wonder if he’d understand my present-day English.

Or, visit ancient Britain when the Celts lived and meet the Druids and learn from their wisdom.

8. Great choices! What stories do you have planned for the future?

I am writing  a story intended, like Dracula’s Mistress and Dracula’s Prodigy, as a two parts book. It is the story of a haunted house in Braila, my native town. I finished the first volume already. The parnaormal element – ghosts – and mystery are present, of course.The timeline is not the Middle Ages, but the action takes places during the World War I.

I also am polishing several stories, with a twist, that I wrote along the same time.

World War I–how interesting, Carmen. We’re both tackling new time periods (for us). One I’m working on is set during the Korean War. I loved chatting with you, and thank you so much for taking the time to fill us in. Now let’s take a look at that newest book, Dracula’s Prodigy.

Dracula’s Prodigy    Only .99!
Publisher – City Lights Press
Release date – 27th April 2017

Blurb
Running from the hands of an abusing husband, on the verge of committing suicide, a series of strange events/apparitions make Linda reassess her life. She embarks on a thorough research regarding her unusual ancestor- Vlad, the Impaler, aka Dracula.
Can Linda discover the truth regarding Vlad among the countless malicious stories, exaggerated legends and whispered slander dating back to 15th century? Is he a hero, a brave protector of his hard tried people and country? Or a cruel monster feeding on the blood of those impaled at his order?
And is good-looking Jody really helping Linda regain her trust in men and love, or is he another evil envoy of a past that haunts her and threatens her life?
Dracula’s Prodigy is the sequel to Dracula’s Mistress, and will awe legions of fans of Gothic literature, paranormal and historical fiction.

Thanks, Carmen! I have it on my Kindle ready to read. Readers, snag your copy of Dracula’s Prodigy, and if you haven’t read Dracula’s Mistress, believe me–you’re missing out! Each book is currently a steal for only 99 cents!

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance