As a little girl, Mary Castillo headed some sage advice from her Grandma Margie:
“The best job in the world has to be an author. You can live wherever you want, while wearing what you want, and write stories.”
Now an author of sassy comedies, Latina lit, young adult fiction and mystery, Mary is realizing the dream. And wearing whatever the heck she wants to while she does it. Some of the greatest work can be accomplished while sporting elastic waisted stretch pants. Or pajamas (speakin' from experience here).
Mary Castillo shared a few insights on her career as an author and revealed a spooky real life story that will make your neck hairs stand on end.
ChickAdvisor:
Are your stories purely fictional or do you draw on experiences from your own life?
Mary Castillo:
Yes and yes. My stories are inspired by conversations I've overheard in restaurants, people I know, changes in my own life or aspects of my character. But then I blow it way out of proportion and see what happens. I know a story is coming to life when the characters take over and surprise me by saying or doing something I hadn't planned on them doing.
ChickAdvisor:
What is the best part about being a writer?
Mary Castillo:
Making my own hours, making stuff up, self-staring my own projects and working by myself. Ever since I was a kid, I've always been happiest playing by myself or losing myself in a book or a story in my head. However, I'm not a complete hermit. I really like meeting new people and exploring the world. But second to my son and my family, I'm happiest when I'm at my computer and a story in my head is coming to life.
ChickAdvisor:
What's the worst?
Mary Castillo:
The financial uncertainty. But then again, it can also be a great motivator!
ChickAdvisor:
Most aspiring authors have a lot of romantic notions about what life would be like as a writer. What was your biggest misconception?
Mary Castillo:
That I would make tons of money, have a cabana boy on call and that writing would get easier. I'm fine if the first two come true but I think that when the writing becomes easier it will be time for me to retire. Each book gets harder to write but the pay-off has been much greater.
ChickAdvisor:
We noticed on your ChickAdvisor profile you said you grew up in a haunted house. Tell us about that!
Mary Castillo:
When I was about three years old, my mom would find me in the closet talking to someone. I told her all about my invisible friend named, Mary who also had a daughter named Mary Ann. I would even make my mom set a place for her at the dinner table.
My mom said she got really nervous because the previous owner of the house was named Mary and she'd had a daughter named Mary Ann. She also knew that the owner had died in the house! My dad once woke up and saw a woman standing over their bed. We heard voices in the hallway and sometimes, we'd get that creepy feeling that we weren't alone in a room. Lights switch on and off, we'll hear the front door open and close ... typical haunted house stuff. My neice has seen the ghost; she was doing something my mom told her not to do and I think our ghost was trying to keep her out of trouble! I have a very vivid memory of our ghost walking up to me and telling me that I wouldn't be seeing her anymore but she'd always watch over us and protect us. I must have been four years old when that happened.
Sure enough, our house was robbed in 1988 and the guys were caught (at a Dunkin Doughnuts of all places!). We went to their sentencing and one of them stood up and said that there were demons in the house because when they were in my room - the same closet where my mom would find me - the doors started slamming and something was banging on the windows. They ran out and two hours later were arrested. So don't mess around in a haunted house!
What do you think? Should Mary publish a ghost story now? We think yes!
Product Review Club Offer: 4 Copies of Switchcraft
Mary recently treated me to a fun beach read I enjoyed on vacation, Names I Call My Sister, and now she wants to treat 4 members of our Product Review Club to her latest work: Switchcraft. Read an excerpt from Switchcraft.
Want to review this? This offer is open to members of our Product Review Club. If you are on our list, you'll be receiving an email shortly on how to enter to receive and review this book.
If you aren't a member of our Product Review Club yet, now is a very good time to sign up! Click here for more info on how to join for free.
Mary Castillo shared a few insights on her career as an author and revealed a spooky real life story that will make your neck hairs stand on end.
ChickAdvisor:
Are your stories purely fictional or do you draw on experiences from your own life?
Mary Castillo:
Yes and yes. My stories are inspired by conversations I've overheard in restaurants, people I know, changes in my own life or aspects of my character. But then I blow it way out of proportion and see what happens. I know a story is coming to life when the characters take over and surprise me by saying or doing something I hadn't planned on them doing.
ChickAdvisor:
What is the best part about being a writer?
Mary Castillo:
Making my own hours, making stuff up, self-staring my own projects and working by myself. Ever since I was a kid, I've always been happiest playing by myself or losing myself in a book or a story in my head. However, I'm not a complete hermit. I really like meeting new people and exploring the world. But second to my son and my family, I'm happiest when I'm at my computer and a story in my head is coming to life.
ChickAdvisor:
What's the worst?
Mary Castillo:
The financial uncertainty. But then again, it can also be a great motivator!
ChickAdvisor:
Most aspiring authors have a lot of romantic notions about what life would be like as a writer. What was your biggest misconception?
Mary Castillo:
That I would make tons of money, have a cabana boy on call and that writing would get easier. I'm fine if the first two come true but I think that when the writing becomes easier it will be time for me to retire. Each book gets harder to write but the pay-off has been much greater.
ChickAdvisor:
We noticed on your ChickAdvisor profile you said you grew up in a haunted house. Tell us about that!
Mary Castillo:
When I was about three years old, my mom would find me in the closet talking to someone. I told her all about my invisible friend named, Mary who also had a daughter named Mary Ann. I would even make my mom set a place for her at the dinner table.
My mom said she got really nervous because the previous owner of the house was named Mary and she'd had a daughter named Mary Ann. She also knew that the owner had died in the house! My dad once woke up and saw a woman standing over their bed. We heard voices in the hallway and sometimes, we'd get that creepy feeling that we weren't alone in a room. Lights switch on and off, we'll hear the front door open and close ... typical haunted house stuff. My neice has seen the ghost; she was doing something my mom told her not to do and I think our ghost was trying to keep her out of trouble! I have a very vivid memory of our ghost walking up to me and telling me that I wouldn't be seeing her anymore but she'd always watch over us and protect us. I must have been four years old when that happened.
Sure enough, our house was robbed in 1988 and the guys were caught (at a Dunkin Doughnuts of all places!). We went to their sentencing and one of them stood up and said that there were demons in the house because when they were in my room - the same closet where my mom would find me - the doors started slamming and something was banging on the windows. They ran out and two hours later were arrested. So don't mess around in a haunted house!
What do you think? Should Mary publish a ghost story now? We think yes!
Product Review Club Offer: 4 Copies of Switchcraft
Mary recently treated me to a fun beach read I enjoyed on vacation, Names I Call My Sister, and now she wants to treat 4 members of our Product Review Club to her latest work: Switchcraft. Read an excerpt from Switchcraft.
Want to review this? This offer is open to members of our Product Review Club. If you are on our list, you'll be receiving an email shortly on how to enter to receive and review this book.
If you aren't a member of our Product Review Club yet, now is a very good time to sign up! Click here for more info on how to join for free.
1 comments:
I really enjoyed your interview with Mary. It was one of the more interesting author interviews I've read! Thanks for letting me stop by your blog-
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter One is online!
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