Night Writer - Miguelina Perez

I'm thrilled to have author Ms. Miguelina Perez today to talk to us about her gothic series based on the Seven Deadly Sins (how cool is that?!) and pass along some really great writerly advice.

Ms. Miguelina Perez is a writer, and jewelry artist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of the District of Columbia. As a jewelry artist one of her lariats was showcased in the San Antonio Express-News. She has won several awards including a critical Writing award for an essay on the gender roles of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

Several of her poems have been published in anthologies, and she was named “Poet of Year in 1995”. She finished her first book, The Vicar’s Deadly Sin – a Regency romance mystery, the first of a seven-part serial based on the Seven Deadly Sins.

Currently, she is working the sequel to the Vicar’s Deadly Sin, “Angel’s Lust” from her Seven Deadly Sins series and “A Hero of Her Own” a contemporary romance thriller, about a serial killer terrorizing New York.

The Vicar’s Deadly Sin

Lady Jane Bartholomew and Miss Margaret Renard have been friends since the age of twelve.  Together they share their dreams, hopes and love for reading.  However, it is their wild imagination and a love for solving mysteries that would test their sleuthing abilities when the Vicar of Dover is found murdered.

The young ladies are joined by two gentlemen, also eager to find the murderer in order to prove to the ladies that detecting is a man’s job, though the gentlemen find their beauty, wit, and pride more troublesome than solving a murder.

Was there anything specific that drew you to this genre?

In freshman year in high school I developed a love for reading romance mysteries. My first romance mystery writer was Victoria Holt and then Phyllis J. Whitney, who was dubbed the Queen of American Gothic Romance. Their novels had an almost gothic element in them; such as horror and death.

What is your favorite Dark/Gothic novel? 

While I did read Ann Radcliffe’s the Mysteries of Udolpho. I am going to have to say Phyllis Whitney’s Spindrift.

What is your favorite Gothic motif/theme/element? 

I love the fog, the mansion, the heroine’s isolation, the pained hero, the villain. These elements bring suspense. I believe gothic romances take suspense to a psychological level. I love that these elements instill fear in the reader.

Any particular reason why? 

I think psychological fear is terror that comes from within. It paralyzes the reader. While this may sound negative the reader really loves it. The fear of turning the page in anticipation of what is going to happen next.

Which resource/s help you the most when researching for or writing your series?

I think for a writer one of the best resources is reading in the genre. Stephen King would agree. One of his best advices to writers is to read, read, and read.

Do you have plans to continue writing in this genre? If so, is there anything you would be willing to share about it?

I will always love this genre. I hope to continue to write in it. But I also want to expand and do some contemporary romance thrillers and some science fiction. Who says you can’t implement some of the themes of Gothic in other stories.

And finally, is there anything else you would like to share with others who write or are looking into writing Dark/Gothic Romance?

First, if one is interested in writing they have to commit to it. Set time aside each day to write. Even if it is 15 minutes a day. Writing is work and can at times be fun. It will be rewarding when they see the final product. Never give up nor let anyone else tell you, you don’t have what it takes. You do need a support system. This system can be other writers and readers, who would love to be the first one to read your book in exchange for their thoughts, they are called Beta Readers. There are groups on Facebook, Twitter who talk about Gothic Romance. Find them, join them. Join the Romance Writers of America. Each state has a chapter you can join. These chapters give workshop and can help you with your writing career. The best advice I got from Robin Carr, “If you think you are going to make a living out of writing, you are wrong.” So, please don’t quit your day job. 

Where can we find you on the internet?

I can be found at www.miguelinaperezauthor.com and can be reached at miguelinaperez@miguelinaperezauthor.com or twitter at @mperezauthor and finally on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/miguelina.perezauthor

Thank you so much for sharing!

☙ Shadow ❧