Name of Author: Anna Santos

Title of Book: "Captive"

Favorite Authors: Juliet Marillier, Anne Rice, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nalini Singh, Garth Nix.

Bio:

Anna Santos is an upcoming New Adult and Young Adult author. When she isn't writing, Anna is considering plot twists for her next novel or delving into the world of her favorite authors. She loves superheroes, and she's a geek at heart. She grew up watching Star Wars and plotting a way to become a Ninja. She has a fascination for Chinese Kung Fu movies, and cherry blossom flowers. She also enjoys writing poetry, watching a good movie, and spending time with her husband and family in Portugal, where she lives.

Captive

http://www.wattpad.com/story/15481327-captive

Can you explain what your book is all about?

The story is about a young girl named Aria who in a trip to Paris discovers that her soul-mate is a vampire. However, the vampire isn't happy about having a soul-mate, so irrationality takes over and he rejects her. That's when Aria's adventure begins. Being rejected allowed her to be matched to the gargoyle's prince who has a curse to break as every single one of his kind. They get thirty days to fall in love and face a trial. If they passed the trial, they both become angels. If not, the prince will turn to stone forever. Everything could go her way if her former soul-mate didn't regret the rejection and wanted her back.

Who is your target audience - and why?

The book is PG 13, it's a Young Adult novel, whoever, I don't think there's an age limit. I have young people reading as older people. It's more a question of taste than age.

What is 'paranormal' about your story?

I guess that what's paranormal about my story is the existence of mythical creatures such as vampires, gargoyles, angels, specters, witches and even an occasional werewolf. The main character is introduced to a paranormal world of magic, wings, predestined love, curses to be broken and self-centered immortals who see humans as food or weakling creatures in need of salvation.

Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones - and why?

It's a contemporary paranormal romance. We can't write a paranormal story without mixing genres. My paranormal story is divided in other sub-genres like vampire, werewolf, wizard&witches, etcetera. Because there's a love triangle and the base foundation for this story is love, the story also falls automatically into the category of romance.

Tell us about your writing process - how do you get from story idea to a Wattpad published story?

Well, I write it down. I have plenty of ideas for stories, doesn't mean those ideas are doable or are right for me to start writing the story right away. I normally start by writing the chapters that are echoing inside my mind. Doesn't need to be a prologue or the first chapters, it may start by a sum up of the story itself. The idea unfolds itself to the paper. I write on paper, I think better like that. Then, when I have an idea of how I want to start a story, I type it to the computer. But the story keeps playing in my mind, rearranging, assembling together like a puzzle. So Wattpad is a great place to share the chapters we got and continue to write it and share it with readers, hoping for feedback, and some love.

Did you encounter any challenges when writing, if so - how did you overcome them?

The lack of time and peace of mind are the only obstacles to my writing. Sometimes, I can write two to three long chapters in one day and others I can just spend the day in my own head, plotting and conceiving the next events in the story. Besides, I don't write only a story at the time, I need to be writing multiple ones so I can relax and get away from the characters. When I come back to a story, I need to have a fresh view of the plot and tap once again into the personalities. I can forget what day it is in real world, but I always know what day it is in my alternative ones. I also know my characters inside out and it's really easy to jump in their shoes and keep writing. I guess I wake up thinking: what story do I want to write today?

You often hear that 'writing well' is the baseline for success. What does that mean for you?

Nothing. Writing well means nothing if you don't have great plotlines and amazing characters who make the reader want to go inside the book and talk, laugh, shake the characters out of their stupidity, plot ways for the anti-hero to die and be part of that world.

I've recently read a quote that explains a lot better why some stories are worth reading while others aren't. It's a Stephen King's quote:

"There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read something for the story. Don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read something for the words - the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers that won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book."

His quote sums up my own opinion about books and why many are so successful. Writing well means nothing if you aren't creative and the readers don't fall in love with your story. But we all need to understand, that everybody has their own opinion and taste. Some may love a story and some may hate it. What really matters is that the author loves what he/she writes and he/she stays true to herself and the way the characters want the story to unfold.