Hi Kristin! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to answer questions for us. The readers would love to hear about the writings of Kristin Battestella.

The Vampire Family sounds quite intriguing; could you share something about it and your latest release?

The Vampire Family is being re-released by Eternal Press in early 2008. It’s got all the gore for macabre fans-family patriarch Antonio Welshire is a ruthless human and vampire. This story is not for the younger set. Murder, rape, and vampire mayhem enough for spooky fans. The novel spans the centuries from 12th to 21st, adding a touch of romance and gothic beauty along the way. Vampires consorts come and go, but of course, its not all love and glory Daughter Victoria revels in the decadent vampire lifestyle. Antonio’s youngest with his wife Elizabeth loves and leaves fledglings according to her whims. Sister Samantha-Antonio’s oldest by his mistress Ann- has spent the decades searching for a cure from the mysterious stranger Mestiphles’ dark vampiric gifts. Persecution and coven wars don’t bother these vampires, their trouble is all in the family! Angst, drama, issues!

Why not tell the readers what we can look for in the future from Kristin and any upcoming releases?

I’m editing two novels with another local Jersey author Leigh Wood Juicy, risqué material. I wouldn’t normally bend towards erotic material, but Leigh’s work is about so much more than sex. There’s emotion and relationships, and science to the science fiction I enjoyed working with her, so hopefully Leigh’s title On The Way To New Isosceles will be contracted soon. I’m also finalizing another horror short called The Haberdasher. As nice as it is to know you have a wonderful polished piece, editing is a pain in the butt. It takes you from the creative craft, so The Haberdasher has been forced to wait longer than I’d like. It’s an odd cross between a Christmas story and a period horror piece. The titular Haberdasher does some pretty wicked things during the turn of the century Christmas rush. A little spooky statement twisting the adages. What we don’t know can hurt you.

Would you change anything about your writing?

Writers are weird. Writing is weird. Sometimes I wish I could keep normal hours like the rest of folks. I usually write during the night, and I’m quite streaky about it. Weekend binges-although I suppose there are a lot more unhealthy things than art! I wish the habits of writing could be like a 9 to 5 job for me, but I don’t think I would be as creative or out there, so it’s a fair trade. I also wonder if it would be wiser to specialize further. Nonfiction, reviews, vampire fiction, science fiction. Then again, I love the possibilities of going with the writing mood.

What is your favorite part of writing?

I write mostly in genre, so I love the metaphors and mirrors you create to keep things realistic. Giggles are good, too. You have to be about to go to work and take it seriously, yet still be able to laugh. If I hate a character-which I have-it’s a good thing. It’s like a real person you are forced to be with. Although The thing I love most about writing is the ‘transportation’ factor. I love when you are in the middle of composing fiction and you are there. For the writer to not know what happens next because you are caught up in the adventure the same as a reader. I love crying when I write because I know the emotional core has been hit. I am one with the story. Goofy in some ways, yes, but when you make that connection with a reader-with another human being- it is the greatest feeling. That moment in your writing when you now this is what you were placed on earth to do.

Do you miss your characters when you are finished with their story?

Sometimes I loathe characters and I’m glad to be done with them! But yes, characters stick with me long after composition is done. I think about their lives, choices, and words like any other moving film or book I’ve experienced. Characters are a part of you, and a piece of you is in each one of your creations. It’s like a relationship with a real person. It’s not something to simply cast aside. In some ways, it also a memory of yourself. I can read parts of my work and know exactly who I was at the time, what circumstances I was in. To miss mean an attachment has been created, a memory for better or worse. Another thing experience to connect the author and the reader.

What was your reaction when you got your first contract?

It’s always absolutely breathtaking when you get an acceptance, no matter how small the pay or work. I’ve worked with my local paper for over 3 years and its still a rush to open The Reminder every Wednesday and see my name in print. A Writing acceptance is like humility and being a kid at the same time. Every one is precious to you, but you know how to celebrate it. When The Vampire Family was signed with Eternal Press, I was particularly ecstatic since the novel had been with the now defunct Mardi Gras Publishing. Reprints are often in an awkward situations, but the ladies at Eternal Press loved the book and couldn’t wait to have it under their banner. I already know a lot of my fellow EP authors, and we’re having a lot of fun already.

Do you have any unfinished projects sitting around?

Of course. My first major work began in the sixth grade! For years I drew pictures of characters, wrote their back story, drew space ships and star charts. Then one day I just sat down and started writing The Centaurians. I’d stop for awhile, I moved onto The Vampire Family and Blood Type: V then return for another episode. For years I had story boards and index cards taped all over my wall, then I’d hide them under other posters so my family couldn’t ‘read the end’ of The Centaurians. 100,000 plus words of handwritten space opera. Its one of those works that I do miss. The situations, the characters. I think about them often, yet I always push The Centaurians to the bottom of the drawer.

Do you have any habits that you would like to share with the readers?

I’ve got my quirks. I still do a lot of hand written work. Something about the sound of pens and paper, the smell of ink. I tend to horde pens in my writing bag-which also includes my laptop and spiral notebooks. I’ve got hundreds of pens, from broken ones I’ve taped back together to the gag gift foot long pens. I use the big ones in public! Still, it’s a fight if a family member asks me for a pen. I listen to music when I type, usually The Bee Gees.

Your editor just informed you that she is having a huge banquet at her house tomorrow, and she wants you to prepare the meal. What delights will you bring to her house?

I’d probably hire a caterer and then bring the pasta salad. Family cooking I can do, huge would be a gamble. A lot of pasta to over or under cook! I’m much better at making goodie bags and decoration. If I were doing a Vampfam party, it wouldn’t be a Halloween fest. Candlelight, mirrors, wine, roses-and it’d be in a castle. Old world dining and spooks.

How would you pen the perfect vacation?

I’m actually a bit of a homebody. Recently I went to the Civil War Trails in Virginia and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. I’d much rather think on vacations of the mind. Real vacations are too expensive, you’re forced to rely on the weather. I’d rather be comfortable with those I love. Otherwise it would be all British castles or Tuscan villas.

Do you have a favorite song that you could listen to over and over again?

A particular song, not really. I’m very phase oriented. I love The Bee Gees-not just the disco craze stuff. Recently, however, I’ve been listening to a lot of Celtic music and The Lord of The Rings soundtracks. I also dug up my Glenn Miller and big band records. I like to listen to oldies and hymns on the turntable. Sometimes I have to pause at the obscurity of working on a laptop while listening to the record player. My favorite Bee Gees song is I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You.

Have you ever written a screenplay or considered writing one?

I’ve written a few stories in play and script formats. Sometimes when I want to get down dialogue quick I’ll write a screenplay style, then go back and convert it to prose. Prose is a combination of setting, mood, characters, description, but for me dialogue is perhaps the biggest factor. Without characters that speak realistically to you and the setting, there is nothing for the reader to relate to. I hate television and movies with bad dialogue. If the clunky words are so laughable you won’t pay attention to anything else. I’ve only seen two shows that I think fully capture dialogue and character development: Blake’s 7 and Homicide: Life on the Street. That said, I’ve certainly mused on the ‘if my book were a movie, who would I cast?’ grandeur.

For Fun: Who is your favorite actor?

I love old movies. Classics! Montgomery Clift, John Wayne. I like very few actresses, only a few classics like Ingrid Bergman. For the past few years I’ve been on a Lord of The Rings tangent. I’m probably obsessed with Sean Bean. I like a lot of British actors like Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Gerard Butler, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale, Ioan Gruffudd- David Wenham,too. American actors just look silly in period piece movies. I dare admit that I hate George Clooney and Orlando Bloom. I don’t see it! But, I’m currently obsessed with Homicide. I even got my dad to watch it!

Readers who have yet to view Kristin’s website, please visit her at: http://jsnouff.com/kristin

If you wish, you can list my blogs as well. http://kristin724.livejournal.com, http://vampfam.blogspot.com or my yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Kristin. Anyone interested in reading more about Kristin and her great books, please visit her website to read more about her wonderful works.

Thank you Linda! :)

Interviewed by: Linda L.