Bedtime Tales
Being of Latin descent, I’m über superstitious. Ghosts, check. Chupa Cabra, check. Headless Horseman, check. Bigfoot? Well, I’m still up in the air about that one, but given I live in the Great Northwest, I’ll give that one a check just in case. Best not to anger a big, hairy being capable of tearing me limb from limb.
My father, instead of telling me there’s no such things as ghosts, fed my insane superstitions or sense of creativity, however you prefer to call it. When I was about seven, he told me that if he died, and his ghost returned from the dead, that I shouldn’t be afraid. Of course I bawled like any seven year-old would. Call me crazy, but the idea of my dead father coming back to haunt me had that effect. He stopped my tears by promising his ghost would only arrive to tell me where treasure was buried. I believed him then, now, not so much . . .
Most children heard “Billy Goats Gruff” or “Ferdinand the Bull” right before bed. I heard “La Llorona” the tale of a dead woman calling out and searching for her equally dead children. Gracia, Papí, and special thanks for the goodnight kisses with the glow-in-the-dark vampire fangs for the full, “I’m scarred for life” result.
The stories didn’t change as I grew older. Instead, they began to creep into my reality. We were visiting a relative in California when I was about fifteen. Before I could step foot in her trailer, my father clasped my arm and said, “Try not to piss her off. She’s a witch, and she doesn’t like you. I don’t want her putting a curse on you.” He walked in ahead of me. It took me several heart-pounding minutes to join him. I proceeded to spend the next two hours refusing to speak, eat, or drink anything in said supposed witch’s home.
While I didn’t get the “whammy,” the encounter, the stories, and the too many bumps I heard at night triggered and fueled my imagination. I didn’t find an outlet for the virtual potpourri of bizarro dreams or strange ideas until I began writing my Urban Fantasy Romance Series, WEIRD GIRLS.
WEIRD GIRLS is about four, very unique sisters who obtain their magical abilities as a result of a curse cast upon their Latin mother for marrying outside her race. Except the curse backfired, and instead of harming the girls, it bestowed them remarkable traits, making them different from any race of human, vampire, witch, or werebeast on earth. And although the sisters have perceived their powers as maledictions instead of gifts, these rare abilities help them combat the supernasties of Lake Tahoe once they’re “outed” to the mystical community.
I hope readers will see that while my childhood doesn’t portray a Norman Rockwell portrait, and perhaps my father should have used more discretion when choosing bedtimes tales, in the end my experiences and influences helped me to create a series filled with distinct characters, graphic and intense fight scenes, twisted humor, and launched the WEIRD GIRLS’ incredible journey.
Thank you for your time. If you’ll excuse me, my children are waiting with the lights on to hear a story. *slaps on vampire fangs*
About The Weird Girls
The Weird Girls
Signet Eclipse, December 4, 2012
eNovella
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird…
The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth—human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they’ve longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn’t an option.
Sealed with a Curse
The Weird Girls 1
Signet Eclipse, December 31, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…
The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?
Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.
About Cecy
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I feel completely identify with this post. Ok, my father wasn't the kind that read stories at night and never wore glow-in-the-dark vampire fangs, but sometimes on the weekends in front of the chimney or when we were going to our summer house "la finca", he would tell us the most incredible creepy stories. La llorona √ Headless horseman √ The Woman in Black √ El Anima Sola √ El Mohan √ La Pata Sola √
ReplyDeleteWe (sister, friends) used to love those stories, the scarier the better. Thank you for the trip to memory lane.
La ciguapa--the one that use to lead unfaithful men to their deaths was also a popular one. My dad also told stories of "brujas" that would change into farm animals and drink blood. "No thanks, Papi. I don't need to sleep." Glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteLMAO! Loca, ugh...no! My parents weren't that interesting I guess. I never got ANY cool stories like that. Except the part of the witch relative...I think we ALL have one of them. But I do like your dad's warning! lol
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Brujas and "el mal ojo" ran rampant in our neighborhood and family. So far, so good. *wipes sweat from brow* Thanks for stopping by Jenese!
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