June 2009

Where do you get your ideas?

Creativity marches to its own drum. What may inspire me will go unnoticed by you. My advice? Listen to what moves you and write down your idea the minute it crosses your mind.

Are your characters based on real people you know?

Not always, but when they are, they are cleverly disguised. And, yes, several characters are a composite of several people I've known.

Is there any character in your book that resembles you closely?

Elena is a throwback to the young me. She made me remember what it was like to fall in love for the first time.This is the reason I enjoyed writing BY REASON OF PASSION.

You're a Christian. What would you say to those who criticize a subplot that deals with reincarnation in this book?

An author whose name I can't recall said that writers must write the truth inherent in their story. To do otherwise would be to lie. Having said that, reincarnation is a way in which certain characters seek to discover the complexities of their relationship. Readers, too, will find during reading the novel that I, as writer, call into question this belief to which many in the world adhere and which we must respect as we'd like other to respect our own religious views.

The same applies to santeria, which naturally reared its head during my writing the novel. This, I believe, was due because I recalled my mother having told me she almost died at age seven, and a santera played an instrument in her healing. When Katí alluded to this incident, veiled in a different character, I decided to run with it. Why? Basically as a tribute to this woman I never met and, whom, supposedly helped healed my mother.

I will add, you will not find santeria rituals in this book. If you're looking for such material, you will be disappointed since I'm not familiar with santeria's rituals. What you find here is one woman's deep faith in believing a santera saved the life of someone she loved. Faith, no matter one's religion, can work miracles.

Under what genre does your novel fall?

BY REASON OF PASSION is a contemporary romance that has something for everyone: drama, comedy, the paranormal, for example.

BY REASON OF PASSION is extremely romantic—a story about love and the power to overcome anything. Do you think this intense kind of love exists?

Yes. Look into the love stories of your relatives and friends. You'll find it in the sacrifices they make for each other, and their ability to endure life's ups and downs.

Is BY REASON OF PASSION a message book? In writing it, did you have a social agenda?

I set out to write about two lovers whose differences destroy their love. In my journey, I ended up with a passionate love story in which domestic violence plays an important part. The love story, however, is subject to this important issue. Face it, inherent in every match lies a love story important to those involved in that relationship.

If someone comes away with learning something about domestic violence, that's great. But I didn't have a social agenda. I simply wanted to tell a riveting story, and I have. That domestic violence crept into BY REASON OF PASSION I don't think happened by accident since I've seen such dysfunction in my own family.

What was the hardest thing about writing BY REASON OF PASSION, and how did you overcome it?

I hated writing the villain. Those were the hardest chapters to write because I dreamt with this character who let me know I wasn't writing the truth about his persona! I can laugh about this now, but then I had to force myself to finish those chapters. I disliked the character immensely!

But how did you manage to come to terms with the character in question?

I had to find something good in this creation of mine with whom, it might sound strange to you, I dreamt when I was ten. I was terrified in that long ago dream, so BY REASON OF PASSION helped me work out that issue which had to do with the fear of a relative hurting another.

Are you working on anything new?

I'm working on a new novel that I'm really excited about. It's going slow since I'm translating BY REASON OF PASSION. But I can't wait to get back to it since it's totally different in scope than this novel.

Finally, Aída, what do you want readers to know about you as a writer?

That I write out of conviction. Ernest Hemingway said that if a writer is not drained after writing a book, then he hasn't fully invested all his emotions into it. I agree because no matter the plot, as a writer you deal with that which makes us cry, laugh, and wonder about this thing called life.