Friday, October 7, 2011

Interview with Alberto Rios Arias, Author of A Death for Beauty or An Immortal


Joining us today is Alberto Rios Arias, author of A Death For Beauty or An Immortal.

Born in Jersey City and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, Alberto filled his leisure time writing and illustrating short stories and took an interest in creative writing after reading J.D. Salinger’s, Catcher in the Rye in high school.

After a three-year stint in the Army, he pursued another obsession and enrolled in the popular School of Visual Arts in Manhattan under the G.I. Bill. Although he majored in Fine Arts, his creative writing class inspired him to continue writing.

His efforts eventually paid off and he found work as an advertising copywriter. His advertorials appeared weekly in The New York Post and The Daily News. Meanwhile he continued to hone his writing skills and upon early retirement, he decided to pursue creative writing in earnest, recently finishing two feature screenplays and his first novel


Welcome to The Book Connection, Alberto. We're thrilled to have you. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m a big fan of classic novels plus I enjoy reading popular screenplays.

Where did you grow up?

I’m from Hoboken, New Jersey.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Moving nearby the Atlantic Ocean.

When did you begin writing?

During my high school years.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

Mostly during the day when my energy is at its highest.

What is this book about?

Thematically the book is about the uncertainties of life and the fear of death as seen through the eyes of a troubled young woman during the civil war.

What inspired you to write it?

 I’ve always been fascinated with the Civil War era and in particular the battles among soldiers and Indian tribes.

Who is your favorite author?

Tough question because it’s hard to choose, but I’d have to say Cormac McCarthy.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

It doesn’t hurt to have a good agent, but I’ve yet to really shop for one.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

So far it’s been trial and error but enjoying the ride.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Probably not for this particular book. As an independent, I like the freedom and control, especially in today’s digital marketplace.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Right now it’s available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in paperback and digital format.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

Readers can learn more about this story at: http://www.adeathforbeauty.com/

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

I think I got a little carried away so readers will find about 10 different trailers for this book on my homepage. (Yes, I love making trailers.)

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Just getting started so not sure yet, but PUYB is a good bet.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Dive in head first, but be diligent with the craft because there’s always a lot to learn about writing and publishing and it’s all about story concept and story structure. Nothing but great stories populated with fascinating characters will do, but that’s just the beginning. Fact is, everything has to be just right so it’s never easy to get to that point, but it’s fun getting there.

What is up next for you?

I’ve got a lot of writing to finish (short stories and another novel) and even more to start so it’s a lifetime deal and I’m looking forward to it all.


Thanks for spending time with us today, Alberto. We wish you much success.

3 comments:

A. R. Arias said...

Thanks for the interview Cheryl. I think readers will find my story far more interesting than this interview. I apologize for such brief answers. I must have been under the influence of my heart medication. Hard to say where I was during that interview but I do have my moments and this definitely was not one of them.

Hey, if you’re a fan of historical mysteries, or something close to that, and you like the Civil War era, I think you’ll enjoy this story. Its protagonist, Virginia Mae Mercy, sure has her own way of putting things and has plenty to say. I’ll be posting a comment on my Blogspot (http://www.booksnap.blogspot.com/) about Virginia and who I modeled her after. I think it’s an interesting take on how to develop a character and where to find inspiration for bringing these characters to life. This story is populated with a bunch of folk you won’t soon forget, and if you dig deep enough into my bog posts, you’ll think I was either drunk or smoking something funny while I was writing.

Hmm...this subtext is probably a little too transparent, but you get the idea.

BTW, congratulations to all the good authors here and especially to Phyllis and her very engaging book, The Manicurist. I like it.

Unknown said...

Short or not, your interview made me want to hunt down a copy of A Death for Beauty.

Thank you both for sharing the interview. Enjoyed it immensely.

A. R. Arias said...

Thanks so much for the kind comment, RJ. It's always great to connect with readers. I hope you enjoy the story and if you want to learn more about these quirky characters, I've added new comments here in the Reading Group Guide: http://adeathforbeauty.com/extras.html