Marta Acosta

Marta Acosta Revealed

Revealing Questions

Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?: A. This is a question for beauty contestants, isn't it, and I'm supposed to say world peace. However, if that's not possible, then I'd be thrilled with a cup holder for my car. I frequently yearn for a latte, but all attempts to transport one from the cafe to my home have proved disastrous. I also have ideas about cloning my dead dog. I saw part of that Stephen King movie about the dog that comes back to life, so I'm apprehensive about trying the U-Kan-Clone! kit that I bought from an infomercial. What was the question again?
Q. What’s your greatest fear?: A. It goes without saying that my greatest fears are having a hot latte spill while I'm driving and unleashing a pack of rabid cloned dogs upon the world.
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?: A. London, even though they have that werewolf problem.
Q. With whom in history do you most identify?: A. Benjamin Franklin, because I've beeen shocked by electricity, too.
Q. Which living person do you most admire?: A. I admire my husband for his ability to go into a fugue state when I begin to speak.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?: A. I asked my husband, but he doesn't recall.
Q. What do you regret most?: A. You'd have to buy me a drink first to find out, and then I'd lie.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?: A. Just one? Speaking Esperanto, in case we achieve world peace and want to communicate with a common language.
Q. What is your greatest achievement?: A. I don't have one yet, but I hope to clone non-psychopathic dogs and be the world's first Esperanto talk show host.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?: A. My greatest flaw is not being able to answer questions seriously.
Q. What’s your best quality?: A. I'm told by reliable sources that my best quality is that I sometimes go away.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?: A. Oh, it would have to be Fanny Price in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, because everyone is always saying, 'My darling Fanny!' and "My sweet Fanny" to her.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?: A. It would have to be Fanny Price from "Mansfield Park," because she never takes advantage of her fabulous name.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?: A. My favorite pet pea is the Fruit of the Loom pea in his green felt costume. I love those guys!
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?: A. My fantasy profession is being a successful writer. It's a remarkably vivid fantasy --- I even imagine that my novels are on bookshelves. I'm considering stalking myself, but I don't know if I really can commit the time and effort.
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?: A. Sense of humor, intelligence, and understanding the importance of cars with cup holders.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?: A. My words and I frequently do.
Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?: A. They change all the time, but: TV on the Radio "Wolf Like Me," Dandy Warhols' "Mis Amigos," A.R. Rahman's "Chaiyya Chaiyya." Lou Reed's "Perfect Day," and Aretha Franklin's "Say a Little Prayer."

On Books and Writing

Q. Who are your favorite authors?: A. Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Evelyn Waugh, Mark Twain, Henry James, and John Kennedy Toole.
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?: A. Persuasion by Jane Austen; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte; A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole; To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Q. Is there a book you love to reread?: A. I've re-read all of my favorites, but I'd have to say that The Cat in the Hat is a fantastic book to read repeatedly and aloud.
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?: A. Write because you want to write, not because you want to be a writer.
Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?: A. They feel like my heroine is real and a friend.