60 feet looking down, (story) idea came to me! - Cecilia Robert

Today, I am very excited to introduce a very dear friend of mine who graciously accepted to guest blog here! I am doubly happy because this is the first guest blog post too!

Cecilia Robert is the author of the exciting fantasy short story series "The Grim Reaper's Novice"! Imagine fantasy story coming to you in installments! She recently shared the first in the series and trust me, its awesome! I am going post the review soon. :)   Without further ado, I introduce you author Cecilia Robert who shares the fascinating journey of discovery behind this book. Here you go!

First of all, I want to thank Shilpa for hosting me in her awesome blog.  *sip* mmh the tea is just right temperature.   An amazing host who serves the right kind of beverage during this cold time of year ! Incomparable! *sip again*

After moving to Vienna seven years ago, I became fascinated by its beauty and the historical architecture (obsessed is the word). From time to time, I found myself entranced by those baroque -design buildings with all manner of decorations and statues in-built on their facades. One day I took a walk in the 11th Century St. Stephen’s Cathedral (one of Vienna’s breathtaking sights), climbed the 343 stairs to the Watchman Chamber, and 60 feet looking down the idea came to me!  An avalanche of ‘what if’s’ whirled through my head. I dug inside my bag and pulled out my notebook are scribbled impatiently before the idea’s vanished as they have a tendency to  do if not given the desired attention.

What if, mixed in all that beauty is a hidden world where creatures prowl and slither lounging around on statues, playing mischief on humans, imitating humans by changing their forms so they can easily fit and work  in restaurants, bars, banks…?  What if those 18th century houses have their own story to tell?

As  a not- so-choosy avid book reader, I’ve always had a wild imagination(and unfinished stories in my computer). So, I wanted to write this story with passion and needed to finish it. I had created my world, and now, I only needed a character who could take on that world. That was how Ana Maria Tei was born. A seventeen year old girl leading a normal life (well almost), with two siblings but her parents were about to divorce.  Unfortunately, in the process of trying to keep her family from splitting, her family perishes in her accident. She is heartbroken and is determined to get them back.

So there has to be someone who reaps soul, as Souls cannot be allowed to just wander aimlessly. And who else could do a good job than the Grim Reaper himself!  This is where she meets Grim…er… Ernest as he likes calling himself, and she begs him for soul trading. He adds a bonus on that offer; A lifetime working as a Soul Collector. And there the Soul Collector was born.

Ana Maria sounds normal enough , and the story needed a simple girl who was working as a part-time supermarket checkout girl and loves her family completely in a destroy- my- family = cut my heart out sort of way. She has friends, and has her own dreams, until they are cut short by giving up her life (and soul)to become Soul Collector.  The location (Vienna) with its architectural benefits helped me create the world as I saw it in my mind. This book was not possible without Vienna!

As this is my debut novel installment series, I am very excited about the book  published and released through Trestle Press  on 10/07/11, and I’m happy to share Ana Maria’s story with you. Grim Reaper’s Novice is at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

*Huge noisy sip* Can I get another cup of tea?

Sure Cece! :D I wish you all the best with the book and with such a wonderful theme and characters, I am sure this is going to be a great book! So, what's the story behind your story??