In our interview with Beatrice De Soprontu, bestselling author of VICES / VIRTUES, we dove into the ideas and inspirations that drove her to write this captivating book. Beatrice shared how she created compelling characters, told powerful stories, and crafted an engaging narrative. She also discussed her experience of writing a book that touches on controversial topics while still remaining accessible and entertaining. We were delighted to get a deeper understanding of how Beatrice developed such a wonderful story!
Beatrice’s passion for storytelling was evident throughout the conversation; she is clearly devoted to creating literary works that challenge readers while also providing them with an enjoyable journey. As readers ourselves, we found it incredibly inspiring to hear about the amount of dedication and effort she put into crafting a powerful story and we hope it will serve as an example for aspiring authors.
We are thankful to Beatrice for giving us the opportunity to learn more about her book and our conversation with others. We highly recommend VICES / VIRTUES, as it is sure to bring readers on an unforgettable journey!
Introduce yourself and tell me about what you do.
I do lots of things, some I really enjoy such as writing and travelling the world, and others less enjoyable such as washing my children’s laundry. Much like Cristela, the protagonist of VICES/VIRTUES, I was raised welfare-poor, scholarship-propelled into an Ivy League education and settled into the vastness of the middle class. Purchase on Amazon
Tell me more about your journey as an author, including the writing processes?
I work best under pressure, meaning that without pressure I find ways to evade work altogether. For this reason, I set a schedule of small daily writing goals that I need to complete. Perhaps it’s paranoid but I’m always fretting, “What if I die tomorrow? I need to put all my thoughts to paper before I go.” (Are you listening to George Martin? Get cracking with those books!)
Tell me about your Book.
As the title implies, each chapter of VICES/VIRTUES focuses on vignettes highlighting a particular vice or virtue. Cristela, the main character, is a likable but lost soul who has been raised by a mother obsessed with keeping secrets. Even Cristela’s identity as “the Puerto Rican girl who wasn’t” is a mystery to unravel. Her upbringing is what attracts Cristela to the world of professional sado-masochism since it offers her yet another secret to maintain. However, the people she meets at her new part-time job as a dominatrix are surprisingly real and relatable. Soon she faces the problem of rejecting her new-found friends or tearing down the walls between her separate worlds. Purchase on Amazon
Book Genre.
VICES/VIRTUES is character-driven literature that strives to be moving, insightful, and at times a touch humourous.
What Readers Are Saying…
“Simultaneously compelling, intriguing, and effortlessly entertaining read. De Soprontu imparts views on themes of poverty, race, identity, strength, and deliverance, all tightly bound within this intricate psychological opera.” KIRKUS REVIEWS
“VICES/VIRTUES is a beautifully written, strikingly moving, look at the interacting lives and diverse backgrounds of women in an unconventional profession” Indie Reader
Appropriate age for readers.
A couple of salacious scenes make this an 18+ crowd-pleaser.
About Beatrice DeSoprontu
I began writing at the age of four when I used to scribble on my living room walls with a crayon. (Needless to say, mom was not pleased) Now as an adult, I mostly scribble on my home computer surrounded by my noisy children and their less noisy father. I was born and raised in New York City, (which includes: Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, maybe even Staten Island – a.k.a. the real New York and not the tourist trap that is Manhattan). Recently we moved to a house in the suburbs where I was thrilled to mow grass for the first time. (Growing up as a city kid, the suburban life always seemed so exotic on TV!) My most passionate hobby is going to new places and experiencing a glimpse into other peoples lives. Whenever we get the chance, my family and I enthusiastically travel the world on a budget.
Any message for our readers.
This is DEFINITELY not your average s&m book. Many of the scenes take place in the staff room which is just like any other office with cliques, backstabbing, and random chit-chat – but instead of business casual attire, everyone has lingerie and thigh-high boots.
