Maria Caiazza

Hey there! I'm Maria Caiazza, and I write dark paranormal romance that explores the endless depths of immortal love... and the very mortal pain of loss. (Yes, I'm going to break your heart, but I promise to piece it back together. Eventually.)

I've always been fascinated by the bittersweet beauty of vampire stories - not the sparkly kind (though no shade to Stephenie Meyer), but the raw, centuries-spanning tales of eternal devotion and devastating sacrifice. Growing up in a traditional Italian-American family, I was raised on a steady diet of dramatic love stories passed down through generations, usually told over Sunday dinners that lasted approximately forever. Those stories always stuck with me, especially the ones about love that transcended death itself.

When I'm not torturing my characters (and readers) with emotional devastation, you can usually find me curled up with my rescue cat, Dante, drinking way too much coffee, and contemplating the existential implications of immortality. Fun fact: I actually wrote most of "Be Still My Undying Heart" between 2-4 AM because apparently, my creative brain only functions when normal humans are sleeping. (Maybe I'm part vampire? The jury's still out.)

My debut novel, "Be Still My Undying Heart," introduces you to Dalton - a vampire who's spent centuries haunted by the memory of his human wife, Vanessa. He was supposed to turn her, to give her the gift of eternal life, but fate had other plans. Now he walks through time like a ghost, sustained by blood and memories, hoping against hope that somehow, somewhere, she'll find her way back to him. It's a story about the kind of love that refuses to die, even when everything else has.

I write the kind of paranormal romance that digs its fangs deep into the jugular of traditional vampire tropes. My vampires aren't perfect, brooding supermodels (okay, maybe they're a little broody). They're complex, sometimes selfish, often damaged beings who've had centuries to accumulate both wisdom and regrets. And my humans? They're just as complicated, fighting their own battles against time, mortality, and the terrifying prospect of loving someone who will outlive them by centuries.

Fair warning: I don't write light and fluffy. My stories deal with themes of mortality, grief, and the sometimes terrible price of eternal love. But I also believe in hope, in second chances, and in the kind of love that can literally transcend death. (And yes, there will be steamy scenes. Immortals have needs too, you know?)

When I'm not writing, I'm probably wandering through old cemeteries for "research" (my browser history would terrify most people), collecting vintage books about vampire lore, or trying to convince my family that my obsession with the undead is totally normal and professional. I also teach creative writing at a local community college, where I try really hard not to turn every writing prompt into a supernatural romance. (I mostly succeed.)

To my readers: thank you for joining me on this journey into the shadows of immortal love. Your messages about staying up all night to finish my book (sorry about those dark circles under your eyes!) and theories about where the story might go next mean everything to me. I'm just getting started, and I have so many more heart-wrenching tales to tell.

What can you expect from my books? Emotional devastation (but in a good way), complex characters who'll haunt you long after you finish reading, steamy scenes that'll make you fan yourself, and love stories that span centuries. Also, probably some blood. We are dealing with vampires, after all.

Come walk through the darkness with me. I promise to hold your hand... most of the time.

Love and immortal kisses, Maria

P.S. If you need me, I'll be in my writing cave with Dante, plotting new ways to make you cry (and then make it all better). Don't worry - there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. It might just take a few centuries to get there.