Interviews By Dante

Grea Alexander Interview

11/10/2016

The guest authors for November 10th on Interviews by Dante is Grea Alexander. She is a writer of Historical Romance. She is the author of the Rebellion Series: Quay, Soung & Choi.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m just a questionable person of questionable morals & values who writes books of questionable taste for those living questionable lives.

Tell us about your latest book.
It’s a supernatural horror novel thus completely inappropriate for this interview. (laugh) It’s called Miael: Family.

The books in question for this interview are from the Rebellion series.

The Rebellion books are historical fiction set in China during the Qing Dynasty. They tell the story of Phong Quay, a rebel leader who is the bane of the Emperor’s existence and his relationship with the princess Ni Soung. While Princess Soung struggles with unearthing deeply repressed memories, Quay remembers everything and is thus torn between mercy and vengeance, between love and hate.

It’s about the how and why the state of their relationship is what it is (though I would say it's much darker & more torturous than the average romance novel). It's about being in love when you have every reason in the world not to be and when everyone and everything (including you) is in the way. It's less "I love you. Now the birds are going to come land on our shoulders and everyone will sing a happy song." and more "I love you but now I really need to make it stop at all costs.". It's about fate & true love vs. harsh reality.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all doom and glom. There are a lot of very fun and funny moments in this series as well.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I plan on writing the Sedition series which is a continuation of the Rebellion Books (though they are more focused on the Choi children).

We have Choi Xian who has not only to deal with the trauma caused by her infamous mother’s “murder” but the fallout from the return of said “dead” mother, a new brother, a childhood friend who complicates everything and the other half of her family who would stop at nothing to see her side of the family destroyed. (Did I mention she’s also fooling around with the soon be coroneted emperor and potentially endangering the most important political alliance of the new emperor’s reign?)

We also have her brother, Choi Do Whey, who is recovering from an assassination attempt on his father (instigated by the uncle who raised him and filled his head with poison towards said father). Whey now finds himself living with the very man he was programmed to kill.

And yes, there will be lots of steamy romance in this series as well. (laugh)

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
It’s a series.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Why not? (laugh)

That's a hard question to answer actually. I don't write romance in the traditional bodice ripper sense. There are romantic themes and relationships involved in all of my stories as well as sexuality. Relationships, both romantic and platonic, are a major part of any character's story.

My stories tend to include that one person the lead just can't let go of – which isn’t always a good thing. I like strong, intelligent but very flawed protagonists. I like unconventional relationships, complicated people and situations.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
I think my books can fit into a number of genres. The two main categories would be historical fiction and supernatural horror.

Intrigue, deception, betrayal. What are a few knives in the back between two lovers?

Qing Dynasty, China.

Some wounds cut too deeply to ever truly heal, to ever be forgotten. For the rebel Phong Quay, Princess Ni Soung is one of those wounds - a remnant of the most painful chapter in his life, a pawn in his never ending war with his greatest enemy, the Emperor Ni Fehn.

As the Han rebellion against the Emperor intensifies, Princess Soung becomes caught in the middle. As bait in the Emperor's most brazen bid to date to bring Phong Quay down, the princess may just find herself a casualty in the battle between the two men - a battle between the past and the present, between the truth and lies, between love and revenge.

I would have to say my books are closest to 4 flames (though I would like to believe my stories would work just as well if I were to be less explicit about the sex). Still, what fun would that be? (laugh)

Available in regular print, large print & ebook formats.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Additional Retailers

From where do you draw your inspiration?
I’m inspired by any and everything around me – especially dreams. Another of my biggest sources of inspiration is history.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Outside of myself, no, I don’t really base my characters on real people in my life. Most people I know/have known are pretty damn boring. (wink)

What authors inspire your writing?
Edgar Allan Poe is my all time favorite writer. I also enjoy Charles Dickens, VC Andrews & Stephen King (minus the padding). Lastly, I enjoy the cadre of writers or writer who wrote under the name William Shakespeare.

As to another author who inspires my writing, I can’t say that there is one. I’m very…me.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
All of my protagonists are ethnic minorities and either mixed race or in interracial/intercultural relationships. I love history so I write a lot of historical fiction.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to learn, travel and watch movies – all things that I think help broaden my reality and understanding of the world (as well as improve my writing/perspective). I enjoy festivals, events and collecting experiences – anything new and different that pushes me out of my comfort zone. I believe that you should go places you’ve never been, eat things you’ve never eaten and have experiences you’ve never had before at least a few times a year or you’re not really living.

I also am heavily involved in “arm chair activism” (to which my twitter stream can attest) and am one of the most active arm chair activists in the world.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
With great difficulty. I am terrible when it comes to titling and synopsizing. I have far less trouble writing whole novels.

What if the person you could trust the least was yourself?

Although Lord and Lady Choi had promised each other that there would be no more secrets between them, no more lies, neither of them was capable of holding to the bargain. He still had his secrets and she still had hers.

While Lady Choi loved her husband with everything she had in her, she would never be foolish enough to trust him again, would put nothing past him.

When new enemies and old ones ally to seek revenge, the very foundations of their faith in one another is shaken to the core. As old lies unravel, new deceptions are revealed and old insecurities resurface, can a love without trust survive?

Available in regular print, large print & ebook formats.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Additional Retailers

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I have read romance. Ironically I prefer reading non-fiction – especially history, true crime and books full of strange & unusual facts. (I actually know answers to random questions such as if fish drink water.)

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
The Underground Education by Richard Zacks is one of my favorite books of all times.
I’m a history buff.

I also love the Tell Tale Heart by Poe (though it’s not actually a book). I love everything about Poe (stylistically) as well as his imaginativeness.

Othello by Shakespeare (though it’s a play). It’s just a tragic masterpiece in every way.

What celebrity would you choose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
That’s a hard question to answer. While there are some good actors who COULD play my characters, there’s no one out right now that I would say could create the definitive version of any of my characters.

I’d have to do a casting call before I could make such a proclamation. I’d personally be open to including unknowns in my casting. In fact, I think I would prefer it.

They would also have to be the actual ethnicity as outlined in the book.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding the time. I very much believe in quality of life and actually being out in the real live world living life and experiencing new things. This can make it very difficult to balance my obligations (family, etc) and my desires (to truly live life) with staying still and glued to my computer.

I also hate doing marketing, synopsizing and titling.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The writing itself. It just comes naturally to me. I don’t ever get writer’s block and I’m overflowing with ideas, etc. Once I actually sit down at my computer to pull everything out of my head, I find it flows easily – twisting, turning, building upon itself.

How would you describe your writing style?
Controversial. (laugh)

I focus heavily on character development - actions, motivations, etc and less on set design elements. I guess you could say my style is more bardesque than is typical. It’s more like I’m sitting next to you describing what’s going on in a movie or a play.

I don’t spend paragraphs describing rooms, etc. It’s just not a me thing. I only describe what’s significant to the furthering of the plot/character development. I have very little “waste” in my books. In my world, the exactitudes of setting have very little importance to the flow of a story (think Dogville). I guess you could say I’m a very concise writer in that way.

What if everything you thought you knew about yourself and everyone around you was a lie?

For the past two decades, Ni Soung has been living a lie – a lie of her own creation. A lie perpetuated by everyone around her, even her own husband and father. A lie her enemies have used to twist and destroy everything she once believed.

Now, held captive and separated from her husband and children, her only hope to save them all is the truth.

As the lies are stripped away and her memory returns, will Ni Soung uncover the truth in time to change the future or will she be destroyed by it instead?

Available in regular print, large print & ebook formats.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Additional Retailers

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I have a general idea of what I want to write and where I want it to go. I even sometimes do an outline. Still, on the whole I go with the flow.

My characters and the story largely tell themselves. I don’t try to force my stories to go somewhere inorganic and I’m constantly coming up with new ideas and changing directions (vs. where I thought I was heading).

The only exception to this rule would be with the Amarna series (as it’s ridiculously historically accurate). While I had a lot of fun with it, what happened historically happened. Though it was quite a task, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to create a compelling story under such strict conditions.

Would I ever do it again? Potentially. (wink)

What do you get out of writing?
The satisfaction of a job well done. (laugh)

I enjoy creating my own worlds and characters. I enjoy taking people away from their reality, giving them a break from real life and all that comes with it….if only for a little while. (And when I say people I’m including myself.)

Why do you write if you can’t make a living out of it?
One can most certainly make a living out of writing. There is a lot of work that goes into it, however, and I’m super lazy about putting in that work (as in my world I just have to write).

If you published under a pen name, why did you use a pen name and is there anything special about the pen name you chose?
I use a pen name because I’m an intensely private person. Grea Alexander can belong to the world. I, however, just want to be me - to belong only to myself.

What is your ultimate goal in writing?
To make a living doing something I love and am really good at for the rest of my life.

Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?

Can I be your patron?
Absolutely! When do I move in?

Social Links

Seamonkey Ink It's my first & main online property. Ok, so it's a seedy faux physical address store front where I get my mail. www.SeaMonkeyInk.com

GoodReads It's where my reviews live. www.GoodReads.com/GreaAlexander

Twitter It's where I pelt people with lemons then run away. @SeaMonkeyInk www.Twitter.com/SeaMonkeyInk

Library Thing It's where I once had a drunken 1 night stand & left behind some review babies (that I’m not entirely sure are mine).
www.librarything.com/author/alexandergrea

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T.J. Adams Interview

9/10/2016

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The guest authors for September 10th on Interviews by Dante is T.J. Adams. She is a writer of Erotic Romance. The short story An Innocent Act is her first foray into the romance genre.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
Well, that one is kind of hard, as TJ Adams has only existed for six weeks at the most and only came about when my first (and very accidental) erotic short story came about.
Under my name…I have had short crime, western and horror published in both the U.S. and England for a few years now.

Tell us about your latest book.
The latest (and first) story published in the erotic genre is a short story titled An Innocent Act. I’ve always struggled at times with wanting to walk a fine line between—let’s say—crime and romance. It’s just the way I see the world as a writer.
I don’t outline much when starting into a new story and with this one, was feeling out ideas for where the story (planned to be a crime novella) would go.
As the young man telling the story begins to meet his neighbors, I started to think, what if he gets the hots for this older gal?
The story went downhill from there, but was well written (for me) and I subbed it to a mid-lever publisher of the genre. They were quick to turn me down (too short), but insisted that I keep trying with this story. So, I did and found a home with Solstice Publishing on the second try.
An Innocent Act is the story of a young man living away from home for the first time and falling for an older gal just across the way. Over a Saturday morning breakfast in town, he finds out just how far Francine Carter is willing to go.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Under the TJ Adams name, I have an erotic / crime novella going through editing at the moment, Pandora’s Box. I had been working on the story as straight-up crime, when a small publisher folded…returning my submitted work. I didn’t have a name for the young woman in the story, nor did I have a title. Pandora was the perfect stripper/stage name for the gal, so I cannibalized the title and the rest is well… I’ve seen the cover for this one and I’m excited to see it coming out.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Both are stand-alone stories. I’ve written in series in other genres, but am not sure that I could do it with erotica?

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Like I’ve said, the first story (An Innocent Act) wasn’t planned and just sort of came out. The second, longer story, (Pandora’s Box) was intended as crime. Being able to include a few steamier scenes brought the story to life, like it really should have been.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
As TJ Adams…yes. I think it will keep from confusing anyone that already reads my work. I’ve been published in crime, western and horror under my name.

Amazon

From where do you draw your inspiration?
Life as it goes on around me.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Yes and no. Not 100 %, but maybe something about someone I’ve known.

What authors inspire your writing?
Tough one as I don’t read a lot of mainstream fiction and nothing in the romance genre. Stephen King and Dean Koontz are two that I enjoy when I can find the time. Most of the last several years have seen me reading great stories from indie writers such as Aidan Thorn (gritty crime) and Chris Derrick (western) ((both are from England)) and a host of others.
It was another British crime writer, Chris Leek, who inspired me to be OK with an element of romance in my writing after reading his East of Heaven, West of Texas. The story is crime with a touch of romance running through it.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
I think most writers are perceptive and always watching the world going on around them, so yes, I’d have to say that real life experiences make their way into my stories.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I’ve been writing for years, but never submitted anything until 2012. The Mayan’s said that the world would end, OK?
I subbed a crime novella in early 2012 and never heard back from the publisher. Hell, I’m still waiting for that rejection?
A friend suggested that I try Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and I put up four (two of which I’ve taken down since). I’ll admit that I’m not the greatest editor and I just stuck to anthologies, small magazines and internet ‘zines from then on. I’ve always had a couple of novella’s and maybe a novel length story making the rounds though.
When Solstice Publishing signed An Innocent Act, they were also willing to read other stories under both my name and TJ Adams. So for the time, I have three short stories and three novellas being published by Solstice.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
An Innocent Act is a line in the story.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I prefer history really, although I don’t seem to have the time for it anymore? Indie crime seems to be what I read these days. I am reading Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz at the moment.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
My favorite book or books would be The Dark Tower Series from Stephen King. I’ve always enjoyed the western genre and King takes it to a whole new level.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I only know of two within a hundred miles of where I live. I was introduced to some of the folks at the more local group some years ago and they just seemed too stuffy for me?

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The hardest part of writing for me, is finding the time to do it? As I write this, I’m waiting for one of my grandsons to arrive at any minute.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The easiest part of writing for me is coming up with the story. I enjoy running the characters around to see what they will do.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
A host of indie writers on the scene…Aidan Thorn, Chris Derrick and Chris Leek (England), Timothy Desmond, Matt Matila, Bill Baber and David Jaggers here in the US.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I can write anywhere, as long as I have my laptop and prefer to write distracted.

How would you describe your writing style?
By the seat of my pants…is that an answer? Although An Innocent Act is a kind of sweet romance thing as is Cinnamon Girl (out shortly), I like dark almost surreal crime stuff.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
It depends? I’ve painstakingly plotted out some stories, while just going along for the ride on others. An Innocent Act is one of the later.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices?
Today, we have Amazon and Smashwords and a host of other platforms. I even looked into Wattpad for a short story some time back, but maybe due to my age, I just try to stick with the traditional route.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I enjoyed writing as far back as elementary school. I didn’t mind the assignment and would get a good grade. Now getting up in front of the class and reading it?

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Just do it. Wait, that’s Nike, right?
Read everything and write what you want. Somewhere out there is an editor willing to read your work…you just have to find them?

If you could ask your readers anything, what would it be?
Leave a review. A review for an indie writer is like winning the lottery. Most of us don’t make enough money to speak of and that little bit of feedback clues us in on whether we are firing on all cylinders or not. If you like a story, say so. It only takes a minute of your time. If the story sucks, say that also.

What do you get out of writing?
I really can’t answer that one? I don’t know why I write, it’s just a hobby that I have pursued for a good many of my years.

Why do you write if you can’t make a living out of it?
Again, I don’t know how to answer that one. I’ve always been an avid reader, even back in elementary school. Being just weeks away from 50, I’ve read a hell of a lot of stories in my lifetime. Writing just seems to be an extension of reading, I guess. Like most indie writers, I don’t entertain much thought of hundred thousand dollar advances. It would be great, but I don’t see it happening for me, anyway.

If you published under a pen name, why did you use a pen name and is there anything special about the pen name you chose?
I hope to make things less confusing this way. If someone stumbles across me on Amazon or my website, they will know from the story title what genre to expect.
I would hate for someone to purchase a title expecting a crime story or western and get an opening scene of graphic sex?

Why did you want to be a writer?
I don’t think that I originally intended to be a writer. I just did it for my own enjoyment, just to see if I could. After enough time (years), it sort of became a habit. Once the first story was published, I wanted another.

Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?

This question has been asked, but it’s a favorite of mine. “How in the Hell, do you come up with this stuff?”

My answer: A youth of excessive drug use and a lifetime of whiskey as an adult. There’s a big world out there. There are a million stories there waiting to be told.

Social Links

Website
Twitter

3 Comments

Olga Kuno Interview

8/10/2016

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The guest authors for August 10th on Interviews by Dante is Olga Kuno. She is a writer of Historical fantasy romance. Her latest work is Half a Step Away from Love.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in Russia and moved to Israel when I was 13. I also worked in the U.S. for about a year. Professionally, I am a linguist and work at a university as a lecturer. And now I have also another profession, which is writing. And I am also a mother, which, I suppose, is yet another profession. :)

Tell us about your latest book.
This is a little bit tricky. I write in Russian, and the latest book I have completed is a fantasy adventure novel. But I believe that here, I should write about the latest (and meanwhile, the only) book that has been translated to English. This is a historical fantasy romance novel “Half a Step Away from Love”. I have to admit it’s more of romance than fantasy. The events take place in an imaginary country, but while working on the book, I took many of the details from 18th century Europe. The novel is largely about the confrontation between lord Cameron Estley, a nobleman and an advisor of the duke, and Inessa Antego, a lady-in-waiting to the duke’s sister. In the world of palace intrigue, these two are on the opposite sides, and we get a “from hatred to love” romance story. The book includes adventures, intrigue and a love story that develops step by step. Or even “half a step by half a step”. :)

What do you have coming out in the future?
I am finishing writing the third book whose action takes place in the world of “Half a Step Away from Love”.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
It can be read alone, the story is completed. However, I have written another book about the same world but different heroes, and in fact, one character from the first book appears there as well. And, as I have mentioned, I am now finishing the third book of the series. The principal characters are different ones yet again, but many characters from the first two books appear in certain episodes.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
That’s a very difficult question to answer! It’s easy for me to say why it’s fantasy. I always loved reading fantasy novels, starting with Tolkien’s books, and I’ve been interested in myths, legends, different retellings of fairy tales and so on. But as for romance… I have no idea. I can only say that at the time I started writing books in this genre, I hadn’t read anything of the sort. I had read mainly epic fantasy and adventures in fantasy worlds. And some contemporary romance. But never an interaction of romance and fantasy. And still, somehow this came… I can only say that when I think of a new plot, the first thing coming to mind is generally the romantic line, and everything else is built around this line afterwards.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
I’d say all the novels I write include romance, but there is always an intertwinement of several genres. Romance, adventure, fantasy, a detective story, humor – all of these are typically present, but the proportions vary.

In the scheming world of palace intrigue, Inessa Antego is in her element. Being the first lady-in-waiting to the Duke's sister, she won't stop at anything to please her mistress. Cancel an unwanted wedding? Easy. Show a secret lover out of the Duchess' bedchamber? Not a problem. Steal a portrait which compromizes the Duke? All you need is ask. Never mind she does it all with a little help from the palace ghosts. It's true that ghosts' friendship comes with strings attached, but what's a few favors between friends?

The only problem is, Inessa has to play her scheming game against Lord Cameron Estley. Who is smart, clever and painfully handsome. Can she successfully juggle her lady's interests and those of her own heart? Especially considering that hate is only half a step away from love?

Amazon

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Only certain elements. Some trait, attitude or attribute. But not the whole personality. I’ve recently read some author stating that characters are born in the course of the writing process. I absolutely agree.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
A lot. Of course, the books are not autobiographic. You know, I have never seen a dragon, I don’t speak to ghosts and don’t participate in sword fights. But real life experiences affect our worldview, our value system, our belief in what is possible and what is unnatural. And that, in turn, is definitely reflected in the way we write. There are also more specific experiences that played a role: for instance, the fact that I have experienced immigration helped me understand those of my characters who had to move from one country to another.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Oh, there are many things I like to do, but I hardly ever have time for them! Normally, when I have “free time”, that means I sit down with my laptop and write novels. I work at a university, which involves teaching, research and administrative work, I have a family, and I also write books. That leaves practically no time for anything else. But, of course, I love reading, I enjoy watching movies, and I love theater.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I’ve been uploading the novels I was writing, chapter by chapter, on a certain Russian website. It was the biggest website where authors could upload their work “online”, during the very writing process. This way, you can get feedback before the work is completed, that’s actually very useful, and it’s also just fun. When I started, I had no readers, except for a couple of LiveJournal friends who were following the updates. Then new readers slowly began to appear. When I was writing one of my very first novels, Westfold, which contained among other plot lines, a Robin Hood kind of theme, three readers commented on the website. That felt like a lot! I was so amazed by this fact that people discuss my characters and their deeds, as if they were talking about real-life people! And then the number of readers and commenters started to increase. After I had written several novels, my page had more than a thousand visits per day and was among the Top 100 on the website. And at a certain point I received e-mails from representatives of two big publishing houses, proposing to publish my books.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
There is a Russian singer (and a songwriter) whose songs I enjoy very much. And in one of my favorites, there are the following lines:
"You hate me so passionately,
Standing half a step away from love"
These lines gave the book its title.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I like fantasy novels that involve both romance and adventures. So yes, I do enjoy reading books in the same genre in which I write. I suppose that’s quite natural. I also enjoy detective stories.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
“The Lord of the Rings”. This book has opened for me the world of fantasy, and since then, I am in love with this world.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Lack of time. When the ideas are already there in my head, but for reasons of time I have to write much more slowly than I would prefer.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Dialogues. I LOVE writing dialogues.

What is your preferred writing environment?
Home. Sitting on a sofa with my laptop. That’s just perfect.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I MUST have a plan. By the time I start writing, I must have a very good idea about how the plot is going to develop. Some scenes may be added later on, of course.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I started in the childhood. Afterwards, there were periods when I wrote something and periods when I didn’t, and it’s only about five years ago that I started writing regularly. First, poems, then short stories, and then I moved on to novels.

What is your favorite quote?
I don’t have a single favorite one. But there are numerous quotes I enjoy, for instance, ones from such authors as Oscar Wilde and Jane Austen. I actually used some of these quotes as epigraphs in “Half a Step Away from Love”.

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Inspiration should be priority number 1. Marketing, however important, must be ranked lower. Write what you really want to write about, be true to yourselves.

If you published under a pen name, why did you use a pen name and is there anything special about the pen name you chose?
My pen name, Olga Kuno, is also my maiden name. One editor suggested that I use it as a pen name, and I liked the idea.

Why did you want to be a writer?
Because I truly enjoy the process. It’s self-realization, which is very important for me. It’s a way to get immersed in a story, which actually makes it similar to reading. But writing allows me to create exactly the kind of story that I want. Or at least to try to do so. :)

Social Links

Goodreads
Facebook
Goodreads page for my Russian books

2 Comments

Alexandra Butcher Interview

6/20/2016

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The guest authors for June 20th on Interviews by Dante is Alexandra Butcher. She is a writer of Fantasy Romance with a touch of erotica.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hi I am A.L Butcher (Alexandra), a British author of fantasy, and fantasy romance with a touch of erotica.

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book has no romance at all! But the one I am currently writing has a bit – it’s a novella centred around an on-the-run bard who must rescue his previous flame from the clutches of a slaver. It’s way more fantasy than romance. The last fantasy romance I published was book three of my series – The Stolen Tower. It follows a few of the characters in from the second book of the series but also can be read as an adventure in its own right. Let me see – we have M’alia, an elven mage whose meets Talfor, a troll warrior, and lord of his people in book II. They accompany Talfor’s sister, Mirandra in her quest to prove herself worthy to lead, to find her missing kin and along the way she meets a very lonely earth elemental. Then we have Gregori, a human merchant hunting for his father, and Ephany a half-elven assassin who is, effectively, a bodyguard and guide to the others. It’s not a happy ending, at least for one of the couples, but then again it IS dark fantasy. The earlier books tend to have happier endings for the lovers.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Currently I am working on book IV of the series, a couple of novellas for the companion series of short stories, oh and a fantasyesque erotica.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
The novels are a series – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles. They are fantasy/fantasy romance with a touch of erotica. One reviewer described them as sex and sorcery. The companion books – The Tales of Erana – are mythic fantasy short stories. Some have romance, some don’t.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Certainly in the novels the romance and relationships are a key part of the adventure. Certainly the two key mages – Dii and Archos are very passionate and their relationship is greater than the sum of its parts. Love and magic are intertwined. The characters are people, people who love and hate, need and desire, lose and gain. In Book II one of the key characters is Marden, a Witch-Hunter (the bad guys) and he discovers elves are actually not all that bad. What makes it special? Sex and sorcery. The romance makes them stronger, more united and more courageous. It is also part of the magic, Dii and Archos are bonded and this makes them more powerful, but also more vulnerable. As if one falls the other suffers, and potentially could fall as well.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
Fantasy/Fantasy romance, erotica, and I’ve dabbled with horror, poetry and historical fantasy.

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
In a dark world where magic is illegal and elves are enslaved a young elven sorceress runs for her life from the house of her evil Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt Order of Witch-Hunters she must find sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the lands stealing elves from what remains of their ancestral home the Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the tragedy and a story of power, love and a terrible revenge unfolds.
18 rated

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The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles –Book II
Who rules in this game of intrigue where magic is forbidden and elves enslaved? Journey where beliefs shatter like glass, truth is unwelcome and monsters from ancient times abound: share the romance and revenge, magic and passion, and the wages of greed in a world of darkest fantasy. (Please note the 18+ rating.)
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From where do you draw your inspiration?
Everywhere.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Walking my doggy, reading, gaming, gardening, theatre/movies.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
The meaning of the series title becomes clearer as the stories progress. Archos (the lead man) is the Lord of the Storm, and Dii (the female lead) is the Lady of the Light ) as you will discover in book II.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I tend to read fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, classics and gothic horror. I tend not to read modern set books.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
Count of Monte Cristo – it’s the ultimate revenge book
Phantom of the Opera – a tragic love story
Wuthering Heights – see above
Lord of the Rings – it’s a brilliant fantasy adventure, with amazing world-building
Sacred Band/Beyond Sanctuary/ – They are great dark fantasies, with enthralling adventure and rich world-building
War of the Worlds – brilliant sci-fi
Watership Down – it’s a book with so many layers and interpretations
I, the Sun - incredible story about an incredible man.
Dune – it’s great political sci-fi
Any of the Discworld series – funny, clever, great characters and world

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
Several on facebook. Mostly we talk about non-writing things;) But they are usually good for advice as well.
Mythic Scribes is great for fantasy writers too.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Formatting. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Ideas. I get tons and tons of them, usually at odd moments. Getting them to work is much harder. I have folders full of half-scenes waiting to find a home.

How would you describe your writing style?
Chaotic I tend to be working on several things. Sometimes I’ll write for days and days then nothing for a month.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
Go with the flow. Plots get changed – they usually tell me when they get where they need to go.

What is your favorite quote?
If you can’t be a good example, you’ll have to be a terrible warning – Catherine Aird
Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one – Terry Pratchett
The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head – Terry Pratchett

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
1)   Write what YOU want to write, and what makes you happy. Forcing a story to be something it isn’t will show in your work.
2)   Be patient – it takes time to build a following. I see so many new authors on the KDP forums complaining that the book they only published last week isn’t a best seller. There are millions of books on offer, and it is very difficult to get noticed. It takes perseverance, hard work and a few knocks but if the book is good then the readers will come.
3)   Read the TOS and FAQ of your publishing site. Really, I mean it. Most of the questions will be answered there. Take Amazon – for example. They are the biggest share of the market and you’d be a fool to miss them out. When you hit ‘save and publish’ you are, in effect, signing a contract and, thus, bound by their conditions – whether you agree with said conditions or not. The TOS and FAQ are there to be read, although Amazon is known for its rather vague answers the KDP forum folks are usually very helpful. You will save yourself a lot of stress, and not look like an idiot if you ask the same questions hundreds if not thousands of people have already asked. If you don’t like the conditions – don’t publish there. Simple as that.
4)   Success is relative. See points 1 and 2. Most indies don’t make much, certainly not enough to make a living. There are success stories but they are pretty rare. It’s unlikely you will be able to give up the day job any time soon. That said I am not suggesting you don’t bother to publish – go for it! Just be realistic. What do YOU want from your book? Why are you writing? If it’s for the love of it, because that’s what and who you are then you’ll be successful.
5)   Don’t get upset by reviews. Reviews will either come or they won’t. Bad as well as good. Don’t respond to either. Don’t bitch about Reader X who was mean about the book. It isn’t worth it. The internet can be a very unforgiving place and nothing ever truly goes away. If you rant about the reviewer then that blog post will likely do you far more damage than a bad review.

The Stolen Tower – the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III
What stalks the land cannot be, but is.
Where magic is outlawed a troll Shaman calls from her deathbed to her heiress, Mirandra Var, daughter of the storm. Mirandra vows to find her missing kin, sort friend from foe, and claim the dangerous secrets guarded by unthinkable creatures. If she succeeds, she will become the leader of her tribe. If she fails there will be no tribe to lead.

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Alexa Jacobs Interview

6/10/2016

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The guest authors for June 10th on Interviews by Dante is Alexa Jacobs. She is a writer of Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance and Romantic Suspense. Her latest work is Rising Ridge.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
My official bio will tell you that I write Contemporary Romance, I grew up in Maryland, and I started my writing career after my youngest started school full time. All true things. Unofficially I will add that said writing career began at the age of 10 with some Grade A terrible poetry. It’s cute that I’ve wanted to be a writer all my life, but seriously guys, it was some bad stuff.

I’m addicted to big black buggy sunglasses, screamy man bands, and 30 minute sitcoms. I like Pinterest, but I love naps. Naps always win. I raise kids and kill plants on a daily basis. I begin every day with a cup of hot tea and end every night with a scoop of ice cream. It’s the way life should be.

Tell us about your latest book.
Rising Ridge is a New Adult novel about a 20 year old girl who grew up in a small town feeling out of place. She sets her sights on New York City, and is comfortably living the dream when she is called home after her parents are killed. This book is the story that unfolds when she returns home and finds that she can run as far as she wants to, but it’s the boy next door who’s had her heart this whole time. Sadly, he’s never seemed to want it.

What do you have coming out in the future?
The Dreamer comes out in August, and I am so excited! It’s a bit different from the sweet New Adult romance of Rising Ridge. The characters are older, their experiences richer, and there are elements of magic and mystery. You will meet a woman who has an odd super power, which enables her to see the best and the worst of people. She meets a man who is haunted by his past, and unsure of his future. Worlds collide when a mystery red head enters both their lives, and buried nightmares bring the truth to light.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Rising Ridge is a stand-alone book that follows the life, loss, and love of Olivia Reynolds. In the process of writing the book, I accidentally fell in love with a supporting character. While I have no plans of bringing more of his story to the page, I did leave the door cracked just a bit in case I ever change my mind.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I really enjoy the romance genre because it is such a diverse genre. There will be a blog entitled “Paperback Writer” on my own website in June that delves more into this topic because there is a lot to say on the subject of writing romance.

I can write mystery, I can write paranormal, I can write historical, or steampunk, or science fiction. I can be in this world or another, and my characters can be human or they can be immortal.

With Romance, there are no limits.

I’ve written Contemporary because that’s where these characters were found in my mind, but that may not always be the case. I enjoy reading contemporary because it gives me the break I need from a very demanding world. A happy little love story in the middle of the madness.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
My husband keeps hoping that I will write the next psychotic thriller as he says that he is sure I could create the perfect storm of insanity. I don’t know if that’s a compliment, or a cry for help.

I like the love aspect of it. I like the idea that no matter what the world throws at these two people they are going to hold on to each other. I like having a person be THE ONLY person that will do. I doubt I will ever leave the romance field, but never say never. I may one day find that perfect psychotic thriller.

Olivia Reynolds was free. Twenty years old, living in New York City, and having absolutely no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up, every day would be an adventure, or at least that was the plan. When a phone call from her brother lands her back in her home town, and dealing with an unexpected tragedy, she comes face to face her brother’s best friend Dean and realizes that the feelings she had buried long ago were still there. Dean Winston has lived with the fact that Olivia walked out of his life two years ago, and was never coming back. With her back in town, he struggles to be the friend that she needs him to be, and not the lover that she once wanted him to be. With lines between childhood friends and secret lovers once again blurring, Olivia must decide between the possibilities of her future and the ties of her past. Some strings just refuse to be cut.

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From where do you draw your inspiration?
I’m a people watcher. I absolutely love to imagine in my mind how and why people have gotten to *this moment* in their lives. I listen to a lot of music, and can always find exactly what I need to hear. Very recently, I came across a song I just knew I would write my next book around. I will be starting that book this summer. Inspiration can come from the deepest broken parts of me, or just a simple daydream on a warm sunny day.

What authors inspire your writing?
All hail the queen of the Romance Novels, Nora Roberts. And I mean that with all my heart. A lot of writers inspire me. Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Ernest Hemmingway, Lucy Maud Montgomery (seriously, how can you be a 13 year old girl and NOT be inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery). Harper Lee, Sue Monk Kidd, Elizabeth Gilbert… the list can go on and on. I feel like, every time I pick up a good book, inevitably I have learned something from that writer. I just recently read a book by Amy Schisler, and coveted the way she described the rain. THE RAIN. I am but a student of all of these people.
They aren’t traditional novelists but I will mention Joss Whedon and the late Nora Ephron. They are somewhat directly responsible for my impossibly high standards on what I find funny.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
In all the best ways, I hope. There are moments where the people who love me the most will fine ME on the page. Something I’ve said, or done in real life. There are moments where they will find themselves on the page, because their actions inspired me. In those moments, it really is art imitating life. I had the experience first, and through that, this creative moment was born.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
What do I like to do? Nap. Sit outside on a warm day. Be lazy by a pool. Listen to music. Travel. Watch the shows I would never admit that I watch. Be successful at a craft project or cooking. Hang out with my friends with good food and a glass of wine.

What do I actually do? The sports, the playdates, the birthday parties, the school events, the Scout events, the church events, the town events. My only crossover success from the likes to do list is my neighborhood famous chocolate chip cookies, and the fact that I get to see my awesome friends at all of these events because they are as impossibly busy as I am. We stand at these events, eat these cookies, and talk about the fact that we should hang out sometime.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
It was a long one, and a short one all at the same time. I toyed with the idea of writing a book when I was 19. I wrote 45 pages, basically a scene in my mind. Then I put it away for no reason at all for about 10 years. I broke it back out one afternoon on a whim, and turned those 45 pages into 45,000 words. At the end of it, I knew two things to be true; I wasn’t ready, and 44,999 of those words were crap because I wasn’t ready. I put it away again.
After another two years, I was standing on the playground and I met this other mom. We struck up a conversation because I was moving into the neighborhood and she was moving out. I saw her again at a party, and as one does I asked her what she did for a living. She very humbly said she was a writer and after I expressed interest in being a writer, she gave me her card. She just happened to be a USA Today Award Winning Novelist. And no matter where I go in my life, no matter what success I do or do not have, I will tell you it would not have happened without her encouragement. SHE made it real for me. She so very kindly gave me solid advice on starting my career. I made it my New Years resolution to write my book. By September, I had Rising Ridge. The only thing that remained the same of the entire story from that first original book was the main character’s name. I told you, 44,999 words were crap. The one, Olivia, could stay. I did manage to work in the IDEA behind those first 45 pages, as a tribute to my 19 year old self. By October I had a complete book, a website, social media up and running, and had gotten myself into the RWA. I started taking workshops. I attended meetings. I checked out every book on publishing I could find. As that year wrapped up, I stood at the annual holiday party among writers that I have read and loved for years with my published book and my Debut Author award in hand. From the outside looking in, I popped up overnight on the web and announced that not only had I written a book but it would be on stands December 1. I am no different from any other overnight success story….because we’re all really two decades in the making.

Promoting a book is harder for me. For the world to know you exist, you have to speak loudly. To the people closest to you, it can be deafening. But they love, and they support…even when they see the same request for honest reviews on amazon a dozen times a week on Facebook. BTW, I still need two Amazon reviews to hit my goal if anyone wants to get on that ;)

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
I think Anne of Green Gables. It was the first book that ever had me imagining what it might be like to be the character. Even as a grown adult, I still get dreamy about being in Anne’s squad.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
I received an award from the RWA for being a Debut Author. Though it speaks nothing of my work, it speaks volumes for an organization who recognizes that being brave enough to put yourself out there as a win.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Editing. HANDS DOWN.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Going along with the characters and what they’ve come up with as a plan for the book. What they want to do, or say. Or even when characters show up that I had no plans of. I just have to write down what they are doing or saying. When they have their own ideas, take charge of their own fates….it’s so much easier for me.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
In Rising Ridge?

Rohan. I fell in love with him when he took Olivia out for pizza. I mean, he’s sexy and smart, and he encourages you to pursue your dreams. He’s level headed and sees the world as a place of possibilities. He’s a bad boy, but he’s a good man.

How would you describe your writing style?
I tend to be dialog heavy because it’s easier to let the characters do the talking. They’ve got plenty to say.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I’ve done both and found that plotting is much easier for me. It gives me a sense of freedom to play around with a chapter because I know where it came from and I know where it’s going. That said, I listen to my characters. If they change their minds, I will make adjustments.

What is your favorite quote?
Be still, and know that I am.

Yup, that’s right…I just quoted God. And not in the flowery every little thing is going to be alright sort of way. It comes to me more like “Sit down & shut up. I’ve got this, kid.”

Wild Card Question.

Q: “What is your ultimate goal in writing?”

A: To have somebody else want desperately to hang out with all of my imaginary friends. That would be awesome.

Look for The Dreamer from Torrid Books
August 9, 2016

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C. M. Boers Interview

5/22/2016

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The guest author for today on Interviews by Dante is C. M. Boers. She is a writer of Paranormal Fantasy Romance. Her latest work is Divulge. The second in her Obscured series. A third installment is forthcoming later this year.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I'm 29 years old. I've had many majors in school, including many in the healthcare field, but I only have a certificate in Medical Transcription. I have three kids who keep my world spinning and a little off kilter every now and then. I also have two dogs, a Mastiff mix, and a Great Dane.

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book is the third in my series Obscured which is filled with immortals, kidnapping, and a little bit of love. It will be coming out this fall. Keep an eye out.

What do you have coming out in the future?
My third book will be coming out in the fall of this year, after that, only time will tell... ;)

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
It is a series, that at this point doesn't have an end in sight. :)

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love all types of book, I want them to have a good strong storyline, but you need a good mix of love thrown in there, whether that is mild or flaming hot, I think that just gives the story a little something extra.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
My books are YA-Paranormal fantasy, of course they have romance mixed in. I may just venture out of that box in the future, but for now I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Abby Martin was an ordinary girl about to start high school, or so she thought, until she became plagued with nightmares after learning that she would be moving to Arizona with her mother. Stressed doesn't even cover what Abby is feeling when she thinks about trying to make new friends, but to her surprised she is surrounded by a new crowd from day one. She is even drawn to one guy in particular, Pete, but when Eli tries to convince her to stay away, she begins to second guess whether he is the guy for her. Unfortunately, she doesn't heed his warnings and finds out too late he was right all along. What's more is Eli isn't who she thought he was either. Immortality, kidnapping, and gifts are now swirling through her mind. The deeper she dives into learning of Eli's world she finds herself more confused and in trouble. And to top things off Abby suddenly can't stop thinking of Eli, her Protector, in a whole new light, is that love she's feeling? Abby and Eli get in over their heads when Pete is plotting against them, but who will come out on top?

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Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
My characters are not 100% based on any one person, but rather bits and pieces I have pulled from here and there, but soon, I may just pull someone out of my hat. You never know....

What authors inspire your writing?
I'm inspired by M. J. Fletcher, who set out on his writing journey to give his daughter books that showed her that a female can be just as strong as a male and she didn't need to have someone come save her all the time.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Of course I like to read, but I also like movies, and spending time being silly with my kiddos. My oldest and I have been reading Harry Potter together and that's been really fun.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
The title of my book is based on the hidden world of immortals, in other words, the world of immortals is Obscured.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I read a little bit of everything. I'm really into paranormal, but I also like mystery, romance, dystopian, etc.. the list could go on.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
Growing up my favorite book was "Little bits of Wisdom." It's a book of poems that are directed to a child's level that are encouraging and enlightening.
As an adult, The Ghost Bird series has really stuck with me. It's a very different concept that I find I really enjoy. The next comes out soon, so you can bet I'll be binge reading that!

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
For me the hardest part is editing. I highly dislike it.;)

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The easiest part is the actually writing. I love letting the words flow onto the paper, or computer screen and watching the book take life.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I love to write in different places. I find that if I am writing in the same place all the time, I get bored and my writing shows it. I try to mix it up as much as I can.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I do not plan much, sometimes I will write up a chapter by chapter guide, but I don't often stick to it. So more or less I go with the flow.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices?
I chose to self-publish, after being rejected several times. Most people would say not to give up and I wouldn't say I did, but I decided that self-publishing was more the route for me because I would have more control over everything that went along with my books and marketing.

What is your favorite quote?
"You are braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem,
Smarter than you think,
And loved more than you will ever know." –A. A. Milne

Just when Abby and Eli think that their problems with Pete are solved, he disappears and takes Ren with him. Ultimately, their only choice is to venture off to Colorado to find him and rescue Ren. There was only one thing standing in their way; Abby's mom. But surprisingly, she falls for Abby's excuse hook, line, and sinker. Then after numerous dead ends, Abby and Eli are finally on the right track. That is, until Abby's second nightmare comes true. Her fear and anxiety pulls Eli back to her once again, ruining their chances of catching Pete. How would they ever get Ren back now?
Back at home, things are beginning to go back to normal again - or were they? Abby and Eli are even able to go on a proper date. But when someone comes up missing, Eli and Abby's relationship will test its limits. Will it survive?
Through it all Abby is sick of being treated with kid gloves, it's time for a new persona. Abby dons her new outlook on life and never-fear attitude, bringing new friends into her life, but it just might put her in over her head. How will she get out of it this time?

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Jack Cactus and Mina Harker Interview

5/10/2016

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The guest authors for today on Interviews by Dante are the duo Jack Cactus and Mina Harker. They are writers of Steampunk/Fantasy Romance. Their latest work is Bienvenue. It's a soft steampunk supernatural Victorian romance.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
We are Jack Cactus and Mina Harker, a romantic fantasy author duo from the United States. We met on a collaborative creative writing forum in early 2015 and have been making literary magic ever since. One day, we realized that our writing told a very unique kind of story, and we knew that it needed to be shared with the world.

Tell us about your latest book.
Our latest (and inaugural) publishing effort is a penny dreadful serial called Bienvenue. It's a soft steampunk supernatural Victorian romance starring a headstrong female steam engineer, Adela Wyss, and her arranged marriage to a sickly French aristocrat with a dark past. We've published 4 episodes of the series so far, with many more to come!

What do you have coming out in the future?
Obviously, we'll be publishing more episodes of Bienvenue (even Harker and I don't know if/when it ends), one episode a month. We've also got a slew of other projects in development, including spin-offs starring some of the other characters from Bienvenue, a sci-fi story, and several medieval fantasy type stories. Stay tuned!

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Bienvenue is a penny dreadful serial. We're currently publishing one episode a month.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Why romance? Because we're both big old marshmallows. Because romance is fun to write, and we hope fun to read. It's just what we gravitate towards, for whatever reason.

Our brand of romance is special in many ways. Our protagonists are nothing like your typical romantic leads. In Bienvenue, the female lead is a rebel, a total dork with a smart mouth, and her love interest is a chronically ill recluse, fifteen years older than Adela, who has albinism and writes poetry. All of our characters are pretty atypical, and we think it's important to tell their stories. One of the companion projects to Bienvenue features a gay Swiss cowboy and a transgender woman.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
Well, even though our stories are definitely romances, we also tend to blur the lines between genres. Bienvenue is a Victorian novel, but it's also got monsters and steampunk. We have some more traditional fantasy projects in the works, like I mentioned earlier, and a sci-fi project that also blurs the lines between sci-fi and fantasy. I'd like to think that the Cactus and Harker magic transcends genre.

Adela Wyss is the beautiful eldest daughter of a wealthy Swiss banking family. She is also sharp-tongued, rebellious, and a bona-fide genius when it comes to steam engineering (a most scandalous hobby for a well-bred young lady). And at age twenty-five, Adela is a dried-up spinster. Adela is the shame of the Wyss family because she won't change who she is to find a husband. What happens when her mother secures an arranged marriage between her vibrant young daughter and a sickly French recluse?

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From where do you draw your inspiration?
Cactus: Everywhere. It varies from day to day. I'm inspired by the beach, by artwork, by nature at large, by people in my life. I talk later in the interview about literary influences, so some non-literary influences, in no particular order, are: David Bowie, RuPaul Charles, Richard Simmons, Caitlin Doughty, the beach, skulls, Paul Koudounaris, Alphonse Mucha, Todd Browning's Freaks, Quentin Tarantino, my dad, Victoriana, vintage/quack/patent medicine, Wikipedia, kittens, rainbows, plague doctors.

Harker: I draw a lot of inspiration from my own past, the pains and joys of the women of my family, and the people around me today. Music and art are also quite inspiring to me but they tend to tell stories all their own.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Cactus: I certainly don't consciously model characters after people I know. I actually find that my characters tend to be projections/exaggerations of aspects of my own personality. I never realize it when I'm writing, but I look back at something I wrote a few weeks or months ago and go, “DAYUM, so that's what was going on... huh.”

Harker: In a way. It's more like taking a piece from this puzzle and a piece from that puzzle and putting them together to make something new.

What authors inspire your writing?
Cactus: My literary influences are Stephen King, John Steinbeck, Anne Rice, and J.D. Salinger. The Dragonlance books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman also have a special place in my heart. I think that was the first time I came across a disabled/chronically ill character in fiction and that (obviously) has heavily informed my work as a writer, and gave me the courage to write characters with disabilities. I wanted to read more stories with more characters like Raistlin Majere, and as far as I knew they didn't really exist, so I started writing them. I even named a character in one of our other projects after Raistlin.

Harker: Tamora Pierce. The Song of the Lioness series is especially important to me as Alanna was one of the first chapter books I started reading all on my own. It pulled me back into loving books and stories again at a time in my life when I was learning to hate reading at school and was being teased about my learning disabilities. My mom actually read the first half to me before I started just living for the books and Tamora Pierce. Of course, after I finished Lioness Rampant, I was a bit spoiled. I had already grown up on Andrew Lang's Fairy Books and Wrede's The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. So I was used to interesting plots, magic, adventure, and between Wrede and Pierce, I was positively disdainful of ditzy female characters. Be a three dimensional person or be nothing. In my search I found Terry Pratchett who authored Thud!, Monstrous Regiment, and the Tiffany Aching stories; and Kara Dalkey who did the Water Trilogy, which is an absolute must for anyone who likes Merlin or King Arthur myths. Of course, because I'd been so spoiled by these fantastic wordsmiths, when I couldn't easily find other works, I began to write my own.

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
Cactus: Absolutely. My life experiences are the reason I write. The stories I tell are all parts of my story, just different facets and different perspectives on it, exaggerations and projections, fantasies juxtaposed with ugly truths. We sell our stories as “penny dreadful romances” but for me it goes much, much deeper than that-- that's just the best way we thought of to make it consumable.

Harker: Life has taught me that you can never really tell what's going on from the outside. It makes me love the morally grey. In my life I've been surrounded by demons dressed as heroes on great steeds and angels dressed as grumpy old bridge trolls. Real life isn't color coded, it isn't foreshadowed, and there are no helpful soundtracks to help tell when the villain has entered the room. The pale man with slicked back, raven locks and beady black eyes, dressed dead to toe in black is probably just really into the goth look. Or maybe he just doesn't give a shit. I'd be more worried about the handsome blond smooth talker with the sparkling blue eyes dressed in his shiny suit of Armani, honestly.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
Cactus: I think it started as sort of a joke... back when we first started writing together I made jokes about our story being on the New York Times bestseller list. We haven't quite made it there yet, but that's what got us started with the notion of publishing. Harker was the one who kicked us in the ass and got the ball rolling, though. Bienvenue would definitely not exist in its present form if it weren't for her!

Harker: D'aww. Cactus' marshmallow is showing. Cuteness. Honestly, since we didn't bother with trying to find a publishing house that would want to publish our special brand of fiction—I honestly think we would still be dicking around with mailing transcripts out instead of selling books as we are now if we had gone down that road—our road to starting up wasn't too crazy. We spent a few months getting our contract worked out and then when 2016 rolled around, since I was in town for the new year, we printed off copies, dropped by a notary, and then got to work. Since Cactus does all of the editing, I tried to take on finding a cover artist. That was... a trial. In the end Cactus made that, too. Which, as it turned out, was probably what we should have done in the first place considering how completely awesome it is.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
Harker: Magic.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
Cactus: I don't think ever read a whole book that would be considered categorical “romance.” Traditional romances bore me. That's why I write what I do.

Harker: I love, love, love fantasy. I especially love sword and sorcery type fantasy, told in the third person with at least one female character with an IQ over 50, at least two dimensions to her name, and at least mild autonomy. As far as romance, I adore sprinklings of it in pretty much any genre but as a genre all it's own, if I read it at all, I generally skip around like crazy. If I'm reading a romance, it's probably closer to erotica than anything and I'm totally reading it for the sex. Portable porn you can read with complete social acceptance and don't have to mute for the neighbors or family lurking about? Umm, yes, please. Unfortunately, the characters in lady porn—while more impressive than those in internet porn—are pretty dull and the chicks nearly always irritate me enough to rage quit the book if I read past the sex scenes. Other romances that are less steamy usually have rather cookie cutter plots complete with weak willed girls possessing no command of their own life or choices with none of the fun sexy bits in between their bouts of stupid.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Cactus: I think this is a not if, but when the Bienvenue movie is made, the actors will probably have to be unknowns. I can't imagine any well-known actors who would really fit the bill. Although if they could make Adrien Brody look like he had albinism, he might be a close fit for Vincent. There's also this model with albinism, Stephen Thompson, who is just gorgeous, I don't know if he acts, but I would hunt him down and do a screen test before I considered anyone else. It would be really important to me to have as many actors with disabilities as possible portraying the people with disabilities in the story. Why would we get an actor to pretend when there are millions of talented undiscovered actors with disabilities?

Harker: I have to agree with Cactus 100%. I want Stephen Thompson to play Vincent so bad. I also really want to have as many actually disabled actors as can be managed. Hollywood is bad enough at white washing and having veritable clones as their go-to actors for things, I'll be pretty pissed if they try to work around our disabled characters.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Cactus: Promoting and marketing. I suck at it, I have no head for it. It was kind of rude awakening, actually, when we first published Bien because I realized that people weren't going to just magically telepathically know it existed. Generally, I do a lot of the editing and production stuff. Harker has totally grabbed the marketing bull by the balls.

Harker: Editing. As far as I know, it's some sort of Cactus magic because I just can't wrap my head around how they managed to take what we write and turn it into what we publish. My year actually got off to a pretty rocky start besides the hugely satisfying start of Bienvenue so I didn't get to do nearly as much work with promoting as I would have liked to get us started but now that I'm slowly getting things in my personal life together, I'm getting our social media and promotional work together. Cactus is also selling themself a bit short as they write pretty much every blurb we use for our releases from the summary we use on GoodReads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble each episode of Bienvenue to the premier release omnibus blurb we posted on our site and social medias.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Cactus: The, um... writing part?

Harker: Plotting. I love plotting. I'm terrified to actually write it down. Unless I am extremely tired, the first 90% of my process of putting words to page is just staring at a blank page with my hands hovering over the keys thinking “omg omg omg I am the biggest idiot to ever idiot and this will all be 100% stupid and cliché and every trope to ever trope.” After like an hour of that, the other 10% kicks in and I just straight up lie to myself. “Don't worry, bro. No one will ever read this crap.” And that's how I trick myself into widely available literature.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Cactus: Oh my god this is the worst question. I love them all. They are all very special to me. Vincent and Rene probably have the most depth and have been explored the most, I don't know if I can strictly say they're my favorite. Vincent might come close... he's almost like my imaginary friend right now. It's a little bit creepy. They're all my imaginary friends, really, but I have had moments recently where I can almost see/hear/touch Vincent as if he were a real person.

Harker: Agreed. Worst question. Too hard. In Bienvenue, it's a bit easier for me as most of the characters I developed are side characters like the majority of the Wyss family. Adela is obviously awesome. She has a lot of my little sister in her so I love writing her but, in the same turn, that makes her a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes. I also really enjoy writing Luke, though he can be a bit terrifying to write for sometimes as he has some darkness in him. I'm also a huge fangirl for Rene. Dude is just balls out crazy. However, purely based on character and not my own personal trials writing them, I have to say I've got a four way tie going between Rene, Niklaus, Adela, and a character that has not yet been introduced.

What is your preferred writing environment?
Cactus: In my living room, on my big red couch, with my laptop on my lap, and it's raining and about 45 degrees outside and I have nowhere to go for the next day or two and plenty of coffee and chocolate in the apartment to tide me over.

Harker: Anywhere that's freaking quiet. Not silent. Silence sends my ADD into overdrive. I need somewhere comfortable to sit (floor, preferably), ambient music sans lyrics, and a cat sleeping somewhere near by (but not on my laptop).

How would you describe your writing style?
Cactus: Florid, natural, and lively. I have an intuitive sort of grasp on the mechanics of the English language so I usually know what's right and what's not, and I don't mind breaking rules for effect. I'm a very visual person, so when I write, I'm usually describing a scene playing out in my head, and I actually feel pretty much everything the characters feel. I love communicating those feelings and scenes. I don't really believe in economy of language, either, it takes as many words as it takes.

Harker: Hmm... Perhaps, “meant to be read aloud.” I grew up listening to my mom read aloud and listening to books on tapes and listening to the librarians telling stories at our local library. To me words on a page are more like notes. If I put them together in the right order, the story comes alive and whoever reads those words can sing the same song that hums in my head. Because of that, I sometimes agonize over my wording of things so I can convey what I want. It does, however, mean that I abuse the crap out of italicizing and bolding things. Another reason I'm very glad Cactus takes care of the editing so that that craziness doesn't make it to the publis.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
Cactus: HAH! To say that our plotting process is “organic” would be a gross understatement. We riff endlessly about the plot and sometimes forget what we've planned. When we try to plan what we're going to write too deliberately, the characters rebel, take over, and kick our asses.

It's awesome.

Harker: We actually have a pretty intricate outline that's a bit... well, I tried to make a digital mind map of plot points and it turned out looking like Sherlock's string web of conspiracy in the second movie. So we have an outline but we're not neurotically following a script. Our characters really just don't stand for doing what they don't want to do.

What is your favorite quote?
Cactus: What other people think is none of my business. If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me. One day at a time. Nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Write drunk, edit sober.

Harker: “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.” “Go as far as you can see, when you get there you'll be able to see farther.” “They might not need me; but they might. I'll let my head be just in sight; A smile as small as mine might be Precisely their necessity.”

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Cactus: Don't think too hard about what you're writing, initially. Just let it flow. Don't judge. The judgment part comes with editing and the second draft. I really think a lot of people are held back by judging what they write before they even write it. To me, “Write drunk” just means to write without inhibition. “Edit sober” means wait until you've written it to clean it up.

Harker: Start with a small goal. Terry Pratchett had a goal of 400 words a day before he started writing full time. It's a reasonable goal and it can spark you into much more. Allow yourself to love your work. It doesn't matter if you wrote “slfksjalkfjs” and nothing else had the courage to make itself known to you. Look at that scribble of words and be proud. Look at how cute those letters are! Look at the mountains and valleys and curves. No one else can smash keys with such skill.

Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?
Cactus: There are hypothetical questions about Bien that I... wouldn't say I necessarily wish people would ask, but questions I'm afraid of people asking. I'm afraid people are going to ask why I write about people with disabilities. My answer is that characters with physical disabilities tell my story in a way that I never could. My disabilities are invisible and hard to articulate, but I struggle profoundly in my everyday life in ways that most people do not, and by writing about characters with different disabilities, I've found a way to express and explore that part of myself. It's very empowering, actually, but I'm afraid of someone trying to say I shouldn't be writing this way.

Harker: I want them to ask about the great love of Niklaus and Regula but I think that's not really something that can be answered in less than a few hundred pages.

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Briana Michaels Interview

4/20/2016

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The guest author for Today on Interviews by Dante is Briana Michaels. She is a writer of Paranormal Romance. Her latest work is Passion. The third book in the Sins of the Sidhe series.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! *waves hands in the air* I’m Briana Michaels, writer of the Paranormal Romance series: Sins of the Sidhe. I live on a small slice of heaven in the middle of the woods with my husband, two children, and lots of wildlife. I enjoy tea, books, wine, and food. Usually in that order.

Tell us about your latest book.
My stories are about Fae, Druids, demons, witches, and a mess of other crazy peoples who all get together and raise hell… or fight in some form of it. PASSION is book 3 in the series and it’s about a Druid who is struggling to find his inner peace and fights his own personal demons. His life, so far, has been a tortured one, and he goes on quite a journey to get out of his darkness and into the light of a brighter day.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I’m currently writing books four and five simultaneously. My people like to blend together and their stories entwine a lot. I knew this would happen from day one because nothing in my books are without purpose, but to actually watch the stories weave and lives mesh is still an incredible process to be part of. I say, “I knew they were there for a reason” a lot in my head.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
The first book, Shatter, could be read as a stand-alone, but that would mean you’d be missing out on all the fun that happens in the other books! I want you to have closure with some things and a growing curiosity about others. They’re intended to be read as a growing set, so what characters you meet in one book will have stories of their own in the future. I’d hate for anyone to miss their introductions because they skipped a book or two in the series.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Well… why NOT romance, eh? I love the emotions you get from a romance novel - all the heart fluttering, the sweaty palms, the biting of your lower lip, the “Holy CRAP!” and the “Ohhh yeah, baby,” and my personal fave, “I gotta try that.”

My books are a little different than the rest because of how the game is played. One must shelve their knowledge and beliefs/theories they have about the paranormal when they read one of my books. At times I redefine what Fae (fairies) and angels do. Yes, many folks who read paranormal romance know that there are Seelie and Unseelie Fae, demons are generally evil, angels are pretty perfect, and yada-yada-yada. But I change the rules.

Smash them to pieces, actually.

Some of my Sidhe (the more powerful of the Fae) have characteristics that are found in vampires, my demons might just be heroic, and you may secretly want to kiss the bad guy at some point. They need love too, right?

There are so many layers in my novels, you could reread them and find a new clue each time. Take nothing I write for granted and pay attention, ‘nuff said.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
I write what I know and love and that’s paranormal romance. It’s a big field and there are tons of us that write it, but I love how we’re all a little different with the art of creating our worlds. Romance is something that will never grow old for me or my characters. The world needs all the love it can get.

Ruark may no longer be trapped in a cage and left in darkness, but he is far from being free - the bones in his very own body have become his new prison. Wrath pumps in his veins, and as the terrors of his past haunt him as much as the beast that resides within, the Druid struggles to find peace. He battles his own anguish, yet also feels an undeniable, metaphysical pull towards Rowan, his brother’s wife, which is an attraction that only spells further disaster. All seems lost, but when Ashlyn, a smart and beautiful Sidhe, sees her chance to redeem the man, she takes it and tries to show Ruark that he isn’t the monster he fears himself to be - but that doesn’t mean the beast inside him agrees. Will love be enough to calm the furious storm and save Ruark from an existence of rage and pain, or is he doomed to forever be the destructive monster he fears will threaten the existence of everyone around him?

Click image for explanation.

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From where do you draw your inspiration?
I don’t have to look far; the characters in my head come to me fully-loaded with desires, problems, and a history. They are pretty pushy and hardheaded when they present their issues; I try my best to help them out however I can. You might say we have a “meeting of the minds.”

I’ll get them from point A to point B, but it’s going to cost blood, sweat and tears the whole way. Wishing for a happily ever after isn’t enough, they have to earn their endings. They know that and still they come to me armed and ready for the journey.

Unfortunately, the bad guy in me also likes to muddy the waters. I throw madness around like confetti and watch what they do with my plot twists. I am very much the button pusher and the trouble maker. Inspiration comes from just sitting and chilling with the folks in my head, and the minute they start to relax, I throw a whammy at them and watch/record their response. It’s a party every day.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Some have quirks that are found in me, my kids, my husband and friends - but it’s just a few habits or favorite foods. Their personalities are alllll them. They showed up in my mind the way they are and I wouldn’t change a single thing about any of them.

What authors inspire your writing?
J.R. Ward for sure. She’s why I’d never attempt to write a vampire novel. Why mess with perfection, eh? I also love Karen Marie Moning because I think she gets the evil/good thing like me. And of course, I love the goddess of Highlander love, Herself, Diana Gabaldon. *shout out to the Outlander fans!*

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
Well, we’ve all done some foolishly outrageous things in our lifetimes. If you haven’t, there’s still time to get on it!

When I was a kid, a three-legged fox was sneaking around my grandparent’s farm. His wound was old and healed, but he struggled with just three legs. I was sitting in the grass playing with a duck (yup, a duck) when I first saw it. I put the duck down and walked right over to the fox and pet it. He wasn’t skittish; he was playful and sweet and liked having his ears scratched. Total love bug. He didn’t stick around but it was fun while it lasted. And no, he did NOT eat the duck and I have no idea why he was out in broad daylight like he owned the yard.

That was how Fintan the fox came to me when I began writing. Whoda thunk that the memory of the fox from my childhood would eventually shine through as a beloved character all these years later. I get lots of giggles from my readers about Fintan. He’s a pip.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Read, cook, listen to music, walk in the woods, and I also teach art to little ones. I wear many hats in a day.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
Anxiety-ridden. Frightening. Vomit inducing. Yup, that about covers it. It was temporary, I assure you. With lots of encouragement, I managed to get over the fears of rejection and ridicule, I hit that publish button, and said, “Well, book one is out. Let’s make more magic now, shall we?” For which my characters all replied, “YES!”

Joking aside, I wrote my first book a year ago and getting my name out there has been a slow process. I don’t like to market. I don’t like to push my product. I’m not a sales person. My success has been slow and steady and that’s okay with me. I didn’t go into this whole book writing thing with the goal of making a million bucks, I did it so that I could have my passions out there for others to enjoy. Knowing more than just my friends and family have bought my books means I’ve already accomplished what I set out to do.

Magic happens in my stories one page at a time… so will my success.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
The title of the series “Sins of the Sidhe” came to me in a wine store when I was buying a bottle of one of my favorite zinfandels. It was a total “Aha!” moment for me and I was all by myself and couldn’t tell a soul. Devastating really as it was quite spectacular.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I’m all about the love - any love - and I really enjoy reading historical romance novels.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
Oh man, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series for sure because they are so over the top and downright fierce. We’re family; I’m committed to those brothers and their shellans.

I also recently read the book “Dance with the Devil” by Sherrilyn Kenyon and I was a shredded, blubbering mess over it. I hadn’t read her books before and that story is now definitely one of the top books on my list of rereads because of how it got me to feel. *eyes water* Oh my golly, when Zarek dropped his coins! I will never look at a slice of bread the same way ever again. *excuse me while I get a tissue*

The flip side of immortal love is that I have to include the Outlander books to this list as well. My favorite thing about this series is how I’m growing old with Jamie, Claire, Fergus, Ian, Jenny, and the lot. I’ve been reading these books for years and I can appreciate the fact that Jamie’s hair is turning gray and that Claire’s backside isn’t so firm now. They’re still insanely spectacular to me, but I love their day-to-day life because I can relate to it so well. I’m aging, I have an herb garden, I chop my own wood, and boy would I love to have a dog like Rollo.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
Not yet, but I did celebrate my personal achievements by having lunch with some friends and a grand dinner with the hubs. Does that count?

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Turning it off. I just can’t do it, no matter how hard I try. When I sit in front of my computer and start banging away at the keyboard, I physically morph into a crazy person. I can’t get the thoughts typed out as fast as they are flying through my head and I start yelling some days.

To actually walk away from the computer takes a tremendous amount of self-control, which I don’t always have. Some days I literally have to be pried away from my desk and my feet drag across the hardwood floors while my hands are still reaching out to keep typing that last thought. Yeah, there have even been some tears and major anxiety over not writing. My world is too big and the characters are too demanding for me to just hit the save button, close my laptop, and walk away. It doesn’t feel right to not write.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Opening my mind and swan diving down my rabbit hole is by far the easiest thing I do in a day. It’s a labyrinth of awesomeness and only I hold the detailed map. Coming up with a new story line is done before the coffee is brewed, and since I think like a villain most days, the plot twists are abundant and come natural to me. *mwuah ha ha ha*

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Adam is my favorite - not because he’s big, protective, sexy as all get out, and full of badassery, but because of his commitment to me. He was the one who demanded I write these stories, and no matter how many times I said, “Oh no, I don’t think I should,” he would calmly reply, “But my dear, it’s your calling.”

He waited for several years while I worked up the nerve to do as he desired, and when I finished writing the first book, those gorgeous color-of-a-peacock-feather eyes twinkled at me and he said, “What are you waiting for? Write the next one.”

He’s amazing, complicated, and secretive too - so much to love, right? I keep trying to get him to sit down for an interview but he’s been busy lately. Hopefully it’ll happen soon – guess it’s my turn to show patience, huh?

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
E.A. Poe, the Joker, and Hozier are on the list. They speak to my soul and make me smile.

J.R. Ward is another one for sure. The woman is a genius and her attitude about writing really drives me to continue what I do. Will I make it as a famous author/household name/fansites-all-over-the-place writer? Maybe. But if I do, it’ll be on my own two feet. I own my failures and I will own my triumphs. That was advice I got out of an interview with JR Ward and it really hit home for me.

The “you do you” approach to this writing stuff is exactly what all authors need to remember.
My first book was difficult for me to find my voice, which was my own insecurity. My second book was a whole different ballgame. I hit the ground running, found my writing voice, and I owned that particular triumph when it was all said and done. Of course, it was also Adam’s story so…

Other influences come from daily life. I live in the woods, so my stories have a lot to do with nature. I’m married to a romantic who tends to boost my confident levels up, although I don’t think he realizes it all the time. Then there are my kids who are night and day - one’s quirky, the other’s serious; one is a night owl, the other a rooster; one’s hip hop, the other is heavy metal. Such a contrast is bound to bring on entertainment and ideas.

What is your preferred writing environment?
Tea, music, desk by a window so I can see the birds, and me alone with the cacophony in my mind. Oh yeah, and something planned for dinner that I don’t have to cook would be a bonus because once I start typing, ten hours goes fast and I usually forget to pull something out of the freezer.

How would you describe your writing style?
Not. Typical.
I write like I think and talk: Lots of humor, sentence fragments, and afterthoughts.
Preferably with sarcasm.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
Go with the flow, baby. Outlines are not my friends, they make me feel claustrophobic and committed. I’m a free bird and I go where the winds and characters take me.

Writing is like an out of body experience for me most of the time. I’m focused on the vision before me and I just type what I see in my mind. Sometimes it plays like a movie and I’m the one holding the camera. Other times the character has slipped into me, and I’m the one holding the sword… or eating the baked penne.

What is your favorite quote?
From another book? I’d say, “There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter. Which luckily I am.” – the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland

From my own books, I’m going with these humdingers:
Shatter: “Don’t let your elephant mouth get your hummingbird ass in trouble.”
Shine: “Funny thing about hiding your demons from the world around you: no matter how long you hold them under water, some demons don’t drown; they just grow gills and fins and lie in wait for you to give in. You see, pain demands to be felt and endured, love asks to be cherished, but secrets? Aw, those little bastards want to be released. Whereas pain fades and love grows, secrets just grind. They grind you down and leave some weak part of you so raw you give in and let them out.”
PASSION: “Sometimes a monster’s greatest fear is itself.”

Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?

Q: “What is your ultimate goal in writing?”

A: To have readers feel like they are part of the story, too. I want you swept up in the moments – both the good and the bad. I want you to FEEL, not just read. Get hot and sweaty, forget to breathe, shake, cry, scream - I want to drag all that out of you.
You’re reading my book. You’re now in my world. When someone’s upset, I want your cheeks to burn. When something romantic happens, I want your heart to skip a beat. When something dangerous is about to go down, I want you to look around for a weapon within reach.
I’ve had some readers tell me they felt as if they were actually in the scene while reading certain chapters and how nervous they got or that they screamed at their e-readers.

That right there goes in the “Triumph” column. I’ve reached my ultimate goal.

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Gisele Walko Interview

4/10/2016

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The guest author for today on Interviews by Dante is Gisele Walko. She is a writer of Young Adult Paranormal Romance. Her latest work is The Vampire and the Necromancer: An out of Sequence Love Story. It is book 2 in her multiracial monsters series.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a wife, mother, and Media Assistant at a school library. I love reading and writing stories. I live in Oklahoma with my family and three fat dogs.

Tell us about your latest book.
The Vampire and the Necromancer: An out of Sequence Love Story is book 2 in my multiracial monsters series (They can be read in any order). Ivan was born into a long line of necromancers, and when he transfers to a new middle school, he meets Noah, a fellow biracial classmate, and falls for his quirky twin Nova. Nova is an overachiever, vegan and violinists (orch-dork), her senior year of high school, after a misunderstanding with Ivan, she goes to a party and gets turned into a vampire. It is magical realism, so not real heavy on the supernatural, and follows a couple from 7th grade, when they were just friends, through their freshman year of college. Oh, and it’s not written in order, but most people are able to follow it just fine.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I am working on an interracial romance novella, following two college students, Travis and Legend, and I’m trying to keep all the supernatural stuff out of it. So far so good. Also I’m working on book 3 of my Multiracial Monsters series which follows Ko, a black and Japanese bratty cheerleader, and Noah (Nova’s twin)with Kleine-Levin syndrome. I hope to have both books out in April. Fingers crossed.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
They are technically a series, but they can be read as a stand-alone, or in any order. They run parallel to each other.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love love stories! I think my stories are original, and relatable despite the presence of a werewolf, vampire, or necromancer here and there.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
Right now, I think I’ll stick to romance. I don’t intend to only write paranormal romance. If a story came to me that wasn’t a romance, I would pursue it.

Click image for explanation.

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From where do you draw your inspiration?
My everyday life. My husband, my kids, social issues, work, music, movies, shows.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I think so. Many of my characters have personalities, thoughts, and traits similar to myself, or my kids, or my hubby. The situations are fictional.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Binge watching horror shows, hanging out with my kids, cooking, reading, on Goodreads, or trying to learn Twitter.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I submitted my work to a few places, and got a lot of positive feedback but no offers, so I self-published. I’m impatient.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
The Vampire and the Necromacer: An out of Sequence Love Story, I wanted people to know that it was out of order so they didn’t get their hands on it, hate it, hate me, and be completely confused. With Wolf Girl finds necRomance, I was making a pun about necromancy having the word Romance in it. My daughter hates the title.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
Mostly Romance, some horror, some magical realism short stories.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Just getting the ideas, out of my head and on the computer.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Coming up with ideas, and dialogue.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Nova is my favorite, because I love her nerdy quirkiness, and her sometimes irrational behavior.

What is your preferred writing environment?
In bed, with coffee or tea, with the TV for background noise.

How would you describe your writing style?
I write in 1st person, with alternating points of view. I’ve tried other styles, but I’m most comfortable in other people’s heads.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I just go with the flow. I usually don’t outline at all. I let the people in my head do whatever they want to.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
My husband said, “You always say you want to write, give it a shot. Write something. He’s my biggest cheerleader and my editor.

What is your favorite quote
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Just write for yourself. You won’t be able to please everyone. Some won’t like your writing style or stories. Not everyone will get it. Just write the stories you want to hear, and they will be the stories that others want to hear. Some will connect with your work, and be moved by it, and read more of your stuff.

Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?
No one has ever asked me about advice for other authors before you, so in addition to: write what you want to read, I would say if you have writer’s block, just write badly and clean it up later.

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Jerica MacMillan Interview

3/20/2016

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The guest author for today on Interviews by Dante is Jerica MacMillan. She is a writer of Contemporary Adult and New Adult Romance. Her latest work is Rebound Envy the second book in the Rebound Series.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m married and have two children, ages 3 and 1. I do most of my writing while the youngest is napping.

Here’s my bio:
Jerica MacMillan is a lifelong reader and lover of romance. Nothing beats escaping into a book and watching people fall in love, overcome obstacles, and find their happily ever after. She was recently named a semi finalist in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write 2015 contest.

Jerica is living her happily ever after in North Idaho with her husband and two children. She spends her days building with blocks, admiring preschooler artwork, and writing while her baby naps in the sling. Sign up to receive updates on her reading and writing life at www.JericaMacMillan.com.

Tell us about your latest book.
I recently released Rebound Envy, Book 2 in the Rebound Series at the end of January. It’s about jealousy, finding love, and not settling for less than you deserve. There’s lots of sexual tension between Amy, the main character, and Adam, the love interest. This series is made of novellas, so they’re shorter and easy to read, with some nice heat between the main characters to keep things spicy.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I just finished the second book in my series of full length novels Players of Marycliff University. Once I finalize the title, I’ll be putting it out for preorder, with a release date in May.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
My books are interconnected standalones in a series. The main characters from the first books are secondary characters in the following books, but it’s not entirely necessary to read all the books in order (though it might help a little). With Rebound Envy there’s no reason not to read book 1, Rebound Therapy, first because it’s free from Amazon, iBook, Nook, and Kobo.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I’ve always been a sucker for a happy ending and a well-told love story. I like telling stories about realistic characters that you’d want to hang out with if they were real. They have the same kinds of problems that real people face, which I think makes them more relatable and draws you in as a reader. I describe my writing as sweet and sexy. They’re sweet love stories, with enough heat to steam up your screen.

Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
Just romance.

Amy's best friend Jenna is engaged ... again. And she's asked Amy to be her maid of honor again. Amy can't help but feel jealous that Jenna's ready to walk down the aisle for the second time, especially when her own love life is virtually nonexistent.

Adam has wanted Amy since she first walked into his wine bar. After he finally got the chance to take her out, issues from his past got in the way.

Now she's dating someone else, and he's jealous of the lost opportunity.

Will Adam and Amy work out the issues from the past and present that are keeping them apart? Or will their jealousies ruin their relationships and keep them apart forever?

Click image for explanation.

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From where do you draw your inspiration?
Life. I sometimes play what if with situations I’ve been in or someone I know has been in. Often, the beginning of a story just comes to me while I’m doing something else. I jot the ideas down until I can come up with more—the main conflict, a couple of major plot points—and then I start writing.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I think all writers do to some extent. I don’t take people wholesale and make them a character in my story, but I do use traits from people close to me for some of my characters. For example, Abby, the heroine in Summer Fling is strawberry blonde and describes herself as often being mistaken as younger than she is with makeup on and people think she’s twelve without it. My sister-in-law had that problem when she was in her twenties, so I got that from her. That’s where the resemblance ends, though.

What authors inspire your writing?
How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
Again, all writers draw on their own experiences when writing. Otherwise you can’t craft relatable or engaging characters or stories. While I haven’t been in all the specific situations of each of my characters, I have felt their emotions, so it’s easier to convey them on the page.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Reading and hanging out with my kids. I like to get out and go hiking when I can.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
It was pretty straightforward. I started learning about self-publishing a little over a year ago. I did a lot of research comparing self-publishing to traditional publishing, and decided that for me, self-publishing was the way to go. I like having full control over the books and the timelines and not being on someone else’s schedule. Plus, it seems like even traditionally published authors have to spend a lot of time doing their own promotion. I figured that if I was going to do the lion’s share of the work, I’d prefer to keep the lion’s share of the profits as well. I considered submitting to some small ebook only/ebook first publishers to get started, but ultimately decided that if I was going to self-publish, I should just go all-in from the beginning. It’s only been a few months since releasing my first title, but I’ve seen steady growth that I find encouraging.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
I play word association games. With the Rebound Series, all the books will have rebound in the title, so it’s a matter of coming up with a word or phrase that goes with the books and has that word in it.

Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I read lots of romance, but I also enjoy other genres.

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
Probably Outlander and the rest of that series by Diana Gabaldon. I love her writing. Those books hooked me from the first time I found them when I was in high school. I had no idea what I was getting into at the time, and I’ve reread most of the books more than once. Last Christmas, the best present I got was the whole series as ebooks so I can read them easily whenever I want.

Jenna Anderson is still stuck in her grief a year after her fiance died in a tragic accident. All she does is go to work and spend time at home, her former spark gone. Her best friend decides she needs a rebound guy to have some fun and start to live again.

Brian MacCallum is the hot owner of the wine bar where Amy takes Jenna. He has a mischievous grin that he wields like a weapon to convince Jenna to give him a chance.

Will his love be enough to pull Jenna out of her grief so she can learn to live and love again?

Click image for explanation.

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Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I’m currently a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Idaho Writers League.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
I won first place in the annual Idaho Writers League competition for creative non-fiction, and my novel Summer Fling (Book 1 of Players of Marycliff University) was chosen as a semi-finalist in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write competition in 2015.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I usually write in my home office with either music or rain sounds playing in my headphones to block out extraneous noises so I can focus. Sometimes I’ll get out of the house and go to Starbucks or something for a change of scenery.

How would you describe your writing style?
Simple and accessible. I want readers to easily connect to my characters and their feelings, so I try not to let the writing get in the way of that.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I’m sort of a hybrid. I have a framework in mind for each story, but not a detailed outline. To get started, I usually know the opening scene, the main conflict, and a couple major plot points. The rest comes as I go. I try to figure out what scene I’m going to write next before I sit down to write. Sometimes I do a little free writing to get started so I can figure out where I’m going and what needs to happen to get there.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I’ve been dabbling with writing for the last couple years. I went to a conference put on by the local RWA chapter last March that convinced me that I might be able to make this work. I learned so much from that one conference and eventually joined that chapter.

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Don’t give up. Find people and resources that are encouraging and keep going.

A chance encounter at a party brings Lance and Abby together.

Lance just graduated and has a summer internship. His parents expect him to come back to Texas to work in the family business at the end of the summer. He likes to have fun and doesn't want to be tied down too soon. Until he meets Abby.

Abby still has two years left of college and a mom who keeps her anchored near the town where she grew up. She is cautious in relationships, not letting people close. But Lance's persistence wears down her defenses. Knowing Lance is leaving, Abby tells herself it's just a summer fling.

Will that be enough to keep her from falling in love?