Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Vanessa Kings. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born on March 14th of 1985, in Rosario, Argentina. At the age of 10 I wrote my first fairy tale, I found writing comforting and distracting. After that day, I continued writing every time I felt the need of leaving realty behind.

Tell us about your latest book.
Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest, is my first and latest published book. When I was about 12 years old I started putting some of my stories together and connecting them to create a novel. When I decided to really write my book, I translated them to English and added Melanie, who wasn't a character of the stories but it is the glue to connect them all.

The main inspiration I had was the books and movies of my childhood and the need to bring that kind of stories back. As I say on my blog and twitter, my main purpose is to bring the fantasy back, the old fashioned fairy-tale kind of fantasy.

What do you have coming out in the future?
I have two series that I am writing simultaneously. My main series is “Stories of the fairy of my dreams”, the first book, “Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest”, was published on December, and it is the first of three. It takes place on a magical island called The Kingdom of Astebeth. The second book of the series, “The diary of Amanda”, is expected to be published on October of this year.

My secondary series, “The Dream Fairy’s Bed Time Stories”, is a collection of ten short stories, based on secondary characters of The Kingdom of Astebeth that didn’t have their own stories on the main three books. The first book, “The Princess of the Enchanted Forest”, is available on paperback now, and the e-book will be released on February 28th. The second short story will be published on May.

I am also planning to write a book called “Spells of the Dream Fairy” or something like that, I haven’t decided the name yet, it would be an anthology of poems.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I write fantasy stories, mostly involving fairies, goblins, princesses, dragons and knights. I always say that I am trying to bring the old-fashioned fairy tale kind of books, that’s what I loved to read when I was a kid.

What I enjoy most about writing is leaving the real world for a little while; when I write I submerge into my fantasy world and everything else disappear for a moment. It is almost like reading, but writing gives the opportunity to live your own adventure and create your own characters.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
When I was a child I used to read a lot of fantasy stories, and always dreamt of experiencing one myself, just as my books' characters did. When I wrote my first fairy tale at the age of 10, I felt like living the story I was writing, it was even better than reading. So, I continued writing, just to live all this stories that were inside of my mind.

What inspires me most is to know that there are still countless stories that I need to tell, I have to keep writing to make them real. I honestly don't know where they come from, some are inspired by books or movies of my childhood, but some are completely new.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
No. All my characters are fictional and created on my mind from scratch.

What authors inspire your writing?
My favorite book of all times is "Alice in Wonderland", by Lewis Carrol. I read it about 30 times and never get bored of it. I always loved the lack of logic on the story, the crazy characters and their clever conversations.

A book that marked me forever, was "The never ending story", by Michael Ende. I always dreamt of being pulled into one of my books and be the hero of the story, I read it countless times with the hope of hearing the voice of the Childlike Empress calling for my help. It never happened, but it was the main influence to my writing.

What kind of books do you like to read?
I read mostly Fantasy and Romance but I like other genres like Sci-Fi and Mystery too.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to spend time with my son, read, watch tv and play video games (mmorpgs).

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
“Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest” is the first book of a series of three. The second book’s title is “The diary of Amanda” and the third “Return to Astebeth”

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Main Characters:
Melanie: Jo Masterson
Shaylee (The fairy of my dreams): Scarlett Johansson
Sarah: Anne Hathaway
Thomas: Douglas Booth
Arthur: Taylor Lautner
Gabriel: Beau Mirchoff 
Nasha: Hellen Mirren
Young Lucy: Emma Stone
Old Lucy: Susan Sarandon
Anylith: Alexis Bledel
Enola: Margaret Cho
Cirrus: Kenneth Choi
Child Julia: Mia Hays
Young Julia: Carey Mulligan
Anne: Dianna Agron
Edward: Nicholas Hoult
Patrick: Ben Barnes

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
Yes, I am a part of various Goodreads and Facebook writers/authors group. The one I like more is “Authors” from facebook.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
The main character of “Chronicles of the Nocturnal Forest” is Melanie. She is sixteen and has a boring, regular life. She goes to school, doesn’t have any friends, is a victim of bullying and doesn’t have the best relationship with her parents. She often gets in trouble for drawing during class, and it’s very close of being expelled or transferred to a different school, which, along with her low grades, won’t help with her college applications. The only things that help her to get through all that are her books and her dreams. She loves to read fantasy stories and often dreams that she is a part of them. One night, on her dream, she sees herself sitting next to a fairy. The fairy starts telling her the story of Sarah and Thomas, two young inhabitants of Astebeth. Melanie starts dreaming of this magical Island almost every night, always hearing the stories that the fairy tells her. 

I like Melanie because she is strong. She has to deal with a lot of bad things, but she doesn’t lose her innocence and her dreams. She stands for what she believes, she knows what she wants and she will do anything to accomplish it. She is sweet and kind, but she won’t let anyone stand on her way and stop her. During the first book of the series she goes from a disoriented teenager to a very mature college freshman, her journey and adventures in Astebeth were a big part of her life and helped her during the hard path of becoming a woman.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I have a 17 months old son, I am a stay at home mom, without a nanny or a maid or any family close to me to help, so I don’t have the chance to make myself a writing routine, I just use whatever free time I can find, and I stay awake at night if its needed. Sometimes I dream or have ideas coming to my mind and I can’t sleep until I write them down, so when I am working on a book, I have a lot of sleepless nights. I am very grateful for always having coffee in my house.

I do plan the plot, I make a list of all the scenes I want to include and then I just write them down, when I finish I add details from the beginning and then start to fix and format the file.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices? 
I wanted my story to be out and ready to be read now. Right now. I didn’t want to spend months or even years trying to find a publisher, having companies tell me that it wasn’t good enough for they to publish it. I love my book, I love my characters and my story, and I know there will be people that will love it too. So I decided to self-publish, to have my book out there for anyone that wants to read it as soon as it was finished. Maybe in the future I decide to find a publisher, but for now I am happy with the self-publishing process, I love to be the one that takes all the important decisions as cover, illustrations and if I keep the edition as the editor sent it or I want to go back to something I feel it fits better.

Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is M.C Walker. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I read different genres as well as my own. Other genres keep my mind sharp and my muse very happy.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
I love Anika Noni Rose. She is a small powerhouse whom has a strong presence when she enters a room.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I’m a part of the Atlanta Writers Club.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
Not as of yet. Fingers crossed.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
I’m a seat of the pants type writer. The ideas flow easily. However, it leaves me unorganized and scratching my head at the end of the process. I love it and would not change it!!

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I love creating the character. You can make them strong or weak. You can draw from real life and watch this person in your mind come to life on a page and it all starts with just a name and an idea.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
In my novel my main character has a daughter, Chloe. Chloe is only five. But, there is a beautiful essence in her untainted view of love and life. It gives you hope and makes you reflect on how life changes our perspectives as we get older.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
I draw most inspiration from strong women, not celebs. But, single moms who raise kids on their own or young women whom defeat the odds and make a difference in the community. In my opinion they are a true reflection of God’s grace and continued mercy on our lives. They are brave and courageous and I wish more women understood there power.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I prefer to write in the comfort of my bedroom, in my pj’s, at two in the morning while my house is silent.

How would you describe your writing style?
Hard question. I would definitely say there is vulnerability in my writing that makes it relatable to anyone. I love to be descriptive and draw out the emotional perspective of the characters. Each page leaves me breathless, sometimes I surprise myself.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I prefer to go with the flow. Not every story needs an ending. I like readers to come to their own conclusion.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices?
After studying the craft, reading the books, introducing myself as a writer, and etc. I realized it was time for me to either put up or shut up.  I knew self publishing would be a huge risk and expensive. But, the payoff would be worth the headache. For me failure is not an option. I’d rather fail trying than to never try and constantly dream of the life I wish I had created.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I’ve always known from childhood. My commitment grew the more I went in search of knowledge and understanding. Once I make up my mind about something I’m pretty stubborn about the results.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
That did take a lot of time as every title that I had thought of was already taken. I thought about the two central characters, Robert and Lisa who felt great love for each other but insecurities and cultural differences kept them apart. Hence, the name Of Love And Distance.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
It is a standalone novel. But you never know, I might write a sequel in the future!

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
Yes, I love romance. Wuthering Heights is an absolute favourite!

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
I am not sure about the heroine but Robert Pattinson would be great as Robert Brown!

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
Since this is my first book, I can only talk about it. In 2011, it was difficult to find time with a full-time job that took around 12 hours of my day. I would write crazily for three days, when I got the inspiration and then stop for an entire month. Also, I knew what I wanted to write about, but I did not plan it through. I wrote a few pages at a time and built the plot page by page. Usually, an author will outline every chapter before the actual writing begins. That is a good practice as you know what to write in a chapter and also long your book will be.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
As a kid, I loved writing my diary and also wrote some short stories. I knew I wanted to write a book some day!

Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Jane Lynne Daniels. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I write humorous contemporary romance, with paranormal elements. A native of the Pacific Northwest, I recently moved to Ohio with my husband and two highly opinionated miniature schnauzers. We’re still getting used to the change in weather!

Tell us about your latest book.
In Starts With a Kiss, Anya seizes the chance to erase a mistake that's haunted her for 10 years - causing a car accident that paralyzed her college boyfriend, Ryder, and disfigured Anya's face.

It's a second chance with her first love, and redemption at last. Everything will be better once the accident never happened, right? Not quite. After the do-over, Anya is no longer disfigured, but Ryder is still in a wheelchair. SO much worse.

Anya and Ryder are in for a wild ride, but at the end of it, they’ll find a love that spans their past, present and future.

Starts With a Kiss is the third book in the Love Rewritten series.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
Romance. I love a happily-ever-after (once I’ve put the characters through tremendous challenges and obstacles, of course) and firmly believe the path to love is never without humor.

What kind of books do you like to read?
Books that make me laugh, cry and root for the characters. Books that I keep reading long after I should have gone to sleep because I have to know what happens and am willing to be bleary-eyed the next day just to find out.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
Each book in the Love Rewritten series features ‘kiss’ prominently in the title – Be Careful What You Kiss For, K*ss Happens, and Starts With a Kiss. Kisses are a very important part of romance!

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
Starts With a Kiss is the third book in the Love Rewritten series, where the heroine of each story has the chance for one ‘do-over’ of a past life mistake. You don’t need to have read the others to read one, though I hope you will enjoy yourself so much, you will want to read them all.

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I love reading in the romance genre, though I also enjoy reading women’s fiction, science fiction, biographies, and history.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I belong to the national Romance Writers of America (RWA) organization and two local chapters of RWA – one in Washington and one in Ohio.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Writing the first draft. I’ve written several novels now, but blank pages intimidate me every time.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Editing! I love editing. Once the words are on the pages, I can play.

What is your preferred writing environment?
Either at a table in a busy Starbucks or somewhere, anywhere at the beach. As long as I have my laptop, I’m good.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I knew I wanted to be a writer at the age of eight and I still have a children’s book my mother gave me – called Someday You’ll Write – on my bookshelf. I didn’t, however, devote serious time to writing until my children grew up and left for college.

Tell us about your latest book.
-I Am Not A Barbie is a self-help/relationships guide book. What I did with this book is adapt a writing style and tone that appeals to every reader. Meaning that it’s a quick and easy read. Every chapter starts with facts, followed by tips and advice, and ends with either a silly or funny personal story/anecdote or an interview. I wanted to make sure that my readers would reflect on their life situation and/or their happiness, that they would smile and laugh, maybe sometimes get a little emotional depending on what they are going through. Basically, I made sure that my book would touch women (even men) and bring them on a path to empowerment that will lead to happiness with themselves and others.

What do you have coming out in the future?
-A memoir. There are quite a few women who, after having read the first chapter in my book, are already asking me questions about my past relationship and how it was for me to go through the whole process of turning my life around from complete darkness to every day happiness. It was such a long, hurtful, and ever so challenging process to go from then and there to here and now.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
-I draw my inspirations from daily observations. From people around me. From conversations I have with friends. Simply from life, literally.

What authors inspire your writing?
-Jack Canfield, Eckhart Tolle, and Christine Comaford.

What kind of books do you like to read?
-Oh that’s an easy one! I am a compulsive reader. I read everything! Fiction, fantasy, YA, memoirs, biographies, self-help, and the list goes on..! I do not read anything gore though.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
-Read! I love nature so hiking and spending time in the woods is essential for me. I also make a it a point to spend most of my free time with my kids. I love it and they’re my priority! It brings me back to the core of my existence, to the reason I wake up every morning and work hard to do what I love.

What was your road to publishing like?  Tell us about it.
-I decide to self-publish through CreatSpace. The decision was easy, but the rest that came with it not so much. There was a lot of research and work involved in hiring freelancers for editing, proofreading, the cover design, the interior layout. Also getting the copyrights and ISBN numbers. It was not all too complicated, but definitely time consuming, and I felt like a tiny fish swimming in a gigantic ocean. Next time will be like a fish in a large pool, and hopefully after that it will be like a fish in its tank. I want to master what I do!

How did you come up with the title of your book?
-I created a contest using Facebooks Ads. In order to participate people had to sign up for my newsletter and then they had access to read a 25 pages preview of my book. The prize was an ipad. It was a great way to draw traffic to my website and to have a larger mailing list. 

The reason I chose I Am Not A Barbie is because of the contrast between Barbie and the everyday woman. I mention in my book how women, especially young girls, struggle with their physical appearance and their own acceptance because of the entertainment industry and what we are brought to believe to be the traits of the ideal woman. The idea of an ideal woman mold is ludicrous. I also press on the fact that you should be who you want to be, and not who others expect you to be.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
-I would say it’s my ‘get in the zone’ that is my biggest challenge. I’m sitting at my desk, pencil in hand, staring at my notebook, and waiting for my hand to move. But the second my pencil touches the paper and the first words are written, there is no stopping me! haha 

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
-Writing about the facts from my research. Definitely.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
-My inspirations are my three children. No doubt about that. 

My ultimate influence is Christine Comaford. Not only because my writing style for I Am Not A Barbie was based on hers in her book Rules For Renegades, but also as an entrepreneur point of view for my other project and business that I am developing.

What is your preferred writing environment?
-My office at home. My desk is facing a huge window and I live in the woods, so no matter the weather the scenery is always magical! I need to have plants in my office and I always listen to soft classical music when I am writing. When I am doing some social media or my research though I tend to opt for heavy metal music. 

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
-Five years ago, after I gave birth to my oldest son. I was on maternity leave and the simple thought of going back to a 9 to 5, five days/week job was so depressing to me. Like I mentioned before, I read self-growth books, and I remember reading that in order to be happy with your work all you have to do is figure out what your passion is and make a career out of it. So I took up writing courses, had two more babies, wrote my first book, and all the while I never stopped jotting down new ideas for books. So yes, there are much more to come!

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am currently a high school English teacher in the town where I grew up, and I truly fit the English teacher clichés—I’m obsessed with cats and love reading.  I live in my hometown with my junior high sweetheart, our four cats, and our mastiff Henry.  When I’m not reading or writing, I love taking Henry for walks and shopping.

Tell us about your latest book.
Voice of Innocence is a project I began when I was still in college.  I was taking a summer course called “The Literature of Health and Healing.”  The class really focused on the concept that you never know how much time you have left to pursue your dreams.  I decided to take this message and run with it; I started writing a novel, which was something on my “bucket list.” 

I had always been fascinated by the plight of the wrongly accused, but I often focused my thoughts on the loved ones of the accused.  I found myself wondering what it would be like to be in love with someone who was wrongfully convicted.  From this concept, the characters of Emma and Corbin emerged.  The title for the novel came to me first.  Once I started writing their story, I just couldn’t stop.  I imagined two high school sweethearts torn apart by a tragic event.  I also started to explore the feelings of regret and sadness that would plague them later in life and the power of first love.  Over several years, all of these concepts came together into the novel Voice of Innocence, released February 26, 2015, by Melange Books, LLC.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I have always loved the romance genre; it’s my favorite to read and write.  I think that no matter how cheesy it sounds, love is truly a powerful, beautiful emotion.  It’s something that connects us all, yet it’s also something that distinguishes us all.  Readers can connect to the universal theme of love, but they can’t always predict its twists and turns due to its complexities.  For me, this is the equation for a perfect, engaging story.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
As a teacher, I always talk to my students about the fact that you have to write what you know.  I think every writer is inspired, to an extent, by his or her background and experiences.  Thus, my own experiences, emotions, and encounters certainly play a role in my writing.  My real life, though, is just a springboard.  I’m finding that as my writing ability and confidence continues to develop, I am stretching myself away from what I know into more imaginative territory.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
One of my characters is completely based off of real life—Henry, my mastiff.  He is Corbin’s dog in Voice of Innocence.  I can’t say there is a rhyme or reason for this other than the fact that I am unabashedly obsessed with Henry. 

As I said earlier, there are certainly bits and pieces of my real life experiences used as a foundation for my writing.  Those who know me well probably see similarities between my personality and Emma’s.  Nonetheless, as a whole, my characters are distinct entities from real life.  They are purely fictitious and only exist in my novels, but my goal is to write realistically enough so that readers will be able to believe they truly exist.   

What authors inspire your writing?
I have always been an avid Nicholas Sparks fan.  I love his writing style, and I love that he can make characters both relatable and unique.  I know when I pick up one of his books I will be able to count on a beautifully crafted tale about two people falling in love.  However, I don’t know what the path will look like to their love and how they will be tested.  I love that about his writing.

I have recently become very intrigued by Liane Moriarty’s writing as well.  One of my close friends recommended her book What Alice Forgot. I fell in love with the way Moriarty combines deep, emotional conflicts with lighthearted humor.  I find myself laughing out loud when I’m reading her work, which I think speaks to her talent as a writer.  Humor isn’t always an easy element to incorporate, but she does it gracefully.

What kind of books do you like to read?
I love reading romance but also am somewhat of a science fiction fan as well.  I read a substantial amount of young adult material just to stay in touch with the books my students are reading.  Classics are also a major part of my reading list since I teach many of them. 

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
I was born, raised, and still live in the same town.  Our town is relatively small, so I think that plays a role in the type of characters and setting I write about.  

In addition, I met my husband in seventh grade at the art table.  He was my first and only love, which has significantly impacted my views of the romance genre.  I think our relationship has allowed me to believe in the power of first love while also helping me to see the conflicts that can arise when you are with the same person for a long time.  We’ve changed and grown since we first met, so our relationship has undergone many transformations as well.  This has given me a unique perspective of relationships, love, and the impact of first loves.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I must admit that I am a bit of a shopaholic.  I love fashion, cosmetics, and the thrill of finding a good bargain.  Shoes are also a big weakness for me, as evidenced by the overflowing shoe racks in my closet.  Other than that, I like spending time with my family, taking Henry to the dog park, or just relaxing on our deck with a great read.

What was your road to publishing like?  Tell us about it.
Publishing a book is something I’ve always dreamed about.  When I was in elementary school, I used to write poems and stories in my journals all of the time.  In sixth grade, I started writing a novel.  It wasn’t until college, though, that I decided to really pursue my writing.  

I never truly expected to get a book published because I knew that it was a tough business to break into as a new author. I worked on Voice of Innocence because I just felt a need to write the story, not because I felt like it would be published.  I would work on writing it over the summers when I had extra time, putting it away when classes started in the fall.  It was during the summer of 2013 that I finished the novel.  Thanks to my husband’s encouragement, I decided to see if any publishers would be interested.  Luckily, Melange Books, LLC, read the book and gave me the opportunity to see it shared with the world, even though I was a new author. 

How did you come up with the title of your book?
Honestly, it just came to me.  I know that’s a terrible answer and seems implausible, but it just literally came to mind before I had even started writing.  I’ve recently finished the first draft of a second novel, and it was the same thing—the title came to me first.  

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
Voice of Innocence is a stand alone novel.  I have outlined a sequel but haven’t started writing it.  I just finished the first draft of a second stand alone novel but am focusing on Voice of Innocence right now.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
My mom and dad incited my appreciation for literature and writing.  Before I was old enough to attend school, my mom would sit with me every day and read books with me.  In elementary school, my dad helped me refine my writing style and helped me develop one that was unique.  My parents really established the foundation for me to grow and learn as a reader and writer.

I also had many influential teachers along the way who helped me build confidence in my writing.  Mrs. Vella was my teacher in sixth grade; she helped me realize that I could write works that people would want to read and even got me started writing a novel.  Mrs. Gunsallus, my twelfth grade AP Literature teacher, taught me to appreciate and dissect the writing styles of the greats through classics.  She also helped me fine-tune my writing abilities.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I usually write on my laptop while sitting on my couch with a few cats.  I tend to write best in the evenings, so I usually work then.  In the summer months, I sometimes handwrite scenes while sitting on my deck.

How would you describe your writing style?
I’ve been told that my writing style is very descriptive, which makes sense because I really focus on visualizing the scenes as I’m writing.  I try to paint the images I’m seeing in my mind with my words so that readers can vividly see the environment, the characters, and the events.