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Interviews by Dante

Welcome to Interviews by Dante the home of Romance Author Interviews. Enjoy. If you're an author and wish to be interviewed by me then click the link below to send me an email and I'll get you on the list.
Interviews post on the 10th, and 20th of each month. As of June 1st 2015 Interviews by Dante is exclusively interviewing Romance Writers. 

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Pamela Crane Interview

8/30/2015

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

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Please tell us a little about yourself.
My biggest feat in life is being the mother of four kids ages five and under. It’s the hardest job I’ve never gotten paid for, but it’s the most rewarding one too. I’m also a wife to Superman, and I’m an editor for a prominent publishing house. I write in my free time—which doesn’t exist, so my husband helps me make free time. That’s why he’s Superman!
 
Tell us about your latest book.
My romantic suspense novel, The Admirer’s Secret, is about a woman, Haley, who falls desperately in love with the wrong guy—and I mean desperate. She gives up her writing dreams for him and he ends up betraying her. She’s had more than a rough life—the loss of her father at a young age, her best friend’s suicide… and the one thing she longs for is out of reach. It’s a journey of true love, healing, and hope for the weary… with a significant suspense element thrown in as a character with a mental illness enters stage left.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
The Admirer’s Secret is autobiographical in many ways, sharing an experience I endured a few years ago. In fact, writing it was my therapy after a trauma I experienced, and giving Haley closure and renewed love at the end of the story helped evolve my own closure. My writing tends to depicts elements of my own life, since life itself is my inspiration.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Absolutely. Haley, Marc, and Allen, all characters in The Admirer’s Secret, are based on real people in my life. Haley’s father is based on my own memory of the loss of my grandfather and how it later impacted me. Real people in my real life help me create real characters with emotions, dreams, desires, and pain.   

How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
Several years ago I was traumatized by a stalking incident that escalated into a flood of threat letters, mysterious phone calls, and a police investigation. Afterwards, I needed something to help me move on, and that’s when I started writing The Admirer’s Secret. The companion novella that I wrote, A Fatal Affair, uncovers more about the mysterious character Allen Michaels, and much of it is also based on the real life of someone I knew.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Along with going prematurely gray from stay-at-home parenting four little ones, I am an animal enthusiast. We have rescued three horses and are in the works of starting a horse rescue, along with being the caretakers of our very own mini-zoo with a dog, cat, guinea hens, and fish.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
With my background in in-house traditional publisher editing, I knew a thing or two about the industry and was able to get picked up by a fairly popular traditional publisher… which I later regretted. They gave me very little attention since I was new, and as soon as my contract was up my husband and I decided to start our own publishing house and my books would be our first venture. It’s still in its early stages, but it’s been an amazing learning process navigating the whole publicity element. My sales have been more than I ever saw with the larger house I had been with and I’m so glad I decided to take the leap.
Author Bio:
Pamela Crane is a North Carolinian writer of the best-selling novels The Admirer’s Secret, A Fatal Affair, and A Secondhand Life. Along with being a wife and mom of four rug rats, she is a wannabe psychologist, though most people just think she needs to see one.

She’s a member of the ITW, ACFW, and EFA, and has been involved in the ECPA, Christy Awards, and Romance Writers of America. Along with delving into people’s minds—or being the subject of their research—she enjoys being a literary reviewer and riding her proud Arabian horse, when he lets her. She has a passion for adventure, and her hopes are to keep earning enough from her writing to travel the world in search of more good story material. Grab a free book on her website at www.pamelacrane.com.

Author of The Admirer's Secret, A Fatal Affair, and A Secondhand Life
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It started with a glance. And ended with a nightmare.

Westfield, New York—both home and prison to Haley Montgomery, a woman crippled by the death that hovers over her. After the loss of her father and best friend, Haley grapples with the loneliness of her small-town existence. But when her solitary life is upended by the man of her fantasies—the rugged, charming Marc Vincetti—her dreams quickly twist into a nightmare.

A secret admirer’s eerie love letters threaten to uncover Haley’s dark past, unraveling a haunting childhood secret that decades later consumes her. Soon the quest for the letters’ source sends her on a dangerous personal journey that could cost her life. As the layers of her troubled existence peel away, everything Haley thought she knew about love, and herself, testifies to the brokenness that lurks within the human psyche.
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Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
The Admirer’s Secret is a standalone novel, but I wrote a companion novella, A Fatal Affair, at the request of readers wondering more about Allen Michaels, a darkly puzzling character with an obscure past. 

Have you won any awards for your writing?
My first writing award was bestowed on me for a poem I wrote about my grandfather back when I was eight years old, followed by an award for a short story I wrote titled Weedlia’s Fate. I won a whopping $200, which my mom made sure I didn’t blow on candy. This was the first time I realized I could earn money doing something I loved—writing—and I was hooked. 

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Haley is my favorite character because she’s broken yet beautiful. She longs for the same thing we all want—love. I get her, and she gets me. We’re the same in so many ways. Although at first her dreams may not be with the right person, eventually she discovers her own path that takes her where she belongs. It’s a journey we must all take in our own time and in our own way.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices? 
As a publishing house editor and now a writer, I believe that every publishing route has its merits based on each author’s desires. Traditional houses know how to publicize and have the financial backing to do it well, which makes them a solid choice. But many great books are overlooked or undervalued by traditional houses, and that’s when self-publishing can give a book a chance to find its fans. But no matter what route an author chooses, quality is a must. A creative cover. Well-written marketing text. And a thorough edit (I’m an editor—of course I’d say that!). In order to take pride in a book an author must consider it an investment and put everything they have into making it pristine and marketable.  

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I was eight years old when I wrote my first story about animals… a very Richard Adams-esque type of story about talking dogs and bunnies. I ended up writing poetry and short stories from then on, as well as loads and loads of diary entries, becoming reliant on writing to get through the slew of emotional angst a teenage girl endures. When I landed an editing job after college I navigated away from writing for a while, but I eventually found my way back when I started writing The Admirer’s Secret. I’m now completing my fourth book. 

What is your favorite quote?
“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” E.L. Doctorow wrote that, and I love it because it’s true. I become a different person when I write, following the orders of the characters in my head. This is the only time it’s perfectly “normal” to have voices in your head. 

Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Don’t quit. Keep writing. If it’s a dream that you’re passionate about, but perhaps it’s not coming easy for you, try harder. Learn more about the writing craft. Keep putting books out there. Writing isn’t an easy, get-rich-quick scheme. It takes perseverance and sucks everything out of you, but it’s its own reward when you finally leave a small part of yourself with your readers, a legacy of your thoughts and creativity. 
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J.L. Dillard Interview

8/25/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is J.L. Dillard. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a southern girl at heart living in the big city. Writing is my first love, though I’m having an affair with music (I’m a drummer in my spare time). I enjoy creating stories and giving life to the characters of every book I compose. It’s a liberating feeling and I couldn’t be happier.

Tell us about your latest book.
A Love of My Own…it’s the story of two friends who decide to spend a week together to see if their secret attraction is real or a figment of their overactive imagination.

What do you have coming out in the future? I have several books coming out this year, Book 3 of The Pleasure Principle Series, The Found Road Home.
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Blurb for Say Yes! - For Lauren Trenton, her mantra was intimacy without strings until Danger Coldwater walked into her life and ignited a flame long since forgotten. Determined to change her mind, Danger readies himself for all-out war, set to pull out all the stops to gain her trust and love for a couple of forevers.
Forthcoming
From where do you draw your inspiration? 
I people watch and that’s where I get my stories. I could be walking in the mall, reading the paper or walking to my car.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
No. It would be too messy and I run the risk of getting dirty looks. Lol

What authors inspire your writing?
My favorite authors are James Patterson and Jackie Collins
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What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I binge watch my favorite shows

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
The road wasn’t easy. I faced many rejection letters and second-guessed my God-given talent, but I preserved through the disappointments until finally I was given a chance to prove my characters needed to be heard. For that I’m truly thankful.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
Most times I will hear a song and it will trigger a title. On occasion the title will come to me.
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Is your book a stand alone or a series?
I have both. Series book gives me a chance to spend more time with the characters.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Jill Scott

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you? 
Listening to the characters. Sometimes we have a difference of opinion and until we’re on the same page, the story cannot be told.
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With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices?
E-books gave me my first opportunity and I look forward to one day having my own imprint company to offer other first time writers a platform to tell their stories.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
When I was a kid, I played make believe in the backyard and wrote my own stories, TV shows, movies and plays. Of course at the time, I didn’t understand what was going on or what it all meant and thinking about it now some of things I wrote were horrible, but I kept writing.
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Sarah Brocious Interview

8/20/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Sarah Brocious. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I like to say I’m a loan specialist by day and a writer by night. I have four completed books and I am working on five and six!

I am an introvert and many find this surprising because I can be very out going. (I guess I am a high functioning introvert.) I would honestly rather be reading, writing, listening to music, or sitting by the water all by my lonesome. I am best when I am with a small group of really close friends or family.

I grew up in a big family…four girls and four boys. I’m thinking that may be why I like to be alone (big families can get overwhelming and alone time growing up was a treat)

Tell us about your latest book.
Nolan’s Evolution is the sequel to The Awakening. It’s a continuation of Nolan and Raina’s story. It’s truly about the evolution of all the characters from The Awakening, but mainly about the changes Nolan must go through…an acceptance of his immortality.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Well, I was working diligently on the third book to follow Nolan’s Evolution, but it was slow going. Not wanting to burn myself out on it, I decided to focus on a story that’s been teasing my imagination. I am hoping to get “What Remains” out and in the reader’s hands within the next few months! It’s just a sweet Contemporary novella, but it will be a great read!

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I write Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance and I love reading both. I have learned that I do like Horror and Crime as well, but mostly I am a romance girl.
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The second book in the Wake Up Series, Nolan's Evolution, is a continuation of this epic love story. We find Raina, Nolan, and Thanatos adjusting to the change brought on by Nolan's "contract". He is no longer Raina's protector and he must have no part in her life...a fact that is torment to both. 
Each will go through difficulty adjusting, but especially Nolan. For too long he has pushed aside his gifts, but they are about to be tested and he will have to choose which way he will go. As Raina experienced her awakening....Nolan must face his own evolution. 

And there is more to his past than he has let on. He and Thanatos have been keeping secrets and they will do everything to keep that past from hurting Raina. 
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What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Oh, this is easy! Nolan would most definitely be Henry Cavill…no question! Raina? She’s harder to decide because she has so much of me in her character that I am nearly always in her shoes. The character of Thanatos? He would most def be Jensen Ackles from Supernatural. (Oh look, my paranormal preferences are showing!)

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The hardest part is finalizing the story! I have an issue with letting go of my characters. I just want their story to go on and on! Maybe that is why I am finding it so hard to finish book three of The Wake Up Series…I don’t want to let go!

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Losing myself to the story and connecting with my characters. When I write it is like there is a movie playing in my head or a play of some sort. I see the opening scene and the ending scene chapter to chapter.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences? 
My biggest influence to write did not come just from authors I admired or stories that I loved. My greatest influence to write, to create, to publish came from my Grandma (Monk) Mary Ellen McCullough. She pushed me all my life to make it happen. Without her encouragement, I would have given up.
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Forthcoming
How would you describe your writing style?
Emotional…like me. I like to build upon my characters so that the reader has an emotional connection to them.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I have to write an outline initially, but generally I go with the flow. I can be in the middle of a sentence and my character will change my mind for me. haha

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices? 
I published independently but through Amazon KDP. I like having the control over my writing. 

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I had been writing for years. I have notebooks, trappers, pages and pages of writings. I was scared to share them with anyone. I had a small few that I had allowed a peek say that I had to publish…which was encouraging. 

It was not until my Papa passed away April of 2014 that I finally took a step. Him passing caused me to question my own mortality. What had I accomplished? How long did I have left? What am I leaving behind? Sounds morbid, but it lit a fire under me. I want to touch as many as I can with my writing and I want to leave my mark on the hearts of those it does.
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Sarah Ashwood Interview

8/16/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Sarah Ashwood. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sarah Ashwood, and I’m a stay at home wife, mom, writer, runner, college student, and homeschooling teacher. I will graduate from American Military University this summer with a degree in English, and I like to keep busy! (In case you couldn’t tell.)

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest published book is Aerisia: Field of Battle, the concluding volume of the Sunset Lands Beyond trilogy. The idea of this trilogy is that a young college student, Hannah Winters, is taken unexpectedly from Earth to the parallel world of Aerisia—the land beyond Earth’s sunsets. Here, she’s told she is the Artan, a long prophesied heroine who must save Aerisia from the Dark Powers. Long story short, Hannah initially resists the idea, but the longer she stays in Aerisia the more she begins to discover herself, her resilience, her magic…and love.

Aerisia: Field of Battle, is the conclusion of Hannah’s long journey from girl to woman, college student to Artan. It is an epic battle of good against evil, Hannah Winters against the Dark Powers, and the stunning aftermath that holds devastating consequences for all of Aerisia. Furthermore, it is the wrapping up of a romance between Hannah and Lord Ilgard, the High-Chief of the Simathe, a band of mysterious, immortal warriors. Aerisia: Field of Battle is actually my favorite book in the trilogy, because it is the conclusion of a love story that’s been a long time in the making.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Right now, I’m in talks with a publisher for a fairytale romance novella (fingers crossed). I don’t know what will happen on that end, but my next release will be an updated version of Aerisia: Land Beyond the Sunset, the first book in my Sunset Lands Beyond trilogy. We had so much reader feedback asking for more of Hannah’s backstory before she was taken to Aerisia, that my publisher and I decided to go back and add it in. There are a few other changes too, including cleaning up a sprinkling of editorial errors. That being said, I’m very excited for the re-release of Aerisia: Land Beyond the Sunset. Hopefully, it will be coming out in a couple of months!

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
The two genres I enjoy the most are fantasy and historical fiction. I love history, I am obsessed with history, but I’m also obsessed with speculative fiction. The cool thing about fantasy is I can combine these two loves into one. The cool thing about historical fiction is I can revisit fascinating times, peoples, and places of the past.
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The mystery of other worlds is not one Hannah Winters ever thought she’d solve. However, the day she spots a brown-robed stranger with a magical staff in a neighbor’s field is the day she also discovers Aerisia, a magical land beyond Earth’s sunset.

Here in Aerisia, Hannah is believed to be the Artan, a legendary heroine prophesied to deliver Aerisia from the Dark Powers. Plenty of people, including the Simathe, a race of immortal warriors, and the Moonkind, people of the Moon, are willing to help her discover her true identity, but Hannah’s just an ordinary girl from Earth. She doesn't have any latent magical abilities and she’s not the Artan. However, her allies aren't seeing it that way. Neither are her enemies. In fact, Hannah’s life is in jeopardy nearly from the moment she arrives in Aerisia. And becoming the Artan may be the only way to survive…
From where do you draw your inspiration?
I get inspiration from the world around me. From nature, friends, family, strangers, music, art, world events, books (including historical works), poetry…even running! The cool thing about inspiration is, you never know when it will strike. 

What authors inspire your writing?
Some major influences would be Zane Grey (which sounds weird since he wrote westerns; however, my favorite character in his books, the frontiersman, Lewis Wetzel, definitely had an impact on the formation of the Simathe race), Linda Chaikin, C. Greenwood, Julie Kagawa, and Tolkien, to name a few. 

What kind of books do you like to read?
I am a fairly eclectic reader. I enjoy history, theology, fantasy, fairytales, historical fiction, young adult fiction, and even a smattering of science fiction. I don’t stick with any particular genre, and I’m usually reading several books at once. Takes me a while to get through them, but that’s also because I don’t have as much time to read as I used to. 
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Discovering she is another world’s prophesied heroine was not something Hannah Winters could have ever predicted. However, having accepted the mantle of Aerisia’s Artan, Hannah must now move beyond the pain of the past and conquer her magic in order to save this land. Will the pitfalls awaiting her—suspicion, rumors, lies, betrayal, murder, warfare—halt her quest? Who is Hannah’s ally, and who only appears to be? Will shocking revelations about her heritage push her away or convince her that she’s walking the right path? With the Dark Powers growing bolder every day, Hannah’s pursuit of answers leads her to the Underworld, a place where even immortals dare not tread, on a journey from which she may not return…
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What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Fitness and running are two of my other major interests. I try to workout or run at least 5-6 days a week. Without that “me time,” that stress relief, I would probably go crazy from trying to cram so much into every day. 

Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I definitely read the genres I write. In fact, a love of fairytales from the time I was a child helped mold and shape my love of fantasy and speculative fiction. When I was very young I enjoyed reading huge collections of fairytales gathered from around the world. Elements of these stories have stuck with me ever since. 

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding time to write when my kids aren’t in my hair! Usually this is during their naptime or after they’ve gone to bed. I have two boys who really keep me hopping. 
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As the Dark Powers and their dreaded champion gather their forces, all of Aerisia holds it breath while Hannah Winters, their long-prophesied Artan, continues her quest in the Underworld. Should she overcome its deadly snares, is warfare against the Dark One all that awaits? Or is there a chance for love with the immortal Simathe High-Chief, and a lasting peace for her adopted homeland? To fulfill prophecy, she’ll have to triumph where other Aerisian champions have failed, which means surviving betrayal by friends and contesting the full might of the Dark Powers. To succeed and live, she’ll have to defeat an enemy no one could have predicted with a power no one knew she possessed. Friendship and treachery, love and hatred, faith and despair, and life and death will all be played out on the final field of battle, in an epic struggle not only for Aerisia’s survival, but its Artan’s, as well…
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What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The creativity, I think. I am never out of storylines. Usually there are multiple stories constantly running through my mind. 

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
I think Ilgard, the Simathe High-Chief, is my favorite. I admire his stoicism. Plus, he was my first literary love interest—or, the first one I wrote. I will always have a soft spot for him. 

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
When I began working on my Sunset Lands Beyond trilogy and my passion to keep writing, to tell this story, to finish this series, never gave out. By the time I’d finished, over a year after starting, I knew being a writer was one of my goals in life.
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Carmen Stevens Interview

8/11/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Carmen Stevens. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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What do you have coming out in the future? 
Right now, I'm simply working hard on promoting my novel. But I may put out another book in the future.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life? 
Yes, actually. Or at least my protagonist, Anne, is based on the dark side of my personality. 

What authors inspire your writing? 
The great Charles Dickens, and also my favorite all-time author, the queen of historical fiction-Lynn Austin. She has inspired me especially. Her writing in her books is so vivid and moving, her characters and plot lines so developed, that I want to make all of my stories like hers.

What kind of books do you like to read? 
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre of stories to read, but I also really enjoy nonfiction, psychological, suspense and crime stories. Also Christian fiction.

How did you come up with the title of your book? 
Ok, so it took me forever to finally come up with a title for my book. Even now, I sometimes wonder if the title that I chose is sufficient enough. My book is simply titled 'Anne', the name of my protagonist, but since the story revolves around Anne's fervent belief in fate and her desperate search for happiness, I guess the title is fitting enough.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why? 
I have a few favorite characters. Guinevere is an amazingly kind, gentle, young woman who befriends Anne and treats her with nothing but love and respect. Rad is a young man who falls in love with Anne. He's a wealthy gentleman who is very kind and selfless. Henry is Anne's firstborn child. He is Anne's foil, and the reader has reason to sympathize with him as the story unfolds.
Fourteen-year old Anne Falkman is an arrogant, desperate orphan trying to live any way she can on the streets of London. Through her desolate, lonely years, a hope was born within her, the hope that fate would bless her and give her lasting happiness. Growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Anne has nurtured a fear of men. She also fears marrying and giving birth, which was the death of her mother and caused her father to go mad and violently hate his daughter. When a series of events gives Anne a chance for happiness, she takes it and achieves her dreams, but at what cost? Will she attain the life of happiness that she dreamed of? Which choices are the best ones to make?
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What is your preferred writing environment? 
Anywhere that's quiet, preferably with just myself in the room.

Please tell us a little about yourself. 
I'm a 23-year old, recent college graduate who spends my time promoting my novel, working part-time, and searching for a career in my field of study. I enjoy reading, music, movies, shopping, and spending time with my pets, family, and friends.

Is your book a stand alone or a series? 
I'm not quite sure yet. I've debated turning my novel into a trilogy, but I'm not even sure if I will ever write another book. 

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow? 
I just go with the flow. With 'Anne', I wasn't even completely sure what the story would be about until I was at least 25% done with it.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it. 
I decided to go with self-publishing because I initially submitted 'Anne' to a traditional publisher, but it was rejected. Then I realized how uppity many traditional publishers are, and how I wanted control of my own book and what happened to it. So, I decided to self-publish.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book? 
I can't think of any talented British actors/actresses off the top of my head who match my characters' traits, but I'm sure there are some. I would certainly want them to be talented, even if their names aren't too well-known.
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Sarina Rose Interview

8/7/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Sarina Rose. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born, educated and lived entirely in New Jersey until four years ago. I taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in high school and adult community schools. I was lucky enough to be transferred to Florida where I am living as if I am on vacation every day. I write full time. My husband works all day. I am at home where my Labradoodle and my Shih Tzu keep me company and remind me to get up out of the chair to walk or swim. I started writing romance when I inadvertently crashed a Romance Writers of America chapter meeting here on the Space Coast. I was invited to stay. I was hooked from that day forward.

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest published book is The Relentless Brit, a tale of sex, love and espionage during World War II. It is a story of love at first sight. Sweet romance, heartbreaking betrayals, forgiveness and uncompromising men and women. Conflict sets the pace of the book and relentless loves rules the day.

What do you have coming out in the future?
My next book will come out before August this year. I just received the manuscript from my editor. I have some work to do before it goes to the formatter for publishing. I am writing the last in the series, The Relentless???. 

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I really love writing what I call  Historical Vintage Romance. I started out writing contemporary romance, but was dissuaded when I read the first ten pages at my chapter meeting. My dialogue lends itself to vintage times” 1940’s to when, I am not sure yet. Someone recently told me that my book is better placed in the Women’s Fiction genre.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I always base my characters on real people, but then I follow the ‘what if’ path. What if she enlisted in military service or he chose undercover work or she became an insurance investigator or fire marshall. That is what makes writing fun for me.
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The Relentless Brit is an historical romance. It is a tale of sex, romance, betrayal, and heartbreak during World War II. History, romance, spies, espionage, intrigue, love, sex, war, peace, and the happy every after ending you love.

War rages in Europe. Conflict is worldwide. History is repeating itself. Germany seeks domination of Europe. Hitler’s troops occupy all countries except Great Britain. Nevertheless, bombing from German aircraft have scorched London and other parts of the British Isles. Peace is elusive. Hitler has betrayed the Prime Minister of England. Spies and espionage are rampart on all sides. Japan is on the move in China and the islands in South Pacific.
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What authors inspire your writing?
Well, first my Creative Writing 101 teacher  said she loved all of my work and I got an A in that class. Most recently my friend and class discussion leader at a local class, Greta McLaughlin whose new book, Celtic Cries was just released. I can say I always wanted to write about life as imagined it as a child. Inspiring authors are Barbara Kingsolver, Juno Diaz, Gabriel  Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende and my all my English teacher friends.

What kind of books do you like to read? 
I love to read well written historical fiction. Phillip Gregory  books about the War of the Roses, Henry VIII and his wives are my favorites. I adore Hillary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. I don’t read much science fiction. However, I did like Margaret Atwood’s  The Blind Assassin. I like the genre called Barcelona Noir from Carlos Ruiz Zafron. I cannot forget Melinda Haynes’ Mother of Pearl  and Barbara Kingsolver’s Lacuna and The Poisonwood Bible. Of course, romances by Sylvia Day, Julie Leto and Debbie Macomber. 

How did you come up with the title of your book?
I started with my first book as The Uninvited Guest, but it need something snappier to catch attention. I changed it several times until my editor and I agreed on The Relentless Brit which I copied from my really first book, The Relentless Italian.  

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
Here’s the thing. I wrote The Relentless Italian first. When I thought I finished it, I realized it needed more work. So, I set it aside and wrote The Relentless Brit.  I published the latter book first because it makes chronological sense. So the series starts in 1940 during World War II. The connecting thread between the books is that the children born during the war become the characters in the second book having had the war influence who they are. 

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The most difficult part of writing for me is putting into words what is deep inside the characters’ heads and hearts. One of my readers wanted to know why the heroine fell in love with the hero. I guess I did not make that clear. Something I need to work on more. 
Picture

Forthcoming

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I would say that coming up with the main idea for a story is the easiest for me. Imagining the characters is also easy for me. Going from scene to scene is usually easy, but sometimes I think out of order and wish I hadn’t.  

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
My favorite characters? That is like asking a parent who is her favorite child. I cannot choose one. I like them all for different reasons. Both heroines can be snarky with the men. I like that about  them. Marie Gentile in The Relentless Brit is forever forgiving of her love interest after she let him know a thing or two. Sophie Carrieri is somewhat the same, but more of a feminist in thinking. I love both heroes. Charles Stanhope is quiet to the point of being covert. He  never walks away from Marie as angry as she may get with him. Tony Andriosi is mysterious at the same time as being an outgoing career singer.

What is your preferred writing environment?
Do you mean where do I prefer to write? That is easy. I sit in a my comfortable leather chair in my kitchen/family room with my laptop.  The television tuned alternately to the shopping channels. PBS, or baseball. Can you believe it?  I never listen to music while I am writing, but I am inspired by lyrics when I am driving. I surprised myself when my husband and I took a long drive from the east coast to the west coast of Florida. I took along my tablet to check the Nanny Cam at the dog boarding place, but instead started typing a new series. It seems when I am typing, stories fall out onto the screen. How lucky can I be? I should say blessed.

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices?
Here is what happened. I started first send the begin of the books to contests. No luck there. As I was writing, I read more, took classes, paid attention to other members of my writing chapter, and, read craft books galore. I sent out query letters. No luck there either. I looked at many publishing companies who wanted thousands of dollars to publish. I researched Createspace.com, Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords.com and talked to some free-lance editors. While I was getting reading to self-publish, I though why not submit to a few more publishers. Again, how lucky or blessed can I be? I received two contracts within two weeks. The terms of rights, royalties, and length of time to publish were just not acceptable. I did not even try to negotiate. I was anxious to get the book up for sale. The manuscript was ready to upload to Createspace and Kindle. So, I did. I am happy with my choice.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I wanted something to fill my hours and my mind as a hermit living with my dogs all day. I love to sew, knit, quilt, swim, and bike too. However, writing seems fulfill me the most at the moment. I decided publish at that first Space Coast Authors of Romance meeting I crashed over two years ago. I think if I am going to write, why not publish? Maybe some of my friends would enjoy the books.
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