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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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Ariel Marie Interview

9/5/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Ariel Marie. She is the author of the Mirrored Prophecy series, which begins with Power of the Fae. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
Lover of all romance books, the genre of romance doesn’t matter. It just depends on my mood. Sometimes, I like to read the historical romance, other days, science fiction or even military. My all time favorite is paranormal romance. I began reading romance books at an early age. I love escaping to another world. I’ve had ideas for stores for a while now and finally decided to take the plunge to write my own romance novels.  Aside from reading and writing, I am a registered nurse that works in the transplant field.  In my leisure time, you will find me with a book in my hand to relax and escape the stressors of life in general.  

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book is Power of the Fae. It is the first installment to the Mirrored Prophecy series. It is about a young Faery Princess who is a Guardian of the Fae. The Guardians are Faery’s protectors. She is sent to the human realm to investigate vanishing supernaturals, not knowing that she is the center of an ancient prophecy. Fate has placed the weight of the realms on her shoulders and a sexy Alpha wolf in her path.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Book 2 of the Mirrored Prophecy, Fight for the Fae will come out this fall. I am working on another series that I have yet to come up with a name yet. This series will debut this fall also.

Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love romance because everyone loves a good love story. I love paranormal romance because I can create a whole new world that we can fantasize about and throw a good love story with that and I’m hooked! Plus I find that we all want fantasize about Shifters, Fae and Vampires!

From where do you draw your inspiration?
My imagination has always been a little more heighten than the average person. There are many times that I catch myself daydreaming and now, I tend to write down my ideas thus the creations of my novels. 

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I am not writing, I love to read. Aside from writing and reading, I love to cook and bake. I love trying out new recipes. Most of my cooking is from scratch or semi-homemade.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
My road to publishing was very educational. I am an indie author so I do not have a publisher. So my first steps when I decided to become an author were to figure out the best route of publishing my books. After hours of researching on the Internet, I decided that indie is the way to go. It is a lot of work but I feel that it has been worth it and the satisfaction when my first book was released was so much greater.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
When I began writing Power of the Fae, I did not have a title or any clue on what I was going to name it. It didn’t hit me until I was almost half way through writing, on what I would name the book but then I didn’t know what the series was going to be called. It wasn’t until I had finished writing the book that I came up with a name for the series.

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Power of the Fae is the first installment to the Mirrored Prophecy series. So far, the Mirrored Prophecy series will be a three book series. I may add to it so readers will have to stay tuned to see what happens.

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The Ancients spoke of a Mirrored Prophecy that would determine the future. One version of the prophecy spoke of a small female of mixed heritage giving birth to a child that will save mankind. The other side of the prophecy spoke of the female’s child being the demise of the world. 

The Princess of the Light Fae, Arlina Waldmar, may be small but she is deadly. She is a member of the elite Guardians of the Fae. She has been given the assignment of going to the human realm to investigate the vanishing supernaturals. 

Colin MacKenzie, Alpha wolf, has determined that finding a mate is not in his future. His people are vanishing. He will need to lead his Legion, defenders of werewolves to find them. His wolf has recognized a certain dark haired Faery Princess to be his mate, but he refuses to claim her. 

There is an evil set on destroying the Human and Faery realms. Colin and Arlina must work together to defeat this evil. His thoughts are constantly on Arlina. Arlina knows there is no fighting the attraction between them. Can she convince him to give them a chance before it’s too late?
find it on amazon
Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
When I read for pleasure, I only read romance. I’m sure you are aware that in the romance category, there are different genres to pick from.  There is just something about reading about two people falling in love with action, or paranormals or with mystery involved in it. I love all romance books. 

What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
Out of all the books I have read, there is no way I can limit one to being my favorite. I would say that any book that jerks with my emotions, ropes me into the story to the point of me thinking about the book once I put it down would definitely be considered a keeper. I don’t like crying when reading but if the book can bring out tears, then it’s a winner. 

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). I have learned so much by being a member of this organization that will assist with my writing. 

Have you won any awards for your writing?
I’m a new author but I hope in the future that my writing me recognized and have the honor to win an award. 

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
When writing my books, I always want to go back and proof it, add to it and take away things. I want the book to be perfect so I tend to overthink things when it comes to my books. I want my readers to be able to imagine the world that I write about and hope that they are able to lose themselves in the story just as I did while I was writing it. So I tend to be hard on myself trying to perfect each book. 

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The easiest part of writing is coming up with a story line and plot. I love choosing names for characters and I try to pick names that would not be commonly used. I also love developing a new world. That seems to come easy to me because when you are the author, no one can tell you that you are doing it wrong when it comes from your imagination. 

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
So far, my favorite character is Arlina. Arlina is the type of female that is intelligent, tough as nails and will do for herself. She doesn’t need anyone to take care of herself but yet can remain feminine and balances the tough warrior Princess persona with being a lady. 

What is your preferred writing environment?
Right now with summer approaching, I love to go out on my back patio with my laptop to write.  Fresh air, a cool drink and my laptop is the perfect circumstance for writing. 

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
A little of both. I will start out knowing what I want to happen in the story. So I will start out a loose outline but then I fill it in with things that I dream up when I take a break from writing. 

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?

Would you ever consider writing a story from the villain’s point of view? 
Some stories you never know what the villain is thinking. In Power of the Fae, I do switch to the POV of the Villain. I am thinking of a future story where it will from the Villain’s POV. I think that will be fun and different! Bad guys and girls deserve love too!
Ariel's website
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find ariel on goodreads
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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. 
find it on amazon
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.
sarah on facebook
sarah on goodreads
sarah on twitter
sarah's amazon author page
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Jessica Werner Interview

7/25/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Jessica Werner. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Jessica and I was born and am living in Germany. I have been writing pretty much all my life, from poems, short stories, multi-author stories with friends or even lyrics. I honestly cannot imagine not to write in some way and the love of my life, whom I am living with, is quite supportive of my creative outpours. If I don't write I either am creating other things like renderings, Photoshop graphics and such, enjoy myself in virtual environments, or geek out over my favourite TV Shows and video games.

Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book is my debut novel Sra'kalor. It is the first part of the Ashwood Falls Trilogy, a story about magic, love and fate. The main figures are a young girl named Alana, who developed magical powers she cannot control, and Leandrus, a demon caught in a human body, who gets pestered by his host's soul while he tries to figure out if he wants to love or kill Alana. It gets especially hairy when it turns out that another demon wants to claim Alana for himself and Leandrus has to make a decision. The whole series is inspired by an old roleplay that I made up with friends, but has taken a whole life of its own.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Right now I am working on the second part of the Ashwood Falls Trilogy, to continue the story of Alana and Leandrus/Tyler. Next to that I have a couple of ideas for a few short stories, that I am writing on, when I need to leave them alone for a little bit.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
From everywhere. I know it sounds cliché, but it's how it is. I have drawn inspiration from just looking around myself, watching people or situations out on the street. Sometimes I am inspired by music, by an object, or even a single word or sentence I heard somewhere. I also am roleplayer, which offers a lot of inspiration along the way. It can really hit anytime and anywhere.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Not really. While the people in my real life are great and some surely would be quite tempting to write, I would feel strange knowing that someone in my stories is based on someone I know. I could never see them without the real face, or hear them without the real voice. In my head I would also restrict myself to do certain things with them, because I would feel guilty towards the real person, if it is something bad. I prefer to make my characters up, so I can write without borders that my mind puts up.

What kind of books do you like to read?
All kinds of books. Well okay not all. I do not really read religious books or self-help books, actually not a lot of non fiction books at all. I do love to read a lot of fiction though, no matter what kind of genre. Even if it is a genre I usually do not have a strong connection with, I do not mind trying to read a book that falls into it, just to have at least tried it once. I see it the same as I see it with music: I might not like a genre, but a certain song can still touch my heart.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I am self published, so it was quite different from classic publishing of course. While I was writing, the question on how to publish of course came up. I did not have any friends with that kind of experience at that point, so my biggest friend was google search. I have found several ways and sites that allow self publishing, have read many many Terms of Services, all together days of informing myself. In the end I really liked smashwords for ebooks, because they do not only help with the publishing but also distribute the book to several retailers and do not expect exclusivity. Same goes for my print book, which I published through Lulu. The most important thing, I think, is to really read every material you can get, no matter how small the fine print is, so you know what you are getting into.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
It is the first part of a series, well a trilogy. So this book can be read alone, but if you want to have the full experience, I do recommend to read all three parts, once they are published.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
In a way, yes. As I have mentioned I am a roleplayer as well as a writer. For about 15 years I have been writing roleplays online, via email and forum. For the last 3 years I have been member of a group of people, who do roleplay, but actively seek to improve their writing and share quality writing in a multi-author story environment.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
To write when I am blocked. I do have a few mthods to get back into it, but the start of that is still difficult.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The ideas. I have random ideas all the time. Another easy part for me is the character interaction, though that might be, because my characters get a life of their own and sometimes even take over. I cannot even say how many of my plans have been kicked into the bucket by them. But it was always for the best.

What is your preferred writing environment?
In contrast to many other writers, I cannot write when it is quiet around me. What I need while I am writing is have the TV running. Since I know the lyrics to my music, it distracts me a lot so this is not an option. I also prefer to write at night, because it has less distractions in form of people wanting to chat, phone or come by. Otherwise it does not really matter to me if I am on my desk, the bed, in the park or elsewhere, as long as I can have my writing and TV shows with me.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
A bit of both. I would not say that my plan is careful or even elaborate, but I have key points. What happens between them is flowing as it comes. And if something during the flow-phase changes the next key elements, I'll change them.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I always knew that I wanted to write. But I always thought I would write for myself and maybe for my future kids, in case of children's stories. But a couple of years ago, while thinking about the story of Sra'kalor something in my head clicked and I wanted to reach the point where I would publish it once I'd be done. In the middle of writing I realized I have too many ideas to make it one book, so I decided to split it into three books. I don't regret it a second and I am looking forward to many stories that I'll be publishing in the future.
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Feared by the citizens of her birth town and her family, Alana spends her 18th birthday in a way she did not expect: put on a bus to a town called Ashwood Falls, after being told by her parents to never return. Soon after arrival, she learns that she has something in common with the denizens of her new home: Magic. Unable to control her powers, she seeks help in The Circle, a group formed by magic users. She begins her journey in a strange world unknown to her, completely unaware of the dangers.

Leandrus, a powerful demon, had been summoned before. But this time it was different. His powers, and the summoner, were nowhere to be found. The demon makes his way into the foreign town on his own. The problem? The soul of his human host had not been banished and keeps making his life difficult. As if that was not enough, he can sense that his 'One' is near. As he finds Alana - sweet, innocent and inexperienced - he cannot believe that an old prophecy has chosen her to destroy him. To avoid his own destruction, he has to eliminate her first.

Will he be able to ignore his heart and kill Alana? Or will he rather kill the danger threatening her, before it is too late? And how will Alana handle the vast changes to her life? Will she learn to control her powers or will she endanger everyone? 


find it on smashwords
find it on lulu
find it on amazon
Is your book a stand alone or a series?
It is the first part of a series, well a trilogy. So this book can be read alone, but if you want to have the full experience, I do recommend to read all three parts, once they are published.

Have you joined any writer’s groups?
In a way, yes. As I have mentioned I am a roleplayer as well as a writer. For about 15 years I have been writing roleplays online, via email and forum. For the last 3 years I have been member of a group of people, who do roleplay, but actively seek to improve their writing and share quality writing in a multi-author story environment. 

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
To write when I am blocked. I do have a few mthods to get back into it, but the start of that is still difficult. 

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
The ideas. I have random ideas all the time. Another easy part for me is the character interaction, though that might be, because my characters get a life of their own and sometimes even take over. I cannot even say how many of my plans have been kicked into the bucket by them. But it was always for the best.

What is your preferred writing environment?
In contrast to many other writers, I cannot write when it is quiet around me. What I need while I am writing is have the TV running. Since I know the lyrics to my music, it distracts me a lot so this is not an option. I also prefer to write at night, because it has less distractions in form of people wanting to chat, phone or come by. Otherwise it does not really matter to me if I am on my desk, the bed, in the park or elsewhere, as long as I can have my writing and TV shows with me.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
A bit of both. I would not say that my plan is careful or even elaborate, but I have key points. What happens between them is flowing as it comes. And if something during the flow-phase changes the next key elements, I'll change them. 

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I always knew that I wanted to write. But I always thought I would write for myself and maybe for my future kids, in case of children's stories. But a couple of years ago, while thinking about the story of Sra'kalor something in my head clicked and I wanted to reach the point where I would publish it once I'd be done. In the middle of writing I realized I have too many ideas to make it one book, so I decided to split it into three books. I don't regret it a second and I am looking forward to many stories that I'll be publishing in the future.
find jessica on goodreads
find jessica on twitter
jessica's blog
find jessica on facebook
find jessica on google+
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Taylor Fenner Interview

7/20/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Taylor Fenner. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. I’ve been an avid reader with a vivid imagination since I was very young. I’m a strong believer in ghosts and the paranormal, which led to my interest in writing paranormal romance. When I’m not busy writing I enjoy reading and adding to my extensive book collection, taking photographs, cooking, and fighting with my cross-eyed cat Tiger. I still currently live in Wisconsin, not far from where my debut novel, The Haunting Love, is set.

Tell us about your latest book.
The Haunting Love is set in Green Bay, Wisconsin and follows the idea ‘what if you never got to tell that one person how you felt and what if you got the chance to go back and tell that person exactly how you felt?’
 
Seventeen-year-old Izabella "Iza" De Luca didn't believe her crush, Johnny, could ever like her because she’s curvier than the other girls at school. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Johnny Becker doesn't believe he has a chance with Iza; the smart, beautiful girl he has fallen for.

It isn't until a fatal car crash traps Iza between the living and the dead that she can muster the courage to tell Johnny how she feels. But not everyone will approve of their unusual relationship; especially a demon named Devlin, who will stop at nothing to have Iza as his own.

The Haunting Love is a story about ghosts, first love, and learning to go after the things you want. You never know what will happen if you just try.

What do you have coming out in the future?
My next novel Finding Elizabeth follows Nate and Elizabeth, two strangers that meet by chance and fall in love during the French Revolution only to be tragically ripped apart. Nate reincarnates more than 200 years later with the sole purpose of finding his lost love. But he will soon learn that finding Elizabeth is the easy part; keeping her is a whole other story.

I’m hoping to self-publish Finding Elizabeth sometime this fall.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
My preferred genre to write in is paranormal romance for young adults. I write for young adults because at not-quite 23 I’m not sure I’m ready to transition into regular adult romance. I’ve always been interested in the paranormal so I love to write about ghosts, witches, werewolves and more. And I write romance because I believe that if you don’t aspire to find love during your lifetime then what’s the point of life?

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
Definitely, a lot of my characters are loosely based on people I know.

What authors inspire your writing?
I’m inspired by Wendy Higgins, Rachel Caine, Amy Plum, Meg Cabot, and of course my favorite author of all time, Jane Austen.
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What would you do if you never got to tell that one person how you felt? What if you could go back and tell them exactly how you felt? Seventeen-year-old Izabella "Iza" De Luca didn't believe her crush, Johnny, could ever like her because of her curvy body type. Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Johnny Becker doesn't believe he has a chance with Iza; the smart, beautiful girl he's fallen for.

It isn't until a fatal car crash traps Iza between the living and the dead that she can muster the courage to tell Johnny how she feels. But telling her true love how she feels does not relieve her from her burden. Soon she and her love, Johnny, find themselves in an all-out battle to keep their love alive. Nobody is safe when a demon named Devlin starts messing with everything and everyone they know.

Johnny and Iza will need the help of all of their friends to overpower Devlin. Can their love withstand all of the odds stacked against them or are they doomed from the start?
Find it on Amazon
find it on barnes & noble
How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
The initial idea of The Haunting Love, which I started writing in high school, was influenced greatly by a crush I had on a boy at school. I never told him how I felt because I was afraid he would reject me because I’ve never been a size zero. To this day I still wonder what would have happened if I had the gumption to say something to him. In addition I wanted my potential readers to see that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. I wanted them, especially the girls, to realize that whatever you look like, whether you’re chubby or skinny, dark haired or blonde, popular or the school outcast, that everyone deserves to be loved. And that if you look hard enough, there’s someone out there waiting just for you.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I found my publisher, Whiskey Creek Press, through a writer friend of mine. Her first novel was being published through them and I decided to submit The Haunting Love to them in October 2013. They were the third publisher I ever sent my manuscript to and they offered me a publishing contract in January 2014. It was a long road filled with delays (especially after they were bought out by Start Publishing in July 2014) but I learned a lot. The Haunting Love was finally released in ebook, and several weeks later in paperback, in February of this year.  I’m so grateful for the experience and being given my start. Next I’d like to try self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing for ebooks and Createspace for print books. 


Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres? 
I love romance in any form; whether it is paranormal romance or traditional, young adult, new adult, or just plain romance. I fell in love with Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series last year so lately I’ve been on a kick where the main male characters in my book selections have a lot of tattoos and/or piercings. Any book I read has to have some sort of love story to it or I can’t get into it. 

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Not necessarily because of looks, but for Iza I would choose Mae Whitman (from Parenthood, The Duff, and Acceptance). I think she is absolutely hilarious and a great role model for young girls. And for Johnny I would choose Alex Pettyfer (from Beastly and Endless Love) since Johnny has blondish hair and is good-looking and because I think Alex Pettyfer is really attractive. 

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
That’s a tough one. I love all of my characters; the guys are amazing and the girls are in some ways reflective of my personality. But if I had to choose one I’d pick Anton from my upcoming novel, Finding Elizabeth. He’s the villain, and loosely based off a guy I once knew, but by the time I got toward the end of Finding Elizabeth I was almost rooting for him. Not that I don’t think Nate and Elizabeth aren’t perfect for each other, because I do, but I still like Anton.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
In some ways I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I’ve always had a knack for making up stories, even to get myself out of trouble. I loved writing short stories as a kid and over time it just developed into me wanting to do it professionally. I’m not saying I didn’t explore other options like being a professional photographer, a fashion designer, or a chef along the way; but hey I can still do those things too. I was just waiting for the right story, and that came to me when I began writing The Haunting Love as a high school junior. 
Taylor's website
taylor on goodreads
taylor on twitter
taylor on facebook
haunting love on goodreads
taylor's amazon author page
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K.K. Gould Interview

7/10/2015

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Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is K.K. Gould. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Northern Michigan with my husband and two beautiful kids. When I'm not busy refereeing 'potty talk' between my 4 and 6 year old; I enjoy reading, writing, crocheting, and knitting. As a family we love being outside. Northern Michigan's four seasons provide the perfect setting for camping and exploring the outdoors.

In order to pay the bills I work as a CT technologist in a busy ER. I have worked in the medical field for fifteen years at many different hospitals around the country.

Tell us about your latest book.
Vengeance is my first book in a series titled The Immortal Savior. It's a paranormal romance with something for everyone; tragedy, hospital humor, sadistic psychopath and of course intense, passionate love. Eliza North has been living a quiet life. She works in a busy ER in Layton Michigan, but she has a secret. She's an immortal hybrid with a horrific past. Her past is about to catch up to her, and a destiny is revealed. A destiny she's not sure she can handle.

Braxton Slater, an immortal bounty hunter, roars into Layton on a mission to catch a psychopath. The psychopath he's been hunting for a century, and who murdered his mate. He arrives in Layton to put a beautiful female under surveillance in hopes of drawing out his quarry. The amazing female begins to revive his dead heart and he discovers he is still able to love. Can he keep her safe?

What do you have coming out in the future?
I have two other books in the works. Book 2 of the Immortal Savior Series, titled 'Awakening', is due out later this summer. Awakening continues with the savior, Liza. She discovers more about her destiny and is not certain she can handle it. She tries running from her responsibility to Jonah Cruz's pack. Jonah was married to her mother many years ago. Her mate Brax, along with a letter from her mother, and the spirit of her grandfather help her realize she can't hide from her destiny. The sub-story in this book features Jace, wolf shifter, and Adara, phoenix. They were in a relationship while serving in the military together. She was suddenly called home and they lost touch for many years, until Jace found her locked in one of Fredric Hahn's cells. After being released she went on the hunt for the person that sold her to Hahn, her husband Kallai. Kallai and his father Masou killed her parents. She is determined to take him down and bring peace to the phoenix on the east coast. The two stories collide when its determined Kallai has been hunting shifters from Jonah Cruz's pack. Jonah and Liza approach from one side while Jace and Adara approach from the other crushing Kallai in between.

I am also working on a novella featuring the alpha's of Liza's pack, Shane and Layla North. Their story is an amazing story of love and loss. Layla's heartbreaking journey is an inspirational journey ending in the discovery of true love. I don't have a title for this yet, but am planning on releasing it end of summer or early fall.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I write paranormal romance/suspense. I love a story with a strong female lead and her male counterpart. A 'big picture' element is critical. A part of the story that's bigger than just the romance between two people such as; good vs. evil or saving an entire species from extinction. I think these elements add great suspense in a story. I love being able to save the world in my writing.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
I draw my inspiration from real life. I love paranormals that take place within the human world. My writing is based on places I've lived, worked or played.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
My characters are loosely based on real people from my past. I hate to admit, but my villains are based on past relationships. I don't have a lot of bad past relationships, but I have enough to use. I work in a hospital and have for the last fifteen years at several hospitals around the country. In that time I have met some interesting people or have heard some stories that make for great characters.

What kind of books do you like to read?
I love reading paranormal romance/suspense. I also love fantasies and mysteries. Basically I enjoy reading anything that gives me an escape from the realities of life.
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This paranormal romance has something for everyone; tragedy, hospital humor, sadistic psychopath and of course intense, passionate love. Eliza North has been living a quiet life. She works in a busy ER in Layton Michigan, but she has a secret. She's an immortal hybrid with a horrific past. Her past is about to catch up to her, and a destiny is revealed. A destiny she's not sure she can handle.

Braxton Slater, an immortal bounty hunter, roars into Layton on a mission to catch a psychopath. The psychopath he's been hunting for a century, and who murdered his mate. He arrives in Layton to put a beautiful female under surveillance in hopes of drawing out his quarry. The amazing female begins to revive his dead heart and he discovers he is still able to love. Can he keep her safe?

. . . A past she can't hide from . . .

       . . . A love she can't fight . . .

              . . . A destiny she never expected . . .

find it on kobo
find it on itunes
find it on barnes & noble
find it on amazon
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I spend a lot of time with my young family. My two children are 6 and 4. They love being outside and so does my husband and I. We go on lots of adventures around our home. Northern Michigan has many wonderful places to explore. 

I also love reading, knitting, and crocheting.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
My road to publishing was pretty simple. I had heard horror stories about formatting and publishing difficulty. The hardest thing for me was deciding to publish. Once I made that choice it was simple. I used the 'Smashwords Style Guide' to do my formatting. It was a helpful resource. It took me step-by-step through formatting. I chose to use Draft 2 Digital and Amazon KDP to publish my book. When I uploaded it went off without a hitch. It was a super easy process. I was amazed at how easy it was.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
My book is part of a series. However, I hate cliffhangers. Each book in my series could be read alone.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
My favorite character is the main character in the Immortal Savior Series, Eliza North. She is an Immortal hybrid; part vampire, shifter, and fae. She has a tortured past, which helped mold her into a strong, self-sufficient female. She's not afraid of anything. My favorite thing about her is her strength and her vulnerability.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I work through the night at a hospital. I often get a little downtime during the night. I like writing at this time because it's quiet. I turn the lights down a bit and pull out my computer. I will often come up with ideas while I'm in the shower. When that happens the hardest part is remembering what I thought of when I get out. 

I limit myself to writing when my kids are in bed or when I'm at work because of my 4 year old. One afternoon I was writing a sex scene, while sitting on the couch. My son came in the room and asked, "Momma, why do you look like that?" 

I hadn't even realized I had a look on my face. I told him, "Nothing buddy. I was just thinking of something." Luckily he didn't ask anything else. That was the moment I decided I needed to write when I'm alone or at least after the kids are in bed.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I have a mind-mapping program on my computer. I have the series mapped out. I use this as a guideline when writing. I don't always stick to it, but it helps.
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Email K.K. Gould at:
kkgouldauthor@gmail.com
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Lisa Medley Inteview

6/30/2015

1 Comment

 
Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Lisa Medley. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
I have always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now I write about them because monsters need love too.

I adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and have a farm full of them in my Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig. 

I may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in my trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.


Tell us about your latest book.
My latest book to publish is Reap & Reveal and it’s the third in my Reaper Series. There will be a least one more title in that series, Reap & Reckon, which will publish in 2016.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Currently, I’m working on a sci-fi/space opera romance entitled Space Cowboys & Indians. Think of a movie mashup of Cowboys & Aliens meets Six Days Seven Nights.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
Often I’ll read a weird news story or just get a little snippet of something and think, “What if…”. Once I have that spark, I go about chasing down leads and ideas from that single idea and the story begins to germinate from there. Haunt My Heart came to me after I was leaving to go on my first-ever ghost hunt and my husband asked, “What if something follows you home?”.  Indeed! And Space Cowboys & Indians was sparked by the real-life space mission to harpoon and land the Rosetta's Philae lander on Comet 67P. That’s when the “What ifs started.”

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life? 
I haven’t so far although real-life experiences have been worked into the pages like the ghost hunt I mentioned for Haunt My Heart. That whole EMF detector thing in the book…happened to me.

What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
Well, it’s been interesting. I didn’t start writing until 2011. In 2012 I entered the Harlequin So You Think You Can Write contest and from more than 700 global entries I made it into the Top 28. Then I lost. Sadness ensued. A few months later, I got THE CALL from Harlequin, and they contracted the first three books of the Reaper Series. Two were briefly published with HQN, then they decided to close down that line and returned my rights so I could re-publish them independently. Reap & Reveal, Book 3, just came out in April for the first time ever. Haunt My Heart was completely independently published. It’s been a rollercoaster few years, but I love indie publishing!

How did you come up with the title of your book?
Reap & Repent actual started as Reap ‘Em & Weep. HQN wanted something shorter and I hit upon the Reap & theme. Book four will be Reap & Reckon.

Is your book a stand alone or a series?
The reaper books are a series and would be best read that way.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Ooooooo, I want Jensen Ackles as Deacon. Mostly so I can meet him and drool a bit :D
They see death. Can they share a life?

Ruth Scott can read the energy of every person she meets. Then she meets Deacon Walker. She can see his ice-blue eyes, his black hair, and his gorgeous face. But this beautiful stranger has no aura.

Deacon is just as unsettled by Ruth—and, having spent more than two hundred years ushering souls to Purgatory, Deacon is seldom shocked by anything. As he helps Ruth to understand her true nature, she awakens desires that he decided long ago a Reaper can’t afford.

A demon invasion forces Deacon to confront the darkness in his own past even as he fights to save the human souls he’s charged to protect. When he’s taken captive, his first concern is for Ruth. But Ruth just might be able to save herself—and the Reaper she can’t live without—if she can learn to wield her newfound powers.
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available on AMazon
Have you joined any writer’s groups? 
I am heavily involved a local writer’s group called Ozarks Romance Authors. In fact, I was President one year. That group has been very influential in my success thus far. Great bunch of writers!

Have you won any awards for your writing?
Reap & Repent placed Second in the Paranormal Romance Guild’s 2014 Reviewer’s Choice for Urban Fantasy and The Reaper Series placed Third for Best Urban Fantasy Series.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Finding (scratch that) making the time to write. I can’t write every day. I stay up late after the family has gone to bed to eke out some words. I usually average 750 words an hour so a couple of hours a night tends to be pretty productive. Still, it’s a slow process for me since I also have a full-time day job, family etc.

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Kylen of Reap & Redeem is by far my favorite so far. He’s such a dark character and a bad, bad boy. Seriously, he was possessed by a demon for a century. He has issues. Still, well, let’s just say the title says it all.

Who or what are your inspirations/influences?
J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books are a huge inspiration for my writing. Dark Lover started my love of paranormal romance/urban fantasy and it blossomed from there. Of course, the television series Supernatural is also huge in my life. I’ve seen every episode. I love them ALL. #TeamDean

How would you describe your writing style?
I started out totally pantsing it. With each book, I’ve gotten more and more detailed with prewriting a synopsis, which is a HUGE help! Gosh, it’s nice to know where you’re going before you sit down to stare at a blank page. Sure, I deviate from the script from time to time, but it gives me a direction to aim for. I think I write must faster and better now because of that transition. 

With many publishing routes available today, which felt the most reliable to you when it came to the many choices? 
I’ve gone strictly with Amazon KDP Select. I tried going on B&N and Kobo with Redeem for a week with no sales. I like the flexibility of offering Kindle Unlimited subscribers the chance to read my series for free. For now and the near future, I’ll stay on that track. 

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
Crazy question because you know what? There was a defining moment. Writing had always been in the back of my head but when a coworker quit his job and left his wife (with her blessing) to go to Los Angeles for a year to try to break into acting before they started a family, I decided I had to follow my dream too. What did I have to lose? I mean all I was doing was cleaning out my craft room and transitioning it to a writing cave. The worst that could happen was my family would eat more Ramen noodles, which is NOT a hardship to them. They love them and would eat them every meal if I’d let them. THAT was the moment :D
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