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

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

What do you have coming out in the future?
I am working on an interracial romance novella, following two college students, Travis and Legend, and I’m trying to keep all the supernatural stuff out of it.  So far so good.  Also I’m working on book 3 of my Multiracial Monsters series which follows Ko, a black and Japanese bratty cheerleader, and Noah (Nova’s twin)with Kleine-Levin syndrome.  I hope to have both books out in April.  Fingers crossed.
 
Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
They are technically a series, but they can be read as a stand-alone, or in any order.  They run parallel to each other.
 
Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love love stories!  I think my stories are original, and relatable despite the presence of a werewolf, vampire, or necromancer here and there.
 
Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
Right now, I think I’ll stick to romance.  I don’t intend to only write paranormal romance.  If a story came to me that wasn’t a romance, I would pursue it.

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

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I think so.  Many of my characters have personalities, thoughts, and traits similar to myself, or my kids, or my hubby.  The situations are fictional.
 
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Binge watching horror shows, hanging out with my kids, cooking, reading, on Goodreads, or trying to learn Twitter.
 
What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
I submitted my work to a few places, and got a lot of positive feedback but no offers, so I self-published.  I’m impatient.
 
How did you come up with the title of your book?
The Vampire and the Necromacer:  An out of Sequence Love Story, I wanted people to know that it was out of order so they didn’t get their hands on it, hate it, hate me, and be completely confused.  With Wolf Girl finds necRomance,  I was making a pun about necromancy having the word Romance in it.  My daughter hates the title.
 
Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
Mostly Romance, some horror, some magical realism short stories.
 
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Just getting the ideas, out of my head and on the computer.
 
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Coming up with ideas, and dialogue.
 
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Nova is my favorite, because I love her nerdy quirkiness, and her sometimes irrational behavior.
 
What is your preferred writing environment?
In bed, with coffee or tea, with the TV for background noise.
 
How would you describe your writing style?
I write in 1st person, with alternating points of view.  I’ve tried other styles, but I’m most comfortable in other people’s heads.
 
Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I just go with the flow.  I usually don’t outline at all.  I let the people in my head do whatever they want to.
 
When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
My husband said, “You always say you want to write, give it a shot.  Write something.  He’s my biggest cheerleader and my editor.
 
What is your favorite quote
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”  Dr. Seuss
 
Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Just write for yourself.  You won’t be able to please everyone.  Some won’t like your writing style or stories.  Not everyone will get it.  Just write the stories you want to hear, and they will be the stories that others want to hear.  Some will connect with your work, and be moved by it, and read more of your stuff.
 
Wild Card Question.
As an author, what is the one question that you wish people would ask you, but no one ever has and what would your answer be to that question?
No one has ever asked me about advice for other authors before you, so in addition to:  write what you want to read, I would say if you have writer’s block, just write badly and clean it up later.

​Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Lindsay Marie Miller, and I am the author of Emerald Green, Me & Mr. Jones and Jungle Eyes.
 
Tell us about your latest book.
Jungle Eyes is the name of my latest book, which was released on November 20, 2015. It is a Romantic Action/Adventure novel set on a deserted tropical island in the year 1899.
 
What do you have coming out in the future?
There will be 3 more books in the Emerald Green series, a sequel to Me & Mr. Jones and 2 more books in the Jungle Eyes trilogy. I’ve also been working on a New Adult Contemporary Romance, which will be my first Stand Alone novel.
 
Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Jungle Eyes, Me & Mr. Jones and Emerald Green are each the first installment in their own respective series.
 
Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
Romance is always the one element of a novel or film that I am most interested in. For me, it’s the best part of any story I am reading or writing. I have always described the way I write romance as a “tasteful sexiness.” Just because something is sensual or passionate doesn’t mean it can’t maintain a certain level of innocence. I believe in keeping that steam or heat between the characters alive, because that intimate connection is what love and romance are all about.
 
Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
While I only write romance, it is the sub-genres within romance that I like to experiment with. Emerald Green and Me & Mr. Jones pertain to the suspense/thriller category of romance. But Jungle Eyes falls under historical and action/adventure romance categories. They also apply to different age groups: Emerald Green is Young Adult, Me & Mr. Jones is New Adult and Jungle Eyes is Adult. I’ll probably experiment with other romance genres over time, because I really enjoy different ways of telling a love story.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
A good book or movie. A special day. Time spent with family or friends. Really anything can inspire me to write. Mainly, it has to do with people. The ones I’m with and the ones I’m writing about.
 
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Play the piano and guitar. Sing. I’ve been writing songs since I was a teen, so music is very near and dear to my heart. I love watching movies as well, especially those that have been adapted from novels. I’m also a TaeBo enthusiast.
 
How did you come up with the title of your book?
Certain titles just sound right to me. When it clicks, it clicks. I think Emerald Green probably had a lot to do with the fact that my birthstone is emerald, and Me & Mr. Jones was inspired by an old R&B song by Billy Paul. With Jungle Eyes, I have no earthly idea. It just came to me.
 
Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
Usually, I read romance or some subset of it. But I’m open to thrillers, mysteries, biographies, and a whole lot of other genres. As a writer, I think it’s important to keep an open mind.
 
What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
When I first thought of the idea for Jungle Eyes, I pictured a twenty-five-year-old Christian Bale as Henry and Katy Perry as Elaine. If Hollywood was able to pull that off, I would be very pleased.
 
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Those days when the words just won’t come. Sometimes, it can be hard, and you really have to push yourself. But that makes you appreciate the days when the words flow like honey.

On a chilly December night in Savannah, Georgia, seventeen-year-old Addie Smith dreams of an alluring young man, too mysteriously handsome to be real. When spring semester commences the following week, at Maple Creek High, a new student, named Tom Sutton, arrives, bearing a striking resemblance to the beautiful stranger from Addie’s dream. Addie feels inextricably drawn to Tom, and his rare, unwavering resiliency, as the enchanting nature of first love takes hold. But when a cold-blooded criminal returns to Savannah, in pursuit of a long-forgotten possession, Addie must confront the darkest secrets of an elusive, hidden past that threaten to destroy her future. 

​Finley O'Connell is a shy, reserved college student, who has no intention of ever trusting another man. At nineteen, Finley spends her Friday nights alone, studying clinical psychology to ease her mind of the abusive childhood she has yet to overcome. Her new professor, the young, charismatic Cabel Jones, begins to take an interest in Finley, whose first instinct is to run. But when an ordinary experiment turns to bloodshed, Finley must rely on Cabel, as the two hide away in a rustic, secluded cabin in the wilderness. Plagued by deception and fear, Finley soon finds herself in the arms of the one man on campus who can never truly be hers.

The guest author for today on Interviews with Dante is Zara Steen. She is a writer of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance for both Young Adults and Adults . Her latest work is Blue Moon Rising book two in the Mercrutian Chronicle.

Please tell us a little about yourself:
My name is Robin Field and I am a stay at home mom who just recently moved to the east after living all of my life in California (by the way, I thought I knew what winter was but boy has living here definitely changed my perspective on that!) I have enjoyed writing ever since I was young and find that it not only relaxes me but allows me to express myself in ways I can't in real life.

Tell us about your latest book:
I just indie published my debut novel by the title of Drow of Darkness. It is about a community of elves that have a doppelganger curse set on them since embracing the luxuries of modern life. Each mother gives birth to a set of two identical children at once: one who is meant for the elven light while the other is meant for the darkness of their drow brethren which is essentially a dark elf. It centers around a set of sisters who have to undergo their test to determine who stays and who goes and what happens in the aftermath of all the chaos.

What do you have coming out in the future?
Currently I am working on a story about the afterlife and how souls are ferried to their correct "place" once passing over. My main character has been living in this world for a few years and she deals with her new duties with a more skeptical eyes then her fellow peers. It will be the first in a trilogy and I am very excited about getting it to publishing status.

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I enjoy writing young adult, urban fantasy the most and I think that is because when I was growing up and coming into my own, I found I could get lost in the stories meant for that particular age group and anything that had a fantasy element allowed me to get lost in worlds that weren't real and let my imagination take flight. I still to this day love to read in that genre and love to write in it as well.

From where do you draw your inspiration?
I personally look at things that have been done and wonder what I can contribute to a genre that has so much in it already. That's where I thought of throwing in a doppelganger curse into an elven community because it was something I had never heard of before and wanted to try giving something done before a new twist.

Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I wouldn't say I base characters fully on people I know but I do inject certain traits of people I know into my characters. I try giving them all a mix of quirks and skills that make them into their own person who has good and bad traits that people can relate to.
 
What kind of books do you like to read?
I definitely love to read young adult books and anything with elements of fantasy in them as well. I occasionally read thrillers and mysteries and also enjoy science fiction and its subgenres.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I'm not writing I spend most of the time hanging out with my family. I am currently expecting my second child at the beginning of June so I'm only hoping I still get the chance to write!

Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Drow of Darkness is a stand-alone but my second novel that I hope to have out within the next four months will be the first in a trilogy.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The hardest part would have to be when I hit the third or fourth edit. That's where I get really particular about every word I have used up to then and I end up second guessing decisions I had made. I try not to be overly critical so I don't edit it to death so that is when I normally take a good few weeks to just focus on another story or just read to get my creative juices flowing back on track.

What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
I would have to say the first draft. I fly through them so fast so that I can get it all out of my head for the first time. It's exciting to get it all down whether or not the writing is the best because I know I can go back and edit as much as necessary.

What is your preferred writing environment?
I like writing in my room at my little desk. I tend to write the most and the best at night after my son is asleep and I get this second wind where my creative self just explodes to its delight.

Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I always find that whatever ideas I have I make sure I write down. After that step, I kind of let these scenarios play out in my mind until they flow in a way that I believe could be a good story and then I bust out a simple outline that I go back to later to develop in more detail before I start that first draft.

When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I have always enjoyed writing but I never thought that I would be taken seriously until I realized that it isn't degrees or a big name that would make my writing worth reading. It was my determination and passion in what I did that was going to give me that courage to take the leap whether it would pan out or not. I don't care if I'm a highly recognized name in the literary world; as long as someone reads my book and can experience that sense of escape that it does for me, then I have done what I have set out to do.

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.

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.