Interview with M. Dalto, Author of Two Thousand Years (part 2)

In the first part of my interview with M. Dalto we discussed her newly released book, Two Thousand Years. You can read part 1 here. In this post, we get a little more personal and into her writing process.

Who, or what inspired you to be a writer?

I’ve always been an avid reader, so I believe I can thank the authors whose works inspired me to keep reading and imagining people and places other than our own. Melanie Rawn, George R.R. Martin, Diana Gabaldon, Sarah J. Maas, and Cassandra Clare are merely a few who make me strive to be better.

I love Cassandra Clare, too. Her writing is so captivating. Besides inspiration, what helps you most when it comes to writing?

The writing community. Never have I found such a supportive group of like-minded individuals. I’ve gained so many friends who I know will be there to use as a sounding board when I need to make sure a plot point makes sense, and they know, in turn, that I’m there for them as well.

Do you have a writing goal you want to achieve?

Right now I would just love to see my debut novel had a successful release. Becoming a bestseller would be nice. Maybe one day finding an agent to take on one of my projects.

What does writing success look like for you?

I think success is having readers who love your work enough to suggest it to their friends to read. And then there are all the bookish things that really make you feel like you’ve made it – candles, fan art, fanfics… any of that would be great!

How do you feel about critiques?

I think it depends on the person who is doing the critique and the motivation behind it. I will only let people I trust to review my work and adhere to their feedback…too many times  have I come across individuals who were clouded by bitterness towards other writers that they want out of their way to bring them down, regardless of what they had written. Those are the ones I steer away from…

I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with bitter people. It is amazing to find a supportive group of writers. What is the best piece of writing advice that someone you trust has given to you?

Don’t let one person try to bring you down. You’re not going to please everyone so you can’t expect everyone to give a glowing review. That also being said- don’t read your reviews. Have a friend vet them for you. It will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

My favorite advertising art for Two Thousand Years. It actually inspired me to read the book.

Do you have a favorite review of your book? Can you share why you like it?

My favorite review to date actually came over a few days ago- it was the first 5-star review received from someone I didn’t know. A complete stranger read my book and loved it enough to give it 5-stars… that, right there, meant so much.

I remember getting my first review from a stranger. I had to post it on Facebook. It’s a form of validation. What book have you read that has had the most impact on you and why?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. It’s the second book of her ACOTAR series and remains to this day my most favorite book ever. I finished it within 24 hours and just fell in love with so many characters, and the story carried me from beginning to bitter end. It had humor, slow-burning romance, and plot twists that I was not expecting. And it still is one of the only books that I have reread numerous times. SJM’s writing style has also impacted me as a writer, and I wish to one day have the fandom that her works have created.

I’ll have to check her series out. Now, to finish up, a couple of quick personal questions. What is a little known fact about you?

I played the clarinet in school – between fourth grade until my first year of college.

What else do you like to do besides writing?

Other than writing, I love reading fantasy novels, playing video games, and sometimes I practice yoga.

If you haven’t checked out M. Dalto’s new book Two Thousand Years, what are you waiting for? 

M. Dalto is a fiction author of adventurous romantic fantasy and her debut novel, Two Thousand Years, won one of Wattpad’s Watty Awards in 2016. She continues to volunteer her time as an Ambassador, where she hopes to engage and inspire new writers. She spends her days as a full-time residential real estate paralegal, using her evenings to pursue her literary agenda. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing video games, and drinking coffee. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, their daughter, and their corgi named Loki.

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