Well, I guess it’s time for us all to know Michelle a bit better, as far as her wiriting in concerned. Hope you enjoy her interview, as questioned by Andrea:

Andrea: What inspired you to write your own book? Was it a particular book/author or a personal goal, etc….?

Michelle: The thing that inspired me to write was in fact my mother. My Mom is a retiered Jr. High English teacher, and we had no TV in the house till I turned 16! Growing up that meant play dress-ups, we acted in plays, musicals, sang together, and for me read a lot! At night, I would imagine my own world where I was the heroine, there was some sort of love story, but it always had a bit or peril or humor in it. My “hero” would come save me, or on several ocassions, I would save my “hero”. lol. My mother always encouraged us to read to use your imagination to entertain yourselves. The love of reading I am now passing onto my two sons.

Andrea: How did you come up with your character’s names?

Michelle: I go to the web for a lot of my names. There are several sites with names or even surnames (last names) that you can find. I first think of the letter of the alphabet that I want the name to start with. For example, my hero in my WIP is called DAMIAN. Now I found that on the internet, and there were several different spellings. Demien, Damien, etc. but I like the spelling D-A-M-I-A-N the best so that’s what I used.

Andrea: Are your characters personalities/looks based on people you know?

Michelle: Some of them are. I find with the heroine, she might have at least one characteristic that I posess. But other characters, or their looks are taken from friends and family.

Andrea: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to?

Michelle: I am a HUGE music lover, and I listen to music constantly while writing, it calms me, focuses me…even music with lyrics. Some of the music I listen to is Evanescence, John Denver, Enya Broadway musicals, and Celtic music to name a few.

Andrea: Is your current WIP your first MS? If not, how many have you completed?

Michelle: My WIP isn’t my first finished MS. I had a finished MS a couple of years back, but due to computer troubles I LOST IT…and with no backup! GAH!!! So now I back everything up. My WIP is the second in a two book series.

Andrea: Do you revise as you go or do you revise after you’ve finished?

Michelle: I sometimes will go back and edit, but more often than not I push it to get finished. Hate to say it but the revisions are so tedious to me, so boring! Guess after being with the book that long, then having to read it, revise it over and over again drives me mad! lol.

Andrea: Do you read what you’ve written (i.e. a particular scene) out loud to yourself as you write (to make sure it sounds right)?

Michelle: Well actually yes I do. I have a “captive audience” you might say. My two critique partners and best friends listen while i read what I’ve written that week to them. It’s amazing the things you pick up on when you actually read it aloud! Fixed some problems that way.

Andrea: What is your current WIP about?

Michelle: It’s set in medieval Scottish Highlands during the early 1300’s. My H/H Damian and Delia, were secondary characters in my first book, and even though they didn’t get along together all that well, you could tell there was a definite attraction between them. Now I’m writing their book! Delia believes she is engaged to Rafer, Damian’s brother when she is really engaged to Damian! All hell breaks loose when Damian tells Delia the truth of the matter, and Delia is hurt for she believes that Damian deliberately lied to her and made her look like a fool! Their story goes on from there, and it’s been a blast to write. I already have 187 pages written.

Andrea: After your current WIP is finished…what next?

Michelle: I am going to start a new series. Three females work together and live together, they are all unmarried. One by one the three healers are sent away to help people in need, and meet and fall in love with their future husbands. I haven’t thought of names yet, but I am thinking Rafer, Damian’s younger brother might be a hero in one of the books! We’ll just have to wait and see.

Andrea: Hhhhhhmmmmm…..not too personal….well, since I can’t ask for your social security number or your bra size, how about: What did you have for dinner last night?

Michelle: Well I made my home-made stroganoff (sp?) My kids devoure it, and it fills everyone up real fast!

So that’s it in a nutshell, so “get cracking!” Hope you liked the interview, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Thanks for your time!