Author Interview & Giveaway: Michele G Miller

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Hi! *waves* I'm Michele and I'm a writer.  I'm also a mother of 3, a wife to a totally amazing man, a dog owner, sports fanatic, book devourer, chocoholic and Mexican food eater.  I am beyond blessed to get to spend my days playing around on my PC and occasionally creating stories for you to read.  Mostly I'm messing around with my peeps on FB & Twitter and listening to Spotify ;)

2. What inspired you to write your first book?

I have been writing since the 7th grade on and off.  It was a coping skill when my family moved from Maine to Alabama (yea, talk about culture shock!)

            After getting all 3 kids into school last year I started debating on what to do now.  I knew I wanted to stay at home for my kids but I also debated on going back to school to get a degree in something I loved 'just in case' I ever needed it.  I should tell you that I married my high school sweetheart at 19 and worked while he went to school then got pregnant at 22 so I set aside my school and thoughts of writing and working in journalism for my family.  Not that I'm complaining it's been the best (and hardest) job of my life!  I should also tell you that my husband has been begging me to write for years and years.  He is ridiculously supportive of me!

            So in November 2012 I had the chance to spend the weekend with another Indie author, Nancy Straight, and hang out at YA'll Fest in Charleston SC.  That weekend proved to be my changing point.  I quizzed Nancy on the ins and outs of her writing and how things worked when you self pubbed.  Her answers and support were the kick that I needed to come home sit down and write.  The rest, as they say, is history.

3. How did you come up with the title, Never Let You Fall, for book one in you’re The Prophecy of Tyalbrook series?

The title actually comes from song inspiration.  'Your Guardian Angel' by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.  It has been a favourite song of mine for years and it is the epitome of Xander.  It just fit perfectly.

4. Describe Skye, your main character, in five words.

Scared, scarred, strong, learning, human

5. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I'm horrible at sticking to one tense!  Seriously, I flip flop all the time one minute I'm writing present the next I'm in past.  Thankfully I have an amazing editor, Stacy Stanford, who fixed that stuff for me.

6. Have you ever done anything strange or weird in the name of research?

You mean besides all of the staring I do.  I'm a people watcher and I am forever zoning out and staring at random people…it drives my husband crazy.

7. How long does it take you to write a book?

If I'm doing what I'm supposed to do I would say 3 months.  Nancy Straight gave me the great advice to write 2,000 words a day.  Give or take I am trying to stay on that track.  My goal is to release 2 more books this year.

8. Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I can share a little about them.  I am hard at work with book two in the series right now.  It has stumped me a few times though.  Skye is finding her inner warrior princess, Xander is on a quest and for those of you who wanted more magic and paranormal/fantasy your wish is coming true.

I'm also toying with a Contemporary romantic comedy that I LOVE! 

9. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I try to write during the day while the kids are in school.  Again, can you say blessed!

10. Do you have any writing rituals?

Snacks and music.  That's it.  Well and I always wear yoga pants and a comfy oversized sweatshirt.

11. What book are you reading now?

Well, I'm heading to UtopYA Con at the end of June so I am trying to catch up on all of my YA PN books and authors before I get the chance to meet them.  Currently I am reading Becoming by Raine Thomas.  Just finished Raksha by Frankie Rose- AMAZING!

12. What new author has grasped your interest?

Again, so incredibly lucky to have so many friends in the Indie community.  There are so many amazing authors out there to read and discover.

13. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? 

I am just so incredibly blown away and amazed by the fact that I can even say 'I have readers'.  I mean seriously, thank you!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart that you have taken the time to read my book, followed my blog, liked my FB page.  My writing BFFs and I have a theme song- I've got a Dream from Disney's Tangled- and you guys are making it happen.

Random Questions:

1. What’s in your fridge right now?

LOL, food.  One thing you will always find in there…cheese, olives and pickles.

2. What song do you sing at the top of your voice every time you hear it?

What Makes You Beautiful by 1D.  My oldest is 14 and not a 1D fan so my daughter, who is 7, and I love to sing it and act all crazy in the car whenever it comes on just to bug him.  ;)

3. Other than writing, what special or unusual talent(s) do you have?

I can say the Peter Piper tongue twister super-fast

4. Where did you last go on holiday?

Too long ago!  We were supposed to go camping for Memorial Day weekend, but hubby had bronchitis so we cancelled.  My trip to Nashville in June will be a mini vacation for us though, just me and the hubby *woot woot*

5. If your house was attacked by feral aliens, and they were zapping your house with their Über super bombs, what five items would you save?

Ahhh!   Well assuming that it's obvious that I would save my family and dogs, I would grab: My laptop, my kids 3 stuffed dogs (they each have the same version that they have had since birth), a journal of my relationship with my hubby from high school, picture albums from high school and my first born (you know before digital photos came around)

6. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Still that girl…

I use the below as my 'about me' on a few social sites and it fits my life.

Once upon a time a little girl was born with dreams of reading, writing, dancing, singing, shopping, caring for all and laughing all of her days. I am still that girl!

Links

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ B&N

Facebook ~ Blog ~ Goodreads

Be sure to enter our giveaway with Michele G Miller

Prizes:

Signed paperback of Never Let You Fall

$15 Amazon Gift Card

Ecopies of NLYF

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