AUTHOR INTERVIEW
WITH
MICHELLE VALENTINE
Hello Michelle, how are you today?
M: I’m fantastic. Thanks for asking.
Can you tell us a little about yourself ?
M: Well, let’s see…I was born and raised in Ohio (USA) and always thought it was the worst place in the world to live until I started traveling quite a bit and discovered that it’s not so bad here. Lol I’ve been married for fourteen years, have one son who is in elementary school, and two dogs. I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, mainly because I changed my answer every time I was ever asked this question. I went to college initially for drafting and design because I love creating things, but the moment I realized there was no real art involved when they made me draw a wrench to scale I was over it. Not that the field that I switched was any more creative. When I went into nursing, I was fascinated with helping people. I like being nice to people, and taking care of them, so it was a good fit. I did that for a long time, and ended up being one of the youngest supervisors in the hospital. But even with all that, I still liked creating things, which lead me eventually to writing, and here we are. ☺
What is your favourite movie?
M: Oh, God. That’s a tough one, because there are so many. I love dark and creepy films. Like I’m obsessed with Tim Burton’s work, but I also enjoy romantic comedies. I’m sort of all over the place. If it’s got a captivating plot, I’m hooked, no matter the genre.
What is your favourite colour?
M: Black or Blue
What star sign are you?
M: Libra
What do your family think about you writing and have they read any of your work?
M: Most of my family is supportive, but only a few have read my work.
What is your favourite food?
M: This is also a tough one…Let me think…Mmmm…I think I’m going to go with Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms.
What is the most romantic thing a man has done for you?
M: I’m gonna go with the times my husband would sneak his way into one of the offices when he was stationed in Kuwait with the Army and call me all the time. This was before Skype was a thing and people were still just learning the internet. lol
Are the stories old ones you have saved on your laptop or new?
M: I have ten unpublished books on my computer currently that I wrote before I published my first novel and there’s a couple more that are just waiting to be published.
When and why did you begin writing?
M: I started writing after my niece who was fourteen at the time got me hooked on YA books. That’s been a while ago considering my niece is now grownup, married with a baby of her own. lol
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
M: After I received the very first check that actual paid me for writing stories.
What inspired you to write your first book?
M: When I ran out of YA books to read at my library (this was before ereaders) and I wanted a very specific story to read but couldn’t find it anywhere. It was then I decided to write it down. I wrote that entire novel by hand in a notebook, on my lunch breaks while I worked as a nurse.
Do you have a specific writing style?
M: Fast paced with minimal fluff.
Who was the easiest character to write for and why and hardest and why?
M: Phenomenal X was the easiest. I wasn’t planning to write that book, and had absolutely zero room for it in my writing schedule, but I knew I had to get this man’s story down or I couldn’t focus on anything else.
What was your favorite book as a child?
M: Cowboys Don’t Cry.
How did you come up with the title?
M: Titles just come to me most of the time. I have no clue where in the hell I pull them from.
How much of the book is realistic?
M: There’s a little piece of me in each book, and I think most of the things I write about in romance novels could actually happen given the right circumstance.
How did you come up with the idea for the black falcon series and is there any particular actors you can picture for the lead roles?
M: The Black Falcon series was so easy for me to develop. I’m obsessed with rock bands and the whole rock star culture. My family is musical, so I used a lot of the things I saw growing up and put that in the books.
You are a massive fan of WWE Roman Regins, So much so that he was the inspiration behind your
phenomenal x series. What is it about him that inspired you to write a character and have you ever met or seen him in person?
M: Roman actually knows about the book. He knows he is the basis of the character. I have pictures with wrestlers posing with the book, but I don’t post them because I’m not sure how WWE would feel about that and I don’t want to cause any problems for anyone. I just think Roman has that perfect look and attitude about him to be a book boyfriend. The funny thing is, he actually didn’t inspire the story. I had a quarter of it written when I started sharing teasers, and one reader commented that he sounded like Roman Reigns, and I googled him because at that time I didn’t know the guy. From then on, he did inspire the story for sure.
Do you have any other WWE wrestler favourites?
M: TONS! I have been watching it on and off since I was a little kid and Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant.
Can readers look forward to a follow up to DEMON AT MY DOOR?
M: Yes. I have half of it completed actually, but paranormal stories take a lot of time to write because there’s so much world building. But, I promise, at some point, it will be published.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
M: A lot of things are based on things that have happened to me or people I know, yes.
What books have most influenced your life most?
M: The Black Falcon Series for sure. It sold phenomenally, and it changed my life. It gave me the opportunity to make writing my full time career.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
M: Oh, that’s tough. I really look up to Rachel Hawthorne, Emily Bronte, Stephanie Meyers, JK Rowling just to name a few.
What book are you reading now?
M: Reboot by Amy Tintera
Are there any new authors that have grasped
your interest?
M: Yes! There are a lot of great up and coming talents in publishing right now, especially in the indie world.
You released a book called WICKED WHITE can you tell us a little about it for those who haven't read it just yet?
M: Wicked White is basically a different spin on the rock star romances we’re used to reading. The hero in the story absolutely loathes his fame and the band that he’s in, so he chucks it all after a tragedy and goes into hiding.
Has there been any misconceptions about any of your books and if so what we're they?
M: Not that I can think of. I know that not everyone loves every book that I write because I try to make them all different,
and that’s okay.
What are your current projects?
M: Feisty Princess (A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale, Part Two), Xavier Cold, and the final book in the Wicked White Series.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
M: When I posted Rock the Heart on Goodreads, I was amazed by the amount of people who found it and wanted to read it. It was very exciting for me.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Feisty Princess Snipit (Publishes Oct. 13th):
“Your tits look amazing in that dress. You should wear it more often,” I tell her.
She narrows her eyes. “Do you always have to be so crass?”
“Yes,” I say with a smile. “It’s part of my charm.”
“Who said you were charming?” She jabs back at me.
I raise one eyebrow. “I seem to recall being able to charm you out of your panties on more than a two occasions.”
“Well,” she scoffs. “Everyone loses their minds from time to time. If anyone ever questions me about it, I’ll please temporary insanity.”
“Insane with lust, you mean.” I chuckle.
Out of all your characters who was your personal favourite to write?
M: Trip Douglas in Rock the Beat. He has some funny one-liners that I adore. I love rereading that book.
Which one from all your leading men would you say is the readers favourite book boyfriend from your books?
M: It’s a toss up actually. People like them all, but the most talked about recently are Riff from Rock My Bed, Xavier Cold from Phenomenal X, and Alexander King from Naughty King.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
M: I have writer ADD. I can’t force myself to stay in one story if I’m not feeling it at that moment. It’s the main reason why I always have a couple projects going on at one time.
You have done signings in the US and UK how different do you think the readers are?
M: I love the readers no matter where I am. They are all so kind, and supportive in every place that I have been in. I have the best readers.
Do you read your reviews and how do you deal with bad ones?
M: I read the ones on Amazon, mainly because I go there to check on the rank of the book. I try to not let them get to me no matter how much they hurt and just try to remind myself that not every person loves every book.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
M: Rachel Hawthrone. She wins me over no matter what genre she writes in and I admire that.
Who designed the covers?
Letitia Hausser from Romantic Book Affairs.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
M: Getting it finished. LOL I get distracted so easily ALL the time by EVERYTHING.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
M: Don’t give up. If you really want to publish a book, it will happen as long as you keep trying.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
M: Oh, my gosh. THANK YOU so much for supporting me and my work! It means the world to me. <3
Do you have any funny quirks or stories you would like to tell us about yourself?
M: I’m kind of a hand washing fanatic and have tiny hands, like the size of a second grade boys. lol
Where do you see you self in ten years time?
M: Still writing. Maybe branching out into other genres.
Do you have any pets?
M: Yep. Two dogs. A Cavachon and a Shiba Inu.
What is your favourite dish to cook in the kitchen?
M: Chicken and Noodles.
Thank you for joining me today you have been amazing.
M: Thank you for having me. I simply adore you, so this has been a real treat! <3
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