Page down if you missed the review and details of Michelle's book It's Not About Me. Thanks, Michelle.
Now without further ado. Here's Michelle vs. the Dregs.
If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question -- what question would you ask of whom?
I’d ask my mom what it’s really like in heaven since she is there right now enjoying the glory.
If you could change something in any novel, what would you change about it and why?
In the case of It’s Not About Me, I’d make sure the right PDF file copy was printed. There was a tragic mistake made and the copy sent to the printer was not the typo-free final final version, so if you find a few typos know that the copy printed was not the final one. But it’s too expensive to fix at this point. Most people don’t notice more than one or two, if any, thank the Lord.
Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.
How about I share a favorite phrase from INAM. Tony is hurling in the porcelain bowl and just told his brother he drank a pint of Southern Comfort. His brother, Dan, after asking him if he was trying to kill himself says, “Well, if puking your brains out is the comfort alcohol brings, I don’t see why you keep going back for more.” To which Tony replies, “Shut up!”
What period of history intrigues you the most?
I love WWII history. I find the whole Nazi oppression thing fascinating. How the world could turn a blind eye to such obvious evil and allow millions of people to be murdered under the regime of a madman.
What would you write if there were no rules or barriers? (epic novels about characters in the Bible, poetry, greeting cards, plays, movies, instruction manuals, etc.)
I love writing romantic women’s fiction. It’s my favorite genre.
How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?
Usually through deep emotion or incredible insight. Tosca Lee’s book Demon is a great example. I had so many “aha” moments I lost count. That is a brilliantly written novel.
Where would you most like to travel ----- moon, north pole, deep seas, deserted island, the holy land or back to a place from your childhood, somewhere else? – and why.
I’d love to travel to Europe and see where so much history has taken place. I’d also love to go to an exotic island and just enjoy the ocean, but not by diving in it. That gives me the willies.
Favorite season and why?
Probably the fall. It’s just all around nice weather and the leaves turning is always pretty to look at.
Favorite book setting and why?
I’d have to say knights and castles. I enjoy going back in time in my mind.
Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?
When it comes to this story (INAM) I love how almost everyone has said they couldn’t stop reading it. That means it was compelling enough to set everything else aside and focus on where my story took them. Plus, I love it when they say a scene made them cry. It means the story touched their heart.
What criticism has cut the deepest and why?
I tend to forget the bad. Usually what I’ll hear is that it was too edgy for them. But that’s rare, actually.
What would you do today if you knew you had only a week to live?
I wouldn’t be answering interview questions. I’d have to think on that one.
What word annoys you more than any other?
Can’t stand the word preachy. Ick.
Super power you'd love to borrow for awhile?
The ability to eat and not gain weight. Is that a super power? If not, I want it.
Favorite chore
It wouldn’t be called a chore if I liked it.
Societal pet peeve…sound off.
People who are so insecure that they have to brag about themselves all the time and put others down.
CREATIVE CORNER: Pick any of the following and have fun with it.
Pick a Genre - Describe a kiss….
Has to be yummy. There are a million ways to write one. My favorite is when there is such a pull that they finally give in to it. I love the kiss in the movie Bourne Identity. He just gets done washing, coloring and cutting her hair. He is trying to stay focused, but then after succumbing to the beckoning in her eyes, he drops the towel and dives on her lips to full abandon. Ahhhh…
A man and woman sit at a table in an upscale restaurant. They each have a cell phone to their ear. What are you overhearing? Tell me about this couple…..
They are both employed with high profile companies in New York City and even though it’s their anniversary, they are letting business cut into their pleasure. They agree to take the calls because they are both hopelessly addicted to work and feeling valued outside of the home. The sad thing is, they both understand that about each other so they let it continue to pull them apart.
Pick a "story starter" below and give us a sample of your voice.
A crack broke the stillness as Terry tugged on the frozen door.
Terry cringed. She’d tried so hard to not make a sound, even tiptoeing into the room barefoot just to make sure the floor wouldn’t squeak under the soles of her slippers. All she wanted was to snag the last of the chunky monkey ice cream without getting caught by her roommate. But there was no way that Jane could miss the sound of the suction breaking on the freezer door. It was louder than ripping open the Velcro flap of her lunch box, and Terry had busted her then, too. Ugh. Why had she agreed to that stupid diet challenge anyway? So what if she had aches and pains from carrying around extra weight?
Closing her eyes, she sighed and closed the door. She needed to lose weight and cheating in the middle of the night was not what she wanted for her life, nor was sneaking around. Why did it have to be so hard? She sat at the kitchen table, covered her face with her hands, and wept.
Lauren stared at the clock. Eleven forty-five, if only it read ten forty-five. Everyone should be allowed one do-over hour in life.
Everyone but her.
She glanced at the man in the bed beside her. She didn’t even know his name. How had her life gotten so out of control, so pathetic that she’d take anyone who came on to her home to her bed? Nausea crept up her throat like reflux and she reached for the pills on her night stand. Half a bottle of beer—though warm—stood beside it. She could down every last pill in the container and be dead before he woke up. But when he found her that way, would he even care? And if not, would it be worth doing?
With those thoughts on her mind, she released the bottle and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning she found a hundred dollar bill on the pillow beside her. She winced. Somewhere between the ages of 25 and 30, she’d become her mother.
I'm not so interested in boxers or briefs. I'm just looking for a good man to fill them. Heck, I find a good man and he can wear banana peels as far as I'm concerned.
As I flipped through the clothing on the clearance rack, little fingers tugged on my skirt. “Mom, I need to go potty.”
Glancing down, I noticed my son half-dancing and squirming with his legs pressed together. What an adorable sight. So rather than making the poor child wait while I perused more undergarments, I ditched my search for a gag gift for my brother’s wedding.
A sigh escaped my lips as I clutched my little boy’s hand and walked toward the rest rooms. At least Joe had a wedding coming up. I had no prospects in sight.
