Debut Author ~ Michelle Griep

Michelle’s been writing since she first discovered Crayolas and blank wall space. In all that she writes, she endeavors to bring glory to God—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. When she’s not wearing her superhero cape, she’s a mom of four, teaches at a homeschool coop, and lives at the intersection of grace and mercy.

When did you decide to be a writer?

Writing was never a conscious decision. It’s just a part of me, like an elbow or a foot. While all the other kids spent their summers backpacking and canoeing, I begged my mom to let me go to Poetry Camp.

At what point did you stop juggling suggestions and critiques and trust yourself (as a writer)?

You mean I’m supposed to? The day I trust my writing, without considering suggestions or critiques, is the day I’ll start stagnating as a writer. Plus, my pride would get as ugly big as the national deficit.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

Wow, I wish I could write whenever I felt like it. What a treat that would be. I have to be disciplined. I’ve got one night a week to write, so I make the most of it.

What kind of activities to you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

Travel to exotic lands, spend an entire day at a spa, shop with an unlimited Visa card. Those are things I’d like to do, but what I really do is read, rollerblade, and eat excessive amounts of dark chocolate.

What is your favorite novel and what made it special?

Only one?! I’ve got lots of favorites, but I’ll name one that I make a point to pick up and read every few years or so. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It haunts in so many ways. The setting is ethereal. Heroine Jane is a feisty mix of virtues that I’d sum up as compassionate survivalist—a trait every woman should own. And I absolutely adore Mr. Rochester. He’s mysterious, blunt, and very powerful, everything a proper hero should be.

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

Reading amazing well-written prose stretches me to go beyond the mediocre, to play around with words as an art form. And reading really bad writing is salve to my ego.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

GALLIMORE is a Wizard of Oz tale with a medieval twist.
On his way to battle, Colwyn Haukswyrth, knight of Gallimore, faces a storm the likes of which he’s never seen, and a woman in its midst who claims to live centuries in the future. Jessica Neale’s faith may have been lost the day of her husband’s death, but she's about to turn Colwyn's beliefs on end and form a bond that might be strong enough to survive the grave.

Where did you get your inspiration for GALLIMORE?

I was driving home late one night in the midst of the freakiest storm I’ve ever encountered. Looking out my windshield was like watching a horror movie. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I probably should’ve been scared, but I was too busy wondering ‘what if…’

Which character is most like you?

Not that I’m a heroine by any stretch of the imagination, but I’d say the main character, Jess. She frequently goes off half-cocked, doesn’t think through things before she acts, which lands her in heaps of trouble, and she often thinks of a complaint before counting her blessings.

Who is your favorite character and why?

That’d be my hero, Colwyn. Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the in—there’s so much more to him than when you first get to know him…which reminds me to give others a chance before I go judging them.

Did you know how GALLIMORE would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

I knew where I wanted to begin and end, but everything in the middle was a surprise. A few characters popped in that I didn’t expect—and surprisingly they were both soldiers with a fierce loyalty to Colwyn.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

That sometimes you’ve just got to let go of the past. Living and reliving things you can’t change does you no good in the present.

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

When my title released on Amazon’s Kindle list, it sold more in the first 3 months on there than it did in paperback. So if there’s any chance you can get your book on Kindle, go for it.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I’m currently marketing to publishers a finished manuscript that’s a time travel back to the Viking age. Here’s a blurb:

People go missing every day. Many meet with foul play, some leave the social grid by choice, but others are never accounted for. Such is the fate of successful linguistics professor Cassie Larson. She leads a life her undergrad students hope to attain, until she tumbles into the North Sea and is sucked into a swirling vortex…and a different century.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

Don’t sweat the small stuff, and really…the big stuff isn’t worth perspiring over either. Last time I checked, God was still on the throne. He’s got everything under control.

Visit my site at: www.mmgriep.com
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Michelle is giving away a copy of her book Gallimore. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!