A Cup of Tea with Michelle Griep

1) Have you always wanted to be an author? If not, what made you decide to write, and how long have you been at it?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, except for a short season when I kicked around the idea of becoming an astronaut. Two problems with that, though. First off, I hate science and math, both of which are somewhat necessary to succeed in an aerospace career. Secondly, it was a total deal breaker when I found out that astronauts don’t actually wear super cool Lt. Uhura uniforms.

Honestly, I first started writing when I discovered Crayolas and blank wall space, but seriously for the past ten years. My writerly journey began after a long day cooped up with four kiddos (yeah, mine) and I needed to run away from home. So I did. Every Thursday night, I ran straight over to Panera for a mug o’ joe, a chocolate chunk cookie, and four hours of letting my imagination run off the leash.

2) After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?

The freak magnet effect. When people hear I’m a published author, suddenly I’m their bff. I’m convinced that 99.9% of the population are wannabe-writers with not only novel ideas, but entire epic trilogy tales.  And trust me on this one, they’re not afraid to share.

On the plus side, I’m always surprised when a reader takes the time to email me with their thoughts on what I write. So far they’ve all been great, but I suspect that at some point in the future I’ll get a snarky step-away-from-the-keyboard type of note. Even so, that someone would take the time to contact me is still amazing.

3) What do you love about being a writer, and what do you like the least?

Getting paid for penning down my daydreams is the best part of being a writer. Seriously, other than lawyers, who else do you know that makes money off of making stuff up, trying to convince people they know what they’re talking about?

My least favorite is marketing. There’s a reason I’m not a salesman. I stink at it. I’d much rather shut myself in a room for hours at a time than stand on a street corner and toot my own horn. Unfortunately, in this day and age and economy, you will find me kazooing my way to sales on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

4) What do your kids think about your being a writer?

My oldest son thinks it’s great but only reads audio/technical textbooks. My second son reads my rough drafts, cutting out scenes that are too sissy and/or adding in some sweet moves to my fight scenes. My oldest daughter is too busy fixing her hair to notice that I write. And my youngest daughter is pretty sure Hollywood will make blockbuster movies of my stories, and can I please get her into a starring role?

5) How do you get your best ideas?

There’s a reason I write fiction: my life is a sitcom. Not. Even. Kidding. Come on over to the Griep household for a day or two and you’ll walk away armed with enough writerly fodder to pound out at least seventeen novels.

I also get ideas from reading. I mentally tick off things I like in other books and then shamelessly reshape them and stick them in my own. Is that wrong?

6) Writing is a sedentary occupation. What do you do for exercise?

I’ve developed some serious biceps simply by the repeated action of lifting brownies from a plate into my mouth…which isn’t so good for the ol’ abs. So, I toodle off to the gym 5 days a week. I’m one of the blessed few who can read while sweating away on an elliptical. That’s where I get most of my reading done.

7) What fun fact would you like your readers to know about you?

If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d be running a B&B in England. Near a castle. On a moor. With Mr. Rochester as my neighbor. Wow. Did I mention I’m an out-of-the-closet Charlotte Bronte fan-a-maniac?

Other quirky facts are that I don’t like fruit (except for the occasional apple), I love to rollerblade, boxers are my dog of choice, and while I’ll never turn down any kind of chocolate, dark is my favorite.

Thanks, Michelle, for taking the time to make us smile!

Readers: Don't forget to stop by tomorrow to enter to win a free copy of Michelle's latest release, A Heart Deceived.