It's such a treat to get to share a great book, and an awesome author here today! Take it away, Michelle!
I’m an author. And I love my job. I love books. I love reading them, holding them, how they smell, how they look lined up on my bookshelves all nice and pretty. The worlds they transport me to, the characters I meet… everything.
I’m a wife and a mother. I love my family. I love how they love me. I love hugging them, kissing on them, talking to them… everything. There is nothing—NOTHING—I love more than my family.
Being a good wife and mother is hard work.
Being an author is hard work, too.
When I was in the early stages of writing the Milayna Series I wasn’t sure which direction to take the third book. I’d almost given up and decided to make it a duology rather than a trilogy. Enter: my husband, Larry. He listened to my babbling, making all the right comments he should’ve. When the conversation ended, I left to run errands. When I returned home, Larry handed me a steno notebook. Inside he had jotted two pages, front and back, of notes. Ideas he had for the book.
“I think you should do something like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” he told me. Then, he showed me his notes. The names he’d found and what each meant. And that’s all I needed. With his notes and general ideas, the plot started to piece itself together in my brain. And The Innocent was born. Thanks to my husband. Although he’d say it was all me, but he’d be wrong. The idea started with him.
But my husband hasn’t been the only family member I’ve been blessed to work with. My son, Evan, has given me pages of ideas, beginning with my first book Concilium. He is a great source for all things monster or weapon related. But more than that, he’s given me two ideas for future books.
While he doesn’t quite understand that it isn’t as simple as sitting down and pounding out a book—I have to let the ideas and plot grown organically. It isn’t until they’ve taken root in my mind that I can write the book—Evan knows that his ideas are in the queue, so to speak. We have a notebook that we write ideas in, I keep a folder of pictures he’s drawn me of weapons and monsters. And one day, hopefully soon, we’ll work on the books together.
Working on projects with my family gives me the rare opportunity to combine my two biggest loves: my family and my writing. And I’m fully aware that I am very fortunate to have a family like mine. Many authors don’t.
I don’t think I’ll ever look at the Milayna Series and not remember how instrumental my husband was in my finishing the trilogy like I’d planned. He gave me a gift, probably not even realizing how much it meant to me.
And he does laundry.
Sorry ladies, he’s mine.
Title: The Innocent
Series: The Milayna Series, Book 3
Author: Michelle K. Pickett
Published: November 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Genre: YAm Paranormal Romance
Content Warning: Violence and Language
Recommended Age: 16+
A year ago, eighteen year-old Milayna fought Azazel, Hell’s angel, for her soul. She thought she’d seen the last of him, but he’s back, and he’s brought his friends with him. The Four Brothers want Milayna’s life, and they have wicked powers to use to take it.
While Milayna struggles against the Four Brothers, she also has to fight Azazel for her younger brother’s soul. Ben is at a crucial point in his life—a time when he is weakest to Azazel and his powers. Milayna has to shield her brother from Azazel until Ben reaches the age of accountability and enters a period of safety from Azazel and his soul-sucking demons.
As if having four demon brothers out to end her life and Hell’s angel out to steal her brother’s soul wasn’t enough, Milayna is still reeling from the disappearance of Chay. Can she find him in time to save their relationship? Or will the constant struggle with Hell and all its evil send her seeking comfort in the arms of Xavier?
About the Author:
Michelle is the bestselling author of the young adult novel “PODs.” She was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, but now lives in a sleepy suburb outside Houston with her extremely supportive husband, three school-aged children, a 125 pound “lap dog,” and a very snooty cat.
Red Bull or Monster Khaos are her coffee of choice, and she can’t write without peanut butter M&Ms and a hoodie. A hopeful romantic; she loves a swoon-worthy ending that will give her butterflies for days. She writes across genres in the young adult and new adult age groups. She loves to hear from her readers.
Michelle signed her new young adult contemporary novel— Unspeakable, with Clean Teen Publishing in 2014.
Clean Teen Publishing Links:
Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
- If US, the winner will receive a mystery box from Clean Teen Publishing
- If International, the winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Ends November 22nd at Midnight (EST)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
He does laundry & he writes down ideas for you?! That's it. I'm gonna show up w/a dark van & duct tape! Okay...that sounds way more creepy than I intended, lol! So neat that your family can be part of your creative process, & so sweet about your son. Congrats on the latest book!
ReplyDeleteKids can be the perfect source for ideas, especially for children's writers. My teen stepdaughter was excited to hear I was thinking about writing a YA--she had all kinds of great ideas. She doesn't have much to say about tween books! She thinks she's above that now that she's 15.
ReplyDeleteLOL on Leandra's and Stephanie's comment. I don't have kids yet, but I do have two cats. They are definitely a source of inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGood post, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI loved learning about Michelle. Here family is awesome! I love that they have helped her by giving her notes of ideas. How cool! This sounds like a great book and thanks for the amazing giveaway. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
How wonderful that her family helped her with the writing of her books. Sometimes family members tell me what I should write about, but nothing has blossomed yet from that.
ReplyDelete