A Prepublished Novel in the Process of Revisions and Rewrites

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Author Spotlight: M Flagg, paranormal romance



Please welcome Michelle Flagg a good friend and peer paranormal romance author. Her series is AWESOME! I've read Retribution! and look forward to the next book.



Thanks for having me here, Dayana. It’s always such a pleasure to visit with you.



Tell me about yourself. What makes you angry, happy, sad, snoopy dance?


I’m a left-handed Virgo who loves chocolate. That just about covers it! Been blessed with a wonderful family who brings happiness and joy to my life. I tend to snoopy dance a lot, and the only thing that truly ruffles my feathers are mean-spirited people. I don’t tolerate bullying, either in the classroom or out of it.

How many books have you written?



3 – Retribution! is my first release. Consequences is also contracted with TWRP, and Inheritance, Book 3, has not yet been queried. All are full-length novels.

What are some traditional methods of marketing you have used to gain visibility for you and your book(s)?


I’ve done pens, postcards – the usual. Also, I spread the word about my work on blogs, Facebook, and anywhere anyone will listen.

What are some unique methods?


Recently, I was interviewed on blog talk radio. Now that was a very strange feeling. Taking out ads, even short news releases to a local paper have worked really well. The latter led to a fantastic invitation for a book signing at a busy coffee house. I sold well over 30 copies of Retribution! I’ve been invited back there for a Halloween book signing, but this time, I’ll be joined by Noble Blood’s author, Linda J. Parisi. Two Black Roses in costume! I’m so looking forward to it J


Oh blog radio is strange. I had an interview with Paranormal Palace last year and was so nervous, but you know? The host was so warm and friendly we ended up talking like we were longtime friends. BTW I listened to your interview, Micky, and it was great:)

When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)


My two children are in their 20’s, and I totally give kudos to authors with little ones around. I don’t believe I could have written one sane word while my two were small. I usually write on nights and weekends. Some Saturdays, I’m so involved in the characters that the day fades to black before I realize it. Being a teacher, snow days have me jumping for joy and raring to write. The ambiance of a blizzard just thrills me!


Now that is something I truly miss from my life in New Jersey. Snow days were always the best.

Do you write every day? Or when the muse strikes?


Nope – I’m strictly a ‘when the muse strikes’ kind of gal. I can edit most anytime, but the creative process of writing only happens when the muse makes an appearance.


Ditto, Micky. Me too!

Where do you write?


Ah, I love this question! There’s a small eating room at the back of my home. The table becomes a perfect desk, the view, an entire wall of window. My laptop faces open space full of greenery. There’s a really neat forest on my left. Deer, fox, groundhogs, bunnies, chipmunks, and various species of birds are often present. I love the feeling of solitude in the midst of Mother Nature when I write.


Oh that sounds wonderful. I am so jealous. I grew up venturing through forests and loving nature. I miss it. The flora and fauna is so different in the tropics.

Do you put pieces of yourself or your life in your stories?


Yes. I think most writers do. I also put pieces of my family’s lives in the characters as well.


Again, I tend to do the same thing. My first book a crime suspense has a lot of my father in it:)

What is your least favorite thing to do as an author?


Jeez, can’t I have more than one?? Making the query letter perfect, penning a thrilling synopsis, shameless self-promo… The uncomfortable tasks one must accomplish if we choose to entertain others with our creations. If it helps, writing the book is what I like best.

Tell us about your Hero. Do you have a favorite, if you’ve written multiple books?


Michael Malone is a tall, dark, and handsome vampire with moral conscience and tons of depth. Reclaiming his soul after 200 years of lusty kills changes him. Michael’s complex disposition makes him fun to write. His arrogance hides a very caring (but metaphorical) heart, and devotion to Alana, my heroine, never wavers.


As I've told you on numerous occasions, I love Michael and Alana. They are just amazing. And the strife they muddle through is so well written. All your characters are so very well fleshed out, I felt as if I knew each one of them. You guys really must read this book.

Are any of your characters modeled after people you know?


Bits and pieces of the good people in my life show up in each of my characters. Thorn, the empath who helps Michael, is a combination of three wonderful men that I have the pleasure of being related to. I love each one of them in a different way, and Thorn is a tribute to their persistence and importance to me.

What do you do for relaxation?


Very little. No lie… I’m wound pretty tight.


What TV shows do you watch? I never miss Bones, The Closer, or Mad Men. I’m a sucker for drama and complex characters.


Oohhh, I love Bones as everyone already knows.


What type of music do you favor?


Being a music teacher, I find different types of release in different genres. I’ll escape into my thoughts with Bach’s Cello Suites or anything Chopin. But I get equal satisfaction out of Santana, Janis Joplin, the Beatles, or Louis Armstrong.


Quite diverse taste, Mickey. I tend to do Alternative and Classical which totally on two different ends of the scale, LOL


Do you use music as a motivational source when writing?


Nope. Never. My head starts analyzing the piece and I slip into the musician and out of the writer. I prefer total silence when I write.

Fun question (possible blackmail material down the line, LOL) What is the most uncharacteristic thing you have ever done? Please, no censoring? I have no qualms about placing a content warning on my blog!


I gave up a tenured teaching position to study acting in London and traipse around Europe when I was 26. For five months, I lived without a plan, without a care in the world. Anyone who knows me will attest to that being the most uncharacteristic thing I have ever done!


It's been a pleasure having you here today, Micky. I look forward to reading Consequences and please do get Inheritance submitted, woman!




More about M. Flagg:

Mickey brings the joy of music to hundreds of students every week in an urban K-8 school. Named a Distinguished Music Educator at the 2009 Yale Music Symposium, she also accompanies a church choir on Sundays and writes paranormal romance. Retribution, her debut novel, was released in 2009. Book 2, Consequences, is also contracted with The Wild Rose Press. Living in northern NJ, she shares her home with her children, a rescued, bright-orange Main Coon who only bites her ankles, and a very sweet JRT who doesn’t know he’s a terrier. Her novels can be purchased at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ as well as various sites on the web. You can contact Mickey at http://www.mflagg-author.com/

20 comments:

  1. Morning, Dayana. Thanks so much for having me here today. I'm off to the day job but will be back later to chat. For all who visit, thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

    See you later, Dayana :)

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  2. Morning, Mickey! I'll pop in as I can as well.

    Morning, all! Can't wait to see who else drops by today:)

    D~

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  3. What a great interview. I love Bones, the Closer and Mad Men too!:) Retribution is a great book read and perfect to get in the mood for Halloween!:)

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  4. Mornin, Mickey and Dayana! Great interview, ladies. Mickey, you are just all over the place these days. LOL I imagine the forest stirs your creative muse for the foreboding and peaceful. Sounds lovely. Retribution is on my TBR list. Have a great day, ladies!
    Sharon

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  5. Yay Mickey!
    I'm jealous that you got to spend so much time in Europe! I've always dreamed of doing exactly that, and now, at nearly 40, I'm still not discounting the possibility! >grin<
    BTW-got my copy and settling in with it after retreat this weekend! ;)

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  6. Dayana-
    Sorry I checked in late, but I LOVED your post on Black Rose yesterday!!

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  7. Hi ladies! Just got home and sitting with my VERY bold coffee. Things are changing rapidly with my career. But I'll share that at a later date.

    Hi Dayana! Hope your day went well.

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  8. Hi Anne. Thanks for your comment. October is certainly vamp month and, well, Michael's kind of a hot one. I hope to see you this weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

    Good afternoon, Miss Sharon. Did I see Oliver peeking out behind you? I'm still grinning from that gorgeous creature!! Yep. Managed to spreaad myself pret-ty thin for Paranormal month. Aw, hell, let's face it. We're a great bunch of talented writers getting to know each other better. And I deeply bow to your creativity, goddess of the haunted castle. Thanks so much for stopping by today.

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  9. Hi Helen. Great to see you too!

    And Autumn, I just started Blood Moon. Great opening scene. Um, I did Europe like that in 1978. It cost very little compared to today's prices. But I still can't believe I did that. It was a great departure from the norm for me. Also why I set Retribution! in Portofino. Enjoy your retreat and thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Hi, Mickey. Much continued success abd can't wait for the next book.

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  11. Hi A! So glad you could make it over to Dayana's. Thanks for your good wishes. A writes childrens books, Dayana. He's quite talented too!
    Thanks for stoppying by:)

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  12. Enjoyed the blog. Envy your "writing room." How great would that be. Good luck on sales.

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  13. Hi, Anne. Thanks for dropping by.

    Darn! I just realized Bones is on hiatus! Anyway, just got dinner cleared up and first chance to drop in and see how things are going here.

    Hey, Sharon! so good to see you here. How's Oliver's lobotomy going. Oh! I can't say I want anyone messing with that poor hunk's brain.

    Hey, Helen and Autumn. Thanks for dropping by and I'm glad you liked the Black post, Autumn. I had fun with the research 'cause I so love that stuff.

    And Sku11One, P.L. good to see you here as well. Thank you for dropping by.

    Mickey, my day went well. How was yours?

    D~

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  14. Thanks, PL. I totally love the room. And the trees in autumn - just breathtaking. Sometimes baby groundhogs sit at my deck door and look in. The JRT just crooks his head. Of course, the kitten's at his side like best buds. But the scariest? Watching the bucks charge then lock antlers right on the forest path.

    Thans so much for stopping by!

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  15. Hi Dayana. Glad you're back! I'm packing for the NJRW conference and very excited to be signing Retribution! Last year, this was just a dream. I feel so blessed at times.

    Ah, the day! Halloween songs with the little guys and then 600 years of classical music styles in 45 minutes with the older ones. But every class did a rousing rendition of "Witches Riding". Even the 8th graders! I love watching my kiddies grow up. Teaching's an awesome profession!

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  16. Mickey, great blog! Can't wait to catch up at the NJRW conference! :)

    Christine

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  17. Thanks, Christine. I really enjoyed "A Daughter's Promise". Looking forward to seeing you at the conference. How nice that you were able to drop by :)

    Hey, Dayana. I think the coffee has worn off. Gotta rest, but I'll check back tomorrow.

    Thank you so very much for having me here today. What a gracious hostess, and a very supportive fellow Black Rose. I enjoy your books and am looking forward to your next one in the Roma Wolf Tales. May you sell tons!!

    Thanks to all for dropping in today! Night ~ Mickey

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  18. Mickey,

    It's been a pleasure having you here. Thank you for your compliments and kudos on my Roma Wolf Tales Series. Best sales to you woman!

    D!

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  19. Mickey,

    It's been a pleasure having you here. Thank you for your compliments and kudos on my Roma Wolf Tales Series. Best sales to you woman!

    D!

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