Welcome to my NEWS page.
This is where I'll give you all my latest….well….NEWS….
I would like to share my reviews, interviews, and upcoming book news. Or anything that has that NEWS worthy title.
What I'm working on now:
AT this time I'm writing the second book to the Behind Blue Eyes series that I titled: The Blood of His Brothers. I have four books for this series "planned" though that can change. I'm also promoting River of Tears as often and as much as I can. I also have five other titles that I want to work with before the end of 2025. Lots of busy and lots of fun.
Recently I took part of a blog about INDI authors from Erotic Horizon, a well-known book reviewer. I was asked to answer five questions about my decision to self publish. I've put those here for your enjoyment. The link to E.H.'s site is below.
Enjoy and Keep Reading
If you’re an author or know of one who needs exposure, please let me know. If you are a publisher or a blog tour coordinator please send an email to MichelenJeff@live.com. This is the blog link: http://michelenjeff-reviews.blogspot.com/
"River of Tears is being spotlighted for the month of January by best selling author Trish Silver. Details here: Trish Silver. "
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Interview with Michele Montgomery
Welcome to the very exciting author of River of Tears, Michele Montgomery. This is the interview Michele graciously consented to following up on our review of her book last week.
RJV: Hi Michele and thank you so much for being with us. I know you recently made a big move. Are you enjoying your new home and settling in okay?
Michele: Hi Rebecca! Thank you for having me here today. Yes, we just made it through a huge state-to-state move and it was amazing. We took two days to travel through AZ., NM, and into Denver, CO without a hiccup. Talk about things that are meant to be, this move was one of them. Once our place in downtown Denver is completed we will be settled for a good long time. I can’t wait to sit with my laptop and look out of the French doors, which overlook the lovely city, and people watch. Oh I can just imagine all the new characters I’ve yet to meet.
RJV: Please tell us about yourself and when (or why) you began writing.
Michele: Tell you about myself. I don’t know why this is, but you’d think that because I’m a writer I would find this so easy and to me it’s the most difficult. Here goes: I’ve been a wife and mother for so many years, and the last four years a grandmother, that I really think I got lost for a little bit. I can always remember that I wanted to tell stories and have other’s read them and get lost in a world of my own creation. I wanted to see my words cause the reader to react to the situation my characters placed them in. (I swear, I don’t place my characters in those intense situations…they do that all on their own).
Don’t get me wrong, I have loved each and every—(well almost every) moment filling my role to my family but when my youngest turned eighteen I was hit with the big: Now what? My overactive imagination woke up, after resting for oh too long and kicked me into gear. Though I’ve always dabbled in creating my own worlds with my own characters I never gave it my full attention. I was faced with loads of time and threw caution to the wind. I gave into my calling and put butt on chair, pen to paper and let it roll. I love to read and get lost in the magic of the story, it’s natural for me to love to write and get lost the same way.
RJV: I recently read River of Tears. I found it a very emotional and haunting story. How did you come to write this story?
Michele: Oh, I’m so happy you read it! River of Tears is my first published novel and one of many. The idea to write Abby and Caiden’s story hit me about fourteen years ago. I, at that time was a full time mom and wife, estranged from my family and feeling somewhat alone. I yearned for family closeness not only from my side but from my husband’s side as well. I wanted my children surrounded with love and family closeness. Who doesn’t? Sad to say it wasn’t to be. Though my husband’s family loved our children and my husband, I was another matter all together. I was the outsider and I didn’t understand the close southern family ways. I began having a fear that because they didn’t care for me, they’d take him away from me. That’s when Abby and Caiden came into the picture. Can you imagine living everyday of your life just waiting for someone to take the love of your life away?
To read the rest please follow this link to Rebecca's blog: http://www.rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/
Then for the moment I am thinking of adding another page to the site: Where I review other authors books, and also a q&a section. I'll let you know when I'm ready for that part but be ready to go with it if you can. I'm reading Rebecca's book now, then will work on questions for her.
Michele Montgomery:
The next voice on this post is Michele Montgomery – Yes she of River Of Tears fame…. Michele is solely self published and she found me and she now has a faithful follower. After not reading any sort of emotional book for a long long time, I took a chance a few weeks ago and read her release – it was so good, so good.
Michele is not shy about sharing her opinion on why she has gone the route of self publishing. Read on for what she has to say…
River Of Tears – Review
. Why did you decide to self publish?
Once I completed writing River of Tears I honestly had no idea what to do with it. All I knew was that I had finally completed a manuscript that I felt was worthy of attention. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be an author. I wanted to see my name on the cover of a published book. I wanted to see my words on the inside of the shiny covers. I wanted to see other people reading the words that came from my soul. So, the only thing to do then was to get it published.
I had no idea how to get my manuscript published so I started doing research and what I found sure opened my eyes. I even spoke to a few different authors and they all said the same things. I came across several web sites that backed up what they said. Did I want to lose the rights to my book? Did I want to take a chance and hope that I could find an agent that would work hard to find a home for a new writer's works, as hard as I had worked on River of Tears? Did I want to wait years to see River of Tears in print? Did I want someone else, who doesn't even know me, call the shots on how something was written in the book? I answered no to all of that. Self Publishing to me meant a chance to break into the writers world, a chance to be seen. Now it means so much more, especially the more I speak to known authors and their reasons for turning to self publishing themselves. Imagine being lucky enough that you find an agent to represent you, then them not being able to sell your book, or them forgetting about it. Never mind the fact that most new writers manuscripts actually end up at the bottom of the growing submissions and never are read. Publishers just aren't willing to take a chance with new writers especially with the economic problems today. I know of an author who's publisher "forgot" to distribute her book! What?
. Pros of self publishing?
1-I'm in control of the book
2- I work at my own pace
3- I keep all my revenue
4- I can get my book printed and have it ready to sell very quickly.
5- I have total control over the cover design and title.
6- No one can tell me to edit anything out.
7- My time and effort go into marketing and promoting the book instead of chasing a publisher.
. Cons of Self publishing?
1- Distribution is limited as large bookstore chains for the most part do not accept self-published books. Bookstores do not generally deal directly with authors. No matter how good your book is. If it’s not in the bookshop then everything is for naught.
2- Most reviewers won't review books that are self-published.
3- You won’t get the recognition that comes with being accepted by a respected publisher.
4- Many readers will not give a self published book a second look.
5- Finding a good editor to guide, correct, and hold your hand through the process isn't as easy as one would think. (I got VERY lucky and found one I trust with all my heart…of course after I published River of Tears.)
. Why do you think there is this image problem with self-published books?
I believe that because in the past many writers didn't bother to edit their works many books became a let down for the reader, and because self-published books are more expensive it just added to the fear. People can't believe there can be a fantastic story between the covers of a self published book if a major player didn't publish it. A form of brainwashing is how I see it. If New York or London didn't print it and back it, it must not be any good. Many self published authors can't afford to take ads out in magazines and newspapers to announce the release of a new book. Sadly, some books that have been self published never made it to the editors desk due to cost, and it's like everything else, one bad apple, and all that.
. Would you have done it any other way and Why?..
Nope. I plan on self publishing a series very soon. I have two of the four ready now. As long as there are INDI groups that support Independent writers, as long as there are book reviewers willing to pay attention to a self published author, I will keep on. I like the control I have with my books. I like the fact that what I publish is all me, not the thoughts of someone else in a traditional setting telling me I need to change this and that of the plot to fit their needs.
Did you know that there are many well-known self-published writers that have had enduring success? Consider Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Margaret Atwood.
There is no one right way to get a book into print. However, I don't want to wait up to 18 months to see it happen.
Interview by Whohub.com with:
Michele L Montgomery [michelelmontgomery]
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What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote?
Honestly I can't remember what I first read, but if I know me, like I think I do, it was probably one of the books that Walt Disney had out way back when. I'm thinking Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, perhaps even Bambi, though that story always made me cry. I know I have always been a very avid reader, always read fiction, and some non-fiction though I preferred fiction as it offered me an escape into a world I wanted to be a part of. I picked up paper and pen when I was eight I believe. I know I was reading a book, and I didn't like how it ended, so I decided if I wrote this book it would have the ending I thought it should have. I've been writing since. The first to read what I wrote. Believe it or not, I would never share what I wrote, in fact not until recently. My first novel is due out anytime now, titled: River of Tears. My first manuscript, which I'm still working on, is the one that helped me to break out of the closet, it taught me that maybe my writing wasn't as bad as all that. |
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What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?
My favorite is what I write. Fiction. It does offer a place for us to go that is entirely different than what we are accustomed to. Perhaps it offers us insight to a world we are curious about, or to a way of life we know nothing about. A amazing journey into the minds of people different than ourselves. Isn't that what writing is about? My website is: www.michelelmontgomery.com |
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What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?
Wow, creative process. Believe it or not but I don't have this big cork board nailed to my wall with notes all over it. I get my ideas for my stories in the silliest places, I can see just one person and I find myself studying his/her mannerisms, their facial expressions when they are talking to the person they're with and I then allow my imagination take over. I never go into a story with a clear plot, though I do know what I want in the story, by the time I sit down with my characters I have a very clear picture on what they look like, how they act and what mess their into, what I don't have is a clear idea of the why's, what's or hows and whens. I can see them in their environments, in their world and I report it. Honestly, I put my music on, most of the time my Zune is stuck in my ear and I focus in on that character. I allow that character to tell me, show me and off I go. I write to tell a story, it's entertainment, I'm not a teacher by any means so to say that I'm trying to teach someone something with my writing, I'd be lying. I'm just writing a story, but it does somehow or another work itself out to complete a circle for the readers. |
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What type of reading inspires you to write?
I'm always inspired to write. I can get inspired by watching a movie, or reading a book or standing in line at the grocery store. I read completely out of my genre believe it or not...when I'm in the midst of creating a story, I tend NOT to pick up, lets say a Kellerman book, I need to keep my reading light, where I don't have to focus too much, as I need to focus more on what I'm writing. A mere slip of the fingers and a wrong name will mess up a lot of time. Also, music is the best for my inspiration, I can put it on and I get all bouncy and excited and can't wait to sit down and write till??? |
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What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?
Well, to me I look for character development, I want to be able to connect with them so I can get into their heads and feel what they feel. I also like to see natural dialogue, nothing aggravates me more than to pick up a book and the words, even in the fiction world, are each ten characters long. I don't want to put the book down, find the dictionary and look a word up that only means something as a simple laugh. |
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What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?
I have written manuscripts in both so far. River of Tears is my 1st person novel. I had a great time with it and I even allowed my readers to get into the supporting characters head using a different method. I am more comfortable with 3rd person, to me if offers my readers more insight to my characters, so they can get to know each of them instead of only one. |
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What well known writers do you admire most?
I will say that anyone who sits down and writes a story, whether they are well known or not, have my admiration. I can say that I truly enjoyed J.R.R. Tolken, Charles Dickens but what's to say the next famous well known author is the one only traditional publishers pick up? What if that great next work comes from an unknown? I admire all writers. |
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What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?
I believe that as long as a writer makes his/her characters as real as possible they are believable. What we can't forget is that there are no perfect people, so there can't be perfect characters. Everyone of us has flaws, just as a character should. My characters just pop into my head. Though I do find myself leaning more towards tall, muscular, long dark wavy hair with exotic colored eyes type guys. Most of my characters are under 30, most of those characters are male, and most of them have more flaws than you can shake a stick at, just like real life. |
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Are you equally good at telling stories orally?
If I talked a lot I'm sure I could. Living in a house with men, they always seem to do most of the loud talking that I refuse to compete with. But when I'm writing, and I'm home alone, yep, it's all oral and it's a lot of fun to get into each of the characters heads and talk and talk. A few times my family has walked in on me, but I'm so focused on what my characters are saying I don't notice them and before you know it they are staring at me as if I'd lost my mind. |
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Deep down inside, who do you write for?
ME....I write for me... |
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Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?
Yes, I believe most writers will tell you it is. I write to get out of the real world for a little while. Writing keeps me focused, and If I'm not focused my head begins to stress me out with worry, that's certainly no fun. Well, if you read any of my works, you'll know that that stuff has to come from someplace. There is a creative force for sure. |
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Does reader feed-back help you?
Yes! Yes! Yes! It's important as a writer to connect to their readers, to understand what they expect of you, but also, it's important that the readers understand that they can't call all the shots when it comes to a story either. |
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Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards?
I don't participate, I just write. I'm not doing this to show off, so to speak. IF someone gets a hold of my book, and they like it and it wins at something, well that's just wonderful. But really...I'm writing for me, and for those who like what I do. |
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Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?
Yes I do. I have two trusted friends that I share with. I think all writers should have people they trust enough to tell them what they think. They'll see things you've missed. |
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Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?
I believe I know where my strengths are, but you can bet I'll be looking to use those strengths in other genre's sometime in the future. |
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What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?
I don't keep a writing schedule, just as one would a job. The problem I have is I don't know when to stop. I don't really do goals as in, I have to type a chapter a day. I do what I'm happy with period. Writing is something I enjoy, I don't want to despise it due to schedules and goals. It's done at my own pace, on a daily basis. I take one day away from all of it. Except for when my family or friends just have to have me, then they have me. |
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What do you surround yourself with in your work area in order to help your concentrate?
I really don't have a problem concentrating. I would like to have my Zune, perhaps some water? I'm good. |
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Do you write on a computer? Do you print frequently? Do you correct on paper? What is your process?
I do both actually. If I'm working with an intense scene, most of mine are, I tend to long hand it away from the computer. I carry a notebook and pen with me all over and I just go to town with it. Generally I see the scenes in my head, and I like to get away from everyone and everything, including the computer to get them down as I am seeing them. I then type it, and correct it. Then once I'm done with the complete manuscript, I print it out and I read it, as a book, someone else's. I make the corrections on that print copy and go back to the computer and fix the errors or what have you. It does take a long time, but I won't do it any other way. It's who I am. |
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What sites do you frequent on-line to share experiences or information?
I don't share experiences or information online. The only time I do is when I need the opinions of my trusted friends, who happen to live out of state. |
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What has been your experience with publishers?
Honestly, I have not yet gone to look for a traditional publisher. I am however in the process of self publishing my work. I chose this route for many reasons, and not everyone would agree with me, and that's okay. Not everyone is the same, imagine how boring the world would be. I believe in myself and my works, but I don't like the idea that traditional publishers only publish their long time authors without ever giving a new person a chance. I imagine it works for them, as they're still around, but I think they are passing up on some amazing books that way. |
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What are you working on now?
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What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone?
Get them out of that closet, or box or wherever they are and read them. If the story still holds your interest, what's to say it won't hold others? Update it if necessary and go for it! |
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