Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in the small Cajun community of Pierre Part, Louisiana. Any of you who have watched the hit TV show, Swamp People have seen this town. It’s where Troy Landry lives. I moved from the swamps to the city of Lafayette in 1980 where I graduated high school and attended UL Lafayette (Formerly University of Southwestern Louisiana when I went there) as an art major. Soon after, I got a summer job working the back deck of a seismic survey boat (looking for potential oil reserves) and remained in the oilfield my entire adult life. I have held several positions in this industry over the years – roustabout, roughneck, captain, navigator, and surveyor.
10 years ago I met Kathy…we just recently celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. In December of 2016 I was laid off from my job due to the lowering of oil prices. But this turned into a blessing, as I found a job as machine operator which allows me to be home where I belong every night. The company I work for manufactures jet engine components used in commercial and military aircraft.
I wrote my first book, A Forsaken Soul, 15 years ago as a challenge to myself. I use to read voraciously and one day while reading I thought to myself, “I can write one of these.” So I picked up a pecil, grabbed a tablet, and got busy. A Forsaken Soul sat in the closet (By now I had actually digitizes it) until late in 2015 when I bumped into an old college friend on Facebook. Come to find out she is now an editor for her sister, who publishes books about Louisiana. When I told her about my 60 page short story she insisted that I send it to her. After reading it she urged me to have it published because “This is a very powerful story.”
I got excited during the publishing phase and hearing others tell me how good it was made me wonder if this was a one-hit-wonder or if I could do it again. Withing three months a rough draft of The Adventures of Nick and Billy was completed.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Adventures of Nick and Billy: The Mystery of the Rougarou, and what inspired me were several things from my past. When I was a Boy Scout, I remember being terrified as we were told camp fire stories of the Rougarou being spotted near the same swamp we were camping in. This creature, the Cajun variation of the werewolf use to scare the heck out of me! Next there were the adventure and mystery books I read as a kid. I loved them and will never forget most of them. That’s my goal – to create a tale so unique and well written that a kid will still think about it when he is 80 years old.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I just sit in front of my computer and let my mind take control of my finger tips. Don’t think there’s anything too unusual about that. Well, sometimes i like my cat to sit on my desk. I do enjoy watching her explore the untidiness of papers, paper clips, pens, and pads scattered about. She’s a trip!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
At the top of the list is Mark Twain. He’s awesome! Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are the sole reasons Nick and Billy came about. I absolutely loved being lost in these stories. I wanted so bad to build a raft and float down a bayou when I was a kid. Any bayou would do! It didn’t have to be the Mississippi River. OMG, I still get goosebumps thinking about what these stories did for me as a kid!
Edward Stratemeyer, creator of The Hardy Boys. Although I learned later that many people wrote these stories, he created Frank and Joe Hardy. I spent many hours as a boy reading of their hair-raising adventures.
What are you working on now?
After numerous request, and yes, my own desire, I am creating the second book in the Nick and Billy series, The Adventures of Nick and Billy: The Mystery of Hidden Lake. When I was a kid I remember hearing stories from the old-timers about these huge, lobster sized crawfish being caught near the location of a sunken barge. They use to say the barge was hauling fertilizer when it went down, and it was their belief that as the barge rusted away beneath the surface the fertilizer began leaking out. That’s the first hint I have given to anyone about this book. And all I can say…sorry!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure if it is the best, but by golly it’s my favorite! Book signings I mean. I absolutely love to see a kid smile as I ask them for their name so I can put it in the book with a little message and my signature. Kids rock!
I also use my website and have just started blogging. I’m new to blogging so I hope I am doing it right. It’s only a week old but people seem to have a favorable opinion of the post I have published so far.
Last week, Nick and Billy won 1st Place in the 2017 SIBA Awards / Young Adult category. I think now that this book has won its first literary award it is time to step up my marketing strategy. I’m not the smartest guy in this area of business so, like many other people, I googled, “best book promo sites,” and Awesomegang is the first one on my list to try!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m pretty new myself but I’ll share what I was told. “Write something everyday. It doesn’t have to be much or pretty, but write something.” Also from my experience, watch out for the sharks that seem to come out of the wood works when they see you have a book ready for publishing. I wasted a lot of money on my first book because I was so caught up with the notion of just wanting to see a book with my name on it and to see it on Amazon. Be careful and seek advice from other authors. There’s no profession that has more friendly people in it, and people that are more willing to help others succeed!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have a quote from my father that is attached to the signature of every email i send out, “May you always choose happiness over sorrow.” I love those words and practice them daily.
What are you reading now?
The Third Step by William Lobb
What’s next for you as a writer?
It would be a dream come true for my books to earn enough income so that I can afford to write full time. If that never happens then I suppose I will continue my job as machine operator, while writing when I get a chance.
One thing that I am trying to get my foot in the door with doing is visiting schools. I am a firm believer in the necessity of feeding and nurturing every kids imagination. Growing up with a swamp in my back yard and a bayou in front, I never lacked the ability to let my imagination fly free on my daily adventures. I want to tell the stories of my childhood; the adventures I undertook; and the close calls I had with snakes and alligators. There is so much that I was fortunate enough to have witnessed. Much of it has transformed into the lives of Nick and Billy.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. A Survival Guide for Life by Bear Grylls
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
3. White Fang by Jack London
4. Any novel by Clive Cussler
Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Hoard Website
Michael Hoard Amazon Profile
Michael Hoard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account