Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 2 novels and published 4 photobooks so far. I really enjoyed photography but publishing photobooks is a bust. They are hard to format, huge downloads, and Amazon doesn’t like them.
Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to write a novel. When I grew up, we didn’t have a TV, so I got all my entertainment from reading. I’d check out a ton of books from the library, blaze right through them, and then beg my mom to take me back for more. I ran out of new books to read, so I’d read some of the better books more than five times. I started out on Westerns, because that is what my Dad read. Then I ended up with spy novels, but they can get pretty tedious if they aren’t written well. Next, I read fantasy and science fiction. Fantasy was what stuck, and I went through epic fantasy and high fantasy to urban fantasy and finally to litrpg.
I’ve also made 2 computer games (Hostile Takeover 1 and 2) and I have an Electrical Engineering degree.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my last book was Melee Mage: Fledgling God: book 2. What inspired it was book 1! Lol.
Seriously, though, I’ve found an amazing world that just pulls me to write. It takes place in my home town of Louisville Kentucky and it follows a new mage, Jason, as he tries to figure out this new supernatural world he’s now a part of. It’s our world, current time, but with magic. The supernatural world is very different from our world of laws and order. It’s built more like the old west, where those with the most powerful magic make the rules and do what they want. Might makes right. The world is intense, but the friends he finds are the best. It’s easy to root for them.
We have Jason, the Main Character. He’s young and eager. Life has been very difficult for him since his Dad kicked him out of the house for being gay, but it hasn’t make him jaded or bitter.
Annabeth is an older Granny with kids and grandkids, who had her waker moment and is now growing younger. She’s living her best life and she’s making the most of her new found health and powers.
Sandy is a battle mage and the Head of Household. She had a great teacher and she wants to mentor new supernaturals and give a good start as well. She’s learning how to be a good leader but she doesn’t always get it right.
John is her lover and part Mountain Troll. He loves his ale and pulling practical jokes. He’s also in love with Sandy. He’s the earth to her fire.
Tyler is an incubus who eats bad emotions. He’s had a horrible past, but he finds himself strangely attracted to the optimistic Jason.
Bermuda Moses is a tiny black and white kitten that shows up to protect Jason. He’s a fierce defender with mysterious power, and cute as can be.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in the back room with the window open. I’ll put out cat food and enjoy all the birds, squirrels, cats, racoons and opossums that come along to eat.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh wow. So many. Louis L’amour connected all his Sackett novels together with the family. Each story stood on it’s own, but together they formed a bigger picture. Jim Butcher with his Harry Dreden series showed me how to create a great character, add humor, then make the world bigger and bigger over a series. That’s what I want to do with the Fledgling God series. Keep expanding the world and the magic so it feels fresh.
What are you working on now?
Book 3. This time the characters are getting out of Louisville and going to the Gathering.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve tried Amazon advertising with limited success. It seems like it started out well, then got diminishing returns pretty quickly. The same with facebook advertising. I still haven’t figured out a good place to consistently plug the series.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Create a writing routine that helps you ease into writing. The world you envision is perfect in your head. As soon as you start to put it on paper, it becomes real. It also becomes smaller somehow. You have to figure out all the details and make it real and something that seems like work.
My writing routine starts with doing something productive. It could be as simple as putting away the dishes and taking out the trash. Then I write how I’m feeling in the moment. All my hopes and fears. It could be just a few sentences. I could be a whole page. It just gets the gunk out of my head. I always delete this so I have the freedom to write whatever I want.
After that, I read my page of affirmations. These change over time. They are just positive thoughts that remind me why I write, and that I can write.
After that, I open up my document and start writing! By that time it feels easy to get into the flow. It doesn’t take long to get in the mood, but it sure helps.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You are in the right place at the right time to learn the lessons you need to learn.
This cuts through the drama, the noise, the upset – and gets me focused on what I need to learn.
What are you reading now?
Nothing. I’ve found I can’t read and write at the same time. I’ll write for a while, get to a good stopping point, and then read a bunch of books. Then back to writing again.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing book 3.
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?
By the power of Author Editing I’m going to change this to 3 or 4 series! (Insert evil laugh!)
I’d bring the Belgariad Series. The character development is so wonderful and it’s something you can read again and again.
Next, I’d bring the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. He’s always getting into and out of trouble, so maybe that would inspire me to figure out a way to get off the island.
Finally, I’d bring The Blacksmith Son series by Michael Manning. The MC is fantastic at figuring out new applications of magic, so I’d appreciate that on the island. Maybe conjure some food, nice house, wifi, netflix, etc.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Taggart Amazon Profile
Michael Taggart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile