Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
By day I’m a mild-mannered copywriter and web designer, but by night I’m consumed by the characters in my head and write to set them free.
In my spare time, I’m primary carer and chief wrangler for a husband and three children, the big boss at my web design company and photography studio, and am completing a Bachelor of English Literature.
I have written around 10 completed manuscripts and dozens more in various states of completion. My short story in the Love Least Expected anthology is my first publication. Several more novels will be released in 2015.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest publication is a short story called Keep Calm and Eat Chocolate (in the Love Least Expected Anthology). It was inspired by the fans I had already collected – they used to ask where they could buy the “book” named in my profile image, so I decided to write a story around the title!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of. Some authors have told me that the fact I don’t have plot outlines and character profiles typed up is “unusual” but the way I write means I haven’t found a need for those things yet.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a prolific reader in my school years, this is a hard list to narrow down. The first would be Bryce Courtenay. His books surround you and immerse you in another time and place right from the first page. The second would be Anne McCaffrey. I’ve read countless science fiction/fantasy books, but for some reason Killashandra’s stories stayed with me. And the third is a bit of a nod to the geeky Browncoat side of me – Richard Castle. Not only do I love reading the books, but I love the meta-ness of it all. A TV show about a bestselling author which spawns the exact same series of books that he’s written in the show to be sold in the real world. What’s not to love about that?
What are you working on now?
Other than interviews and guest posts to promote the Love Least Expected Anthology, I am working on a series of erotica/erotic romances that will be published in 2015.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Everything either costs time or money, and since I don’t have an abundance of money, I choose to use my time to promote my books. The best resource I’ve found so far is an author’s own platform: website and social media. People will usually connect with you because they are interested in what you have to say, so they are already primed to receive news of a new release.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My main piece of advice for aspiring authors is to just keep writing. You can’t begin to edit, or share your work with anyone if you haven’t written “the end”. Keep writing, reading, and learning from other authors. A lot of successful authors write about writing, so take it all on board, but remember that the only one who can tell your story is you. Don’t get too lost in the technical side of writing and all the rules (that’s what beta readers and editors are for). Just write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This is a tough question. I have different favorite pieces of advice for different situations. If I have to choose one, it would be, “Things are only impossible until they’re not.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
What are you reading now?
I always have several books on the go at the same time. Currently I’m reading Bryce Courtenay’s Jack of Diamonds, Bonkers by Jennifer Saunders, another DCI Jones Casebook by Kerry J Donovan, books by my fellow anthology authors, and several beta reading projects.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Publishing several full length novels in 2015, and finishing off a few others that are on the backburner right now.
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?
Robinson Crusoe would be a good start 🙂 It’s also probably a clichéd answer for an author, but at this point in my life, I’d probably rather as many empty notebooks and pencils as I could carry.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michaela Miles Website
Michaela Miles Amazon Profile
Michaela Miles’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account