Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in England with my husband, bunny, cat, and assorted houseguests, and I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My nana taught me to do joined up writing when I was five or six, and I got very confused and thought tat all the words needed to be joined together as well. It wasn’t until I asked what I was supposed to do at the end of the line/page that I found out it was only the letters that were supposed to be joined up.
Since then I have written three published novels, and eight or nine short stories, some of which are free in ebook format. The short stories are all horror, and my novels are paranormal and science fiction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Stars Are Falling.
I’ve always had a thing for the stars, even though I could never get my head around astronomy. And one night I had this image in my head of a little girl running away as the stars fell from the sky. I jotted it down, as I was in the middle of writing a different book at the time, and a couple of years ago I finished writing it. It’s now due out on July 3rd, and is my fist science fiction novel, though I had no idea when I first imagined it that it would be sci-fi.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write with my eyes closed or whilst I’m watching the TV. It’s a great party trick, and has lead to a couple of job offers, especially when I m sat staring at the TV, writing at the same time, and paying full attention to both actions.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
L.J Smith is one of the first authors I consciously remember reading. I adored her world of the supernatural and things that go bump in the night. From there I progressed to Anne Rice and J.R Ward, as well as Richard Laymon for all my horror needs.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished working on my latest short stories, Playthings, and The Perfect Gift. They’re both short horror stories, and are both from the serial killer’s point of view. The Perfect Gift is a free short story, as it’s only a couple of thousand words long. Playthings, however, is something I have been working on for quite some time, and I am very excited to see it released into the world.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In person at events. For me, a lot of my readers are mainly paperback readers. I hold a couple of launch events for each novel and short story, and I talk at as many libraries as will have me, as well as taking a stall of my book to events all over England and as far as I can manage.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. Edit and edit, and then pay someone to edit. And be prepared, this is not a job for the faint of heart.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People always talk about the negative more than they do the positive. So for every negative review, there are probably five people out there for love the book.
What are you reading now?
I am currently slogging my way through Possession by J.R Ward. Unfortunately it is slow going at the moment, as my mind is focused on my next releases.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More short stories, more books, and Texas! I am off to the Texas book festival in October in Austin. Never been out of the country on business before, so it is going to be very exciting. But there is a ten hour flight each way, so I will be writing on the plane.
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?
Dark Lover by J.R Ward.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
Affliction by Laurell K Hamilton.
The Lake by Richard Laymon
Author Websites and Profiles
Michelle Birbeck Website
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