My first ever AUTHOR INTERVIEW!

It's summer and you'll be hearing from me a little more often. Now, this is exciting stuff!  My first author interview with:  Dun, da-da dah! (Insert trumpet fanfare here)
T. Michelle Nelson 

I'm am SO excited to share this author with you! She was one of my first critique partners and remains a good writer friend. I'm SO glad we found each other. She is one of the first writers that read my MS and liked it. A few years later her third book is coming out. Her third installment of the Lily Drake series is called 'Death Warmed Over'. It's a paranormal romance, which is one of my favorite genres to read and to write. If this lady is a new discovery to you, you definitely need to go back and read the first and second books in this series. Book 1 is titled, "The Life and Death of Lily Drake" and book 2 is "Til Death do us Part."
Here's her awesome cover for Death Warmed Over:



Here's the plot description:

In the conclusion of the Lily Drake series, Lily must choose not only what is best for herself and her son, but for her people. Her sword will be stained with blood through her efforts to preserve the lives of the people she loves, but she won’t be able to save them all. When a devastating loss crushes her will to live, can Lily go on and be the leader she has to be? What is she willing to sacrifice to save others? Death comes to everyone...even the Queen’s house... What doesn't kill you will make you wish it did...


So let's get to know this awesome writer a little better.

When did you decide to start writing and why?

I'm not sure I just decided to start writing.  I think I've always goofed off and written stories.  When I actually finished the first Lily Drake novel and realized I had a complete manuscript I started getting serious about having it published, but publishing was never really a goal until that point.

 Was there a particular book that inspired you or one that inspires you now?

Gone with the Wind.  I guess it's the Southern gal in me that makes me love that book so much, but creating a character like Scarlett O'Hara that is so flawed that you still root for blew me away. I literally laughed and cried when I read that, and at times I would only allow myself to read one chapter per night because I didn't want to rush through it and it be over!

Tell us your pub story. 

I wrote a book.  I found a FABULOUS critique partner (ahem).  I decided to send it out to publishers. Within two weeks I had a contract in my hand.  I know - crazy, right? It was, and I am so lucky.  I did receive some rejection letters after the fact, but having already have a contract in hand sure makes those sting a little less!

Was it hard to write a sequel and then another?

Originally I had no designs to write a sequel.  The second book was going to focus on another character.  My publisher wanted more of Lily, so I thought about it for a couple weeks and began writing.  Her story had seemingly ended to me, so I had to mix things up a bit, but that's life, right?  No one gets a happy ever after without something happening!  The third book was maybe the most difficult.  Saying goodbye to Lily after throwing myself into her life for so long was hard.

Do you have to be in a certain mood or a certain place before you can write?

Absolutely.  I don't ever force it.  I've found when I try, the story suffers.  I think all the time, and eventually I will come up with some crazy storyline and I get excited about writing it.  Until that time comes i leave it alone!

Now for some random questions, because my ADD brain is also nosy:

Favorite season and why? 

Summer and Fall.  I love getting out and doing things.  I despise winter now that I live in the frozen north. Driving on snow and having to get out with all that white just depresses me.  Spring would be okay, but my allergies are a nightmare, so I therefore don't care for Spring either!

Favorite drink-can be anything

COFFEE.  The stronger the better.

Favorite color

Green, although I almost always wear black.  it's slimming, ya know?

Favorite author-past or present or both

Margaret Mitchell (see above question) and Edith Wharton.  I love me a good tragic love story.

Favorite vacation spot

New Orleans.  I hope someday it is my favorite spot to live in, not just a vacation spot!

Coolest moment as a writer or published author-can be anything, meeting some one you wouldn't have if you weren't an 'author' or anything like that. 

Too many to count.  Getting a contract, then seeing my book cover for the first time, signing the first book, etc.  However, the coolest moment was probably in Florence, Kentucky.  I was doing a book singing at barnes and Noble and met this amazing little girl who I talked to for some time.  She wanted to be an author when she grew up.  She was sharp as a tack too.  I have a feeling she will do great things and probably look back on the moment she met me and think"what a silly hack!" but it meant the world to me.  Someday I will say that I met her long before the movies came out!

Thanks for hanging out here and for all the great answers, friend! 

If you like strong female characters that are fun to read, you need to pick up this series!
Good luck friend! I hop you sell a ton of books! 
Here are some of T. Michelle Nelson's social media hook ups:

Facebook at:  T.Michelle Nelson

On twitter @TMichelleNelson

On her website at : www.tmichellenelson.com

On goodreads at:  T. Michelle Nelson