Welcome Guest Author Michelle Houston
Hello Michelle Houston, it's a great pleasure to have you here on my blog at Reading Is So Much Fun.
Q: Can you tell us more about yourself?
A: Hi everyone, my name is Michelle Houston. I’m an erotic romance/erotica author. I’m also a non-traditional college student, a biology major, a future teacher, the president of a student organization, a wife, a mother, and a bisexual woman. I wear many hats, some of which conflict with others, but I do the best that I can with juggling them all.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: I’ve been writing off and on for as long as I can remember. I started getting serious about it though in 1998. In 2002 I worked up the nerve to submit my first story to a website for publication. It was accepted – and everything that has happened since that has been a result. I sometimes wonder if this thrill ride would have happened if I had been rejected.
Q: Was there any one person or event in your life that inspired you to sit down and write your first book?
A: My husband has always encouraged me to listen to the characters in my head and let them lead me in telling their stories. So he would definitely be the strongest motivational element in my life.
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Currently I have about a dozen or so works in progress. The ones that I am focusing on are a series of M/M shifter tales. I have submitted the first of the series, and I am eagerly awaiting hearing back from my publisher.
Q: Most people only dream of becoming a successful writer. Now that you have accomplished that goal is there anything else you dream of doing?
A: I still have another two years until I graduate college. Right now, that is the dream that I am working on. I want to be a high school biology teacher. I haven’t had much of a chance to look beyond that, since it has taken up so much of my time the last few years.
Q: Do you listen to music or watch TV when you write or do you need it to be completely quiet?
A: I often will listen to music – particularly Genesis/Phil Collins. The man’s voice just puts me in a mood to write sexy characters.
Q: Do you outline your stories or do you write as you go?
A: I write as I go. I have tried to outline, but anything more than a vague idea of where I want things to go tends to stall me out rather than help to guide me.
Q: How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?
A: My husband actually writes. We are in the process now of trying to get his books published. So he supports me in everything, although he does push me to push my own boundaries and step outside my comfort zone to try new things.
He has occasionally read and edited a few of my works, but a lot of them are not a genre he really enjoys, so I don’t ask him to read those.
Q: What is the most valuable piece of writing advice that you have been given?
A: Sit down and write. Worry about the word count, about editing/smoothing it out, about who on Earth would want to read/publish it later.
Q: If you could date any male character from any book, who would it be and why?
A: I’d have to go with Zach Bradford from DIGGIN’ UP BONES. He’s sexy, sweet, and totally hot. He also has a level of compassion so deep, and is willing to allow himself to feel such an intense love, that still amazes me.
Q: What authors do you enjoy reading?
A: Nalini Singh, Angela Knight, Kay Hooper, J R Ward, Deanna Lee, Suzanne Brockmann, Patti O’Shea, Susan Grant, Robin D Owens, Catherine Spangler, Eileen Wilks, Rebecca York, Linnea Sinclair, and so many more.
Q: If there was a flood in your house and you can save one book what would that book be and why?
A: Oh goodness. I haven’t a clue. LOL I have so many favorites that really I couldn’t chose between them.
One series would have to be the whole Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh. If I could grab them all, I would.
Q: Would you like to share your website where readers can visit you?
A: Definitely.
My personal site is www.michellehouston.com
My blog is at http://eroticpen.blogspot.com
My newsletter is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellehouston
I am also a member of the Phoenix Rising Authors – www.isleofphoenix.com
Our blog is at http://isleofphoenix.blogspot.com/
And our chat/news group is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Infinite_Possibilities
Michelle Houston will be here on my blog from September 10th - 14th. There will also be a give away for a PDF ebook copy of Celtic Love Knots volume 8.
CELTIC LOVE KNOTS Volume 8 by Michelle Houston
To be entered for this give away leave a comment for Michelle Houston or ask Michelle questions about her writing.
Rules: No Begging, if you do not have a blog please leave me your email address for me to be able to contact to you if you are the lucky winner. On September 15th I will post the winners name. Good luck everyone.
Q: Can you tell us more about yourself?
A: Hi everyone, my name is Michelle Houston. I’m an erotic romance/erotica author. I’m also a non-traditional college student, a biology major, a future teacher, the president of a student organization, a wife, a mother, and a bisexual woman. I wear many hats, some of which conflict with others, but I do the best that I can with juggling them all.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: I’ve been writing off and on for as long as I can remember. I started getting serious about it though in 1998. In 2002 I worked up the nerve to submit my first story to a website for publication. It was accepted – and everything that has happened since that has been a result. I sometimes wonder if this thrill ride would have happened if I had been rejected.
Q: Was there any one person or event in your life that inspired you to sit down and write your first book?
A: My husband has always encouraged me to listen to the characters in my head and let them lead me in telling their stories. So he would definitely be the strongest motivational element in my life.
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Currently I have about a dozen or so works in progress. The ones that I am focusing on are a series of M/M shifter tales. I have submitted the first of the series, and I am eagerly awaiting hearing back from my publisher.
Q: Most people only dream of becoming a successful writer. Now that you have accomplished that goal is there anything else you dream of doing?
A: I still have another two years until I graduate college. Right now, that is the dream that I am working on. I want to be a high school biology teacher. I haven’t had much of a chance to look beyond that, since it has taken up so much of my time the last few years.
Q: Do you listen to music or watch TV when you write or do you need it to be completely quiet?
A: I often will listen to music – particularly Genesis/Phil Collins. The man’s voice just puts me in a mood to write sexy characters.
Q: Do you outline your stories or do you write as you go?
A: I write as I go. I have tried to outline, but anything more than a vague idea of where I want things to go tends to stall me out rather than help to guide me.
Q: How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?
A: My husband actually writes. We are in the process now of trying to get his books published. So he supports me in everything, although he does push me to push my own boundaries and step outside my comfort zone to try new things.
He has occasionally read and edited a few of my works, but a lot of them are not a genre he really enjoys, so I don’t ask him to read those.
Q: What is the most valuable piece of writing advice that you have been given?
A: Sit down and write. Worry about the word count, about editing/smoothing it out, about who on Earth would want to read/publish it later.
Q: If you could date any male character from any book, who would it be and why?
A: I’d have to go with Zach Bradford from DIGGIN’ UP BONES. He’s sexy, sweet, and totally hot. He also has a level of compassion so deep, and is willing to allow himself to feel such an intense love, that still amazes me.
Q: What authors do you enjoy reading?
A: Nalini Singh, Angela Knight, Kay Hooper, J R Ward, Deanna Lee, Suzanne Brockmann, Patti O’Shea, Susan Grant, Robin D Owens, Catherine Spangler, Eileen Wilks, Rebecca York, Linnea Sinclair, and so many more.
Q: If there was a flood in your house and you can save one book what would that book be and why?
A: Oh goodness. I haven’t a clue. LOL I have so many favorites that really I couldn’t chose between them.
One series would have to be the whole Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh. If I could grab them all, I would.
Q: Would you like to share your website where readers can visit you?
A: Definitely.
My personal site is www.michellehouston.com
My blog is at http://eroticpen.blogspot.com
My newsletter is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellehouston
I am also a member of the Phoenix Rising Authors – www.isleofphoenix.com
Our blog is at http://isleofphoenix.blogspot.com/
And our chat/news group is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Infinite_Possibilities
Michelle Houston will be here on my blog from September 10th - 14th. There will also be a give away for a PDF ebook copy of Celtic Love Knots volume 8.
CELTIC LOVE KNOTS Volume 8 by Michelle Houston
Genre: Torrid Romance Paranormal
SubGenre: Torrid Romance Contemporary
EBook formats ISBN: 978-1-60313-026-4
Rating: Sensual Romance - Sensual
Sands of Time: After being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, Nicole can feel what time she has slipping away. Like many, she has told herself she would do the things she has always dreamed of "later". Pressed for time, later has come: she's going to see the world. She planned to start with Scotland, and go on from there, but once she arrives she meets a man she can't resist. Ciarnan offers her a hope for the future she had given up on having, but it comes with a price. For Ciarnan is not what he appears to be, and his race can't risk anyone finding out they exist.
Turning Back Time: Devastated at the news of her friend's supposed death, Julie rushes to Scotland to find some answers. What she finds instead is Roarke. Unwilling to let go of her search, Julie winds up finding what happened to Nicole, and finding her own chance at happiness, if she can accept that Roarke isn't human.
To be entered for this give away leave a comment for Michelle Houston or ask Michelle questions about her writing.
Rules: No Begging, if you do not have a blog please leave me your email address for me to be able to contact to you if you are the lucky winner. On September 15th I will post the winners name. Good luck everyone.
posted by ReadingIsSoMuchFun @ Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10 Comments:
At September 10, 2008 ,
Connie Northrop said...
Hi Michelle! This book looks great! I don't love the idea think you can go wrong with Scotland and two hot guys. LOL
Connie
At September 10, 2008 ,
Michelle Houston said...
Thanks sweetie. Celtic Love Knots 8 was a lot of fun to write. Trying to figure out what aspect to the folklore that I wanted to explore was kinda hard. There were so many intriguing things that I wanted to play around with.
Michelle Houston
www.michellehouston.com
At September 10, 2008 ,
Amy S. said...
Great interview! Celtic Love Knots volume 8 sounds good!
At September 10, 2008 ,
Caffey said...
Hi Michelle!! I loved reading this interview of yours!!! I was in college and I was 8 months pregnant with my first baby when I went for my masters degree a few years after I got married and then had summer break and was back to classes in the fall with a newborn! So know its alot to do that, but you're doing so much more! Know those stories are appreciated!
Michelle, my question for you is, with the various genes and themes that you have written, are there others that you'd like to write? Any that you'd avoid writing?
At September 10, 2008 ,
Caffey said...
These two stories in the Celtic Volumes sound too so emotional! What kind of things bring the creativity to you in your writing, bring the ideas to you? I find your stories so unique!
I too enjoyed your book CELESTIAL BODIES and your themes with Myths and Legends. Within that, is there any that you'd like to specifically write about, like Greek gods, etc? A series?
At September 11, 2008 ,
Michelle Houston said...
Amy - Glad you enjoyed the interview. : ) I had a lot of fun answering the questions Linda posed to me. LOL And thanks for the comment about Celtic Love Knots 8. It's one of my favorite stories, alongside Fangs and Fur, which is also from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. There's going to be a teaser from both of those as my excerpt days continue. : )
------------
Caffey - I've basically tried all of the various genres that I have wanted to try. Historical is the one genre I can think of right off tha I haven't tried and really don't want to. I give high kuddos to those who do, but I just can't do it.
As for mythology, actually I have a series going with Phaze (www.phaze.com) - you'll get a teaser from the second installment (Playing For Keeps) during my excerpt days here. The series is called When Worlds Collide, and started with Fated To Be. It is more of a modern take on some of the deities, and their adjustments to the mortal world, and the love they find. Maidens and Myths was all my take on classic myths, and sexing them up a bit. LOL
I do have ideas for future Celtic folklore stories, but right now I have a couple of hot gay shifters demanding I get their stories written and submitted.
As for emotional, DIGGIN' UP BONES (Phaze) by far is my most emotional story. I poured so much of myself into that one.
Thanks for asking! Hope I managed to answer your questions. : ) Feel free to ask others.
------------
Michelle Houston
www.michellehouston.com
At September 11, 2008 ,
Caffey said...
I love that Fangs and Fur cover! When Linda told me you'd be chatting here, I posted about your chat on my blog and I couldn't resist using the covers of FANGS AND FUR and BLOOD SLAVE. (And it was before I knew you would post about BLOOD SLAVE so I was on the right wavelength :)
Michele, I do understand about writing thats what is within you. I do love reading historicals too. I can't write nothing (I have no patience to, so huge kuddos to you for all you do!).
At September 11, 2008 ,
Caffey said...
I was reading up at the first post when I asked about series up there so you can ignore that because you answered that here, thanks. I do have FATED TO BE already, and I must read it!! I was pulled in on the excerpt and all that I read about it so its good to know that I will be looking forward to more set with it in other books.
I get so much emotionally attached to the characters when I read. Sometimes I think thats part of why I like series because I can re-visit characters.
Tell us what kind of day it is for you as a writer? And routines or habits you have that you do before, during or after when you write? How do you do all you do!?!?
At September 11, 2008 ,
Michelle Houston said...
A lot of times when I am write I do it because I need to. Things get so hectic and stressful trying to balance work, school, a life, my family, the increasing demands of having a preteen daughter and all her activities, and still having a bit of fun, that I need the calm of my own little world. I can just put on my headphones, and let myself be swept away.
I don't have any real habits.
When I am at the computer I almost always have word open and ready to go, and will often open the latest story I have been working on (I work on about a dozen at once) and leave it sitting open all day. Sometimes I work on it, other days I close the document without having added anything. But the option is always there.
Beyond that there is my pattern to it. I'd love to be able to manage a set word limit each day, but often I will go weeks without writing anything, then a surge will hit and I will finish up a story or two in a day.
At September 11, 2008 ,
Michelle Houston said...
Caffey, what's your blog url? I want to go check it out. : )
Michelle Houston
www.michellehouston.com
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