I’m pleased to post an interview with prolific author Michelle Pillow. Enjoy!

MC: Hi Michelle. Welcome! Make yourself comfortable and tell us about you. Who is Michelle M. Pillow?

MP: That’s right up there with “Why are we here?” LOL Hmm, I’m a published author since mid-2004, writing in many romance subgenres. I’m a family woman, movie lover, successful business owner, freelance photographer, a horrible gardener who won’t give up and pajama pants addict.

MC: Who are some of your favorite authors? Books that have inspired you?

MP: I’ve read, and still do, a lot of classics—Oscar Wilde, Steinbeck, Jane Austin, Tolstoy, Poe, ect. As for romances, there are just too many, but I’m very inspired by my friend and sometimes co-author Mandy Roth. There have been many times she’s talked my characters off the ledge. I don’t know what I’d do without her insanity to fuel mine.

MC: Tell us about your books. Your bookshelf page is huge. How many have you published so far?

MP: I have 45 ebooks, most novels but some quickies, anthologies and novellas. 4 more ebooks are contracted. And there are 20 print titles with 15 more coming soon. This is all in 2 ½ years of being published. And there is more stuff pending contract. A few of them were written before that first contract. It helps that my mind naturally stays organized, even if my office isn’t. I also have a great network of people from editors to proofers.

I tend to do everything full force, so that could account for the last couple of years of constant work. Now that I’ve learned a lot and have a big backlist built up, I’m taking it slower, maybe cutting my release amount in half.

I’ve tackled almost every romance genre and subgenres, except for Romantic Suspense and Inspirational. Genre hopping is another way I keep my stories fresh. The different genres help me to keep going. If I was doing only historicals, or only paranormal, I’d be much slower.

I’ve been blessed to have publishers who allow me to write what I want to write. Though my backlist is big, in many ways I’m still new to the publishing world.

I keep an updated website where readers can see my entire booklist www.michellepillow.com

MC: You must write incredibly fast. What’s coming up from you?

MP: I work hard and put in a lot of hours, but I’m also the queen of multitasking. I always have many things happening at once.

As for my coming soons, I’m working with nearly all my publishers on future releases.
New Concepts—Zhang Dynasty 2: Temptation of the Butterfly. I just finished this one. It’s part of the NCP Harmony line (multicultural), but also a spin off of my popular futuristic series there- Dragon Lords, Lords of the Var. I’m planning many more in the futuristic series as well as the Tribes of the Vampire and Lords of the Abyss.

Ellora’s Cave-Call of the Lycan 2: Call of the Untamed is due out the beginning of next year.

Virgin Books—I’ve started a new erotic contemporary series here, Matthews Sisters. Book one Bit by the Bug releases in Feb ’07 and book 2, Along for the Ride is actually what’s on my computer being written. I’ve also recently found out that my first two titles, Fierce Competition and Opposites Attract are re-releasing in mass market 2007.

Samhain—Realm Immortal 3: Stone Queen is contracted and my next book to be written. That series has been doing really well for me and I have quite a bit planned for it. Talons: Seize the Hunter was just released and we’ve discussed continuing the story.

MC: Who are you published with?

MP: I got my start at New Concepts Publishing. I’m also at Ellora’s Cave, Virgin Books, Samhain Publishing and Pocket Books.

MC: Quite a list! Any upcoming contests you want readers to know about?

MP: Contests can be found on my website here: http://www.michellepillow.com/contests.htm

MC: What advice do you have for new authors & writers?

MP: I get asked a lot for advice. Really, the only thing I have is to do the work, do the research, do the writing, but mainly do your research. Research the books, the industry, business and contract law, everything.

MC: If you were to compare your work to other authors, who would you say that your work most resembles in plot, tone, or voice?

MP: I really wouldn’t compare myself. Reviewers have a few times. Some say Nora Roberts on the futuristics. Some say Anne Rice on the Tribes of the Vampire series. But these comparisons always come with a big ‘BUT’ stating how I’m different. A few times I’ve been compared to authors I’d never even heard of, LOL.

MC: What’s something readers may not know about you?

MP: I’m an animal lover by force. My family loves animals and we have a ton of pets. I resisted for years, but they’re growing on me. Currently, we have two very adorable AKC registered English Bulldogs, Winston and Annabelle, who believe they are 60 pound lapdogs. Onyx, a half black lab, half boxer who everyone thinks is a pit-bull but I know better because we know his parentage. Fiona the schipperke. Cats, Rocky and Lily. Marc the fish. Mr. Whiskers the bunny.

MC: How about some fun questions? Do you have a motto?

MP: No, but I have a tattoo.

MC: How about a favorite phrase?

MP: “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die” has been stuck in my head for three months now.

MC: I completely understand! Give us five words that describe you.

MP: slightly neurotic, forward thinking, multitasked

MC: Is the glass half full or half empty?

MP: If it’s coffee, it’s going to be empty in a second. (lol, half full)

MC: I agree totally. I love Hazelnut coffee. What are your hobbies?

MP: photography, traveling, movies, art shows, tattoo conventions, plays and musicals (any live performances), museums, research

MC: Favorite food?

MP: chicken parmesan

MC: Mine too! How about a favorite beverage?

MP: coffee with French vanilla creamer

MC: Worst fear?

MP: Doing the same exact thing the rest of my life. It’s not for me. I don’t know that the idea scares me, though. I get edgy around spiders and snakes–yeah, definitely creepy crawlies.

MC: Favorite movies?

MP: Count of Monte Cristo, 13th Warrior, Golden Age Hollywood—Fred and Ginger movies, Princess and the Pirate, the old musicals. The old stop-motions are great—Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans. Or the older fantasies—Beastmaster (only the first one), Red Sonja, Conan, original un-remastered Star Wars, ect… Pride and Prejudice, Practical Magic, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Beauty and the Beast, Last of the Mohicans…

MC: Favorite TV shows?

MP: Buffy and Angel (please give me a spin-off series, Joss!!), Charmed, Weeds, Dexter, Nip/Tuck. I just finished the entire series of Judging Amy and Without a Trace reruns on TNT. I love reruns. I can see the whole thing without having to wait years.

MC: If you could travel to any time and place, when, where and why?

MP: I want to go everywhere in the world at least once. I love to travel. As for time, it’s about the same. Middle Ages, Victorian era, Ancient Rome—this is all considering that there would be certain guidelines like I don’t show up in a gladiator pit or as a peasant about to get whacked by the Lord of the Manor or at the height of the Black Plague.

MC: Do you have a favorite sport?

MP: Bike Jousting, http://www.obscuresportsquarterly.com/ and
Hashing, http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-03-14/oneill-hashing
I haven’t played either.

MC: How can readers get in touch with you?

MP:
Website: www.michellepillow.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/michellepillow
Newsletter (announcement only): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellempillow/join
Blog: http://michellespillowtalk.blogspot.com/
Chat Group with Mandy M Roth, called The Raven: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/join
Free online, ongoing story “The Raven” coauthored with Mandy Roth:
http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven.htm

2 Comments

• 

  By Donna, April 25, 2007 @ 1:44 pm

  What a fabulous interview. I just love Michelle Pillow. She and Madison are a couple of my favorite ebook authors.
• 

  By Michelle M Pillow, April 30, 2007 @ 11:52 am

  Hi Madison!

  I just got back from the RT convention, or I’d have been here earlier! Thank you for having me! It was a lot of fun chatting with you.

  Michelle

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