Today's guest, Michelle Griep, tells us she's been writing since she first discovered Crayolas and blank wall space. She seeks to glorify God by imparting Biblical truths through the medium of fiction…well, except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager.
INTERVIEW:
BRC: How would you describe your book?
A Wizard of Oz tale with a medieval twist. Who wouldn’t want to visit the realm of beefy knights and mysterious castles? Here’s a short blurb:
On his way to battle, Colwyn Haukswyrth, knight of Gallimore, faces a storm the likes of which he’s never seen, and a woman in its midst who claims to live centuries in the future. Jessica Neale’s faith may have been lost the day of her husband’s death, but she's about to turn Colwyn's beliefs on end and form a bond that might be strong enough to survive the grave.
BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?
Love and forgiveness are choices, not feelings. I don’t think Jesus particularly felt like having his back ripped open or getting nailed to a hunk of wood and left to die. Nevertheless, He chose to do so. Should we do any less?
BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Visiting the past. I love history, particularly English history. Researching the early 1300’s was a treat. Thinking about what facts to use and how to combine them with fiction was like working a puzzle…a fun puzzle, not one of the kind with a bazillion pieces that all look the same.
BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?
Discovering how much I didn’t know about writing. It’s NOT as easy as it looks, kids, and should not be attempted by the faint of heart.
BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always written, whether journal entries or devotionals or whatever. Yes, I was one of the nerds that attended creative writing camp in junior high, thank you very much. I pursued publication, however, when I noticed an overabundance of Amish prairie novels and a gaping lack of English historical reading materials on the Christian fiction bookshelf.
BRC: Tell us about your writing process.
When beginning a new project, I think long and hard about where to start and end the story, who the main characters will be, then leave the rest up to whatever whimsy the muse may impart. Thursday nights are my writing nights. I run away to Panera and park myself next to the fireplace with a mug o’ java and a double chocolate chunk cookie.
BRC: What are you working on now?
Currently I’m half-way through a historical set in 1795 England. The hero is an opium addict and the heroine lives with her brother, who’s an Anglican priest going mad.
BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?
No brainer…historicals. Although I do have a longstanding penchant for sci-fi/fantasy. Favorite authors: Charlotte Bronte, Ginger Garrett, Siri Mitchell, Lisa Bergren, Marylu Tyndall, Charles Dickens.
BRC: Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon. Black Lyon Publishing. Bookstores.
BRC: Where can readers find you online?
