Desiring the Highland Laird by Michelle Miles releases today, and she was kind enough to answer some questions for us.
You can get your copy of this magical historical romance HERE!
Did you always know you wanted to be an author? What is the first story you remember writing? How did you get from there to where you are today?
I knew I always wanted to write stories. I spent most of Algebra in the back of the room writing about damsel’s in distress and the knights who save them. It was a way to escape and a way to avoid math. Back then, in high school, publication seemed wholly unattainable. But I never gave it up and I wrote off and off for the next few years. Finally, in 2000, I decided to get series and take a class through Writer’s Digest—How to Write a Novel. I finished the course – and the book! – just as my son was born in late 2001. But it was awful. My first book was not my best book, as they often are.
I continued to write off and on. But as a mom with a full time job, it was hard. Finally, I found RWA in 2004 and joined and from there, I started to understand story structure much better. Not only did I learn the craft, I leaned the business. And the rejections were piling up. But I didn’t give up. I landed a few contracts with small press publishers, who are now out of business. And then indie publishing happened. It allowed me to write the books I wanted and see them published.
What is the most inspiring place you’ve visited and has it shown up in one of your books?
Scotland! My husband and I planned our 10 day trip there just before I got my contract with Dragonblade. It felt like kismet. So, yes, the trip helped me research the books. I’d never actually stepped foot in a castle until then, so seeing them and being there was so inspirational. I loved every second of it. In my Highland Destiny series, I modeled the MacLeod home after Dunvegan. It was so much fun to write.
How much research do you do into the time period and places you write about? Do you have any experience dressing in character or participating in living history situations or are you more a fan of libraries and online resources?
What drew you to the era you write in? Is there something about the time period you think most people don’t know about? What do you think would be the most difficult part about living in that period?
I love the medieval time period. I love writing about castles and knights and jousting tournaments and things like that. There is something magical about that to me. I think the most difficult part about living in that time period would be not having running water!
Do you know where the story is going before you begin, or does it come to you as you write? Do scenes come to you fully formed or are you as surprised as the reader?
I generally have an idea of where I want the story to go. I start with a blurb. The first 10,000 words are the hardest for me because I’m laying all the groundwork for the story. I’m generally a pantser. I like when my subconscious plants little surprises. (One book I had no idea who the villain was until I wrote the last chapter, but I had been planting the seeds all along – love when that happens!). I also need to know the ending. That gives me something to write toward and keeps me from going off on tangents.
Sometimes scenes come fully formed. Sometimes I just have snippets of dialogue. Mostly, I have a vision of what I want the book to be and try to give it life that way.
Do you write better in the morning or evening? How do you handle the distractions of working from home, especially if you’re sharing the space with others?
I have a day job – one week in office and one week working at home. I’ve had the same writing schedule for years. I write on my lunch hour and I write for one hour in the evening. Regardless of if I’m home or at the office. It doesn’t matter. This is what my brain is hard-wired to do because I’ve done it for so long. I’ve learned to tune-out most of the distractions and focus on and get lost in the story. So it knows that at 11:30, it’s time to write and eat lunch and at 7 pm, it’s time to finish out the day with another writing session. If I really push myself, I can write about 2500 words a day, 5 days a week.
From all your books, who is your favorite hero and why?
I have two: Kincade from my urban fantasy series. He’s dangerous, mysterious, brooding, and super sexy! Leopold from my Beauty and the Beast retelling. He have a fabulous wardrobe and there’s something about a cursed hero that’s just so much fun to write.
