About author, Michelle Lam: Michelle is an author from a small town in Manitoba, Canada. She is a part-time stay-at-home-mom of two young kids, and a part-time English teacher for a rowdy group of 6th graders. She writes at night when the rest of the world (mostly her household, really) is sleeping. She has travelled in Thailand and Indonesia and currently lives in Vietnam. She loves to read, try new restaurants, and spend time with friends and family.
INTERVIEW
Describe yourself in five words: quirky, fun, adventurous, passionate… can “chocolate-lover” count?
Tell us about your book, “The Accidental Prophetess”: It’s a book about a woman named Natalie Richards (27). She gets fired over a dish soap ad, complains about her boss, and finds herself abducted, whisked to an underground facility, and proclaimed to be a long-lost prophet destined to save the world. The book is light-hearted, fast-paced and all around hilarious. Oh, and there’s a touch of romance, too.
What was the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? Honestly, I’ve loved it all. Most people say they love writing but hate the rest, but that hasn’t been true for me. I sometimes have to pretend to be an alternate identity in order to edit effectively, but talking aloud to your laptop is always improved with a fake accent, so what’s to worry about?
How did you celebrate your book being published? I danced around the house for a few minutes, then spent the next few days drastically alternating between elation (published! PUBLISHED!) to downright fear (What if my Grandma reads this and sees the word “hooha?”).
How did you come up with the title? I remember thinking about how odd it would be for someone to be telling the future without realizing they were doing it. I mean, how would they know? Would they ever find out? Who would tell them? Unless there was a secret society monitoring all communications…
Coffee or tea? Tea.
If your book were to be turned into a movie, who would you want to play the leading roles? Elisha Cuthbert would be Natalie. Chad Michael Murray would be Ethan. Channing Tatum would be Marc.
How has social media helped your career? I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. I also have a blog. It’s great to develop a network of friends, fans, and like-minded people. I am learning so much from those who have gone before me, and I find it encouraging to hear what people have to say about my work.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Once you’re done your novel, set it aside and work on something else for at least a month. Then come back to it and edit ruthlessly.
Where is your favorite place to write? On my laptop sitting crosslegged on my bed. I have a desk, but I rarely use it.
Every author must have a…: Every author must have an idea. It all starts with an idea. Beyond that, having a never-say-die attitude and a big bag of M&Ms helps.
What are you working on right now? Right now I’m working hard on launching The Accidental Prophetess. As soon as it goes out, I’ll be back to writing again. I’ve got a lot of ideas bouncing around my brain and I’m excited about getting back to creating.
**Contact Michelle: Blog Facebook Twitter
