Author Interview - Michal Scott #blogmondays #mondayblogs #authorinterview
Today I have fellow Wild Rose Press author for an interview. Please welcome Michal Scott!
JC: Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what are your interests, how did you start writing?
I'm a native New Yorker, Brooklyn bred. Now a recent transplant to New Mexico, I'm exploring all the nature and the Native American and Latino/a cultures around me. Until 2003 I'd been writing X-Files fan fiction. Then I heard a This American Life segment called What's Love Got To Do With It? about Romance Writers of America. Thanks to a challenge from my mother-in-law, I joined and have been writing seriously ever since.
JC: I also joined the RWA and credit the organization with helping me develop as an author. i'm no longer a member as my books are more fantasy with SRE, than romance, but I loved the RWA. Tell us about your upcoming/latest/new book.
One Breath Away takes place in a small African-American town in 1870's Texas and deals with the power of love in sexual healing. My heroine, a former slave, cannot climax without reliving the autoerotic asphyxia she experienced as a result of having been hung for a crime she didn't commit. My hero, a seaman with a sexual secret of his own, offers to help her in hopes she'll marry him and help him reclaim his family ranch.
JC: Sounds like an intriguing story with complex characters. Tell us about your book cover. Who did it? How did you or they come up with the concept?
A fabulous cover artist named Angela Anderson came up with it. I never got to ask her, but she seems to have focused on the erotic theme of the novella instead of its historical western setting. The red lettering against the black and white and that absolutely fabulous photo really struck a sensuous chord for me. So much so, I asked the artist doing the cover for my next novella in the series, Better To Marry Than To Burn, to try to match it.
JC: I loooooove the cover. There's a timelessness about it, and her eyes are captivating. OKay, if you’re a new addition to a crayon box. What colour would you be and why?
Bruised Banana. I am forever bumping into things and bruise even with the lightest of taps.
JC: LOL! I guess Id be a bruised banana as well, if I'm being honest. What about trees? If you were a tree, what kind would you be and why?
I would like to be a mustard seed tree as described in the Gospel of Matthew 13:31-32 because it grows from something very tiny into a tree so large all birds can build nests there. The image of me as being small in some people’s eyes yet being able to provide far beyond what those people think me capable of is very empowering.
JC: That's an incredibly thoughtful answer to what some might say is a silly question. Thank you. Now tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant of your career.
When I was an interim minister in Paterson, NJ, I encouraged one of the church elders to check out a program called 1001 Worshipping communities because of her gifts and heart for evangelism. She started a feeding ministry called Wings and a Prayer where they offered chicken wings and, if people wanted, prayer. That ministry, now called Faithworks, has expanded and feeds 400-500 people a month.
JC: What an incredible achievement. If you could only wave a magic wand once and fix one problem in the world, what would it be and why?
Hunger. I believe being well-nourished and healthy fulfills our basic need for survival. With that need satisfied, we have the capacity to think well, be more positive and less afraid of others.
JC: I completely agree. As a teacher by day, my heart always hurts to see hungry students. It directly impacts their ability to learn, practice, and engage as positive community members. I'm always thankful when the school runs a food program and I always make sure I have snack bars stashed in my desk. If a newspaper wrote a front-cover article about you, what would the headline say?
Social Justice Minister Up To Her Old Tricks Again with New Christian Erotic Romance.
JC: Thank you for being my guest today.
Please read on to learn more about Michal and her new release, One Breath Away.
Sentenced to hang for a crime she didn’t commit, former slave Mary Hamilton was exonerated at literally the last gasp. She returns to Safe Haven, broken and resigned to live alone. She’s never been courted, cuddled or spooned, and now no man could want her, not when sexual satisfaction comes only with the thought of asphyxiation. But then the handsome stranger who saved her shows up, stealing her breath from across the room and promising so much more.
Wealthy, freeborn-Black, Eban Thurman followed Mary to Safe Haven, believing the mysteriously exotic woman was foretold by the stars. He must marry her to reclaim his family farm. But first he must help her heal, and to do that means revealing his own predilection for edgier sex.
Excerpt:
“Why not you, Mary?”
“Because someone like you only looks at someone like me out of pity.”
Of course. His aunt put him up to this. Anger warmed Mary’s ears.
“Let me go.” She made to pull away. “I want to sit.”
“Please. Not before the music stops.” He timed his plea to the rhythm of the waltz. “I’ve waited all week for this moment.”
Mary gritted her teeth. Heart hurt joined her injured pride. She needed no one’s charity.
“That was cruel of you, sir. No one counts the days until they can ask me for a dance.” Tears pooled behind her closed eyelids. “Anyone in town could tell you that.”
The grip on her hand tightened, forcing her eyes open. The light in his gaze darkened. “Anyone who’d lie to me like that would be taking their life in their hands.” He leaned in so his mouth nuzzled her ear again. “And if you use that I’m-not-worthy tone of voice again, I’ll be forced to prove you wrong with a kiss.”
Alarm shuddered up Mary’s back. “Is—is that a threat?”
“A certainty.” He winked.
A chilly thrill replaced the alarm. She blew out a breath to steady herself. Threat or certainty, both treated her to a delicious revelation—she wanted that kiss. She eyed his lips, imagined their soft yet demanding press against hers. Once more the voice of caution repeated its warning.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Oh, to be forced to flee from such a devil as he. She sighed. What a wonderful problem to have.
“May I visit you at Harvest Home?”
Eban’s voice overpowered her thoughts. She frowned out of her musing. “You know where I live?”
“I have an authoritative source.”
She glanced toward Widow Hawthorne who gave a favoring nod. That kiss no longer seemed a flight of fancy. Her belly quivered. Her lips pursed in a thoughtful pout.
“Why would I let you visit me at Harvest Home?”
“You know better than I.” He stroked the back of her hand as he eyed her throat. She swallowed hard as excitement and fear rippled across the flesh his thumb caressed. Her head swirled, whether from the dance or the danger posed by her partner she couldn’t tell. “It—it would cost too much to say.”
He bent his elbow, pulled her forward again. “Am I not worth the price?”
This time his chest crushed hers. The pressure imitated the closeness of that threatened kiss. A closeness she could no longer deny she desired. Would she let him? Should she let him? Her throat tightened.
“You’re worth the price, but I can’t afford you.”
He smiled that nether-lip-tickling smile again. “I accept gifts in kind.”
Where can readers find me on the web:
Website: www.michalscott.webs.com
Twitter: @mscottauthor1
JC: Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what are your interests, how did you start writing?
I'm a native New Yorker, Brooklyn bred. Now a recent transplant to New Mexico, I'm exploring all the nature and the Native American and Latino/a cultures around me. Until 2003 I'd been writing X-Files fan fiction. Then I heard a This American Life segment called What's Love Got To Do With It? about Romance Writers of America. Thanks to a challenge from my mother-in-law, I joined and have been writing seriously ever since.
JC: I also joined the RWA and credit the organization with helping me develop as an author. i'm no longer a member as my books are more fantasy with SRE, than romance, but I loved the RWA. Tell us about your upcoming/latest/new book.
One Breath Away takes place in a small African-American town in 1870's Texas and deals with the power of love in sexual healing. My heroine, a former slave, cannot climax without reliving the autoerotic asphyxia she experienced as a result of having been hung for a crime she didn't commit. My hero, a seaman with a sexual secret of his own, offers to help her in hopes she'll marry him and help him reclaim his family ranch.
JC: Sounds like an intriguing story with complex characters. Tell us about your book cover. Who did it? How did you or they come up with the concept?
A fabulous cover artist named Angela Anderson came up with it. I never got to ask her, but she seems to have focused on the erotic theme of the novella instead of its historical western setting. The red lettering against the black and white and that absolutely fabulous photo really struck a sensuous chord for me. So much so, I asked the artist doing the cover for my next novella in the series, Better To Marry Than To Burn, to try to match it.
JC: I loooooove the cover. There's a timelessness about it, and her eyes are captivating. OKay, if you’re a new addition to a crayon box. What colour would you be and why?
Bruised Banana. I am forever bumping into things and bruise even with the lightest of taps.
JC: LOL! I guess Id be a bruised banana as well, if I'm being honest. What about trees? If you were a tree, what kind would you be and why?
I would like to be a mustard seed tree as described in the Gospel of Matthew 13:31-32 because it grows from something very tiny into a tree so large all birds can build nests there. The image of me as being small in some people’s eyes yet being able to provide far beyond what those people think me capable of is very empowering.
JC: That's an incredibly thoughtful answer to what some might say is a silly question. Thank you. Now tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant of your career.
When I was an interim minister in Paterson, NJ, I encouraged one of the church elders to check out a program called 1001 Worshipping communities because of her gifts and heart for evangelism. She started a feeding ministry called Wings and a Prayer where they offered chicken wings and, if people wanted, prayer. That ministry, now called Faithworks, has expanded and feeds 400-500 people a month.
JC: What an incredible achievement. If you could only wave a magic wand once and fix one problem in the world, what would it be and why?
Hunger. I believe being well-nourished and healthy fulfills our basic need for survival. With that need satisfied, we have the capacity to think well, be more positive and less afraid of others.
JC: I completely agree. As a teacher by day, my heart always hurts to see hungry students. It directly impacts their ability to learn, practice, and engage as positive community members. I'm always thankful when the school runs a food program and I always make sure I have snack bars stashed in my desk. If a newspaper wrote a front-cover article about you, what would the headline say?
Social Justice Minister Up To Her Old Tricks Again with New Christian Erotic Romance.
JC: Thank you for being my guest today.
Please read on to learn more about Michal and her new release, One Breath Away.
Sentenced to hang for a crime she didn’t commit, former slave Mary Hamilton was exonerated at literally the last gasp. She returns to Safe Haven, broken and resigned to live alone. She’s never been courted, cuddled or spooned, and now no man could want her, not when sexual satisfaction comes only with the thought of asphyxiation. But then the handsome stranger who saved her shows up, stealing her breath from across the room and promising so much more.
Wealthy, freeborn-Black, Eban Thurman followed Mary to Safe Haven, believing the mysteriously exotic woman was foretold by the stars. He must marry her to reclaim his family farm. But first he must help her heal, and to do that means revealing his own predilection for edgier sex.
Buy Now
Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/2Bim5o7
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AjtzUe
Excerpt:
“Why not you, Mary?”
“Because someone like you only looks at someone like me out of pity.”
Of course. His aunt put him up to this. Anger warmed Mary’s ears.
“Let me go.” She made to pull away. “I want to sit.”
“Please. Not before the music stops.” He timed his plea to the rhythm of the waltz. “I’ve waited all week for this moment.”
Mary gritted her teeth. Heart hurt joined her injured pride. She needed no one’s charity.
“That was cruel of you, sir. No one counts the days until they can ask me for a dance.” Tears pooled behind her closed eyelids. “Anyone in town could tell you that.”
The grip on her hand tightened, forcing her eyes open. The light in his gaze darkened. “Anyone who’d lie to me like that would be taking their life in their hands.” He leaned in so his mouth nuzzled her ear again. “And if you use that I’m-not-worthy tone of voice again, I’ll be forced to prove you wrong with a kiss.”
Alarm shuddered up Mary’s back. “Is—is that a threat?”
“A certainty.” He winked.
A chilly thrill replaced the alarm. She blew out a breath to steady herself. Threat or certainty, both treated her to a delicious revelation—she wanted that kiss. She eyed his lips, imagined their soft yet demanding press against hers. Once more the voice of caution repeated its warning.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Oh, to be forced to flee from such a devil as he. She sighed. What a wonderful problem to have.
“May I visit you at Harvest Home?”
Eban’s voice overpowered her thoughts. She frowned out of her musing. “You know where I live?”
“I have an authoritative source.”
She glanced toward Widow Hawthorne who gave a favoring nod. That kiss no longer seemed a flight of fancy. Her belly quivered. Her lips pursed in a thoughtful pout.
“Why would I let you visit me at Harvest Home?”
“You know better than I.” He stroked the back of her hand as he eyed her throat. She swallowed hard as excitement and fear rippled across the flesh his thumb caressed. Her head swirled, whether from the dance or the danger posed by her partner she couldn’t tell. “It—it would cost too much to say.”
He bent his elbow, pulled her forward again. “Am I not worth the price?”
This time his chest crushed hers. The pressure imitated the closeness of that threatened kiss. A closeness she could no longer deny she desired. Would she let him? Should she let him? Her throat tightened.
“You’re worth the price, but I can’t afford you.”
He smiled that nether-lip-tickling smile again. “I accept gifts in kind.”
Buy Now
Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/2Bim5o7
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AjtzUe
Where can readers find me on the web:
Website: www.michalscott.webs.com
Twitter: @mscottauthor1
Wow, I love your cover and the premise for your book! And your tree is a wonderful metaphor for life. Congratulations and good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. I look for metaphors of welcome. Life's too short not to be welcoming.
DeleteI agree Jennifer! Thanks for visiting :-)
DeleteWhat an intriguing idea for a story! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dawn. It was fun to write. I hope you like it.
DeleteThanks for stopping by to comment Dawn! I think the story sounds very intriguing, too
DeleteAnna, what a great excerpt, not that I expect anything less from your writing. I love the way you tackle issues in your writing that many might steer away from, but you face them head on and offer others understanding and compassion via your characters. Thank your mother in law from this reader for nudging you toward writing. You rock!
ReplyDeleteOh Mary, thank you so much. Unfortunately we lost Jeanette two years ago, but I'm glad I let her goad me into taking my writing seriously...and you should take a bow too. I'm a better writer because you're such a generous teacher. : )
DeleteThanks for stopping by Mary and offering such sweet words.
DeleteAnna, I'm sorry to hear of your mother's passing. My mom also inspired and encouraged me to write, and I'll always be thankful for that.
I do miss her. My mother-in-law was definitely a second mother to me, even though we often laughed about how we were polar opposites theologically and politically. Thanks for letting me share the result of her faith in my writing on your blog today.
DeleteLoved your interview. I so enjoy learning about fellow writers. And your cover! It's like a siren luring me in. Exotic and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'll join your army to feed the world!
Wishing you all the best.
I love the cover, too! Totally drew me in. Thanks for visiting Sandra!
DeleteGreat excerpt! Best of luck with your book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting Petie! :-)
Delete