Loading ...Author Interview and Contest with Patrice Michelle
Exclusive Bitten by Books
Interview with Author Patrice Michelle
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the the great prize being offered up. The contest runs until 3:00 pm Eastern time tomorrow to give our east coast and international readers a chance to participate.
NOTE: this is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 8:00 am PST. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments.
Interview:
Hi Patrice!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Scions: Revelation
BBB: What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing?
PM: I’m never at a loss for ideas, that’s for sure! I’d say that the most challenging aspect of writing are those first couple chapters at the beginning of the story. By the time I sit down to write the story, there is so much information about the characters and world jumbling around in my head, getting them just right in those opening pages often takes more concentrated effort than writing the rest of the story.
BBB: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you?
PM: Hitting a particular scene–or in the case of writing a series…hitting the culmination of an overarcing storyline–just right. Since I consider myself a hybrid pantser writer (I write a very high-level overview of the story and then just sit and write by the seat of my pants, which may or may not follow the overview), I’m often not sure how I will tie all the threads together until I get to a certain point in the story. When everything falls into place, it’s so rewarding!
BBB: What or who was your muse that got you started writing?
PM: I’d have to say a long-time love of reading romance novels encouraged me. I’ve been reading romances since I was thirteen. When I was fifteen I decided I wanted to be able to tell the kind of stories that made people think about the characters long after they’d finished the books. 
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle
PM: The new readers, like the Kindle
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
PM: If the author’s print book is limited in availability, then having an eBook as an option for readers can only help broaden an author’s sales and certainly the author’s exposure to new readership.
BBB: Who is your favorite couple from your Scion series: Jachin and Ariel from Scions: Resurrection
PM: Awww, it’s so hard to choose. All the couples are my favorites in their own way, since they each have their own personal issues to overcome before they fall in love. But I guess, in the end, I’d have to say Caine and Emma…because BOTH characters struggled so hard with their own loyalties to the people they were close to, while caring deeply for each other at the same time. Their tug and pull was both heart-wrenching and understandable and I think made their story all the more enjoyable.
BBB: You’ve written a stand-alone story about Gabriel and Abby, Scions: Perception
PM: I would like to write more Scions stories in the future, and yes, Mira’s would be one of them.
BBB: Can you tell us what your next releases will be if they are stand alone titles?
PM: Right now I’m working on several projects, all set in the paranormal realm, but at the moment I can’t say which one(s) you’ll see from me next. I guess my answer for now is…stay tuned!
BBB: Your stories are built around vampires and shapeshifters. If you could choose a paranormal existence as one or the other, which would you choose, and if a shapeshifter, what kind?
PM: I think I’d love to be a wolf…who could shapeshift at will and not be bound by the moon’s cycle!
BBB: How would you describe the writing style in the Kendrian Vampire and the Scions series? Is it serious paranormal romance or a cross between Urban Fantasy and paranormal? Or something else entirely?
PM: Great question! In the beginning, my first Kendrian vampire story A Taste for Passion
BBB: Do you prefer writing a normal vs paranormal romance? And do you like writing series vs stand-alone stories? Why?
PM: I like writing both contemporary and paranormal stories…though the stories that have been speaking to me the strongest lately are paranormal romance/urban fantasy. I prefer to write in series mainly because that’s just how my mind works when I’m developing a complex paranormal world. Usually the secondary characters’ personalities are so strong in the first book that they end up demanding their own story, not to mention…all that world-building and mystery-solving subplots tend to track well across several books.
BBB: How do you keep track of your characters and world building?
PM: Right now I do it in my head. If I end up writing more than three books in a series though…I’ll have to map everything out in a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. The more characters I introduce, the more complex everything becomes, and it would be too hard to remember every single detail.
BBB: What is your favorite paranormal fiction book of all time?
PM: A Wrinkle in Time
BBB: What do you like to do in between all the time you spend writing?
PM: I love amateur photography and whenever I get a chance to unwind with a good book, I take it!
BBB: What did you do before you became a writer? Do you write full time?
PM: I was a financial analyst. Yep, it’s true. My “formal” education was in Business, not English. Now I write full time.
BBB: You have several other books that you have released, can you tell us more about them?
PM: As I mentioned earlier, I write both contemporary and paranormal books. I have written a contemporary cowboy series called Bad in Boots as well as a stand-alone contemporary print duet called Anticipation and Seduction. I’ve also written three books in my Kendrian Vampire series and a couple of novellas for different multi-author anthologies.
BBB: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with our readers here today?
PM: Only to ask the question: Tell me about the latest “fantastic book” you’ve read. What made it stand out for you?
Readers be sure to check out Patrice’s site: http://patricemichelle.com/
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Questions and Contest: Now, I am going to open up the internet floor so to speak and let our readers ask Patrice some questions. Feel free to post as many questions or comments as you like. She will be popping in and out today and tomorrow to answer them.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give an additional entries at a chance to win. One lucky participant will be chosen to win a copy of Scions: Revelation. Her newest release!
The contest will be open to our international readers as well.
Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. Ask Patrice as many questions as you like, you can also start a stimulating discussion.
2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only.
3. Post the link to the interview here today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2949) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group (any group where it is appropriate) and you will be given TEN additional entries for a chance to win for every link you post. BUT you MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day. 
4. Purchase copies of Patrice’s awesome book TODAY or TOMORROW and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for TWENTY additional entries. You get TWENTY entries for each one you purchase. Not valid on past purchases. Click this link to buy her books.
Scions Series:
Scions: Resurrection
Scions: Insurrection
Scions: Revelation
Kendrian Vampire Series:
A Taste for Passion
A Taste For Revenge
Kendrians: A Taste for Control
Or buy ANYTHING from Amazon today by using the Amazon search box to your right hand side on our site and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 10 entries PER item you buy.
Books make GREAT gifts for friends and family anytime, and a set of Patrice’s Scions or Kendrians books would be just the thing for the reader in your family this holiday season!
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6. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says “Share” that you can use.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2949
8. Read the Bitten by Books reviews of Patrice’s books here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Patrice%20Michelle
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love.
9. Add Patrice’s blog to your blog roll or links page: http://www.patricemichelle.net/blog
10. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
11. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by today! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get TWO entries and you get TWO entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
12. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your username. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there.
The contest will run through tomorrow 12/12/08 at 3:00 pm Eastern time to allow our East coast and international readers a chance to win too!
Be sure to include an email and name where we can contact you if you are a winner.
We will be awarding the AMAZING prize and announcing the winner to the Bitten by Books website later. And REMEMBER you can’t win if you don’t play!
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Hi Patrice!
Welcome to BBB! My question is this: How big is your TBR pile?
(Rach-twittered and posted to Mark and Dakota’s group!)
Hello Patrice,
If you could be anyone in the world for a entire day, who would you want to be and why?
Hi Virginia,
OMG, my TBR pile is about three feet tall..well, if I put the five stacks I have sitting around all together. I did just read a great paranormal/horror YA last night. So I guess that’s ONE down. Thing is I always buy more so my stack never seems to get any smaller.
Rachel, thanks for twittering and spreading the word.
Kizzy, if I could be anyone hmmmm, I’d love the opportunity to meet several people (to see what they’re really like in person)–certain writers and a couple movie stars, but I can’t really think of anyone I’d want to be. Now, if you’re talking about superheroes…I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be Wonder Woman…
posted in my “status” to check this out : )
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=34502781
Ooooh! Rachel all of these awesome interviews is threatening to overflow my TBR wishlist…
I guess my question for Patrice is: How long did it take you to find a willing publisher once you started looking for one? And, any advice for fledgling authors hoping to get into the published world someday?
Oh yeah, the website address when we click your name is missing an “e” and goes to a blank page.
Hi Willow,
I saw that I left off the “e” but it wouldn’t be me go back and edit it. Maybe Rachel has a magic wand? Oooh, Rachel?
In answer to your question, when I got serious about my writing, I sold my first story A Taste for Passion nine months after I wrote it. But if you’re asking about my Nocturnes (NY pubbed books), I’d say it took me around two years since I didn’t start seriously looking to get and agent and sell to NY until the latter part of 2005…and then I sold my SCIONS trilogy to Nocturne in August of 2006.
As for advice, the most important one is always believe in yourself! Rejection is part of this business (no matter how many manuscripts you sell) and learning to let it roll off you and keep going is key while continuing to improve your craft with each new story you write. Join RWA, enter contests and learn what you can to improve the opening of your stories, but don’t take the critiques to mean you need to change everything in your MS. Instead, look to see if you see a pattern from the judges across more than one contest and THAT’S where you might want to tweak your manuscript. Make industry connections by attending conferences. And always remember why you started writing in the first place, because that will keep you going! Hope that helps!
Patrice
Thanks for posting, Patrice. Your covers have always caught my attention, and the world-building has really HELD my attention
A Wrinkle in Time was always one of my faves too, for the same reason: Characters you could really care about in a world gone more than a little weird.
Jessa,
Thanks so much for your compliments! And I SO agree, Madeleine L’Engle was way ahead of her time. Loved her books!
Well, since the questions are kind of slow right now and I like chatting with authors…
What’s your typical writing day like? Do you just write when inspired to or is it scheduled?
How do writing deadlines by agents and publishers seem to affect your writing style? Do you feel that you write the same way you did before you became published?
Patrice,
How do you kep a strong secondary character out of taking over a first book, esepcially if you have them slated for a later book in the series.
Hi Patrice, What is your favorite genre to write?
Hi Willow,
I try to write everyday, even if some days are better than others. It’s much easier to edit bad stuff then a blank screen. I find writing deadlines very motivating.
When I look at the books I first wrote and the latest ones I’ve written I see a world of difference in maturity in my writing. With each book I write, I learn.
Walt,
I guess I find it easier not to let a secondary character take over because in my mind it’s not HIS or HER story. That character’s story isn’t being told at that point, so I don’t need to go too deep with him or her. When it comes time for HIS story, then I’ll let him have full reign and I’ll dive deep into his psyche and personality, his wants, his desires, his failures, his strengths, his fears–everything that has made him what his is. I think the key is finding the right balance as to how much to “show” about a secondary character so readers are intrigued enough to want to read his/her story next.
Hi Paige,
I love romance…so no matter what I write be it action-adventure, mystery, mainstream, YA…I imagine there will always be some romance in the storyline somewhere. As for subgenre, I would say, paranormal is something I just can’t seem to stay away from.
Hi Patrice, thanks for joining us today
Do you like to listen to music when you write? and if so, what?
Hi Sarai,
No, I don’t listen to music while I write, mainly because I find it distracting. I’ll find myself listening to the lyrics and wanting to hear the story the musician is trying to tell instead of writing. But when I’m brainstorming for a book or after I finish writing one, I’ll often pick out songs I think fit the story. I’ve even created a couple of playlists.
Here are playlists I’ve created for two of the Scions stories, Scions:Resurrection and Scions:Perception.
Scions:Resurrection - http://www.patricemichelle.net/blog/2008/01/23/music-and-scionsresurrection/
Scions:Perception - http://www.patricemichelle.net/blog/2008/10/08/scionsperception-playlist/
Hi everybody! I am not sure which link you are talking about, but I realized I didn’t put her site up for you to check out so that is there now.
And here’s the link: http://patricemichelle.com/
Patrice,
Are you sure you can’t give us a little hint on what type of paranormal creatures are coming up in some of your new books??? Please!!!
Ooh, Evanescence is awesome! Since you don’t listen to music as you write, is there something else that you like to do that gets you in the mood to write? or are you a grab the pencil and paper or fire up the computer and go, type of writer?
Hi Patrice! Out of all the books you have written, which is your favorite?
I love love your Kendrian series. Duncan was the ultimate battered hero. Will you ever write another book in that series?
Katie
Wonderful interview, now I’m going to run out and buy your books. I’m always looking for something new to read.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Patrice. Liked how you pulled the vampires and weres together in your Scion series. I’m with you - Emma and Caine touched me the most.
How do you choose names for your characters and titles for your books?
(Rach, don’t enter me - read this one.)
Darling, don’t put me in the contest. Patrice is an auto-buy for me. She is one of the most talented writers! My question for Patrice is “HI! How’s life.
“
How’d you get from business to writing? hehe not exactly in the same line : )
Hi Patrice, I’ve enjoyed reading all your series. I, too, would like to know if you will write more Kendrian stories, and a hint about the ones you’re working on, please? Darker or lighter, anything?
I’d like to ask Patrice the same question I asked the others in the interview yesterday. Your main characters in each book, do they control the story or does the story control them? How much do you have to “argue” with your characters?
As for your question about memorable books? The first in each of Charlaine Harris’ and Kim Harrison’s series. There was the moment of realization that “wow, there really IS a new genre that I can sink my teeth into”! LOL Urban fantasy had a name. Before that, I had to really dig to find the type of book I love.
Sarai,
I do listen to music before I write sometimes, especially if I’m stuck on a particular part in the book. Or, I’ll go watch a movie or read a book. There are many things that have stimulated my muse. Oftentimes it seems when I quit trying to force it and just relax (while watching a movie, reading a book, etc) is when I have an “ah-ha, now I know what I need to do” moment.
Katie,
That’s such a valid question but so hard for me to answer because I’m embroiled in each story as I write them, loving the characters, loving the love story, etc. How about I answer it like this. A Taste for Control was my favorite of the Kendrian stories because I felt like I had learned so much from book one to book three, expanding the world and deepening the characters, even Ronan who was very much an antihero. I’m so glad you loved Duncan. You’re right he was SO very tortured and I loved giving him his HEA, while writing an epic story full of mystery and adventure to boot. As for my Scions books, I’d have to say Scions:Revelation again. It was so wonderful to FINALLY be able to reveal parts of the prophecy and bring all the characters back from previous books and have them all work together to solve their problems. I enjoy doing that so much. My secondary characters usually always play major roles helping the main characters to find their own way to happiness.
Oh, I didn’t answer your other question, Katie. I do hope to one day continue with the Kendrians. Sabryn, Ronan, Sebastian and several others need to find their own HEAs!
Hi Carmen,
I hope you enjoy them!
Hi Shirley,
I’m so glad you enjoyed Scions:Revelation! As for character names and title…
I pick the character names by trying to fit them to the character. For instance, Jachin is a biblical name that means: He who establishes. I thought that fit Jachin’s character up and down since he takes over the Sanguinas and starts anew.
As for my titles, the word SCION has a couple of definitions. It can mean a descendant and it can mean a graft from a plant. I though that word would work perfectly as the tile for my paranormal world, since the SCIONS characters are a bit of both, initially genetics (ie, part of humans initially) and then later descendants.
The other titles Resurrection, Insurrection and Revelation worked well for the stories inside the page. I try very hard for each title of a book a write to have more than one meaning, ie, the obvious literal one and then usually a deeper, more meaningful one specific to the characters themselves.
Hi Arwen!
Thank you so much for the wonderful compliments! I’m doing well…though I’m so far behind on Holiday stuff right now due to getting over a yucky cold. I’ll have to catch up this weekend! I hope things are good with you.
Hi Jen,
Good question! From Business to writing seems so different, doesn’t it? LOL! I’ve been reading romance since I was 13, so I was still reading romances while I was in college. In my junior year, I started writing my first book during down times at school. That book will NEVER see the light of day, but working on it did awaken in me the need to tell a story. I guess I just had to live life a little before I finally settled down to start and complete my first novel–that was my first vampire book, A Taste for Passion, which I wrote in 2002 and sold in early 2003.
Hi Pam P!
It’s wonderful to hear you want more Kendrians. Like I said earlier, I do plan to revisit that world. There are too many Kendrians who still don’t have their HEAs…and I SO want to give it to them.
You and Rachel asked for specifics as to what’s coming next. A hint? Let’s see…vampires and werewolves would be a safe bet.
I seriously doubt I’ll go lighter. I LOVE it dark…the darker the better. Great angst comes from dark…though I have to sprinkle in the ironic humor here and there. If we can’t laugh or have an amusing moment, especially when times are dark, what’s to keep us going, right? 
Hi Roxanne,
I’d like to say I control my characters or that the plot I’ve created in my mind controls them, but the truth is my characters ultimately control the outcome of the story, oftentimes surprising me! For instance, I didn’t realize Mira would play as big a role as she did in Scions:Resurrection. I didn’t even know her background when I first decided to put her in the story, but boy did she come out full of twists I didn’t expect. I love her character and one day hope to give her the HEA she very much deserves. And yes, I don’t argue with them per se, but I do often appease their need for the spotlight by promising them their own stories.
We’re on the same page about urban fantasy! I love this subgenre so much because there are SO many possibilities to explore!
I have to say that I would LOVE to read Sabryn’s story. She seems like she would be an awesome protagonist, even in a stand alone.
Do you have many more e-books planned for 2009 and beyond?
Just wondering if you ever get starstruck when meeting authors. If so who would it be and have you met them? Mine is Sherrilyn Kenyon and yes I’ve meet her at a booksigning a couple of years ago. She’s wonderful and very funny!
What types of books or which authors do you prefer to read when you have the chance?
Rachel, I love Sabryn too! And yes I think she would work in a stand alone story.
Teresa W, hmmm, I’d probably be star-struck if I ever meet Judith McNaught in person. It was after I finished one of her books that I decided to start writing myself.
Sherri’s a wonderful person, I totally agree!
Desire, I’ve been on paranormal YA kick lately, but I can’t wait for the next Patricia Briggs, Mercy Thompson book so I’m still a big fan of adult UF as well.
What genre is your favorite to write?
What genre would you most like to try and write?
Hi:
I really enjoy your books and have them. So don’t enter me in this one. What happens when you still have stories to write about the other characters in your books but the contract is up. Does a contract just come or as with almost everything in life do you have to fight for what you want to write.
Thanks and Happy Holidays
Hi Lexee, paranormal is my favorite to write! As for other genres…I’d love to write a paranormal YA, a paranormal mainstream and an adult urban fantasy…to name a few.
Hi Jo Anne, it’s great to hear you’re enjoying my stories! In answer to your question, when the contract runs out and the author wants to write about other characters in her books, then she has to submit another proposal (featuring some of those other characters) in order to get a new contract. Sometimes the proposals are accepted and sometimes they aren’t.
Happy Holidays to you, too!
Congrats to Roxanne who is the winner of this contest! She’s been notified via email.
Congrats Roxanne! I’ll get your book sent out to you. Thanks again for having me on Bitten By Books, Rachel and to everyone who participated. I had a great time! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!
Best,
Patrice