About Michelle Irwin:
Michelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page.
Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes romance.
What inspires you to write?
I started writing because I had characters talking to me, now I don’t need inspiration to actually sit and write because it’s just so ingrained in me and my daily habits. I find inspiration for my stories in songs, TV shows, movies, and the question “What if?”
Tell us about your writing process.
I always thought I was a pantser. I sit to write with a vague idea of where the story should go, then my characters come along and laugh at me. However, I now realise I am a very detailed plotter because the first draft is always just bare bones and the second draft onward is where the magic is filled in.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Always. When I’m not writing their stories, they run scenes in my head like actors rehearsing on stage. When I sit to write, I often say it’s a bit like being a cameraman for Cops. I’ve just got to strap on the camera (keyboard) and follow the characters wherever they lead me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Always write. Do it because you love it not because you’re chasing any imagined wealth or prestige. It’s the passion that will see those things follow.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have a small press publisher and I’ve also self-published. For a long time, I wrote stories and didn’t share them. Then I started to write and upload to the internet under a penname on a Fanfiction site. Eventually, I felt I had more to share with original characters than I could with derivative ones and started my next story with the knowledge I’d gained from publishing fanfiction. My final push to start publishing came when my Grandfather died, and I found the courage to put myself out there. I came to self-publishing because I’m too impatient for publishing houses and like to have ultimate control.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it is both the best and worst time to be publishing at the moment. Self-publishing has opened the door to many who might not have been able to do it otherwise either due to their selected genre. I think there are exciting times ahead.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Fantasy
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Michelle Irwin Home Page Link
Link To Michelle Irwin Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
