About Michelle Pennington:
Michelle Pennington is a hopeless romantic and an insatiable people watcher. She has too many hobbies, but only two passions: her family and her writing. She’s the mother of four kids and the author of four books. No more kids are planned, but the books are a different story.
What inspires you to write?
High school are bigger than life years for all of us and I have never forgotten them. All the struggles, excitement, drama, and awesomeness of my teen years inspire me all the time. More than that though, I have always lived with characters in my head and writing their stories is the only way to free them.
Tell us about your writing process.
I start every story as a seat of the pantser, but it isn’t long before I realize that I need a plan. Then the whiteboard and note cards come out. Once I had a story diagrammed with note cards on my dining room wall for months and it drove my family crazy. I don’t want to stifle my creativity by being too structured so letting my imagination loose is great, but I have learned that forcing it to dance to my bidding makes for the best story.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters rarely stop talking. They argue, joke, and flirt all the time: while I’m washing dishes, grocery shopping, taking a shower, or going to sleep at night. Sometimes when they’re trying to run away with the story, I talk back to them. It’s the only way to keep them in line. I always think I know them until they say something that catches me off guard. I love all of them. Unless, you know, I don’t. Some of them are vile creatures.
What advice would you give other writers?
The hardest part about writing is walking the fine line between arrogance and humility. You have to believe in yourself to keep going and to take criticism, but if you start to think you really know what you’re doing, you stop improving. The best part is looking back and seeing how you’ve grown.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I always worried about going the traditional route and seeking out a publisher because I have young children. I didn’t want to be at a publishers beck and call. When I discovered self-publishing, I knew it was right for me. I love being able to make all the decisions about my work and my schedule. When my circumstances change however, I wouldn’t be adverse to trying other options.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think publishing companies will find ways to adapt to the changing market and there will always be readers who want to go into a book store to browse and buy. Ebooks and Indie authors will have to evolve and change as well, but I think that the market has room for everyone.
What do you use?: Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Young Adult, Romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Michelle Pennington Home Page Link
Link To Michelle Pennington Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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.
