Author Spotlight with Michelle Argyle (contest info too)



K.S. Hello and welcome to the blog. I am very excited to have you here. Why don’t we start off with a small introduction? Tell us a little about yourself.

M.A. Thank you for having me here! I’m a wife, mother, artist, and writer all rolled into one. It makes for an interesting combination, but I love what I do. My husband is an actor, so we’re a very artistic and interesting family! I’m sure my daughter will end up on stage one day. She’s extremely dramatic. I have no idea where she gets that from…


K.S. Any interesting writing quirks or stories you would like to share with my readers?

M.A. Until I wrote my latest novella, Cinders, I rarely read fantasy, and I’d never attempted to write it before. I feel like I’ve jumped into deep water and I’m learning how to swim for the first time. Kind of scary!


K.S. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? What sparked the desire to pen your first novel?

M.A. I wanted to be a writer as young as 10 years old, and I have a few little books I wrote between then and the time I turned 16. By that time, I had an idea for a full-fledged novel. I’m not sure what sparked the desire, but I’m pretty sure it was my characters. I knew they had to be heard!


K.S. What genre do you write?

M.A. I write contemporary, literary, and fantasy fiction. All of my short fiction is literary. I’ve written three contemporary novels, two of them bordering on Young Adult and the other an adult thriller. My latest work is a fantasy novella that I mentioned above.


K.S. What would you say has inspired you most in your writing career? Or, who is your favorite author and why?

M.A. I think reading other novels has inspired me most in my writing career. I love to emulate those I admire, and since I graduated with a degree in English/Creative Writing, I got to read a lot of amazing classical literature. My favorite novel of all time is The Great Gatsby. For me, that book comes as close to perfection as any novel I’ve ever read.


K.S.What does your family think of your writing?

M.A. They support me fully, although I think my parents sometimes think I’m a bit insane, and I tend to be a recluse, always working on my writing, so that can breed frustration. Still, they are happy for me. My husband has always been 100% invested in my work, as I am in his own creative pursuits. I have no idea what my 4-year-old thinks. I’m sure she thinks I’m crazy.


K.S. What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your book/s?

M.A. That I can write any character I want and have them come alive for me.


K.S. What inspires you?

M.A. Reading other great novels that I wish I had written. That makes me try harder!


K.S. Can you tell us a little about any of your novels?

M.A.
My novella, Cinders, is my most recent achievement. It has been described as “a wonderful ride through a dark suspenseful world, which features a cunning, secretive Cinderella. Luscious prose, and seat of your pants page turning suspense will have you gulping down this gem in one sitting.”

The novella is about Cinderella’s happily-ever-after not turning out the way she expected. With her fairy godmother imprisoned in the castle and a mysterious stranger haunting her dreams, Cinderella is on her own to discover true love untainted by magic.


K.S. Where can we buy your novel?

M.A.You can purchase Cinders as a paperback on: Amazon.com or on my author site here.

You can purchase Cinders as an ebook on: Kindle or Smashwords.


K.S. Do you have a website, fan site, or Blog that we can visit?

M.A.Yes, you can visit my Author Site at: michelledavidsonargyle.com

Or my blog at: theinnocentflower.blogspot.com


K.S. Do you have any closing advice to aspiring writers?

M.A. Write first, then network, then write some more. Also, one person’s publishing path may not be right for another. Some people don’t need agents, some people do. Some people are fine with a small press, some people need more than that. No matter how you decide you want to get your work out there, be proud of your decisions and go forth boldly as soon as you feel ready. I think many writers publish too soon, so take the time to do your homework and see what will work for you.

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF
GIVEAWAY INFO

Michelle is doing a giveaway in conjunction with this tour!! To participate click this link.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFNiQVlrY0RBVXNMT24zaTVUcUg0T2c6MQ  

Or go by her blog http://www.michelledavidsonargyle.com/2010/09/cinders-blog-book-tour-begins-shortly.html

Sign up for the giveaway. She has lots of great prizes. It only takes a second to stop in and add your name to the list.




14 comments:

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Thank you, Katie! This was a lot of fun! :)

And thanks to everyone who stops by!

Dawn said...

Great interview & advice!

Dawn Embers said...

Another excellend blog tour spot. I like how this interview delved into how the personal life interlocks with the writing life. Interesting and something that blog readers should be able to relate to, maybe. It's interesting to see an author who wrote in a genre without having a plethora of background in it. This is something I've also found myself doing although I'm no where near finished yet with the novel.

I enjoyed this tour and can't wait to read the book.

Laura Hartness said...

Actor husband, huh? Interesting! Maybe he could play a role in the movie/stage version of Cinders...

:)

Great blog tour!

Laura

Anonymous said...

A blog tour :) What an excellent idea! Entertaining ladies, well done.

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Very good advice. Especially about writing first and networking later. I still tend to do it the otehr way round and it does negatively impact on my writing. And I'm glad I'm not the only recluse because of my writing!
Judy

Audra said...

Lovely interview! I'm so looking forward to Ms Argyle's next book!

C. N. Nevets said...

There's a chance your four year-old might *not* think you're crazy? o.O

:)

As always, I love the upfront honesty about the practical, professional side of writing.

Anne R. Allen said...

"Write first, then network, then write some more." Great advice!

Adam said...

Great interview, I'm excited to read the book.

alice priday said...

great interview katie and michelle. its really interesting to find out more about an author and her life and what got them started. looking forward to more books

Anonymous said...

Great interview! Love the book trailer!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Great advice, as always from Michelle. Good interview, Katie. I love this cover....very mysterious.

Taffy said...

This is an interesting take on a fairy tale!

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.