Bru Interviews...Michelle Gregory!

Citizens of Earth and the epic worlds beyond, it is my pleasure to introduce to you (or perhaps just shine a tiny little brighter spotlight on if you’ve already had the pleasure) author of Eldala and great bloggy buddy o’mine, Michelle D. Gregory!

Yes, that Michelle Gregory! Creater of worlds. Master of words. Woman of deep and cherished faith. Collector of way cool quotes. Sage and comforter to others traveling the same weary trail. Has a thing for guys with beards (I must confess I do to, as my Liam/Qui-gon Ewan/Obi-wan fondness tells so clearly) …but more on that later.

Everybody, this is Michelle. Michelle, this is everybody and...hey! You in the back! Take those earbuds out, I’m talkin’ here! Don’t make me start chucking perfectly edible mass-produced baked goods at you.

Okay, now that we have everyone’s attention, may I direct yours to the tea and Twinkies to your left and dive right into our chat? First off, thanks for stopping by.

MG: I used to get Twinkies in my sack lunch for grade school, but they were always a little squished when it was time to eat them. (Supposedly they can survive a nuclear holocaust—yes, I loved the cockroach who lived in a Twinkie in “Wall-E”—but they couldn’t survive the bus ride. The Ding Dongs didn’t hold up much better.) Hopefully the virtual Twinkies we’re sharing now will survive the trip across cyberspace.

And you’re very welcome for being here. It’s a privilege.

FG: I bubble wrapped the Twinkies for the ride, so hopefully they’re still good.

So, I know that you’re a sensitive, talented writer who also happens to have two other jobs as a wife and homeschooling Mom (been there, done that, still exhausted…) Tell me, Michelle, what would you like the world to know about you? Please introduce yourself to the rogue’s gallery of Pitch Slapped regulars here.

MG: I’m an obsessive list maker. Hence, it’s easier to list things about myself.

FG: Go for it.

MG:--I love to encourage people but am not very optimistic about my own life. Good thing I married an optimist.

--My dream is to see people come alive so they can do what they’ve always wanted to do.

FG: “I’m aliiiiiiive, and the world shines on meeeeeee today….I’m alive!” (Sorry, brief Xanadu flashback. Darn you, Jeff Lynne, for writing such darn catchy music.) All joking aside, though, I can really relate to that. I’m all cheerleading sunshine for other people then when it comes to myself, I don’t know what happens. I’m working on it, because I want to change the fact that my immediate reaction to seeing a half-full glass is thinking that it must have flipped over halfway through the dishwasher cycle and its gonna be all slimy with leftover soap and I have to run it through again.

MG: (Snort, snicker—that’s a good one.)

FG: Thank you kindly, it was the first thing that came to me. What’s the next item up for bids on that list of yours?

MG: -- When I started to write Eldala, my son called me a story person. At the time, I thought I had one story in me. Now there are so many stories in my head that I think it will take a lifetime to get them all written.

FG: A story person, that is so sweet. I’d much rather be a ‘story person’ than just a writer, that is such a wonderful compliment he gave you. As far as it taking a lifetime to tell them all, with as much detail and care as you put into building the world in Eldala, that does not surprise me in the least!

What else ya got? *peeks over Michelle’s shoulder trying to see her list *

MG: -- I used to do scrapbooks and paper arts. My father-in-law even built a beautiful slide-out desk and storage cabinets for me. A month later I started writing and stopped scrapbooking. Now my daughter uses all my crafting supplies.

FG: Oooo, I wish I could see a picture of that. I dream of one of a kind furniture like that, I think in a past life I must have worked with wood. Maybe I was a lumberjack…or a woodchuck.

…I digress.

Now, let me go back to a fun thing I happen to know that you and I have in common. We both seem to have a weak spot for well-bearded men…yes?

MG: I once dreamed about kissing my main character, Kieran, beard and all. My husband thought it was funny.

FG: I once dreamed I was chief engineer on the Enterprise and there was a warp core breach in progress. I was shouting in my sleep (I’m told) that we had to hurry up and eject the core. True story. Sad, true story.

Moving right along…What is the very first thing that you have to have at the ready when you sit down to write? Coffee? Soda? Double thick chocolate shake? (What, there are healthier beverages?)

MG: I would definitely take the shake, but I don’t require it for writing. Cookies are good too. What I really need is quiet. My muse won’t come out to play if it’s too noisy—unless she has this great burst of inspiration, and then I can write it no matter what the noise level is.

FG: Mmm. Cookies. Definitely a writing essential. For all my talk of Twinkies I’d rather have cookies, any day. Maybe I’ll have to shift my jokes toward more personally appropriate bakery.

Let’s talk about your book, Eldala. It’s an epic romantic fantasy with rich, vivid characters. I know, because I’ve read it! And that’s something because a) Fantasy is usually not my genre and b) you know how limited my eyesight is so if I commit to reading an epic tale cover to cover it has to hold my interest.

MG: Knowing how limited you are, I was honored that you read it.

FG: Aww, shucks. But you really helped with that. Knowing I was struggling to read my print copy you sent me the PDF so I could finish in my HUMONGO font on the computer. When I couldn't stop reading I had Natural Reader read it to me in a refined, British accent. I found it served the story well. I mean, the only thing better than a bearded guy is a bearded guy with an accent!

When it came to holding my interest, I found your Kieran and Arathor more than filled that bill (not that the others weren’t great too- just that whole bearded guy thing again, you understand.) For those who haven’t had the chance to read it yet, please tell us a bit about Eldala.

MG: On Kieran’s twentieth birthday, he receives a letter from King Arathor, along with a sword engraved with these words: “When the line of kings is broken, and an evil ruler takes the throne, a child will arise to end her reign; a child will arise to break her curse.”

Up until now, he’s thought he was the adopted son of Kale the blacksmith. He’s lived a safe, sheltered life. He hates how the liege lords and current king treat their subjects, but he doesn’t think he can do anything about it. His goals are to be the best smith in Teleria and find the woman who shares his dreams so they can raise a family. Now he has to choose between hiding in his smithy or walking in his destiny so he can save Teleria.

I tried to put the things I love about stories into my story—mystery, fantasy, a villain to defeat, allegory, someone who discovers they’re more than they thought they were, true love—and to make it a story my then pre-teen boys would enjoy. When it didn’t go the way I wanted, I asked for their help and it morphed into Eldala. They came up with character names, place names, and plot ideas. My oldest son even drew a map of Teleria for me. I love the fact that they were involved.

FG: That is so fantastic. I have heard similar stories once or twice about families working on and sharing books like this (I’m remembering the interview I did with Ted Cross ages ago) and it’s so touching to me. Some of the most fun I’ve ever had as a writer was hearing my daughter quote back dialog I’d written to me or pretend to be one of my characters when addressing me. Precious memories, thank you for sharing them with us.

Next question: train, plane, or automobile? Unicycle? Roller skates? Dogsled? What would you consider to be your favorite mode of transportation?

MG: I’ve never traveled by dog sled before, but I imagine it would be pretty cold.

FG: I tried to travel by cat sled once, but my cat only weighs nine pounds. He looked back at me over his shoulder as if to say, “Are you freaking kidding me?” That went over about as well as my idea of making him the world’s first seeing eye cat. He was smart enough. He just wouldn’t wear the harness.

MG: I just can’t picture a cat pulling a sled.

FG: *snort * Neither could the cat.

MG: Maybe I’ll get the chance to try it (dog sled) when I move to Montana. In the meantime, I prefer to travel by car, but not a small one. I’m so used to driving my Excursion that anything smaller makes me almost claustrophobic. With my sensitive stomach, I have to be in the front seat, and please don’t ask me to read a map or directions while the car is moving. Needless to say, my stomach and planes don’t get along very well. That will make it really hard to fly to Wales so I can see the country on which I based Teleria, but I’d love to try.

FG: One word, baby: Dramamine. It is my friend, it may be yours (for the flight.) I tried those flight bracelet thingies once and all they did was cut the circulation off to my fingers.

MG: Dramamine and I are NOT friends. Even the non-drowsy stuff makes me feel worse. And those patches you can wear… one of the side effects is dizziness. Like I needed more of that when I fly…

FG: …need that like turbulence right after lunch. Hey, if you go to Wales you have to send me a cool postcard please??? Please!!!?!?!

MG: Of course.

FG. Thank you :~) Now, I know you love quotes, and I've read some amazing ones on your blog Beautiful Chaos. Do you have an all time favorite, one you always call to mind in the roughest times?

MG: My all-time favorite is: "Don’t ask what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." (Howard Thurman)

FG: That is deep.I am going to definitely print that out and put it somewhere conspicuous. It’s a great quote!

MG: But that’s not one I think of when life is rough. In times like those, I think of a great line from Finding Nemo: "Just keep swimming."

FG: “I will name him Squishy, and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy.” (I love Dory- though sometimes I relate entirely too much to her overall. I love Dory and Ellen for that matter!)

Okay, so I need a new 'standard bonus question' to end with here for 2011, since this is believe it or not the first interview I've done this year, I'll test this one out on you: Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, or LOTR...if you had to pick a fictional universe to spend the rest of your life in, which one of those would you choose and why? If none, do you have an alternate you'd like to get stranded in?

MG: At first I was going to say Star Wars, but that Galaxy is so rife with on-going trouble that I’d rather not visit.

FG: True. But they do have Jedi. And nothing bad ever happens to the Jedi, especially not the handsome ones with beards. What, you in the back, did you say something? *fingers in ears* lalalalala not listening! Ahem, sorry…so, for a peaceful retreat then?

MG: For peace and tranquility, I would love to visit Rivendell in Lord of the Rings, but only after Sauron has been defeated and Aragorn has become king (and yes, I know that the Elves will have left by then, but I’d have them there anyway). When I finish exploring Rivendell, I’d go to Lothlorien. Dwelling in the trees fascinates me. (I tried to mimic some of that when I wrote a description of one of my Baraca clans in Eldala.)

FG: Of course you can keep the elves. After all, it is your hypothetical. It’s all about creating the world, isn’t it? And that is something you can definitely do.

In closing, let me say that Keiran and Arathor both kept a little piece of my heart when I read Eldala, and if you enjoy romantic, epic fantasy you should give it a whirl! Thanks, Michelle, for taking the time to talk today, and for being such an all-around wonderful person.

MG: It was so much fun to be here, even if it was virtually. The Twinkies were great, but I think I got cream filling on your floor. (Maybe the cat will like it.) Can I have you over to my blog sometime? Please…?

FG: Hey, if you’re into cookie obsessed, Coldplay caterwauling, Star Trek loving, pink shoe’d weirdos, I’m yours!

MG: Great!

Thanks for stopping in, everyone! Before you go, I want to pass on that a little Telerian bird told me that if you’re interested in checking out the world Michelle has built, this is the perfect time to do it!

For the month of May, if you use Coupon Code LQ89P at Smashwords, you can get Eldala for $1.99. Here’s the link to Eldala’s Smashwords page.

Also, Michelle has reduced the price of the paperback on Lulu 30% for this month, so now it’s $13.99. Here’s the link to Eldala’s Lulu page.

Don't forget to stop by and say hi to Michelle over at her place!

~bru