Hey everyone! I recently had the opportunity to sit down with my fellow author, Michelle Abbott. This is what she had to say.
**Hey, Michelle, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.**
I live in the UK. Aside from writing I love to read all genres of romance.
**What made you decide to start writing?**
I've loved writing since I was a child but it was the explosion of self-published authors that gave me the idea of writing a book.
**Do you have a specific genre that you write for?**
New adult romance because I love to explore emotions and angst.
**Tell us about your books.**
So far I've published two books which are part of a series. In Chains (In Chains #1) begins the story of Kayden and Savannah. It's a dystopian style romance set in a world similar to ours except that slavery is legal and government run and slaves are fitted with microchips. Kayden is a slave and Savannah is the sister of his owner. It's a story about forbidden love.
Locked Together (In Chains #2) continues their story and is the final book in the series.
-This sounds like a very interesting series; I just might have to check it out ;)-
**What are you currently working on?**
I'm currently working on a new adult contemporary romance. It's titled Just Stay and I hope to publish it in March this year. It's set in Cornwall in the UK. Here's the blurb: The last place Pia wants to be is on a family vacation in a sleepy Cornish village. She's anticipating two weeks of mind-numbing boredom. Then she meets Trey, a local boy. He's absolutely gorgeous. The trouble is — he knows it. He's arrogant and egotistical, and Pia intends to avoid him at all costs.
But Trey is not the kind of guy who gives up easily. When he sets his sights on Pia, her resistance is futile.
It's just a holiday romance, some light-hearted fun, right? But one of them is about to discover that still waters do, indeed, run deep. When what lurks beneath the surface finally erupts, the consequences may prove to be catastrophic.
**What are your favorite kind of characters to write about? Do your characters end up with some of your personality traits (purposefully or unintentionally)?**
I like to write about underdog heroes who fall hard for their girl. My female characters are strong and not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Yes, my female characters do unintentionally end up having some of my personality traits. I guess you write what you know.
**How do you come up with new story ideas?**
I usually come up with the ideas for the characters first and from there they drive the plot. It may sound crazy but I see scenes in my head as if they were movies and I write down what I see and hear. My characters tell me what they want to happen.
**Do you need background noise of any kind, or do you prefer silence while you write?**
I must have silence, I find background noise distracting. I do listen to music to get me in the mood prior to writing a scene and all of my books have playlists of music that has inspired me.
**Here's an excerpt from In Chains (In Chains #1):**
I put on my jacket and turn on the switch for the outside light. Opening the door a crack I peek out. It’s too dark to see anything, so I listen but I can’t hear anything. I step outside, quickly close the door and run as fast as I can towards Kayden’s caravan. Dried twigs snap under my feet and I hear rustling coming from the bushes. It’s hard to run when it’s too dark to see anything, I keep stumbling. I’m breathless and my heart is
pounding when I finally see the dimly lit windows of Kayden’s caravan.
Bursting through his door I’m about to tell him what happened when the words die in my throat. He’s kneeling on the floor, poised over a bucket full of water, his shirt in his hand. But what stops me dead in my tracks is the state of his back. It’s criss-crossed with thick, vivid, red welts from his shoulders to the waistband of his jeans.
It looks painful and sore and I just want to give him a hug.
He stands up, frowning at me. “Savannah, what’s wrong?”
My worries seem so trivial to me now. I manage to croak out, “Did my brother do that to you?”
He slips his shirt back on. “Yeah. He told me to stay away from you.”
I’m putting him in danger by being here; I can’t do this to him. I turn to run back out of the door.
“Please don’t go,” he says, grabbing my arm. I flinch and he lets go as if he’s just been stung. He stares at me, wide eyed. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to touch…” sighing, he hangs his head. “I’m sorry for touching you. I know I’m not allowed to without permission and I know I disgust you.”
What! “No,” I say, frowning. “Why would you think that?”
He’s gazing down at his hands, picking at his fingernails. “The blond guy told me. He said you think I’m dirty and disgusting.”
I reach out and gently stroke my hand along his arm. “He lied to you.”
Slowly he raises his eyes to meet mine. “Then why did you flinch when I touched you?”
“It wasn't your fault. My arm’s bruised and it hurt when you grabbed it.”
Frowning, he gently takes my arm and rolls up the sleeve of my top. He gasps as he sees the bruising. His eyes turn dark and he scowls. “Did he do that to you?”
LINKS TO PURCHASE MICHELLE ABBOTT'S BOOKS:
**Hey, Michelle, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.**
I live in the UK. Aside from writing I love to read all genres of romance.
**What made you decide to start writing?**
I've loved writing since I was a child but it was the explosion of self-published authors that gave me the idea of writing a book.
**Do you have a specific genre that you write for?**
New adult romance because I love to explore emotions and angst.
**Tell us about your books.**
So far I've published two books which are part of a series. In Chains (In Chains #1) begins the story of Kayden and Savannah. It's a dystopian style romance set in a world similar to ours except that slavery is legal and government run and slaves are fitted with microchips. Kayden is a slave and Savannah is the sister of his owner. It's a story about forbidden love.
Locked Together (In Chains #2) continues their story and is the final book in the series.
-This sounds like a very interesting series; I just might have to check it out ;)-
**What are you currently working on?**
I'm currently working on a new adult contemporary romance. It's titled Just Stay and I hope to publish it in March this year. It's set in Cornwall in the UK. Here's the blurb: The last place Pia wants to be is on a family vacation in a sleepy Cornish village. She's anticipating two weeks of mind-numbing boredom. Then she meets Trey, a local boy. He's absolutely gorgeous. The trouble is — he knows it. He's arrogant and egotistical, and Pia intends to avoid him at all costs.
But Trey is not the kind of guy who gives up easily. When he sets his sights on Pia, her resistance is futile.
It's just a holiday romance, some light-hearted fun, right? But one of them is about to discover that still waters do, indeed, run deep. When what lurks beneath the surface finally erupts, the consequences may prove to be catastrophic.
**What are your favorite kind of characters to write about? Do your characters end up with some of your personality traits (purposefully or unintentionally)?**
I like to write about underdog heroes who fall hard for their girl. My female characters are strong and not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Yes, my female characters do unintentionally end up having some of my personality traits. I guess you write what you know.
**How do you come up with new story ideas?**
I usually come up with the ideas for the characters first and from there they drive the plot. It may sound crazy but I see scenes in my head as if they were movies and I write down what I see and hear. My characters tell me what they want to happen.
**Do you need background noise of any kind, or do you prefer silence while you write?**
I must have silence, I find background noise distracting. I do listen to music to get me in the mood prior to writing a scene and all of my books have playlists of music that has inspired me.
**Here's an excerpt from In Chains (In Chains #1):**
I put on my jacket and turn on the switch for the outside light. Opening the door a crack I peek out. It’s too dark to see anything, so I listen but I can’t hear anything. I step outside, quickly close the door and run as fast as I can towards Kayden’s caravan. Dried twigs snap under my feet and I hear rustling coming from the bushes. It’s hard to run when it’s too dark to see anything, I keep stumbling. I’m breathless and my heart is
pounding when I finally see the dimly lit windows of Kayden’s caravan.
Bursting through his door I’m about to tell him what happened when the words die in my throat. He’s kneeling on the floor, poised over a bucket full of water, his shirt in his hand. But what stops me dead in my tracks is the state of his back. It’s criss-crossed with thick, vivid, red welts from his shoulders to the waistband of his jeans.
It looks painful and sore and I just want to give him a hug.
He stands up, frowning at me. “Savannah, what’s wrong?”
My worries seem so trivial to me now. I manage to croak out, “Did my brother do that to you?”
He slips his shirt back on. “Yeah. He told me to stay away from you.”
I’m putting him in danger by being here; I can’t do this to him. I turn to run back out of the door.
“Please don’t go,” he says, grabbing my arm. I flinch and he lets go as if he’s just been stung. He stares at me, wide eyed. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to touch…” sighing, he hangs his head. “I’m sorry for touching you. I know I’m not allowed to without permission and I know I disgust you.”
What! “No,” I say, frowning. “Why would you think that?”
He’s gazing down at his hands, picking at his fingernails. “The blond guy told me. He said you think I’m dirty and disgusting.”
I reach out and gently stroke my hand along his arm. “He lied to you.”
Slowly he raises his eyes to meet mine. “Then why did you flinch when I touched you?”
“It wasn't your fault. My arm’s bruised and it hurt when you grabbed it.”
Frowning, he gently takes my arm and rolls up the sleeve of my top. He gasps as he sees the bruising. His eyes turn dark and he scowls. “Did he do that to you?”
LINKS TO PURCHASE MICHELLE ABBOTT'S BOOKS:
Locked Together (In Chains #2)
http://www.amazon.com/Locked-Together-Chains-Michelle-Abbott-ebook/dp/B00FIOKXLY/
http://www.amazon.com/Locked-Together-Chains-Michelle-Abbott-ebook/dp/B00FIOKXLY/
LINKS TO STALK MICHELLE ABBOTT
Website: http://www.michelleabbott.com
Blog: http://addictedtoromance.weebly.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/michelleabbott
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleAbbott4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleAbbottRomanceAuthor
G+: http://gplus.to/michelleabbott
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HANGING OUT WITH US TODAY, MICHELLE!!
Website: http://www.michelleabbott.com
Blog: http://addictedtoromance.weebly.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/michelleabbott
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleAbbott4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleAbbottRomanceAuthor
G+: http://gplus.to/michelleabbott
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HANGING OUT WITH US TODAY, MICHELLE!!