1. What is your name and where do you call
home?
My
name is Michelle Isenhoff, and I live in a quite corner of beautiful Michigan.
2. Do you have a pen name?
No,
I wanted all my old friends and classmates to see me in print, lol!
3. What is the name of your most recent book
and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
This
spring, I dove into self-publishing by bringing three of my books to print at
once. The Color of Freedom was among them. Within, Meadow, 14, shares the American rebels’
desire for freedom, but will liberty in Puritan Boston extend to Irish
Catholics?
4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this
book part of a series?
Oh,
I have pages full of plans! Actually,
I’ve just finished a middle grade fantasy called The Quill Pen which I’m hoping to publish traditionally, as my
marketing talents register just below those of my goldfish. It will not be part of a series. As much as I love historical fiction, The Quill Pen has shown me how fun it is
to write in a less-restrained genre. I’ve
also finished a rough draft for a second children’s fantasy, but first I have
to finish the final book of my Divided Decade Trilogy (Civil War, YA), that is
due out in spring 2012.
5. What or who inspired you to start writing?
And how long have you been writing?
I’ve
loved to write nearly as long as I’ve loved to read. Many teachers and my parents have encourage
me along the way, but one particular professor, Dr. Judith Fabisch, went beyond
all others. She actually helped me
submit my first manuscript to a publisher.
It was promptly rejected, but Dr.
Fabisch gave me the nudge I needed to get my work out there.
6. Do you gift books to readers for book
reviews?
Not
paperback editions, unfortunately, as my aforementioned marketing skills won’t
support the expense. But I love to pass
out digital versions.
7. How did you come up with the cover? Who
designed the cover of your book?
I
designed it myself when I found that super-cool picture.
8. How did you come up with the title for your
book?
I
can’t remember how I came up with The
Color of Freedom, exactly, but I know it took more than a year of hard
thinking. This was the very first
full-length manuscript I ever wrote, started back in 2003. I know a movie has since been made with this
same title, but my drafts from 2004 proudly bear it – long before the movie.
9. Do you have a book trailer?
I
do. It was really fun to make – I
certainly learned a lot. It’s viewable
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-zSg2gADs
10. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Writing
a novel is a long-term commitment with lots of setbacks and rejection. Don’t give up! That book with your name on it is so worth
it.
11. Where can your readers follow you?
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4763459.Michelle_Isenhoff?origin
Personal website: http://www.michelleisenhoff.com
Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!
Good job on the interview Rachel! Michelle Isenhoff is a really great author!
ReplyDeleteErik