BLURB
High school senior Hanna Loch just suffered a
blackout in front of her entire homeroom class. She hasn’t had one in over ten
years, and she’s terrified—the last time she blacked out, she woke up with no
memory of her life before. To make matters worse, no one can explain why it
happens. For Hanna, bad things tend to come in threes.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover it . . .
When she learns she could be a descendant of someone
who lived once upon a time, Hanna must put her trust in William Vann, a
descendant of one of the most hated villains ever known. Their histories are
intertwined in more ways than she expected, and he has answers about her past,
answers even her family won’t share.
But is it safe to put her trust in someone who appears
to be danger reincarnate, while trying to escape the darkness that tried to
kill her ten years ago?
A loose
fairytale retelling, GOLDEN is a story that’s just right, weaving together lost
secrets, vengeful enemies, and what happens when fiction becomes reality.
Start reading Golden today!
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to write this
book?
I wanted to try to write something that incorporated the
stories that I love with a dose of reality. I think relationships take a lot of
hard work and I always thought that happily ever after was more of a state of
mind and it goes far beyond the end of a story.
How did you choose your title?
I wanted to keep it simple as well as modernize the
traditional title of Goldilocks. Golden was a perfect fit.
Tell us about the cover and how
it came to be.
I love it! The detail of the background with the
forest and the wolf in the smoke is amazing. I think it looks a bit mysterious
and beautiful, but then I’m pretty bias. Ashley
Ruggirello of Reuts Publications was the creator and I just fell in love with
it the minute I saw it.
Did you self-publish or publish traditionally
and why?
Golden is published with Reuts Publications, a
boutique publishing house that really struck a chord with me when I was
submitting. It feels like I am working with a family who are beyond helpful and
so nice that I couldn’t be happier.
What do you consider the most
important part of a good story?
I think the balance between writing too much and too
little. If you write too much, it can come off as boring and insulting to the
reader and if you write too little, it can be confusing and unfulfilling. I
think finding that balance is the hardest part but the most important.
What is your writing process?
I always write out a chapter outline, which never
stays the same but helps me remember my goals when I become too involved in the
story and lose my way.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for over ten years.
How did you get started writing?
I started writing when I was going through a hard
time and used it as therapy. Actually, the first story I wrote was an original
fairytale. I created a world that I could control because I felt somewhat
helpless during my adolescence.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A plotter, definitely. I started out as a pantser,
but I never finished anything.
What part of the writing process
is the hardest for you?
The final draft before handing it over to the
editor. I tend to panic, but editors are really the most wonderful people.
What tips can you give on how to
get through writers block?
As much as I hate to say it, when I have writer’s
block I just write through it. I write maybe two or three sentences of the part
I’m stumped on, then continue on to the easier parts. When I go back to fix it,
I don’t have writers block anymore.
What kind of music do you like to
listen to while you write?
I listen to the washer and dryer in my laundry room
actually. It creates a white noise that lets me focus.
Who is your favorite author?
A tough question! I think it changes depending on
what mood I’m in but I’d have to say it’s a three-way tie between Bradbury,
Dumas and Twain.
Who is your favorite character
from a book?
Carapace Clavicle Moundsgroud. My absolute favorite
of all time.
What is your favorite book?
I can’t say I have a favorite, but I read the Hobbit
once a year. Every time I read it, I’m ten years old again.
Read anything good lately?
I’m almost finished with Inferno by Dan Brown. It’s
like reading a movie, it’s so exciting.
What do you like to do when
you're not writing?
I like to be outdoors. Mountain biking, hiking,
stripping old furniture and yard work makes me happy.
What advice would you give an author
just starting out?
Writing is a job, like any other.
If you have a passion for it, a real passion that survives all the times you
give up, all the rejections and you still come back to it, you will succeed.
But success is different to everyone just like there are different writers. If
fame or fortune is your ultimate goal, good luck to you, but if it was that
easy everyone would do it. Every writer hopes for those things, but it isn’t
the reason they write. There’s only one right reason to write. Hone you skill,
nurture your craft, be honest with yourself and persevere.
Then give up.
Then get back to work.
Have you had anything else
published?
I’ve self-published a children’s chapter book titled
The Mystery of Puppy Pie.
What's your next project?
I’ve finished the sequel to Golden, titled Roses.
I’m working on the third book, Glass right now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melinda Michaels is the author of Golden and
currently lives in Milford, Pennsylvania. A self-proclaimed historian with a
rare sense of humor, Melinda finds an immense amount of joy in knowing useless
facts, exploring historical places and drinking copious amounts of coffee. When
she’s not writing she can be found researching obscured time periods for her
own amusement or refurbishing old furniture.
Melinda loves Philadelphia and visits often to enjoy
the city with her husband Andrew. Together they have three rambunctious pets.
Archie the Beagle, Winston the Boston Terrier and Beatrice the cat.
Golden is
the first in a Young Adult magic realism series.
Find Melinda Michaels on facebook,
twitter,
or her website.
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