Author: Tee Michaels

ISBN: 0967857406

The following interview was contributed by  NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures &CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews       

To read Norm's Review Of The Book CLICK HERE

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest author Tee Michaels.

Tee recently launched her newest novel, Accuser Of The Brethren

 Thank you Tee for agreeing to participate in our interview.

Norm:

Tee, when did your passion for writing begin? What kept you going?

Tee:

Thank you for inviting me to participate in this interview. Norm, I began the art of writing at the age of nine, if you can believe it. I always carried a great interest for mystery/fiction. As time passed that interest blossmed into sheer passion. My teachers used to say, "That girl lives in a world of her own." They didn't know the half of it.

Norm:

I understand you have authored several books, what makes you write a new book? 

Tee:

Norm, that's a great question. The truth is that my story ideas can develop from something as simple as a song on the radio, or from a conversation, or even from a scene in a movie. For instance: Over the last few months, people everywhere (who were able to get advanced copies of Accuser Part I) have been asking for Accuser Part II. But until recently, I just didn't have it to give them. I can't sit down in front of a blank computer screen and cook up a story. It absolutely does not work that way. Anyway, one evening I was entertaining a house full of guests, when my attention turned to the TV for just a moment. I can't recall what show was on, or even what the show was about -- but after watching one particular scene for about the span of 30 seconds -- the entire 'storyline' of Accuser Part II just fell into place. I had to race for a notebook to jot down the outline. My guests had a good laugh over it -- but I had been waiting quite a while for that story to come into play. I wasn't about to lose it.

Norm:

How did you get the inspiration for the Accuser Of The Brethren?

Tee:

Accuser Of The Brethren is actually based on true events. I am sorry to say that I cannot speak in detail about the story at this time because the parties involved are all still alive. I gave my word, as both a writer and a friend, that I would be tactful in telling the story, not to mention respectful of certain privacies. Besides that, I really don't cared to be sued.  

The reason I wanted to bring such a story to light, however, is that I feel it has tremendous power in showing (women especially) the ability to overcome. We all have the tools we need to survive -- but sometimes we have to dig really deep to find them -- and we often forget that, thinking we just don't have them at all.

 This story is to remind us that, despite what society tells us, we don't have to be Laura Croft, or Super Woman, or some other unrealistic who is always in control and always comes out on top -- and that life, though at times full of fear, and pain, and destruction -- is absolutely worth living.   

Norm:

How did you go about creating Celeste in your novel Accuser Of The Brethren?

Tee:

Well, Norm, since Celeste is based on an actual living person, it really wasn't that far of a stretch -- fortunately.

Norm:

Did you plan out the various characters in the book or did they evolve as you wrote the book?

Tee:

Actually, all of the characters are real, living people. Though their names, locals, and a few other have been changed or altered for privacy, I wrote about them, as much as I dared, in just their fashion. 

Norm:

When you write your novels, do you have a particular audience in mind?

Tee:

No, Norm, I can't really say that I do. When the stories come, I simply create and bring life into them without the hindrance of worrying over who will or won't appreciate such a story. Since most of my writing is centered on either 'what has happend', 'what can happen', or 'what may happen' at some point in time or another, I think I can boldly say that, as a writer of mystery, my stories will prove both 'suspenseful' and 'intriguing'  to lovers of mystery -- regardless of age or gender.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Tee: 

While there weren't really any obstacles, the challenges were everywhere. The thing that worried me most, especially since Accuser is the first book in my collection to be released, was whether or not I had managed to convey the intensity of this real-life drama. It's actually not that easy to write out someone's terror on paper. "Celeste" herself had a hard time expressing her emotions so that I could list them one by one. In the end, it all came down to my writing skill. I've gotten tremendous response from Accuser -- and I'm proud because I'd like to again write about real-life tragedy -- and now I trust in that I can do so accurately.

Norm:

Besides writing novels, what other writing gigs have you found profitable or rewarding?

Tee: 

Norm, my most rewarding accomplishment is my state-recognized animal sanctuary. We have saved so many little lives and it is the best feeling in the world. When I'm not writing, my time is spent caring for all animals, wild and domestic.

Norm:

I believe you self-publish your novels? If so, would you recommend that under the present difficult publishing climate, that this is the way to go?

Tee:

Absolutely. For decades now, major publishers have stayed strictly with a handful of 'known' writers and we all know why. Money/sales. Well, if all that is available to the public are works by those few 'known' then of course they're going to sell. How simple is that?

 For too long now, the majors publishers have been too afraid to spend a little money on helping the 'unknown' -- no matter how gifted or talented -- they hate to spend money but they love making it. We don't need the big boy publishers. The truth is that there are hundreds of writer's who have amazing stories to tell -- stories that both need and want to be heard.

 Today, self-publishing allows such writer's to make their works available to the public. There's absolutely nothing wrong with self-publishing. I admire anyone with the guts to try. The public isn't afraid to take a chance on a new author. That fear belongs to the big boy publishers alone -- and they can have it. Self-publishers, like myself, do not walk in fear but in faith. Those of us who truly have talent look forward to any and all challenges head on because we know in our hearts that we are just as good, if not better, than the others. And we deserve the chance to prove it. After all, Agitha Christy isn't writing any more novels now, is she?

Norm:

What is next for Tee Michaels and is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Tee:

What is next for Tee Michaels is to continue to educate myself on the publishing industry and to improve my writing skills to become the best writer that I can possibly be. And in doing so, look forward to making my collection of suspense-thrillers available to the public -- through self-publishing.

 Thank you again, Norm, for inviting me to participate in this interview.