Please Welcome P.T. Mitchell!

Today I'd like to welcome another fabulous Indie author to my blog and to Never Too Old for YA Books: P.T. Michelle. 

Author of the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series

P.T. Michelle is the young adult pseudonym of Patrice Michelle, author of fifteen romance novels and novellas. When PT isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.

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P.T. has written the following books:

Title: Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness #1)

Publication Date: June 27, 2011

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

Title: Lucid (Brightest Kind of Darkness #2)

Publication Date: July 9, 2012

Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan.

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t.

You can purchase P.T.'s books from these links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

And now, let's hear what P.T. had to tell us!

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

When I was around fifteen. I've always been an avid reader, but when I finished one book and sighed as I closed it, I looked over at my mom and said, "I want to be the one who writes books that readers sigh over when they finish them." And she said, "Then be an author." Haha, like it was that simple, but I did get the itch to write. Later, after college, the desire grew so strong I started writing. I sold my first book nine months later. :)

2. How long does it take you to write a book? 

For a full-length novel from start to finish, any where from two to three months. Then I have my critique partner's edits and my own rounds of edits which can add up to a month and a half more time before the book is ready to be published. 

3. What do you think makes a great story?

If the writer can make me empathize with the characters, even if they do things/make decisions I wouldn't, then that's good story telling. As to what makes a great story, for me it's the combination of the above as well a twisty plot and a deep character arc. The main character will go through ups and downs in the story, but by the end I want the main character to have changed/grown, hopefully for the better, but at the very least with more understanding.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing? 

When I'm in the full throes of writing a book, I'll work at least six hours a day on writing.

5. How do you balance family and writing?

Sometimes it's not always easy balancing the two, especially during deadlines, but I do try my best to keep it balanced. When I'm buried though, thankfully my family is very understanding and will make dinner for ME for a change! :)

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? 

Writers are typically very observant people. My ideas come from everywhere: a snippet from a newspaper headline, a partial conversation, a lyric from a song, or a scene from a movie. I find everything inspiring!

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? 

How the writing mind works in the background, the subconscious chugging along on autopilot, writing scenes that at the time seemed innocuous but later became pivotal to the plot line or character arc. Yes, I do plot/plan as much as possible, but the muse "having a mind of its own" has happened enough times to make me sit back and say, "Wow, how'd I KNOW to write that?"

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite? 

Under my adult romance name I've written fifteen novels and novellas. Under my YA name, I've written two books so far. Every book is my favorite when I'm writing them, though I do have a soft spot in my heart for my YA books! :)

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?

Certain quirks that make up a character might come from several different sources, but I've never based a character on a specific person.

10. Do you have a favourite place you love to write?

A coffee shop. I can just get away and write. No family distractions, no Internet. I get so much writing done this way!

11. How hard is it to get published?

When I started writing in 2003 there weren't many publishing options, but today there are so may options/career paths for authors to choose: traditionally publish, self-publish, publish with a small press. Each avenue has their own benefits and pros and cons. It's up to the authors to decide what they want and then choose a path that suits their needs. Some paths are easier access, others harder, but the work behind the scenes...THAT never changes. It's just as much time and effort to self-publish a book as it is to be traditionally published. Actually, it's more work if you do it right, because you are the: author, editor, copy editor, cover artist, back cover blurb writer, advertising, marketing, legal and finance department all rolled into one.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?

My family is very supportive and proud. 

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love to take pictures! If I wasn't a writer, I would probably go back to school for photography and graphic design.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they? 

First, read a LOT. Every time I read a book I learn something. Reading taught me so much about the craft of writing. If aspiring authors are writing any romance in their books, RWA has wonderful chapter to help authors learn the ins and outs of the publishing business. Absolute Write is another place where aspiring authors support each other. Also, if you write YA, there's the Society of Children's Books, Writers and Illustrators as well as Vera Kay's Bulletin Board (aka the Blue Boards) are great resources.

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 

I wanted to be Wonder Woman. True! :)

16. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire you?

I loved the The Swiftly Tilting Planet and The Chronicles of Narnia. Many authors inspire me, but the earlier ones were Madeleine L'Engle and C.S. Lewis.

 17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?

Write what you're interested in. Don't chase the market. If you write what you love, it'll come through in your writing. Always approach reading as a chance to take away/learn something new. Andnever believe you've stopped learning. That's the great thing about this career, you'll never peak on the learning curve. :)

18. What are you working on now?

I'm finishing up one of my adult romances, and then I'll be working on the 3rd book in my YA series, BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS.

Thank you so much for having me!

Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us, P.T.! It's been great having you here! Good luck with your 3rd book!