Guest Post Anne Michaud

I’d like to welcome Anne to my blog today. She’s telling us a little more about herself and her inspiration. Stay tuned for a giveaway at the end. It’s got some cool swag involved, so you’ll want to check it out. I loved this anthology when I read it and can highly recommend it to lovers of dark fantasy and horror.

You are stopping by on a release tour for your next book. Tell us a little bit about it.

Girls & Monsters is a dark collection of YA novellas – a killer mermaid, a small town maniac, deathly hallucinations, some big spider and quite a few zombies, each against a girl ready to fight.

Could you tell us a little more about your non-writing life?

I’m so boring, I make myself yawn: I’ve been transcribing court sessions and documentary interviews for quite a while, now. Other than that, I read and enjoy finding a good piece of antique, when my cats and dog don’t harass me for hugs and food.

Could you tell us a little more about your writing life?

I’m so boring, I…wait, I’ve said that, already. I’m an outliner freak, so whichever idea grabs enough of my attention for development, I let it simmer until it’s time to attack. Then I write in me free time – which can be loads, between contracts; or very few, if I’m paying bills and feeding my zoo.

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

On the set on my last short film, as I fantasized strangling one of my actors. Only then did I realize I enjoyed the writing process and not the filming itself. Since then, I’ve been writing short stories, novellas and novels. Oh, and the occasional script, too.

When did you first start writing?

The definite moment was during my Master’s in screenwriting in the UK. On a cold winter night, shivering under blankets as I wrote a scene, I realized I could be in a pub getting warm, instead. But I couldn’t stop, and I haven’t, since. Sadistic, really.

Do any of your novellas have special stories involved in their writing?

All of them, I hope. My stories sometimes come from dreams: Death Song’s first bathroom scene is exactly like a nightmare I had three or four years ago; We Left At Night’s first act also woke me up in sweats a while back. I sometimes use defining moments as an idea starter: Black Dog’s youth hostel is the same that traumatized me on my first stay in London. Sometimes, it’s a combination of a documentary and music: Dust Bunnies is my own homage to Christiane F. and The Cure’s Lullaby video.

I noticed you have a lot of animals in your novellas. Are you an animal lover? Which is your favorite?

I’m an animal freak – I prefer them to people. By far, I prefer the non-chalance of cats, but I also love a dog’s loyalty. If I could afford it, I’d open my own cat shelter. Oh, and horses, I love thems. And rabbits. Mini-goats, too. Anything cute with fur, really.

A lot of people go out of their way to keep pets safe, even in writing. What made you decide to write your stories the way you did?

I fear the apocalypse not for my own safety, but for losing my cats – how do you keep track of a pet-carrier when you’re flooded with zombies? It would be impossible, plus the army would destroy them all by fear of contamination, I’m sure. That’s my biggest fear, that’s where I found horror for this collection: through losing a beloved pet.

Why Horror?

It’s the most freeing genre, there’s almost no taboo or rules.

Why young adult?

I stay young that way.

What terrifies you? Does that inspire you to write?

Death, and taming it through my imagination.

What are your favorite books?

Collins’ The Hunger Games, Young’s Dustlands, Grant’s Gone, everything by Neil Gaiman and Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Who are your favorite authors?

Same as above.

Who or what has been the biggest influence on your writing?

Everything I like, I steal. It can be a name, a turn of phrase, wording, a scene…I’m a word thief.

Where and how do you get your ideas?

Dreams, mostly.

Do you ever base your things in your books on real life experiences?

Of course, but mostly feelings and situations more than anything else, since I write horror and dystopian. I just hope I’m no fortune teller or we are doomed, people.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

I wanted traditional publishing but it didn’t want me, so after years of trying to find an agent, I decided to submit to small publishers. It worked, and I hope it will for a long time.

Are you currently working on any projects? Can you tell us about them?

The sequel, Girls & Aliens, and the last installment, Girls & Ghosts. An indie-drama screenplay. A french novella about Hiroshima. My next YA novel, Killer Girl. I’m tired, can I go lie down?

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Find a paying job and write in your free time.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Can I say “buy my book”? Does that sound weird? Wait, are you gonna post this?

LOL, nope… bwahahahaha.

Bio
She who likes dark things never grew up. She never stopped listening to gothic, industrial and alternative bands like when she was fifteen. She always loved to read horror and dystopia and fantasy, where doom and gloom drip from the pages.

She, who was supposed to make films, decided to write short stories, novelettes and novels instead. She, who’s had her films listed on festival programs, has been printed in a dozen anthologies and magazines since.

She who likes dark things prefers night to day, rain to sun, and reading to anything else.

She blogs http://annecmichaud.wordpress.com

She Facebooks: http://www.facebook.com/annecmichaud

She tweets @annecmichaud

Girls & Monsters Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17335353-girls-monsters

Giveaway!! Softcover copy + The Monster Collection Skellies, 5 pieces handcrafted by the author: GIRLS & MONSTERS Giveaway

** Giveaway link for people on WordPress: http://www.darkfuse.com/contact/view.php?id=10891″

The winner will be announced during the LIVE CHAT on release day, April 30th at 9PM east http://www.darkfuse.com/events.html

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