(yep, I did one, too, LOL)
An interview with Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle M. Pillow is a member of the new virtual authors’ group, Dark Muse Society. You can visit her and fellow authors in the virtual world, here.
What attracted you to writing books with paranormal elements?
MP: I love the mystery of the unexplained. In our era of science and logic, much of the myths and superstitions of life have been explained away or ignored. I like the idea of more being out there, more that we don’t know and can’t understand. I also like the idea of immortality, of power and freedom.
What is your favorite paranormal creature?
MP: It’s hard to pick a favorite. Vampires can be romanticized into something dark and seductive. We’re attracted to them because they have power, aren’t constrained by rules and never have to face their own mortality. I think a dark part of all humans longs for a bit of that freedom.
Do you base your paranormal worlds/beings off myths and legends or make them up?
MP: When writing my darker vampire series, Tribes of the Vampire, I used a lot of cultural myths and legends to influence my world, but then added my own twist to them. I wanted the world to be creditable.
What do you think is the most important element when writing a paranormal book?
MP: It’s the same when writing any book. There must be a good story, developed characters, interesting plot. You have to make the unbelievable, believable.
Do you find writing a paranormal to be easier or harder than writing in another genre?
MP: It’s easier in the aspect that you can create your own rules, limited only by imagination. It can be harder to make sure those rules are consistent, believable and make sense. There has to be a reason things are they way they are in a paranormal world. The “because I said so” approach doesn’t work for me. It has to make sense.
Do you believe in the paranormal or do you consider yourself more a skeptic?
MP: I want to believe in the paranormal, but I’d have to say I’m a bit of a skeptic on most things. I think there is much in the world we don’t understand. Besides, isn’t the world more fascinating with the paranormal in it? Real life can be so dull, LOL.
Do you believe that people can possess psychic abilities?
MP: Yes, I believe some people have abilities. But, I think that number is significantly lower than the amount of people who claim to have them.
Have you ever experienced anything paranormal?
MP: I’ve had a couple “creepy” ghost moments, feelings of being watched, but nothing I’d come right out and say, “Yes, a ghost was here”. It was just a feeling. I’m waiting though. Seeing something paranormal is on my list of things to do, LOL.
Do you find you write paranormals better with a certain setting?
MP: I like listening to darker music before I write. During, I like silence. I also write better at night—but that’s just how I am, nothing to do with what I’m writing about.
About Michelle
Michelle M Pillow, Author of All Things Romance, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many fiction genres including historical, fantasy, futuristic, paranormal and contemporary. She was winner of the 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance.
She has always had an active imagination. Ever since she can remember, she’s had a strange fascination with anything supernatural–ghosts, magical powers, and oh…vampires.
After discovering historical romance novels in high school, it was only natural that the supernatural and romance elements would someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did, for their children have been pouring onto the screen ever since.
She is married (madly in love) and has a wonderful family.
Blog – http://www.michellepillow.com/blog
Website- http://www.michellepillow.com
Yahoo Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellempillow/join
