Two Ends of the Pen: Interview with Michelle M Pillow, HIS EARTH MAIDEN

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

His Earth Maiden released May 15, 2018. It’s a sexier sci fi romance, and part of the Space Lords series. It features a mischievous crew of space pirates sailing around the high skies getting into trouble. Space Lords series is a series installment in the sci-fi romance Qurilixen World collection.

The Qurilixen World is an extensive collection of science fiction and futuristic romance novels that started nearly 15 years ago with the original Dragon Lords series and has since grown into a massive collection with 34 books within 7 series installments and growing. Each book in each series is a standalone story. The Space Lords are interconnected with the other series, as well as set in the same universe.

Qurilixen World: https://michellepillow.com/dragonlords/

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

Yes, I am both traditionally published, and indie. I had an agent for a short period of time and would consider one again if it was the right fit and situation.

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first or latest book.

Since I first started publishing in 2004, I’ve done a lot of romance genres: fantasy, dark paranormal, paranormal, contemporary, historical, futuristic, chick lit, Scottish, sci-fi, suspense, urban fantasy…

I had been thinking about cozy mysteries for a long time and released my first one last October in the Happily Everlasting series (with authors Jana DeLeon, Mandy M. Roth, and Kristen Painter). We loved working in this world together. I have two books in the collection: Fooled Around and Spelled in Love, Curses and Cupcakes. And I just launched a new series called (Un)Lucky Valley.

I’ve toyed around with a lot of ideas: horror novels, thrillers, photography books, haunted histories. I am a photographer and history major. I had an offer to do a haunted history book, but it wasn’t the right time in my career. I couldn’t do the project justice and had to turn it down.

Unless it went against my moral code, I don’t like to say never. I don’t like limiting my options.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?

ALWAYS! No author is perfect. Editors are invaluable. I actually use several and have a special team of beta readers whom I adore.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

I’m fortunate to have published traditionally before going hybrid/indie. I was able to take a lot of knowledge into the indie world with me. The main lesson, though, was to be flexible. Things change in the indie world so fast and working authors have to keep on top of those changes. As events happen or opportunities come up, you have to be willing to toss an entire marketing and publishing plan out of the window and start over, again and again.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

Yes, my books can be found at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B002BMOOKC/

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/michelle-m-pillow/id380518811

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/michelle+pillow

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Michelle%20M.%20Pillow&fcsearchfield=Author

Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Michelle-M-Pillow/B002BMOOKC

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?

The key to marketing is to keep an open mind, and always be on the lookout for new opportunities to spread the word about your books. That said, I can usually be found at:

Website/Blog: www.michellepillow.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichellePillow/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MichellePillow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/michellempillow/

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

There is no magic pill, so you just have to do the research and the work. Well, coffee is kind of like magic, and energy helps do the research, so maybe that’s my secret. LOL

Write the book. No book, no reason to go through the trouble of everything else. The book is the fun part! I know so many people who want to be authors, but they haven’t written a chapter of anything.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

I love to learn and try new things. I’ve discussed history projects on various levels. I went to college for history and business and I’ve always wanted to work on a non-fiction at some level.

I have a degree in photography, so I love taking out my camera. My husband and I are also into film production. I’d love to someday publish a photography book, and a travel book, but fiction writing keeps me pretty busy.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

1. I love all animals

2. Soy French Vanilla Lattes

3. I’m a night owl. My brain seems to kick on when I should be sleeping

4. I love talking to people face to face, but when I’m working its texts

What’s next for you?

I love my job and I love new challenges. I have a lot of exciting new projects and series coming up, including more series and books in the Qurilixen World collection. As long as readers want them and the books are selling, I’ll keep writing them.

I just finished up working on the start of a new cozy mystery series (June 26, 2018) Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes. It’s book one (hopefully if the readers love it as much as I do!) of the (Un)Lucky Valley series.

Newest Release:

Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes

(Un)Lucky Valley Book 1

Cozy Mystery Paranormal Romantic Comedy

June 26, 2018

Welcome to Lucky Valley where nothing is quite what it seems.

Lily Goode wasn't aware she had an inheritance waiting for her in the form of a huge Victorian house in Lucky Valley, Colorado. Life might finally be coming together for her. That is if you don't count the endless home repairs, dealing with eccentric Aunt Polly who claims they're both witches, and Nolan Dawson the handsome home inspector who seems to have it out for her, then, sure, life is grand. Oh, and not to mention the strange hallucinations and garden gnomes who are far more than lawn ornaments.

If mysterious accidents don't do her in, then the rebellious gnomes just might. With the help of Aunt Polly, it's up to Lily to discover who's sabotaging her new home and trying to drive the Goodes out of Lucky Valley once and for all.

https://michellepillow.com/book/better-haunts-garden-gnomes/

NYT & USAT Bestselling Author Michelle M. Pillow is an award-winning romance writer with over 100 published books over the course of her nearly 15-year career. She is best known for her Quirlixen World including the series: Dragon Lords, Space Lords, Lords of the Var, Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides, and more.

Michelle is always up for a new adventure or challenge, whether it's a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She was a refugee extra on SyFy's Z Nation (2016).

Website: www.michellepillow.com

His Earth Maiden: A Qurilixen World Novel (Space Lords Book 4)

Released: May 15, 2018

Former elite Federation soldier, now turned space pirate, Jackson Burke has done his best to turn his life around—for the better. He isn't prepared when fate leaves a woman's safety totally in his hands. Since heroes don't leave a damsel in distress—and despite being outlaw pirates, the crew considers themselves the good guys—Jackson assumes responsibility for the beauty. It’s enough that his ship is held together by rust and sheer will, now he's got to keep this good guy thing straight and not give into the urges the sassy female brings out in him. Raisa is everything a man could want and for some reason she seems to like him, rough edges and all, but he's on the Federation's wanted list and they aren't known to back down.