Michelle Sutton and Free Books!

Before we meet today's featured author, Michelle Sutton, I'd like to congratulate the four winners of Sunday's drawing:

kalea_kane
Bookwurm70
mnjesusfreak
jo

You'll each receive a signed copy of my latest novel, Beach Dreams. I'll be contacting each of you individually to get your mailing addresses. For those of you who didn't win, keep checking back (or subscribe to my blog, at right), as I'll usually give away at least a book a week--either one of mine or one from the author(s) interviewed that week.

Consider this tease about today's featured novel: "Tragedy befalls a young woman two brothers claim to love, and causes a rift between them only a miracle can heal."

Today we're talking with Michelle Sutton, author of It's Not About Me (Sheaf House, Sept. 1, 2008).


Michelle is the Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Board, Editor in Chief of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, an edgy fiction writer, book reviewer, avid blogger/alliance member, web designer, wife, marketing director, mother of two teens, social worker by trade, and follower of Jesus Christ. Best known for her numerous Edgy Author review sites and Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers groups, she also gives away two books a week on her blog and posts numerous reviews on Edgy Inspirational Author

Michelle, tell us about your novel, It's Not About Me.

Annie has a great life. She's attractive, graduated with honors, was accepted at the college of her choice, has supportive parents, good friends, and a steady boyfriend who loves her. One night when an unexpected visitor appears, Annie's safe world is destroyed. As she tries to recover the pieces of her broken life, a war ensues between two brothers who both claim to have her best interests at heart. But who will Annie choose? Or will she decide to turn her life in a different direction when she discovers life is not about "me"?

Which character in your novel most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Tony, the younger brother. He interested me the most because he's a selfish jerk and I love writing stories about people who have attitude problems and need counseling, LOL!

Why will readers enjoy your novel?

Because it's about real people with real temptations and feelings. They don't skirt around bad behavior, but they learn something from the natural consequences they receive.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Hillary Duff would play Annie.

Tony would be Ashton Kutcher (cause of his attitude and cockiness--if they could make him look 19 or 20).



And Dan would be Trent Ford. He is so good at playing the sweet, kind, and alluring man, and he's young enough looking to play Dan, who is 23 in the book.

What facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you? Explain.
Dumping the words on the page. I just put my hands on the keyboard and out they come. I've been told I've got very clean first drafts and honestly, I don't have to change much, which is a blessing given how busy I am.

What do you struggle with in your writing?

Right now I just don't have time to do it. I need to go over the sequel to It's Not About Me as I haven't read it in two years! I need to polish it before I send it to Sheaf House for production the following year.

Choose an inanimate object to represent you. Explain what you have in common with that object.

A well-read novel. You can read me pretty easily and I tell it like I see it.

What's the last book you read that impacted you? How did it affect you?

Right now I'm reading Beach Dreams, and I'm on page 91. I'm enjoying it. Yesterday I was brushing the tears from my cheeks as I read On the Loose by Jenny B. Jones. That author has the most amazing first person present point of view and inner dialogue. You can't help feeling for the characters. And despite the regular LOL humor, it had some tender moments, too. Rarely am I as moved as I was when I read about how Katie finally broke down and agreed to let the Lord control her life. My face was a waterfall of tears. I love it when books do that to me.

What is something about your life, right now, that thrills you?

The new Christian Fiction Online Magazine and the release of my first book.

What are you working on now?

Besides filling out this interview questionnaire? I'm reading my 100+ e-mails.

Where else can readers find you or your writing online?

Michelle Sutton
Shoutlife/Michelle Sutton
Edgy Inspirational Author
Christian Fiction Online Magazine

Thanks, Michelle! Readers, if you'd like to win a free signed copy of It's Not About Me, be sure to leave a comment about the interview. And leave your email address like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. The winner will be announced next Monday.