Interview with contemporary romance author Michelle Garren Flye

Today is a  book tour stop for the contemporary romance novel Close Up Magic by Michelle Garren Flye. She's answering a few questions about herself and her writing projects.

Michelle will award a Magic Gift Basket, including a copy of Magic for Dummies by David Pogue to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US only), and one commenter at every stop will win a $5 Amazon gift card. For a chance to win, leave a comment below. And to increase your odds, visit other tour stops and leave comments there.

Bio:

Michelle Garren Flye is the award-winning romance author of five novels. Her most recent novel, Where the Heart Lies, has been described as an “engaging novel with charming and likable characters” and a story that “will make you believe in love and second chances.”

Michelle placed third in the Hyperink Romance Writing Contest for her short story “Life After.” Her short stories have been published by the romance anthology Foreign Affairs, Opium.com, SmokelongQuarterly.com and Flashquake.com. She has served on the editorial staffs of Horror Library Volume 1, Horror Library Volume 3, Butcher Shop Quartet, Butcher Shop Quartet II and Tattered Souls.

Michelle has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the mother of three and lives in North Carolina with her husband and their rapidly growing collection of pets.

Welcome, Michelle. Please tell us about your current release.

Close Up Magic is the first book in my new series, Sleight of Hand, all of which will feature magicians as either the hero or heroine. Here’s the blurb:

Reporter Stacey Matthewson has made a living writing sensational stories that knock celebrities off their pedestals. Now, she's got a hot lead on an even hotter magician who's mystifying Las Vegas with his new show--the problem is, she's had a crush on him for years. How can she write a story that might ruin him, especially when he proves himself to be so much more than she'd ever dreamed?

Magician Andre Hawke has a knack for making things disappear, but when it comes to his brother's drinking and gambling, he's got a problem. Hiring the sexy reporter who threatens to blow away his carefully wrought illusion might be the answer to his problems...or she might bring on a whole new set of them.

Stacey’s never believed in magic, and Andre doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Can passion overcome their inhibitions, or will betrayal stem the tide of love?

What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always been fascinated by magic. In any form, really, but especially stage magic, which used to be sort of like fairy tale magic translated for the real world to me. I don’t want to know how the tricks are done; I just want to be astonished. As I’ve gotten older and magic has become harder to believe in, I’ve grown to admire stage magic, illusions and sleight of hand for what they are—an art form, that, when practiced by a capable artist, can amaze and delight.

Excerpt:

At the door of Stacey’s new suite, Andre held her against the wall and slid the card in, then pushed the door open, drawing her in with him. She giggled and tripped over her own feet, falling against him. “This is not a good way to set an example for my sister.”

“Fun, though.” His arms tightened around her waist and she looked up at him, the tingly warmth of his embrace penetrating to her core. She should have protested, should have pulled away, but he felt so good and she was so tired, she lay her head on his shoulder. He held her for several minutes, and she waited for him to make the move she knew he would. He was Andre the magnificent, after all, known almost as much for his bedroom activities as his magic shows. She knew he found her attractive. He’d made no secret of it.

And here she stood, too drunk and tired to fight any longer, too willing to make even a token resistance to any advance. And all he did was hold her.

Well, not all. He stroked her hair back from her face, caressed her cheek with his thumb, even kissed her lightly. She closed her eyes, enjoying the light touch of his lips on hers, waited for more, wished he would kiss her more deeply even as she was grateful he didn’t.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’ve got a couple of stories on deck. The first will hopefully be Saturday Love, which is the sequel to my novel Ducks in a Row. The second is Island Magic, which should be the second in the Sleight of Hand series.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve enjoyed writing since I first learned to spell. When I was a kid, I wrote a series of stories about a little girl named Princess Linda. I wrote some pretty horrendous fiction off and on throughout middle and high school. I sort of got out of the fiction-writing business for a while after that and really didn’t take it up again until my first son was born thirteen-odd years ago. When I started back, I was still writing pretty bad stuff, but it’s gotten better (thank goodness) since then. Which is a really long way of saying I’ve always considered myself a writer, I now consider myself a good writer and I hope someday I’ll consider myself a great writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I wish. I write in every available moment, but I’m a full-time mom of three. I volunteer three days a week at my kids’ school library and the other two days tend to get encroached on by field trips and errands and doctor (and veterinarian) visits (I’m mom to two dogs, as well). In a good week, I get two solid mornings to write. Then I can usually grab thirty-minute blocks here and there.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I’m not sure it’s a writing quirk so much as a survival thing. I can write anywhere anytime, and I will carry my laptop anywhere. I’ve been known to write while sitting in the carpool line, waiting for my kids at sports practices or while on a road trip (provided I can find somebody else to drive). Since I can’t find definite writing time to set aside, it’s really my only choice.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Just that I write about magic because I believe in it. I see it every day; it’s just so subtle it’s easy to take for granted. But it doesn’t take a magician to create magic if you know where to look for it.

Links:

Blog: http://michellegflye.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Garren-Flye/132688623422175?ref=hl or https://www.facebook.com/CloseUpMagicFlye

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellegflye

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006QG88WY

Thanks, Michelle! Happy touring.

Readers, don't forget that Michelle will award a Magic Gift Basket, including a copy of Magic for Dummies by David Pogue to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US only), and one commenter at every stop will win a $5 Amazon gift card. For a chance to win, leave a comment below. And to increase your odds, visit other tour stops and leave comments there.