Interview with Grub Street Endorsed Author: Michele Shriver

An attorney by day and a writer by night, Michele Shriver is the modern day superwoman. With a debut novel, After Ten, under her belt, Michele Shriver has just released her sophomore novel Sixth South. Sixth South is A Grub Street endorsed work of fiction which focuses on the daily challenges of four different, yet equal, women and how they overcome obstacles with the support of family, friends and most importantly each other. Michele Shriver creates stories women can relate to.
 

It’s not just her professional undertaking that’s impressive. Just check out her statistics on Amazon and Goodreads. Sixth South has an average rating of five stars on Amazon and an average rating of 4.21 on Goodreads. The constant among readers who review Sixth South is the believability of the characters: Joni, Kelsey, Megan and Olivia. By her own admission, this is not something she’s sure she has much control over. “I want to create believable characters. I enjoy it when readers say the characters are true,” Shriver says. “I don’t outline so I’m not sure how much control I have over it. I’m totally a fly by your pants type of person.”

The reason behind Shriver’s success is no doubt due to the fact that she writes engaging women’s fiction. A growing and empowering genre, female characters are no longer constricted by corsets and the crockpot. Women’s fiction as described by Literary Agent Linda Hyatt (Hyatt Literary Agency) is “…commercial fiction that usually touches the reader in ways other fiction cannot. Relationship stories, generational sagas, love stories and women's commercial fiction must touch on subjects women can relate to in their real lives. Whether there is a happily ever after ending, or a bittersweet one, whether the reader laughs or cries, women love reading stories that touch their emotions-and tug at their hearts." 


Shriver tends to steer away from the overly sappy storylines in her books but she does not deprive her readers of a good love story or story of great triumph. Does this mean she’s not a hopeless romantic? “I take my books and make them less sappy but I’m a sucker for a happy ending.” The evolution of women’s fiction, and fiction at large, has not gone over Shriver’s head. She listens to her readers and as a result will be looking to add diversity to her characters in future books. She’s even toying with the idea of writing from a male point of view in the future. In the meantime, the Iowa based Shriver is promoting her most recent release, Sixth South and I got the pleasure to sit down and speak with her via phone.


How much of Sixth South is about you?
Very little. There are parts of me in all of them. I’m an attorney now and spent a couple of years substitute teaching in between law school and my professional life. Kelsey is a big wine snob and so am I. Pinot noir and chardonnay are my favorite wines. Kelsey is a great cook and I’m not (laugh). She hates hockey and I’m a big fan of the Dallas Stars.


Kelsey, Joni, and Olivia are older and more experienced women. Then you have Megan who is a little wet behind the years. Where did she come from?
I wanted a challenge. Everyone else is relatively in the same generation and I thought it would be interesting to create this outbalance. Someone who is a little naïve and Megan’s new career turns out to not be so perfect fairly quickly. I wanted to bring a little freshness to the group. It makes the piece more believable.


The bureaucracy at Ramson Middle is front and center. This is clearly seen in Patrick Townsend who is a character who appears to be consumed by appearances. How and why did you create this part of the book and this character? 
One of the things I noticed when I spent a little bit of time in the public school setting was how much things had changed from the time I was in school. Sometimes I think schools these days get a little too afraid of what parents might do if something goes wrong. I had this idea for a principal who is too political and susceptible to outside pressures. I’ve actually handled a case myself where parents were suing the school. Not my intent to send any message but wanted to just craft a compelling story.


I loved the twist in the beginning where Kelsey reveals her personal life to Megan. My mouth dropped and my heart jumped. Why did you choose to lead with this?
I thought it would be interesting to reveal through conversation the “normal” side of Kelsey and to show her sexuality as just one aspect of who she is. I know at least one person will probably put the book down at that point. I actually had a reader tell me she stopped reading at that point. I’m fine with that as I had to go where the character leads. You have to trust the characters.

 

You tackle a lot of prevalent issues in Sixth South- same sex marriage, adoption, discrimination, infidelity, and addiction. What was your goal in doing this?
I think the world is changing. All of these things are part of this changing world. They are all hot buttons. My books tend to focus on these types of issues and will continue to do so. The book I’m working on right now deals with heroin addiction which ties into my work with juveniles and child welfare system. I don’t shy away from the hard issues obviously.


Who is your favorite character from After Ten or Sixth South? My favorite is definitely Sarah. I will have to admit I fell in love with her when she gave Joni what for in Chapter Twenty-Two. She made it quite clear you don’t mess with her family.
(Laugh) I can see that. Kelsey is my favorite character. I love her. But Sarah was my main character in After Ten. I had a lot of fun developing their relationship. I’ve noticed they really shine when they’re in a supporting role. They just do what they want to do and this makes for an effortless write.


Where does your passion for writing come from? What keeps you going when you’re writing?
I don’t know (laugh). It was hard for me to get started in my writing. After Ten came about with National Novel Writing Month. I had a really good group of people from my online critique group. I’ll never do NaNoWriMo again because I just can’t keep up with the pace but it gave me my book and motivation. I set a goal of 500 words a day. I went to my first writer’s conference recently and what I took away from it was if you’re going to be a writer than you have to write. Sometimes it’s hard. You may have a crappy day at work but it’s important to write every day.


What do you find difficult about the writing business?
I love having total control over everything from the cover and on. The hardest part is you have to do all the marketing yourself. I’m not really good at it. I haven’t mastered the whole social networking piece and know I need to get up on that. On Amazon there are so many avenues, books and it changes so much. It’s a full time job.


As a self-published author, how do you establish a foundation? What is your promotion/marketing strategy?
I’m trying to master Twitter and I’ve never been a fan of Facebook. Majority of my traffic is via my blog. I am trying to get more active with the social media avenues. It’s definitely necessary in this day and age. 


Did you hire an editor to review your work?
I did have a freelance editor do a beta read of my book and then a copy edit. This was in addition to using a critique circle. I recommend this for anyone who is going to self-publish. The site I used was: www.critiquecircle.com . It helps to have a fresh pair of eyes.


Let’s say you were stranded on an island. The person who holds the key to your fate, the captain of the ship leaving the island, said this to you: I’ll get you off this island if you tell me why I should buy After Ten or Sixth South. You have twenty seconds.
These books contain diverse and true to life characters. People you can root for and become friends with. Wow. That was stressful (laugh).


Tell us about your next book, The Line.
It deals with the child welfare system and is personal to me. It came about as a result of a really bad day at work. I’ve had to do a ton of research with it but I had a client who just did not get it when it came to choosing drugs or the kids. I was looking to vent and out of it came The Line. Sarah is back in this book as a juvenile court judge and there is a twist but you have to read to find out what it is.


If the Amazon reviews of her first books are any indication, Shriver’s many fans are waiting with bated breath for her next installment.


To find out more about Michele and her books, you can visit her website, http://micheleshriver.com/ . After Ten and Sixth South are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and SmashWords.


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009MTO8S0


Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sixth-south-michele-shriver/1113154228?ean=2940015576863&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-TnL5HPStwNw-_-10:1&r=1


Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243342

Book Review: Lincoln on Leadership

 

 

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times

Author: Donald T. Phillips

Published By: Grand Central Publishing

Date Published: February 2009

Pages: 193

Genre: Nonfiction

Recommended Age: Adult

Reviewed By: Engelia McCullough, http://engeliamccullough.weebly.com/blog.html

Rating (Scale of 1-5): 5

Where you got the book from: Business Meeting

Summary:

Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips is a book of fiction that focuses on the leadership techniques of President Abraham Lincoln. In one of the toughest times in US history, President Lincoln overcame obstacles that would have made a lesser person crumble. Donald T. Phillips takes a look at many of the management techniques used by President Lincoln, who won the election with the minority of the popular vote, to lead the nation to victory and not only manage a government but groom and grow leaders that he could depend on.

Engelia’s Thoughts:

This is a book that is meant for anyone who has to work with others. Yes, this is a vital resource for any organization and should be a recommended reading for all leadership professionals but it is also a truthful look at actively working with others, not just managing, or leading, them. 

If you are someone who struggles with how to communicate to that one co-worker who slacks off at work resulting in more work for you or you are tired of the pounding headache that leaves you with a permanent frown at the sight of your boss, this is the book for you. From reading about Lincoln’s use of storytelling to empower his subordinates to his active use of passive admonishment (Lincoln was known to write letters of chastisement as a way to vent but never sent them) this book is both entertaining and a small form of therapy. 

This is a book that will teach you the following without the usual humdrum of a boring textbook and take you on an interesting ride through the mind of a rhetoric genius. Go get this book!

1.      Pick your battles and once you do, fight one at a time

2.      When an opportunity presents itself, take it

3.      Empower your team without fear

4.      Avoid giving orders, make decisions a collaborative effort

Parents:

Language: None

Adult Content: None

Violence: There is reference to Civil War battles.

First or Third Person Writing- Can't Decide

Hello all! I'm currently working on a crime manuscript. I'm on the second draft and have written it in third person so far. However, I've noticed that many crime or thriller novels are written in the first person. I feel that writing in the first person gives you more control over the writing and as a reader I find it more personeable.

On the other hand, writing in third person gives you more leeway to jump from one character perspective to another. Keeping in mind that you must stay concise so as not to confuse the reader.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this?

Seeking Change

I don't know about you but the holiday season is just getting started and I'm already exhausted. I'm fresh off a plane from Houston, TX where I spent a couple of days. Then back on a plane tomorrow heading to Atlanta for three days. I'll be coming back just in time to stuff my face and heart for two days with turkey, wine (or harder stuff depending on which family members show up this year) and family.

I just responded to Redwood's Medical Edge blog post about listing what we're thankful for. I'm going to go the opposite and list what I'm not thankful for. I'm doing this not to be a Debbie Downer but in the hopes that it will kick my butt into the high gear of change.

Not Thankful For and Seeking Change:
1. The additional twenty pounds I put on this year
2. The fact that the cure for animal shedding hasn't been discovered (My cat makes it impossible to sit anywhere in my house without having a cat roller on every level)
3. Bad eyesight (Time for a Lasik re-up)
4. Nuts (I'm severely allergic. I can't change this but I do need to start letting the staff know about this when I fly)
5. Winter (I know. I just need to move back to South FL but I returned to MD for love. What's a girl to do?)

What are you not thankful for and seeking to change this holiday season and into the new year?

The Woman in Room One

To start this week off, I wanted to share one of my short stories with you. I hope you enjoy it.

The lights within the institution flickered on as a balled fist came down three times on the dark wood door, the resulting sound followed the trail of doors down the hall. Inside of room one, the loud knocking sounds against the room doors woke Marie. Her eyes flew open as the dilated pupils slowly focused and the growing sparkle in her green eyes rivaled the glow of the sun peeking through the dormer window. Marie leaped out of bed, rejuvenated as she realized what day it was, jammed her feet into her frayed slippers, threw on her robe, and grabbed her bath kit. She rushed out of the room headed toward the showers.

Marie jostled for shower space in the cramped quarters. She quickly washed her choppy, red hair while trying to avoid an elbow to the face. Not wanting to ruin a promising day, she resigned herself to a small corner to finish her morning wash routine. Marie felt a tap on her shoulder and turned
around. Tina, another patient, timidly handed Marie a bar of cracked industrial soap wrapped with a purple ribbon. Marie accepted the daily gift and mouthed the words thank you. Tina tucked her thin shoulders and sheepishly nodded her head. After giving Marie a quick peck on the cheek, Tina disappeared into the crowd. A sudden wave of pity washed over Marie. She shook her head against the swell of tears and made her way out of the shower.

Once back in her room, Marie sat carefully on the twin-size bed. It creaked when she adjusted her weight to avoid the sinking middle. She pulled the mahogany box from under the bed and
lifted the lid. A heavenly scent of lavender and vanilla rushed up Marie’s nose. The scent weaved its way through her head and then spiraled down her throat. Intoxicated by the smell, Marie splayed her arms outward as she fell back on the small bed. Her ears perked up as she heard booted steps coming down the hall. A commanding voice announced that breakfast was ready. Marie slammed the lid down and pushed the box back under the bed.

As she walked down the fluorescent lighted hallway, Marie’s fingers grazed the gold numbers nailed in the center of each door. Two. . . three. . . four. . . five. . . her fingers paused midair at the end of the hall as the numbers continued to a third floor of the house. Carried along by the wave of bodies that exited the rooms from all levels, Marie entered the great dining hall and sat down in her usual spot at the head table. She smiled around the long table at the morose faces of the fellow patients. She rapidly blinked her eyes unwavering in her will to be happy. The cook came around and ladled each porcelain bowl with a hearty helping of grits. The wet, clumps of wheat made a resounding plop in each dish. The girl on Marie’s right giggled.

Lucy, a new patient, stared at Marie with empty dark eyes while she twirled a strand of stringy brown hair around her forefinger. Marie shrunk slightly in her chair, wishing the girl with the pale face and dirty nails from room 125 would stop staring at her. Without provocation, Lucy swiftly scooped up her grits with bare hands and winged a mound of the nauseating concoction down the table. It hit Marie squarely in the face; her world suddenly covered in a white substance that tasted of butter and souring milk. Marie stiffly stood up and walked out of the dining hall, dripping grits and creating a trail quickly discovered by Lucky, the house dog.

Refreshed from a shower and the breakfast incident forgotten, Marie walked quickly down the narrow staircase of the second floor. She came to the elegant stairs that led down to the ground floor and allowed her left hand to run along the smooth, curved banister. She landed on the ground floor and walked up to the front desk holding the mahogany box under her arm and a sticker-covered suitcase in her right hand. Expecting Marie and without looking up from her Reader’s Digest, the front desk attendant flipped a page and pushed the green button underneath the desk. Marie smiled her thanks and proceeded out the front door, down the steps, and into the front yard.

Inspired by the Hever Castle Garden, the yard was a miniature Garden of Eden. In the distance, the winding colored stone road melded into a narrow bridge. On a sunny day, the stones would catch the light and create across the hill a rainbow that many residents spent their days chasing. Under the bridge, banked by tall grass, was a flowing river which acted as a bath for the deer in the summer and emitted a comforting tinkling sound. Throughout the yard, stood a variety of garden sculptures and flowering trees that burst into a kaleidoscope of oranges, reds, purples and pinks in the spring.

On this day, the colorful stones so warm in spring were now slick with ice; thin icicles dangled from under the bridge, and the tall grass banking the frigid river was stiff with frost. Marie raised her face to the sun and allowed the north wind to hug her as she stepped out of her shoes. She felt the hard ground underneath her feet and swished her dress from side to side as the heavy fabric tried to
catch the wind. Marie felt the wind against her bare legs and grinned, revealing a slight overbite.

Meanwhile, the hospital rector stopped by the front desk, as part of his daily rounds, and checked the visitor log. He glanced up, seeing Marie standing vigilantly out front. “How long has she been waiting today?” he asked.

“Too long,” responded the attendant. “If you ask me, we need to put the poor child out of her misery and sedate her. Twenty years is too long to go on like this.” The rector grunted his understanding and folded his arms into the sleeves of his black robe and proceeded outside.

Turning, Marie smiled up at the uninvited guest. “They should be here soon.”

“It’s getting late, Marie. Why don’t you come inside?”

Turning back to face the road, Marie clutched the box. “They should be here soon.”

The rector felt helpless as he delicately descended the stone steps. He stole a glance at her and took in the determined set of her mouth. “Marie, you will catch your death out here. Join us inside where it’s much warmer.”

“Have you talked to my parents today? It’s my birthday. They never miss my birthday.”

“I know and how old will you be today, Marie?”

Marie started to count out the years on her fingers. Running out of fingers twice over, she borrowed from the rector. The rector laughed and relinquished his hands to her.

“That is correct, Marie. You are forty years young today.”

Marie beamed and returned her attention to the road.

The rector’s forehead creased slightly. His mouth twisted in thought as he wondered how much longer he would be able to protect Marie before the board intervened. Despite their argument that Marie being treated differently was unfair and aggravated the other patients, he still could not bring himself to curtail his personal affection for her. As time had passed and Marie’s parent’s visits ceased, she had become like a daughter to him.

The rector checked his watch. He looked down at the discarded shoes and battered suitcase covered
in travel stickers announcing all the places its owner desired to go. He picked up the forgotten items, took Marie’s hand firmly in his and started leading her back toward the gray building.

A frown etched itself across Marie’s forehead. Marie shuffled along on cold feet. “Have you talked to my parents?” she questioned.

“No, not today, Marie. Maybe they will call tomorrow, dear.” Marie puckered her face.

Marie looked up as they passed through the front door. She slowly read out loud what she saw there. “Safe Haven.” Marie’s breathing increased. She remembered reading those same words on a
different day.

Instead of the rector, her parent’s held each of her hands as they walked up the stone steps of the imposing gray building for the first time. They stood in the large foyer and Marie’s mom, who smelled of lavender and vanilla, delicately placed the mahogany box in her daughter’s hands. As her parents walked toward the front door, they waved, blew her kisses and wished her a happy birthday. Marie’s parents disappeared back through the front door.

Marie frantically tried to release her hand from the rector’s. Panicked, she looked over her shoulder and strained her neck in an attempt to see around the bend in the stone road. A lonely leaf danced across the empty road. The sparkle abandoned Marie’s green eyes and her heart clenched
as the heavy door closed behind her.

Discussion
Marie is a woman who cannot let go of the past.
1. What is the one thing you cannot let go of?
2. The surrounding landscape of the institution does not change. Even with the seasons, the changes that result are the same from the tree design to the bridge. This does not help Marie to move on from the past. What do you need to change in your life that maybe prohibiting you from moving on?
3. Any advice for us that are trying to move on from something?

For me, this past year has been a year of dramatic change personally and professionally. I've had to let go of things which were familiar to me as part of my continued growth. It has been hard. To sum it up, I would not want to go through these trials again but I could not be where I am today without them. For that, I am lucky and eternally grateful.

Working on My Book Blurbs- Thoughts?

Hi all! I've been working on the book blurbs for the three books in The Truth Series. I wanted to get some thoughts from the public. Check them out below and let me know what you think. Thanks!

You can see included images on my site at: www.engeliamccullough.weebly.com

The Truth Finder (First Book in The Truth Series)
Located in central Maryland, Hestfield County is a low crime area compared to its neighbors in the
north and south, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Known for its suburban life full of good schools and friendly neighbors where the Mercedes minivan is a standard, Hestfield is a suburbanite's dream. This was not always the case. So, when the cold case unit is created in Hestfield as part of a “Let’s Continue to Strengthen Our Community” program, a subdivision of the Partnership in Crime Prevention and Apprehension initiative, all eyes are on the newly created team.

They call her the truth finder.
There isn’t a crime that cold case detective SARAH MARKES can’t solve. It’s the beginning of the holiday season and Sarah has just solved one of the biggest child murder cases in county history. With that behind her, she’s ready to enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Until a longtime friend of her father’s, walks into the police station desperate and asking her for help. Determined to keep any ties to her father out of her life Sarah refuses the request.

As the New Year begins, Sarah's future is more than promising with a growing career and budding romance. Then the unexpected death of a close family member throws the up and coming detective's life into a tailspin. Groping for a redefined concept of peace and recovering from her own familial lost; Sarah is about to lose everything until an event from the past reminds her of why she became a detective. In an effort to move on, Sarah decides to help her father's friend.

Given only thirty days by her superior, Sarah musters every ounce of her training and personal conviction to find enough hard evidence to convince the hard-nosed District Attorney to reopen a ten year old case and bring an unsuspecting murderer, or murderers, to justice. Risking her reputation, Sarah embarks on an investigation that may leave her more broken than healed, both personally and professionally. 

The Truth Revealed (Second Book in The Truth Series)

SILAS KNIGHT is a beloved citizen, philanthropist and owner of The Knight Corporation one of the biggest energy companies in the nation. Known for his giving nature and charm, he is about to announce an international expansion project that will surely land him at number one on Forbes Top 100 List. That is, until JONATHAN MARKES is released early from prison and threatens to bring Silas down with secrets from their past. Now Silas is willing and ready to do anything to make sure that Johnathan keeps his mouth shut.

SARAH MARKES doesn't have time to dwell on the release of her father. The charred remains of a young high school girl reported missing a year ago has been found in a makeshift grave at a backyard barbecue. Word of the senseless murder spreads throughout the community and causes panic in Hestfield. When Sarah finds out that the murdered girl is the daughter of the Police Academy Director and her mentor, she jumps on the case.

Sarah is so consumed by the cold case that she hasn't noticed the war between Silas and Jonathan being fought right under her nose. Then Jonathan does something that gives Sarah no other choice but to join in on the fight between her father and uncle. The question is: Who's side is she on?

The Truth Hidden (Third Book in The Truth Series)

Solving cold cases is what SARAH MARKES does best. However, this time a case is brought to the team that hits a little too close to home for Sarah—something she’s kept hidden since she was a little girl. Seven years ago, the bodies of three little girls were found discarded in various sections of Serenity Woods off Highway 79. All were under the age of six, had been brutally raped and strangled with their young bodies covered in yellow daisies. Homicide cops pulled out all the stops fearing they had a serial killer on their hands but to no avail. The case went cold. Until now. His latest victim is Melissa Simmons, the mayor’s own daughter. And the person assigned to track him down…may be the one who got away.

Winners of The In Between Giveaway!

 

 

Congrats to the winners of The In Between giveaway.

- Jessica T,

- Sherry F.

- Tina

 

Each winner will receive an ebook copy of Catherine Converse's new release.

Thank you to all that participated. Keep checking back for future giveaways!

Write About What You Know or Love?

Earlier this week, I was at lunch with two family members. One of them recently had a first article published in a scholarly journal. I read the article which focused on a topic that typically would not be of interest to me. However, this person was able to write the piece in way that appealed to the general public.

During lunch, she gave me two pieces of advice for my writing- 1) Write about something that you know and 2) Develop characters that the reader will care about. Now this advice was unsolicited and came after she read the first draft of a manuscript that has since been scrapped due to me receiving advice from others much like her own advice to me.

My first thought? Wow, nice way to tell me that my characters sucked and my writing was not connecting with her. Second thought? I immediately wanted to whip out my second draft to show her how much I’d improved and that I could write about something that I may not be a subject expert on but that I loved and was greatly interested in. Meaning that I was willing and in the process of obtaining as much information as possible (from books to online videos to documentaries to speaking with actual persons in that field) on this subject so that I could produce a more quality and entertaining piece of work.

Did I do this? No, I did not. I just nodded my head and smiled. My inner thought being that she would see when my book was finished and acclaimed as a masterpiece. This sentence is of course followed by my most maniacal laugh. My question would be is writing about what you know and what you love the same? Can you write about a topic that you love without necessarily being an expert in it or even knowing anything about it? Isn’t it enough that you have a passion for it and are able to create an engaging story? But then some would argue that they are the same and you cannot have one without the other.

I would suggest to any writer out there that if you have a story to tell then tell it. So what, you don’t have a background in art history but want to write fiction about art thieves. With the internet nowadays, social media and everything else in between getting what you need to create a relatable and entertaining book is possible. You just have to sit down, put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard and start writing. The rest will fall into place.