Interview with Michael Lee West and book giveaway

By Melissa Patafio

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today, author Michael Lee West has stopped by CLC to chat about her latest book, "Gone With a Handsomer Man". She also took the time to make us laugh with her tales of farm life, her love of food, and how she deals when a book is particularly challenging. We enjoyed meeting Michael and want to thank her for visiting Chick Lit Central!

Anne Staszalek from AuthorsOnTheWeb has two copies of "Gone with a Handsomer Man" to give to some lucky readers in the US or Canada.

Visit Michael on Facebook and Twitter and check out her blog.

Watch the trailer for "Gone with a Handsomer Man":

How did you come up with the story for "Gone With a Handsomer Man?"

A dream. My first novel, Crazy Ladies, came to me in a gothic Southern nightmare. Many writers pay attention to their dreams because the subconscious is a collaborator. We wait for the moment when a dialogue begins with the book—because that means a dialogue with the main character can’t be far behind. I was delighted when a character named Teeny Templeton wandered into my dreams. She was a sassy, brown-eyed blonde with a penchant for throwing fruit at her wayward boyfriend. Teeny had a strong voice from the get-go and she led the way.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing "Gone?"

This requires a meandering answer, so please bear with me. When I'm working on a book, I need time alone or I can lose the character's voice. Then it takes forever to call it back, or the book can shift permanently. This has happened so many times, I've learned to protect the work, and I'm not shy about going to extremes. I hunker down on the farm with stockpiled food and Diet Coke, apocalypse-style, then I inhabit the book. I don't have an office--I write in a corner of the den and I use music (love my iPod) as a sort of wall. While I wrote GWAHM, our house fell apart--leaky roof, fried HVAC, termites, broken appliances. The farm went a little wild, too, with goats escaping into the road. Every day, concerned neighbors called to report the latest escapee. We also dealt with foxes, possums, and rabid skunks. Sometimes these events found their way into the book. A heart-tugging challenge came when my mother had complications after back surgery and came to live with us for a few months. She couldn't walk. She'd always been a fiercely independent woman, and she fell into a slump. With the help of my younger son, Tyler, we nursed her back to health. Now, she's not only walking, she's going to her beloved garage sales. Without my son's help, the book might not have been finished. I dedicated the book to him.

What is your usual writing routine?

I write from 9 am until I drop, seven days a week--I end up taking way too many breaks because I'm always chasing escaped goats and dealing with household malfunctions.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I'd like to go back to Ireland. I love the people, the pubs, the culture.

How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?

I take photographs of food. My amateur shots can be seen at Tastespotting and Foodgawker.
http://www.tastespotting.com/profile/designs+by+gollum
http://foodgawker.com/post/archive/designsbygollum/

Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, how do you remedy it?

Yeah, but not for long. Usually it signals a problem with the book. I go back to the characters and dig deeper.

What do you enjoy most about living on a farm?

I love watching the geese and ducks waddle from the big pond to the little pond and back again. No matter what I'm doing, I stop to watch the sunsets--and also twilight--l'heure bleue.

If you had to choose a profession other than writing, what would it be?

I have a B.S. in Nursing. But I'd really love to be a pastry chef.

Which authors have inspired you the most?

All Southern authors, past and present. I owe a debt to author and poet Marge Piercy--her poem,"For the Young Who Want To" kept me going through rough patches.

If you had to pick a theme song for your life, what would it be and why?

Oh, this is a hard one. I'm a child of the 60s and 70s, so music shaped my worldview. I've got playlists for every novel--sometimes multiple lists. My current theme song is "Both Sides Are Even" by The Boxer Rebellion. To me, it's about fighting losing battles, maybe with love or a career, and realizing that no matter what you do, there is no right or wrong side. And we struggle alone.

Special thanks to Michael for talking with me today and to Anne from AuthorsOnTheWeb for facilitating this interview and for sharing the books for our giveaway.

How to win "Gone with a Handsomer Man":

Please comment below with your e-mail address.
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US/Canada only. Giveaway ends May 29th at midnight EST.

More by Michael Lee West: