N. Michaels's Blog, page 2
March 7, 2014
New Review and Interview!
It’s Friday and I have an awesome review AND interview to share with you! 
The lovely, Teresa from In Stefter’s Humble Opinion has read Emerald Eyes and wrote a wonderful review! (My favorite part is her view of Katherine 
)
I couldn’t help but to post the amazing review and interview on my website as well!
REVIEW
I first heard of this book back at the end of November and immediately purchased it. Like so many of you, my “to read” list is very VERY long so I wasn’t sure when I would actually get to read it. Every time I would come across mention of it I would hear this little voice in my head telling me to move it up my “to read” list. I finally did and I am so glad I did!
The first thing I noticed about Katherine was that even though she lived a privileged life, she wasn’t afraid to venture away from “daddy’s money” and do it on her own. She stuck to her guns. She didn’t want to be the neurosurgeon her dad expected her to be and got cut off from the family money.
The second thing I noticed about Katherine is her…shall we call it “confidence”? We all read books where the male is all confident and sometimes even arrogant. It was a nice change to have such a confident female. She knows she’s good looking. She knows she’s got skills to get her through a job she’s never done before. Believe it or not, it was very refreshing to read a female character like this and it never prevented me from liking her as a character.
So now, I have to talk about Eric. He’s rich, he’s successful, he’s hot and he sends a lot of mixed messages. He’s got rules about fraternization but he’s not above breaking them. There’s a secret he’s hiding and it seems that his nasty ex-girlfriend (if we can call her that) knows all about it and isn’t afraid to use it to get her way.
This is the first book in a trilogy. Just be warned that it does end with a cliffhanger. I am very excited to see what happens next with Katherine and Eric. I can’t wait for the second book.
I gave Emerald Eyes five very hot, very steamy cups and would definitely recommend it.
INTERVIEW
I was very happy to know that N. Michaels was willing to answer some questions for me. As this is the first author interview I’ve done I was a bit nervous about it. I got lots of encouragement from my book bestie – she always has my back. So without further ado…:
Q: How long have you been writing and what made you decide to self-publish?
A: I’ve been writing short stories since I was 8. As a teenager, I began writing novellas but never a full-sized novel. Emerald Eyes is my first complete novel and I never thought about publishing it, since I enjoy writing for myself.
My journey of writing Emerald Eyes actually began with the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon. My two best friends were reading it, one of them loved it, the other one not so much. I noticed the hype that was going around it and decided to check it out. I loved it. After 50 Shades I began reading other books and noticed that all those books I’ve read since 50 Shades of Grey had the same formula, an alpha male and an innocent, naive, virginal female. Then, I was on the phone with my best friend, complaining about that Alpha male/Virginal, shy girl formula, and I might’ve said something in the lines of, “I wish I could rewrite this XYZ book and give it a confident woman that is sure of herself and doesn’t think she’s ugly.”
My best friend replied, “Then do it. Write your own story with your fearless woman.”
And I did. I began writing and when I was done, I read it to her over the phone. When she heard it all, she was crying and telling me that I had to publish it. I immediately said no way. But she was pushing me and it took her and my mom a week of phone calls and pep talks for me to cave and say, “Why the hell not. I live only once.”
Q: What has the self-publishing experience been like for you?
A: Self-publishing has been quite the journey. So far, it’s been fun but also very hard. Not many people know the lengthy process of Self-publishing. The author has to do everything and I mean EVERYTHING by him/herself, unless of course he/she can afford an editor and a publicist and a designer. Since I never thought of publishing, especially self-publishing, I never had to format a book before. That took some time to do and I still think I didn’t do it the right way. I did enjoy hunting for that perfect photo to be on the cover and designing it.
Publishing the book itself wasn’t as hard as getting myself out there. I am as unknown as a wedding crasher. No one knows who I am in the literary world. Building a social platform is much harder to do in my opinion. I was clueless at how to get myself out there so I looked at what other successful authors did as guidance, the old “Monkey see, monkey do.” Now mind you, I don’t copy and paste. I observe, learn and apply my own material and style to whatever it is I’ve learned.
A self-published author needs to be more than just an author, it’s being the publicist, the editor, the designer, it’s a huge amount of work and if you’re not knowledgeable in one of those areas you need to learn it. The hardest thing for me besides getting myself out there was making my website. That was a headache that made me cry in agony. I’m usually very computer savvy, but I have never in my life had built a website. It was a nightmare learning about the CSS and HTML languages.
Q: Is there anything you know now that you wish you’d known before?
A: Yes. I wish I knew what was needed (how to build a website, etc) before publishing. Oh and also, I wish I knew I could send an ARC to book blogs and make a hype about my book before releasing it. I published my book completely blind and clueless. I’ve learned some things as the days went by and I’m still learning.
Q: What is your writing process like and where do you find your inspiration?
A: My writing process… it mostly begins with a scene that keeps replaying in my mind until it drives me mad and I have to write it down. I make notes either on my iPad or phone or notebook. I can’t write with music.
Inspiration is everywhere. In a song, in a poem, in a friend, my own private life. You can get inspired by anything, anywhere if only you look close enough.
Q: In the book Kate comes from a Russian background and you’ve used Russian words and phrases throughout. Do you speak Russian or did you research the phrases?
A: I speak Russian.
Q: I’m a visual kind or girl (aren’t we all?) and I was wondering who you visualize as your Eric Miller.
A: I got Eric’s looks from a mix of a few men that I know. But if I had to choose one person, it would be David Gandy. *nods* Yep.
I’d like to thank N. Michaels for taking the time to answer my questions and for writing a great book. I look forward to more from her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I would like to thank Teresa for taking her time to read, review and compile these lovely questions! ♥
Enjoy your weekend my lovelies!!
Yours,
N. xx
February 25, 2014
Teaser Time!
Hello my lovelies!
I’ve gotten so many questions about when the next book of the Emerald Eyes Trilogy will come out and I’m here to answer it.
As of this moment, there isn’t a release date because I am still writing it. I promise you, the moment I’ll have a definite date I will let you all know! 
In the mean time, to appease my lovely readers, I’ve prepared a surprise, a teaser from Onyx Heart, book 2 in the Emerald Eyes Trilogy.
**Please note that this is an unedited material and might change in the final draft of the book.** Enjoy!
February 17, 2014
The Clown that is Me
"LOOK HERE! TRY ME! OVER HERE! YEAH, YOU! LOOK RIGHT HERE! READ MY BOOK! PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE? PLEEAAASSEEE!!"
It's embarrassing. It's not pleasant. And unfortunately, for many new indie authors, it's the only way to get yourself and your work out there.
From the moment I released Emerald Eyes, I've been stalking, hounding and begging bloggers to give Emerald Eyes a try, to review and spread the word about me and my debut novel.
If there is one thing I hate most it is asking for attention. It's not me. It will never be me and whenever I tweet or post anything that is self promoting, I do it because I know I have to, not because I want to. What I want to do is to write. To continue the story of Eric and Katherine but instead, I find myself on twitter or facebook or writing emails asking big time bloggers to consider taking some time and reading Emerald Eyes. I find it exhausting and certainly not fun. My passion to write is still in me, it's in my bones and it will never leave me, but this process of self promotion is draining me.
And I know that my fellow indie authors feel the same. If writing a story is a lonely journey, promoting yourself is much worse. I've heard the whispers of friends, and felt the cold shoulder of others. But they don't get it. They haven't written a story from the depths of their hearts, they haven't wanted to be an author since the age of six. They think I'm shameless and find it tactless. But I have no other way. If I could make myself a sensation overnight, I would... but I can't.
Is there a point to this post? Perhaps.
I wanted to share a bit of myself with you since someone told me the other day:
"You're sealed tighter than a safe and as silent as a tomb."
Geez, thanks.
I know I'm not always sharing my thoughts, my mother could confirm that in a split second. She use to sit with me for two hours (not kidding) while trying to get me to tell her why I was upset as a child.
So I will try to be a little bit more open... not promising anything, though.
Bottom line, cut the indie author some slack, we do all the leg work ourselves.
http://www.nmichaelsauthor.com/2014/0...
The Clown that is Me
Self promotion. It’s kind of like standing on the shoulder of a highway holding a huge sign that is surrounded by flashing lights that reads:
“LOOK HERE! TRY ME! OVER HERE! YEAH, YOU! LOOK RIGHT HERE! READ MY BOOK! PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE? PLEEAAASSEEE!!”
It’s embarrassing. It’s not pleasant. And unfortunately, for many new indie authors, it’s the only way to get yourself and your work out there.
From the moment I released Emerald Eyes, I’ve been stalking, hounding and begging bloggers to give Emerald Eyes a try, to review and spread the word about me and my debut novel.
If there is one thing I hate most it is asking for attention. It’s not me. It will never be me and whenever I tweet or post anything that is self promoting, I do it because I know I have to, not because I want to. What I want to do is to write. To continue the story of Eric and Katherine but instead, I find myself on twitter or facebook or writing emails asking big time bloggers to consider taking some time and reading Emerald Eyes. I find it exhausting and certainly not fun. My passion to write is still in me, it’s in my bones and it will never leave me, but this process of self promotion is draining me.
And I know that my fellow indie authors feel the same. If writing a story is a lonely journey, promoting yourself is much worse. I’ve heard the whispers of friends, and felt the cold shoulder of others. But they don’t get it. They haven’t written a story from the depths of their hearts, they haven’t wanted to be an author since the age of six. They think I’m shameless and find it tactless. But I have no other way. If I could make myself a sensation overnight, I would… but I can’t.
Is there a point to this post? Perhaps.
I wanted to share a bit of myself with you since someone told me the other day:
“You’re sealed tighter than a safe and as silent as a tomb.”
Jeez, thanks.
I know I’m not always sharing my thoughts, my mother could confirm that in a split second. She use to sit with me for two hours (not kidding) while trying to get me to tell her why I was upset as a child.
So I will try to be a little bit more open… not promising anything, though.
Bottom line, cut the indie author some slack, we do all the leg work ourselves.
February 16, 2014
My Deepest Thanks
I just want to say this now, I think I suck at blogging. 
Anyway, I want dedicate this post to my Twitter family and my readers (I can’t call you fans, feels weird).
Thank you all so much for all the support and love that you give me on a daily basis!
Most importantly, thank you for reading Emerald Eyes and taking the time to write a review on Amazon and Goodreads. I read and appreciate each and every one of them. ♥
A HUGE thank you for all the book blogs that featured and reviewed Emerald Eyes! ♥♥♥
Because I couldn’t do without you. THANK YOU!
I also want to share this hot and steamy book trailer that I made for Emerald Eyes:
I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day and a great weekend.
Love always,
N. xx
February 9, 2014
February 5, 2014
Get To Know Me Better
So I’ve noticed that while I’m busy writing Onyx Heart and stalking my favorite authors on Twitter, I haven’t been posting much here.
Honestly, I tend to internalize and not share much… It’s just something that is and it’s hard to change. And sometimes I’m just clueless at what I’m suppose to write here since I’ve never had a blog. I’m still getting used to the whole idea of “I can write whatever I want since it’s my piece of space.”
So, bear with me.
Anyway, I’ve decided to let you guys get to know me a bit better since really, you don’t really know much about me.
So if you have a question you’d like to ask (keep it clean, please ) comment below or shoot me an email at n.michaelsauthor@gmail.com and I promise to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.
Now, if there won’t be any questions, I shall delete this post because it will make me sad. Is all.
Can’t wait to read your questions!
N. xx
