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Mike Mehalek

Goodreads Author

Website

http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com/

Twitter

mikemehalek

Genre

Fiction

Member Since

September 2012

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Mike Mehalek writes fast-paced lyrical books that can be enjoyed with one reading but have enough substance for re-reading. He brings stories to life that demand to be told, regardless of the hopes/dreams/fears/desires of his characters--the Story first--always the Story.

In 2008 Mike earned his masters degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University

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Popular Answered Questions

Why did you choose to write about dragons for your first book?

Mike Mehalek That's an curious question, Heidi, at least to me. (By the end of this you will understand why I think that).

I've always read fantasy books and enjoy…moreThat's an curious question, Heidi, at least to me. (By the end of this you will understand why I think that).

I've always read fantasy books and enjoyed the fantasy genre in movies, in art, in video games, etc..., and I've mixed fantasy and horror elements in some of my shorter stories, but I've never really considered myself a fantasy writer.

And then one day, many years ago, I was on a message board (remember those) and following a thread about where inspiration comes for a story. Someone said inspiration comes from questions, specifically "what-if" questions. I liked this concept, and immediately, off of the top of my head, started rattling off what-if questions.

I can't remember what board this came from or what questions I started with, but for no particular reason I asked, "What would it be like if a dragon were forced to live its life as a human?"

The question resonated with me, and it led to a series of questions about dragons, and humans, and living in a diminished fashion, and what it meant to be a human.

I was fascinated. What a great way to explore questions of humanity and self and life, through the eyes of a "higher" being--a dragon! The results of those questions became Only Human.

I still don't know if I qualify as a fantasy writer. Fantasy writers have a creative mind, and while I've been told I'm creative, my creativity arises from my curious mind. I'll use whatever trope or genre I have at my disposal to set literary experiments into motion and use those to try to find the answers to those questions.

So why did I choose to write about dragons for my first book?
It makes me wonder....What would my life look like if I hadn't written that book?(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Mike Mehalek What took me a long time to learn was that analyzing a book as a reader is a different skill set than analyzing a book as a writer. Sure, there is ove…moreWhat took me a long time to learn was that analyzing a book as a reader is a different skill set than analyzing a book as a writer. Sure, there is overlap, but there is a lot that I never would have even considered in a literature class alone. No literature class will tell you this (most people don't realize there is a distinction). For me it took attending Seton Hill's Writing Popular Fiction Program to understand this skill and to learn how to use it to better my own writing. And with publication being much easier with new technologies, it becomes that much more critical that your writing is sharp. Sure, the gatekeepers are gone, and they kept a lot of fine books off of the shelves (tragically) but they also forced writers to strive for perfection. Strive for perfection. Learning to read as a writer is KEY. (less)

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Mike Mehalek’s books

Average rating: 4.22 · 210 ratings · 45 reviews · 6 distinct works

	Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction by Michael A. Arnzen (Goodreads Author), Heidi Ruby Miller, David Morrell (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.43 avg rating — 112 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Only Human 3.67 avg rating — 58 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hazard Yet Forward by Matt Duvall (Goodreads Author) (Editor, Contributor), Natalie Duvall (Editor, Contributor), Elsa Carruthers (Contributor) 4.44 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Diner Stories: Off the Menu by Daniel S. McTaggart (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Jason Jack Miller (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Mike Mehalek (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flashes of Horror 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Diner Stories: off the Menu by Daniel McTaggart, Rich Bottles Jr. (Goodreads Author), Jason Jack Miller (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Mike Mehalek's Blog

COVER REVEAL: Tor Maddox: Unleashed by Liz Coley

Once again Trickyverse we have another great writer sharing the cover to book one in her upcoming series!!

If you haven't yet met, then let me introduce you to Liz Colely and to

Tor Maddox, a heroine for our times

“I know that one day, I’m going to have to live in the real world. I’d like it to be a decent one.” - Tor
Book I Tor Maddox: Unleashed

When sixteen-year old Torrance Olivia Read more of this blog post »

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Published on April 15, 2015 12:33

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Mike is Currently Reading

Mike Mehalek is currently reading

Six Scary Stories

by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 31, 2016 04:33AM

Mike Mehalek is currently reading

The Bone Clocks

by David Mitchell

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Mar 10, 2015 04:23AM

Mike Mehalek is currently reading

An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country #3)

by Patrick Taylor (Goodreads Author)

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Jan 07, 2015 01:00PM

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Mike’s Recent Updates

Mike Mehalek made a comment on GossamerMyst’s review of Only Human " I'm glad you enjoyed the story! Thank you immensely for taking the time to review it, too. You're the best! ...more "
Apr 28, 2024 09:46AM · see review
Mike Mehalek liked GossamerMyst's review of Only Human: "I really enjoyed this story because it does a good job of pulling you into Vincent's world of dragons and humans, that keeps you intrigued from start to finish and will make you cry. I really enjoyed this story immensely."
Apr 28, 2024 09:45AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Only Human by Mike Mehalek. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Only Human by Mike Mehalek <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Mike Mehalek (?)

“Who would have imagined a creature that has lived thousands of years would find itself short of time.”
― Mike Mehalek, Only Human

tags: creatures, dragons

1 likes

“A phantom fish, half beaten to death, wriggled in my stomach.”
― Mike Mehalek, Only Human

tags: hangover

1 likes

“I'm a big animal. Fine motor skills are not me forte.”
― Mike Mehalek, Only Human

tags: dragons, mystery, romance, urban-fantasy

1 likes

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Mike’s Quotes

“Here's how I'll tell you what I think—if you see white smoke then you know I picked a new pope. And if I'm drinking a Snapple then you know I don't give a shit.”
― Jason Jack Miller, The Devil and Preston Black

tags: appalachia, appalachian-fiction, deal-with-the-devil, jason-jack-miller, murder-ballads-and-whiskey, supernatural, the-devil-and-preston-black

5 likes

“Introduction of deus ex machina is a tell-tale sign of sloppy plotting.”
― Mike Mehalek, Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

tags: writers-on-writing, writing-guide, writing-tips

1 likes

“Danny couldn't remember how many times he had driven down this particular stretch of highway.”
― Mike Mehalek, Hazard Yet Forward

tags: death, family, ominous, pennsylvania, road-stories, surreal, twilight-zone-esque

0 likes

“Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.”
― Angela Carter

tags: books, reading

1840 likes

“Have you noticed how difficult it is just to get along in the world? If you're no good at all in your job, people treat you badly and eventually you will be unemployed. And if you're a little better than competent, everyone expects miracles from you, every single time. Like most of life, it's a no-win situation. And if you dare to mention it, no matter how creatively you phrase your complaints, you are shunned as a whiner.”
― Jeff Lindsay, Dexter Is Delicious

tags: competency, fairness, jobs, work

75 likes

More of Mike’s quotes…