Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Olson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michele, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?
When you put out a novel, you are putting a book baby out into the world. You have many questions. Will anyone like the story? Will it resonate? Will the mystery have the right balance of intrigue? I recently when to the place where my stories take place – Mackinac Island – to sign books at the Island Bookstore. What a joy to meet readers! To hear that people enjoyed the stories, can’t wait to read the next one, and to hear their favorite characters and parts of the books is extremely rewarding and validating to an author. It’s the encouragement to keep writing and creating this world that others now want to be a part of. I love to hear from readers.
Michele, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I became an author after a 45-year career in marketing and advertising as a media writer. I always wanted to write a book, but I thought I would write non-fiction. My first book- Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) instead moved into fiction set on one of my favorite places – Mackinac Island. I set it in 1979 for several reasons: there is a mystery in all my novels, and I didn’t want the characters to have access to cell phones! It’s much harder to solve a crime without cell phones and technology. It was also the year they were filming the movie Somewhere in Time on the island, a movie I love. I made my main characters extras in the movie. I took my love of I Love Lucy, old Hollywood, classic movies and TV, and the beauty of the island to bring them all into the initial story of Piper Penn and her unexpected arrival on Mackinac Island. Piper’s story continues in the next novels as she meets people on the island, who often aren’t who they appear to be as in Being Dorothy (In a world longing for home), Being Alice (In a world lost in the looking glass) and Being Wendy (In a world afraid to grow up). Right now, I’m working on Being Nancy (In a world lost in mystery). I use my skills as an artist to do the postcards on the cover of all my books depicting some aspect of Mackinac Island. I also narrated Being Ethel in my audiobook version. I do my art, books, (Including my non-fiction advice book: 5 Easy Steps to a Happy Birthday which I wrote so no adult ever has to have a ho-hum birthday ever again on their terms), and voice work under the creative imprint of LakeGirlPublishing.com All these creative endeavors are my “second act” I started after age 60…which makes it even more enjoyable.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I “paid my dues” so to speak in a traditional career in radio/TV/media writing, and I always wanted to be working on my own. That didn’t happen in my younger years, but it did happen. I think it’s important for everyone to remember it’s perfectly fine to hone your craft in art and writing while holding down a job. The time will come eventually, when you can pursue a full-time career in the arts, even if it’s when you retire. The joy of doing it in retirement is the lack of pressure to do it solely for money and recognition. As much as I would have liked to have had way more than five books out now, if I had started when I was younger, the life lessons and experience I’ve gained through the years is exactly what makes my work what it is now. And I get to do it without the pressure of trying to support myself with that for my income. The bottom line is – keep working on your craft, whatever it is, realizing that if your dream of doing it full-time isn’t happening this minute, everything you’re doing now is leading to an even more fruitful outcome when it does happen for you.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Within each of my stories is the questions we all face in life, and how my characters deal with those questions. For many, they find authentic faith to be the answer to peace and joy through all types of life’s ups and downs. I like to say we are Fueling faith with fiction…good stories that provide food for thought as well. The books are all “clean” and appropriate for any age adult. I didn’t intend for the books to be for young adults; however, I’ve received feedback that they are also appropriate for teens, too. Writing fiction also provides an escape, a new world to become a part of, and an insider look at a very real place: Mackinac Island. Many people want to visit the island after reading the books. It’s a unique place, where the Upper Peninsula of Michigan meets the Lower Peninsula – a true gem in America. This review left by a reader says it best: On a night where I couldn’t sleep and my mind was in a bit of distress, this was the perfect read. Not only was it interesting enough to keep me turning the pages it had just the right amount of reflective questions to change and comfort my swirling thoughts. Although I could have kept on reading, I decided instead to take the comfort this book gave me and get some rest. Bravo! I love that a story can do that for someone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LakeGirlPublishing.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lakegirlpublishing
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lakegirlpublishing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakegirlpublishing/
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/modawnwriter
- Other: Join my private Piper Island Peep’ Team: www.facebook.com/piperpenn I love to hear from readers! [email protected]