Who would that be you might ask? Well, this month's Indie Author of the Month has provided me with a few of my all time favorite book boyfriends! (I have a running list and three of her hotties are in my top ten.) Not only that but 2012 has been kind to her and I couldn't be happier! Anyone as talented and amazingly humble and gracious as her deserves all the awards and accolades that exist.
So, who is December's Indie Author of the Month? None other than the New York Times AND USA Today bestseller M. Leighton!!!!!! *dances excitedly around the room*
For those of you who don't know M. this should get you up to speed...
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.
M. being the sweet darling she is took some time out of her super busy schedule of epicness to chat with lil ole me this week and here's how it went down. ;)
I guess, technically I should
be calling you a "hybrid" now since you've got yourself a publishing
contract and an agent (which is super awesome) but how did you find yourself in the world of
self-publishing/indie authorhood?
Like many others, I queried a
little in the traditional world before I decided to go the Indie route. My husband is the one who (after months of
chipping away at my resistance) talked me into independently publishing. I don’t know how much longer I’d have stuck
it out trying to get my foot in the door the old-fashioned way Not much longer, I suspect. It’s a very discouraging process! LOL
Sounds like you have a very smart hubby. I'm so glad he talked you into it. ;) How long have you been full-time
writer?
Well, I quit my job to write The
Reaping at the end of November, 2010. I
didn’t publish until the end of January, 2011, though, so I’m not sure which
you go by. Either way, at most it’s been
2 years. Two WONDERFUL years!
What is the last book you read?
Hearts in Darkness by Laura
Kaye. I started seeing her name pop up
all over and she’s a super awesome person when I run into her on Twitter, so I
thought I’d give her stuff a whirl. It’s
fantastic and won’t be the last I read of her.
What has been your favorite 2012
moment/memory so far? (I'm guessing you may have a few so you can list as many
as you like.)
In the interest of not boring
everyone to death, I’ll just do one. LOL
There are, like, a zillion, but professionally speaking, the best moment
of my year was seeing my name on the New York Times Bestseller’s List. In a way I still can’t believe it. To say it’s surreal is a grave, grave
understatement. LOL When it happened, I thought to myself that,
no matter what happens in my life and my career, no matter how many books I
sell or where I go, no one can ever take that away from me. It’s mine.
Forever. And if no one else had
ever found out, it would STILL have been mine and every bit as special.
What's next for M. Leighton?
Right now I’m working on Up to
Me, the sequel to Down to You. Obviously. LOL It
will release on January 6, 2013.
Oh, I really can't wait. I have been having Cash withdrawals and I'm not talking about the green stuff. ;) So, any big plans for 2013? Events?
Books?
I’m a
fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants girl, so planning does me no good whatsoever. There are many places I’d like to go, events
I’d love to attend, but things change so quickly around here, I hate to be firm
until a little closer time. I’m hoping
to attend an event in Boston in March if I can get my third book done on time.
Then there’s an event in Vegas and one in Atlanta I’d like to attend later in
the year. But it’s hard to say. Maybe I’ll make ‘em all! That would be awesome!
Who would be your dream
fictional character you’d like to have as a real life bestie?
Probably Jersey from Madly. I love that girl! Next would be either Jenna from The Wild Ones
or Ginger from Down to You. They’re both
awesome, too. I like the funny chicks
that tell it like it is.
Who would be your dream
fictional character love interest?
Yikes! That’s a tough one! Bo was probably my first love. But I adore Jackson, too. And then there’s Trick and Cash. Eeeeeeeee
I might have to go with Cash. I
love a bad boy!
~sigh~ Don't we all. ;) Excuse me while I daydream for a moment.
Okay, I'm back on track. ;) Alrighty, what is the one thing you cannot live without?
Okay, I'm back on track. ;) Alrighty, what is the one thing you cannot live without?
I like to think there isn’t any
one thing that I can’t live without, but aside from my husband, if there was
such a thing, it would either be chocolate or coffee. I’m a bear without either one. LOL
Time for the speed
round…respond with the first thing that comes to mind:
Color? Red
Song? You and I by
Paper Route
Food? Asian Zing
wings from Buffalo Wild Wings (it’s what I just ate- LMAO)
Place? New York, my
dream spot
Book? Up to Me (it’s what I’m working on—I have a one track mind)
Season? Winter. Don’t shoot me
Holiday? Christmas.
I’m so unoriginal
Animal? Dolphin.
I don’t have one, but I’d love to swim with them. I think they’re super cool and so smart!
Thank you so, so much
for having me, my friend! You are one awesome lady!
No, M. thank you so much for stopping by! The pleasure has been all mine!
Now, for those of you who are new to how Indie Author of the Month works, let me fill you in super quick on the details. Each week will be a new feature related/honoring the lovely M. and each week there will be prizes! Yay! The first three weeks during
December you can enter the weekly giveaways. The fourth and final week is SUPER
MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY week. Now, here’s where it gets good, for
each valid weekly entry during December you earn an additional chance towards
the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY! This means you can get your name
in the pot up to four times for the grand prize! Cool, right?! So, what’s the
SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE ? Well this month it includes the usual swag from yours truly, a signed M. Leighton paperback, and a $10 Amazon/B&N gift card! Epic, right?
Now that we are all on the same page. Let this week's giveaway begin! Oh and don't forget to Share The Love!
Now that we are all on the same page. Let this week's giveaway begin! Oh and don't forget to Share The Love!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yay to the Michelle's! Love you both and can't wait to read Down to You and Up to me next month as part of a read along we are doing.
ReplyDeleteMichelle you pick the best authors for AOTM ;)
You will love Down to You! :) And thanks for the love girlie! Glad you are enjoying the Indie Authors of the Month.
Delete