Hi, everyone!
Welcome to another edition of Spotlight Saturday at Darlene's Book Nook, where we feature authors and their books!
We will be joined today by Micheal Rivers on his Can You Bargain With The Dead Blog Tour.
About Micheal:
Micheal, an American author, was born in Ahoskie, North Carolina in 1953. He served his country during the Viet Nam war in the USMC. Later, his travels provided over thirty years of investigating and collecting stories of the paranormal. His genres include horror and thriller with an element of paranormal in all of his novels. The Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers of Western North Carolina was founded by him and he is the lead investigator. Micheal currently resides in the mountains of North Carolina along with the love of his life and his Boxer he fondly calls Dee Dee.
CONNECT ONLINE WITH MICHEAL:
Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, Micheal! Please tell us a little about yourself .
That is a loaded question I could write a lot about LOL. My great grandfather escaped from the trail of tears. I write under a pen name which belongs to him as a small tribute. I do have a dog and have had a lot of them, but I favor the unusual. I raised bears for a while and they are truly great animals. My two favorite pets were the bears and a Cheetah named Miss Kitty. She was my companion when I lived in South Africa. Never try to pet a Cheetah with a hangover!
Do you have a specific writing style? Do you write an outline, or do you write more “by-the-seat-of-your-pants”?
Chicago style. I use a combination of story board and outline. Now and again the story takes off and goes where it wants to go so ‘seat of the pants’ can fit in that category, but the story itself remains the same. The outline has to change when an idea goes running amuck through your head and refuses to leave.
Do you discipline yourself to write a certain number of words daily? Or do you ever have dry periods where you do not write?
I sit down at the keyboard and usually I never notice the number of words until I am close to being done for the evening. As a rule it usually turns out to be from 3 to ten thousand words because I work on more than one manuscript at the time.
What is your ideal writing environment? Do you prefer music or solitude? Is there a time of day (or night) that you prefer?
Solitude, car wreck, artillery fire, makes no difference because once I start I don’t hear anything anyway. I write at night. I like the dark, it brings out the questions of what is there that you can’t see. Music, yes, I listen to some music at times until the volume starts to melt the headset.
Are there any authors that influence your writing?
That list would fill a book the size of Detroit. I love to read the different styles and schools of thought.
That list would fill a book the size of Detroit. I love to read the different styles and schools of thought.
I found The Black Witch to be really creepy (in a good way!). What was your inspiration for the story?
I grew up by the sea where stories and mysteries are an everyday occurrence. I wrote The Black Witch remembering a three masted schooner me and my dad once watched sailing through Diamond Shoals. The conversation we had that day was instrumental in developing a tale of what is possible in a world of superstition and tales the old salts loved to tell.
I grew up by the sea where stories and mysteries are an everyday occurrence. I wrote The Black Witch remembering a three masted schooner me and my dad once watched sailing through Diamond Shoals. The conversation we had that day was instrumental in developing a tale of what is possible in a world of superstition and tales the old salts loved to tell.
Are any of the characters based on someone you know?
The characters are a culmination of a lot of people and their beliefs. The villain Balasco is the basis for the cruelty man can inflict on his fellow man. There are still people out there that are not morally corrupt. William is one of those characters.
The characters are a culmination of a lot of people and their beliefs. The villain Balasco is the basis for the cruelty man can inflict on his fellow man. There are still people out there that are not morally corrupt. William is one of those characters.
Did you enjoy scary stories when you were a child?
The stories never scared me as a child because I grew up in a house with very unusual sights and sounds. We didn’t use the word haunted, and the occurrences were talked about very little. I have a deep Native American heritage and we have a different way of dealing with that type of thing.
The stories never scared me as a child because I grew up in a house with very unusual sights and sounds. We didn’t use the word haunted, and the occurrences were talked about very little. I have a deep Native American heritage and we have a different way of dealing with that type of thing.
You have a new paranormal thriller, Verliege, that just came out. Can you tell us a little about it?
Verliege takes place in Germany within the walls of a haunted castle. The castle has a secret that will set the world on edge. Adrian Bolt was accused of murdering his wife. His psychiatrist and a paranormal team investigate the castle to try and discover the truth. What they find is not for the feint of heart. It is the secret of the 9.
Verliege takes place in Germany within the walls of a haunted castle. The castle has a secret that will set the world on edge. Adrian Bolt was accused of murdering his wife. His psychiatrist and a paranormal team investigate the castle to try and discover the truth. What they find is not for the feint of heart. It is the secret of the 9.
What are your current or upcoming writing projects?
I have been requested by my readers to produce a sequel to The Black Witch. I have four other books that are in the works. Currently I am working on finishing Kudu, Scratch, and the others are surprises.
I have been requested by my readers to produce a sequel to The Black Witch. I have four other books that are in the works. Currently I am working on finishing Kudu, Scratch, and the others are surprises.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to ghost hunt as well as a mountain of other things. I take pictures and try to get some fishing in if at all possible. I am a big movie buff. Sometimes I just sit on the porch and vegetate. The best of all is spending time with the love of my life.
What book(s) are you reading now?
I just finished Solomon’s Men by Glen Starkey and I have a "to read" list I have to fall into.
I like to ghost hunt as well as a mountain of other things. I take pictures and try to get some fishing in if at all possible. I am a big movie buff. Sometimes I just sit on the porch and vegetate. The best of all is spending time with the love of my life.
What book(s) are you reading now?
I just finished Solomon’s Men by Glen Starkey and I have a "to read" list I have to fall into.
Do you have any specific last thoughts that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you all very much. Reading is a great experience for mind and body. Encourage your children to read. If they can’t read, read them a story. They will never forget you for it. I would love to meet all my readers and being as that is not possible I want them to know they are forever in my thoughts.
*Fun Facts*
Favorite horror movie? Dracula with Gary Oldman.
Dog-lover or cat-lover? All animals.
Vanilla ice cream or chocolate? Mix it and wake up your taste buds.
If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why? All of my ancestors. I need the answer to a question only they have the answer for.
The craziest thing I ever did was... I flew a helicopter through the gorge at Victoria Falls.
If I could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, I would go to... anywhere my wife could dream of.
Thank you all very much. Reading is a great experience for mind and body. Encourage your children to read. If they can’t read, read them a story. They will never forget you for it. I would love to meet all my readers and being as that is not possible I want them to know they are forever in my thoughts.
*Fun Facts*
Favorite horror movie? Dracula with Gary Oldman.
Dog-lover or cat-lover? All animals.
Vanilla ice cream or chocolate? Mix it and wake up your taste buds.
If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why? All of my ancestors. I need the answer to a question only they have the answer for.
The craziest thing I ever did was... I flew a helicopter through the gorge at Victoria Falls.
If I could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, I would go to... anywhere my wife could dream of.
This black bear cub was an orphan, and Micheal raised her from when she was born (about the size of a Coke can). Her name was Shug (short for Sugar), and she liked to sit on Micheal's shoulder as a cub and keep her face pressed up against his. In this picture, Shug is teething (like a baby) on Micheal's finger. Isn't that picture just adorable?
Shug is now in the protection of a North Carolina bear sanctuary.
Shug is now in the protection of a North Carolina bear sanctuary.
Thanks so much for joining us today, Micheal!
Two lucky winners will win a paperback copy of The Black Witch. And that's not all! Another two lucky winners will win e-book copies of Verliege.
It was the adventure of a life time. In an obscure marina off the shores of Maryland a schooner unlike any other ever built was discovered. Dorian and Diana Coe purchased the schooner and sailed from the shores of tranquility into the bowels of hell itself.
Prurient tales of suicide, murder, and the disappearance of an entire crew were hand written within the ship's logs.
On her decks sailed a well seasoned captain and crew that never knew the schooner's shadowed past. The new owners ignored the words of men with integrity and sailed the Black Witch in the Spring of 1935.
Into the realms of illusion and pure evil the ship and its compliment sailed never knowing the fate awaiting them!
The world of Adrian Bolt shattered as his wife lay butchered on the floor of Castle Verliege. His conviction by a German court was as swift as the sword that killed her. He maintained his silence knowing his story would not be believed. Though his reputation was impeccable there was nobody willing to stand for him.
Another world lay in wait for anyone living within the walls of the castle; waiting, watching, for eternity to keep the Mueller name upon its registers. There is only one world here for those who choose to stay. To enter its doors is an invitation you will not soon forget!
To enter the giveaway, you must complete the Rafflecopter entry form below.
This giveaway is open worldwide, however, the paperback copies will be available to Canada/US addresses only. The giveaway will be open until 12:01 AM EST on April 21, 2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 9th - A. R. Silverberry's Blog
Author Interview
April 10th - ChickletsLit Blog
Guest Blogging
April 12th - Stacy Eaton’s Blog
Character interview with Devoya
April 12th Mia Darien's Blog
Character Interview with Dr. Pellitier
April 14th - Darlene's Book Nook Blog
Author Spotlight and Book Giveaway
April 18th - Emerald Barnes's Blog
Interview
April 24th - Trish McCallum's Blog
Book Giveaway
End of April - Gina Butler's Blog
Book Giveaway
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How totally awesome! I would love this for my horror/thriller reading challenge! Thanks to you both for having the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAnd Shug is ADORABLE!!
Do you still have her?
Mary
Mary, Shug is full grown now and living safely in a secluded North Carolina bear sanctuary. Thanks for participating in the giveaway. Wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteMicheal - I didn't know they had bear sanctuarys. Since it is just now spring in my neck of the woods, I will be watching for your four legged friends to start appearing in my yard! Your books sound great! I was surprised that you don't have bear books.
ReplyDeleteDarlene - your rafflecopter stopped working in the middle, so I don't know how much of my info you got. I will stop back by later and try again.
We have two bear sanctuaries here and the locations are kept extremely quiet. I have a lot of books I have not published yet but maybe one day you'll see a bear or two.
ReplyDeleteDarlene, thanks for featuring my author spotlight. I am anxiously awaiting to hear who the winners are of Verliege and The Black Witch! Thank you to everyone who entered. ~ Micheal Rivers
ReplyDelete