Interview With Author Kellie Mickelsen

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I have always wanted to write a book, have started several over the years but life always seem to interfere.  When I sat down and started 'Mia Amata', it just seemed to pour out of me.  It seemed like a story that had to be told.  I wanted to show that people can either be a victim of their past, or a survivor.  So many people have suffered something horrible in their past, but how they choose to deal with it affects their life.  

 

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?

'Mia Amata' is about a woman who escapes an abusive relationship and how she decides to go forward with her life.  While I hope the book delivers a positive message for people, I really wrote the book for myself.  I felt like it was something I needed to write, to show that I could write a book that appeals to people.  I was always the one carrying a book around at school and reading every chance I got.  Maybe someday a book I write will be carried around like that. 

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

Enjoyment.  I want people to read my book and be drawn into the story and like the characters (or hate them).  Reading can do several things - give a powerful message or give people a way to escape into another life or world.  If 'Mia Amata' gives people a temporary release from their everyday life, then I am happy with that.  

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

The title took me longer to come up with than actually writing the book!  When I finished the book and was working on my edit of the material, it just hit me what the name should be.  If I go into too much detail on the title I'll give away some of the book and I don't want to do that.  The cover design was something I found on an artistry site and it just fit the story so well I had to use it.  

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

No, don't run!  Embrace it and just do it.  I wish I had written a book a long time ago, but working and raising a family were my priorities.  I have notebooks of unfinished stories that I am hopefully going to revisit at some point.  I would tell others to carry a notebook and pen with you at all times, keep one next to your bed.  Even if you jot down ideas only, you have started.  There are many nights when I have problems falling asleep because it is hard to shut my mind off when I can grab the notebook and make notes.  There are times I wake up from a dream and realize I know how the next part of the story should go.  

 

Just go for it!  Don't worry about what happens after the book is done until the book is done.  

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

I love the fact that there are so many people out there who love having a real book in their hands versus eBooks.  I have an eBook reader, love that too, but the fact that real books are not going anywhere is awesome.  I'm pretty new to the publishing side of writing, but the fact that there are many ways for a person to get their book published now is great.  Everyone dreams of having their book picked up by a top publishing company, but for beginning writers having your book even looked at by one of them is impossible.  Even finding an agent is next to impossible.  There are other possibilities for new writers to get their books out there and published and I think that is important going forward.   

 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? 

Those that know me well know there are some things in the book that are similar to things in my personal life.  I believe those things helped me be able to write a book that people have been able to relate to. 

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

My writing style is still a work in progress actually. As I mentioned, I have started several stories over the years and each one is different as can be from the others.  I've been told that my writing is similar to James Patterson or Nicholas Sparks - if that is true then I'm very flattered as I love their books!  

 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

I think the biggest challenge I had was feeling that my book was any good!  Personally, I loved the story I wrote and the characters I created - but it wasn't until I let a couple people read it that I started to realize maybe I did have a good book here.  As more people read it and the more feedback I get, the more I am feel confident that I did it!  I wrote a damn good book!  

 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

I wrote a book that will draw you in from the very first paragraph and make you feel like you could relate to the characters.  You will find it very hard to put 'Mia Amata' down once you start reading.  It also has an ending that no one expects, in the words of my daughter after she finished reading 'Mia Amata' - "Mom - what the heck?!!!"  Trust me, you will enjoy reading my book and become one of the many that are asking me when book 2 will be available - which, by the way, is halfway done at this point!  

 

About The Author: I grew up in Nebraska, where my love of reading and writing was cultivated by my grandmother.  The two of us passed books back and forth all the time.  My grandmother used to write for the local newspaper and also wrote stories from her childhood.  I started writing stories as a child, dreaming of writing a book someday.  I currently live in Wisconsin with my husband of 30 years, Dan.  We have three grown children, Aric, Aaron and Alyssa.  We also have four grandchildren.   I enjoy cross-stitching, reading, writing, traveling to see our family, and outdoor activities with my husband such as kayaking and fishing.  

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.