Promiscuous Diva: Interview with Michelle Hughes

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? Definitely into the past, I’ve never felt really comfortable in the present. The 14th century and the Renaissance Era fascinate me. In my mind I equate this time with all the beautiful art and see it as a time when creativeness had an overflowing of energy.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? Alexander Skarsgard, Barry Manilow, Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, and JR Ward. I doubt that I’d be able to speak during the dinner because these are my favorite celebrities. I think I could enjoy just sitting down with them and soaking in all their knowledge.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? A crate of books, writing tools, and a radio with lots of extra batteries. I’m going to assume my island has tons of tropical fruits and fresh water and I could happily spend the rest of my life writing, reading, and listening to music.

What is one book everyone should read? You’re asking me to choose just one? That’s a question I can’t answer, but I will say the one book that made the most significant change in my life was the Sleeping Beauty series by Anne Rice who wrote under a pen name for that series. Being from a small rural town in Alabama, I never knew that people even considered this type of erotica, and it put me on a two year journey of research.

If you were a superhero what would your name be? That’s an easy question, Cara Faith Donovan. I’ve dreamed I was her for over twenty years, and once she became immortal in my dreams to me no other superhero could compare. She and Rafe were the reason I began writing, those dreams had a huge impact on my life obviously.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose? I would choose to be psychic. I think if you have the ability to know what others are thinking, then any opportunity is open to you. I’m sure that it has a downside as well, knowing what everyone is thinking would probably cause you to lose many fair-weather friends. I also think with that power you could stop some of the horrible things that happen in this world.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Moose Tracks, and I wish that incredible flavor had never been created. I can’t resist it, I walk down the grocery isle and try to avoid the frozen food delights because I know it’s just not a healthy choice, but I always fail.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? I can’t say there are any famous people that have died that I mourn not meeting, but I would love to meet my far removed great grandfather and ask him what it was like living in Dublin, Ireland in the 1600′s.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Does coffee count as a food source? I’m not a breakfast eater unless it’s a night. I usually can’t make myself eat until after noon. But we do a breakfast night once a week at my house and it’s usually bacon, egss, grits, and pancakes.

Night owl, or early bird? I was a Respiratory tech for seven years before staying home to write full time, and I worked the night shift. It somewhat stuck with me. I think and create better at night, but unfortunately with school aged children, I can’t give in to that desire. My days start at five in the morning, so my night owl days are over until the summer.

One food you would never eat? Oysters! The make me physically nauseated to look at and I have never understood why anyone would want to eat anything that resembled mucus. I did however eat escargot once, and let me just say had I not been young and foolish that would not have happened either.

Pet Peeves? Rude people are my biggest pet peeve, and I go by the rule if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t speak. Outside of that pet peeve, I have one other, and that’s authors who criticize other authors. I think any author that does that is showing a lack of professional standards and should be drawn and quartered. Okay not really that extreme, but they should respect the craft of others in their field.

Skittles or M&Ms? Definitely M&Ms, I’m a chocolate girl, and have never been big on fruity candies. Of course Reese’s cups should have been added in there, because to me that is the ultimate candy choice.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. Because it may get me kicked out of the Bible Belt and I need all the resources I can muster up to prepare for my move!

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? My co-author, Karl Jones and myself, are working on the second book in the Forbidden Desires series. We have five projects in the works for 2013 and it should be a very busy year. I think we’ve got more ideas than we have time to write at the moment, but I’m excited about all of them.

What inspired you to want to become a writer? Dreams of Cara and Rafe are my soul inspiration for becoming a writer. Rafe has been my muse since the age of fifteen, and he came into my life at a time when I was suffering great mental and physical anguish. It was through his inspiration that I managed to survive those horrible years and I will always consider him my guardian because of it.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. My most rewarding experience came just recently when I actually had a bigger paycheck than my husband. To understand that, you would have to know that my husband is very successful in money management, and it’s something I had never aspired to do. He was just as pleased and now believes that there is more to writing that just a dreamers way of passing time. We are very polar opposites, which I think gives our children a very balanced view of life. He believes in only what he can see and I live in a fantasy world.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? Outside of my Tears of Crimson books, that would be the world of Charlaine Harris. I of course would be Sookie and Bill Compton would be a forgotten memory as I lived out the rest of my days with Eric Northman. Sorry Bill, I think you’re great, but I love Eric.

What is your dream cast for your book? I actually did a Pinterest board for this and I would love to have Ian Somehalder, Alexander Skarsgard, and my cousin Candace LeRae. I have no doubts that they could create a box office hit and it would be incredible to see this on the big screen.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? I was reading Harlequin Romance novels at eight years old, and I can’t say there was just one favorite. I loved all the happily-ever-after endings, and I think it might have given me a warped view about what relationships should be. It took several years into my adult life to understand that you had to work to make any relationship last.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters? I love the Way You Lie by Eminem and Rhianna. It’s a very emotional, and disturbing song that speaks to the soul about the intensity of a relationship. Leah and Rhett have this volatile passion and it just works with that song. In the second book to this series, we are introduced to Alex, and he does balance things.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Pull on your big girl/boy pants and be prepared for hearing many things you don’t want to know about your work in the beginning. The business of writing, especially as an indie author, is not an easy road and you should be prepared to work harder than you ever have in your life if you plan on succeeding.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? New Orleans, because it’s the most incredible place on earth to me. I was an air-force brat and I’ve travelled, but to me this place just calls to my soul. The people, the excitement, the entertainment, it’s all one incredible package and I’ve never seen that anywhere else on earth. When all of my children are grown, I hope to split my time between there and where I live now. My husband refuses to leave Alabama or we’d be there already.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? I wanted to be a country singer. I started singing at three years old and pursued a music career in my early twenties. I went on to perform at the Midnight Jamboree in Nashville and hosted a satellite talent show. It wasn’t until I had my twins that I decided life on the road was not a place to raise a family.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why? First let me say that if they ever did that I hope I’ve already passed away. There are things in my life that I would rather the entire world didn’t see. But to answer your question, I guess Vanessa Hudgens would be the person I would choose. I’m not sure why I find this young actress so fascinating, but she really impresses me.

How did you know you should become an author? I still question myself about that, and I have to say it’s because all these dreams in my mind needed an outlet. Writing seems much better than spending an hour on a Shrinks couch every week.

What’s the craziest writing idea you’ve had? Last year I began having nightmares about the Illuminati and Blood Oaths and I came up with this crazy idea that I wanted to research all the celebrity deaths that had been hooked to Blood Oaths. I gave the idea up when I started having nightmares about being killed for uncovering information the public wasn’t supposed to be aware of. When I attempted to write anything on that story I became physically ill, so I took that as an indication to stop doing it.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? Don’t give up and don’t let any negative person influence you to give up your dream. That was actually the best advice I’ve ever been given because in the beginning there was a lot of negativity in my writing career. In 2009 I honestly had no clue what I was doing and was having huge trouble with formatting and tenses. Read enough bad reviews and you learn exactly what it is you’re doing wrong! Those horrible reviews helped me even as I cried into my pillow about what a failure I was becoming.

I began researching my craft, and discovered how to fix the problems that were apparent in my writing. Live and Learn! Now I might still get the negative review, but at least (for the most part) it’s because they don’t agree with my characters.

Hidden talent? I’m not so sure it’s hidden, if you look hard enough. But I’m a singer. When I’m not writing, you can find me entertaining myself with karaoke in my free time.

Favorite Food? I have to be the strangest person for saying this, but I don’t have one favorite food. It drove my mom crazy when I was younger because she fixed special dinners for us on birthdays. I never cared what she made, as long as it didn’t contain onions, it was great.

Favorite Candy? Reeses Cups, and I force myself to only enjoy one a week. After 40 you have to be a little more careful with the waist line.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? Breaking Dawn II, can’t wait to see the end of a great saga. My teenager got me hooked on those books, and it’s something we enjoy doing together. I think it’s going to be an incredible finale and I already have my tickets.

What was your favorite children’s book? Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss. I still read this one to my youngest kids, and one of them is highly addicted to that book now as well. I don’t know why I’ve always loved that book, but it makes me laugh.

Nickname? Growing up I had the nickname Boots, because I was really into western boots back in the day. These days it’s Micci, which to be honest I really don’t like, but it’s kind of stuck.

How do you react to a bad review? I no longer cry my eyes out, so that’s a good thing. I try not to read them these days. One of the great things about having a co-author that reads reviews is I can spare myself the agony.

If you were a bird, which one would you be? I would be an Eagle. Such a beautiful and strong creatures. We have an Eagle’s nest close to our home and it’s so wonderful to watch them in flight.

If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be? Negativity. It destroys your soul and I try very hard to stay away from negative people. Of course that isn’t always possible, but refusing to allow their thoughts to mix with mine is.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why? You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy? Property in New Orleans to turn into the Tears of Crimson Nightclub. That has been my dream for many years, and I hope one day that it will become a reality. New Orleans desperately needs a vampire bar.