Welcome to Michelle Picket and Concilium

What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it?

This is a funny question for me.  It really has two answers. My favorite genre to read, right now, is dystopian and/or thrillers.  My favorite genre to write is urban fantasy and/or science fiction, but I don't read them.  Well, very seldom do I read them.

You can read some of my work at my website: www.michelle-pickett.com there is a whole section dedicated to my writing.  Also, www.conciliumbooks.com is dedicated just to the Concilium series.

What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write?

Generally I make sure I have something to eat so my mind isn't wandering to what is lurking in the pantry. I fill my water bottle and put it on my desk with my cell phone.  Then I grab my husband's hoodie.  I have to have it to write.  I don't know why or where the connection came from, but the hoodie is a must.  Once I have his hoodie, my water and cell phone, I'm ready to sit down and start working.

What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story?

Well, there's the obvious one-plot.  But I personally think that believable and likeable characters are, or should be, as well.

What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person?

I do almost all my writing from the first person point of view.

What is required for a character to be believable? How do you create yours?

A character must have flaws to be believable. People are flawed.  It's a fact of life we can't get around. For a character to be believable as a "real" person, it, too, must be flawed.  I create my characters with that main rule in mind. If I find I've created a perfect character, I go back to their character sketch and start over.

Deep down inside, who do you write for?

Oh, I don't have to look very deep to answer this question.  I write for myself.  There's no question about it.

Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force?

Yes, most definitely.  Internal and external conflict does fuel my need to write.  I'm not sure if they make me more or less creative, however.  I do find that in times of high conflict I retreat into my writing more often—I crave that time of escape.

Do you believe you have already found "your voice" or is that something one is always searching for?

Yes, I believe I've found my voice at this point in my career.  I don't think it is something we are always searching for as much as it is something that is always evolving.bb

What has been your experience with publishers?

I think I have a unique perspective on publishers.  My first two manuscripts, Concilium and its sequel, are releasing through an e-publisher.

My debut young adult science/fiction romance, PODs, is releasing in paperback through a traditional publisher, Spencer Hill Press.

I've enjoyed working with both publishers. There are areas where they are vastly different in their practices, as I'm sure you can guess. And there are areas where they are very similar.

What I've found to be the most disturbing trend to me is the reaction people have to one over the other.  When I mention I'm published with an e-publisher I sometimes get a less than stellar response, as if it isn't a "real" book being published.  But when I mention one of my books will be released in paperback, eyes light up and people sit up and take notice.  That bothers me.  My first two books are just as "real" as my third—paper or no paper.

What are you working on now?

I'm currently editing Concilium: The Departure, the sequel to Concilium. It is scheduled to release in November.  Everyone who has read it has said it is better than the first book.

I'm editing PODs, my YA novel. It is scheduled for release June 4^th, 2013 – my son's 12^th birthday.

I'm finishing up a science/fiction novel and I'm in the first stages of writing a YA urban fantasy.

I also have a YA paranormal romance on submission that is the first installment of a trilogy.  As soon as it finds a home I'll begin editing the second and third installments of that series.  I have them written, but they need some serious time in the editor's chair.

Is there anything you'd like to tell your readers?

Absolutely!  First, thank you for choosing to spend your time reading my work.  I'm honored.

Secondly, I'd love to hear from you! I love comments on my blog and emails in my inbox. Whether you have questions about my work, good things to say, constructive (that means nice) criticism, or even if you just want to say "Hi," I want to hear from you.  Contact web details are set out below.

Michelle's Bio:
Michelle has been an avid reader since a young child.  She began writing for personal enjoyment in college, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting.  Deciding sitting in a cubical all day was her form of cruel and unusual punishment, she decided to do what she really wanted to—share her passion for reading and writing with others. 
She wrote her debut novel Concilium in 2010.  It was released July of 2012 by MuseItUp Publishing.  The sequel, Concilium: The Departure will also be published by MuseItUp Publishing with scheduled release date of November 2012. Her Debut young adult novel, PODs, will be published by Spencer Hill Press and is scheduled for release in paperback June 4^th, 2013.
Michelle was born and raised in Michigan.  She now resides in a small community outside Houston, Texas with her incredibly supportive husband, four wonderful children, a 125-pound lap dog, a very grumpy cockatiel and a cat that thinks she's queen. Michelle writes adult and young adult Sci/Fi and urban fantasy romance.

Concilium Blurb

Leslee hit a strange animal with her car.  Now she’s marked for death.  

It was a simple car accident – the animal didn’t even die – but it drew the attention of the Cruor Imbibo. Driven by their insatiable need to feed, the secret society of Imbibo has devoured the dregs of civilization for centuries.  Afraid Leslee will expose them, and put an end to their meal ticket, the Imbibo want her dead.

The Concilium is Leslee's only protection. Guardian of the ancient secret and the protector of humans, the Concilium fights to control the Imbibo and end their feeding frenzy. Miller works for the Concilium. Keeping Leslee alive is his next assignment. 

Now Leslee is on the run, and the only thing between her flesh and the snapping jaws of the Imbibo is Miller. He and Leslee quickly form a bond, but will falling in love make Miller’s job more difficult? Because if he fails, Leslee will be next on the Imbibo menu.

The Cruor Imbibo are coming, and they're coming for Leslee. 

Buy Links: 

MuseItUp Publishing:  

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=537&category_id=232&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Concilium-The-Series-ebook/dp/B008QWIC3G/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1343658710&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=9781771271035

Want your copy of Concilium signed? I'd be happy to do that! Just go to http://www.kindlegraph.com/ and send me a message and I'll send you a personalized inscription for your copy of Concilium.  

I LOVE to hear from readers and other authors!

Links and Contact Information:

Website: www.Michelle-Pickett.com

Email: Michelle@Michelle-Pickett.com

Blog: www.Michelle-Pickett.com/blog

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/michellepickettauthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/michelle_kp 

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/michelle-pickett

Trailer: http://youtu.be/dxLvVQ9s7u4

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepickett

Book: htttp://www.conciliumbooks.com

PODs: http://www.site.spencerhillpress.com/PODs.html

Novel Excerpt:

Concilium is an Urban Fantasy with a big dose of romance and little touch of horror.  But rather than tell you what the book is about, I'm going to give you a small glimpse at one of my favorite scenes.  Leslee is for the first time realizing that she may not survive the obstacle facing her:

The rain made dusk fall earlier. I watched as the team grabbed their equipment. I knew they weren't as confident as they wanted me to believe. They expected a bad night.

“I want a gun.”

Miller looked at me and nodded. “It’s there in the hall. I want you to stay there. With the front windows covered and the bedroom doors closed, they won’t be able to see you. Stay on the floor. Here, put this in your pocket.” He handed me his car key. “If anything happens, Leslee, if any window breaks, if any of us tells you to go, get in the car and drive to the lake. Don’t think. Don’t ask questions. Just go. One of us will be there to get you as soon as it’s safe.”

“And if you aren't?” I asked.

“We will,” he said, his eyes intense. “We will,” he repeated emphatically.

“Okay.” I tried to manage a smile, tried to look as self-assured as he seemed. I couldn’t.

“Les, if you need to use the gun, shoot them in the neck. Right here where a man’s Adam’s apple is. Don’t waste a shot on the head or anywhere on the body. Just aim for the throat.”

“Okay. Why?”

“Their bodies aren’t built like ours. Their brains and spinal columns are in slightly different spots because of their, um, different look,” Brooks said, looking at Miller. “The throat is the kill shot. Like a shot to the back of the head would be for a human.”

“Okay, the throat,” I said, my voice wavering. My hands were already shaking. I prayed I could aim the gun if the time came. I hoped I’d be able to control my fear if I had to face one of the Imbibo alone. 

One by one, the guys hugged me before they left, the same way they had every night at my house. Why did it feel so different? Why was I more worried than before? I didn’t have any answers, but the air felt ominous, the house felt threatening, and a thought slammed into me. 

I could die here.

If you enjoyed the excerpt and would like to read more, Concilium is available through MuseItUp Publishing's bookstore or other online retailers.

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