AP Author Spotlight: Stephanie Michels

Stephanie Michels

 

Website: StephanieMichelsAuthor.com

Blog: same
Twitter ID: @SMichelsAuthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7133902.Stephanie_Michels?from_search=true
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StephanieMichelsAuthor

 

Describe yourself in three words:

Crazy shoe addict!

 

Tell us a little about your latest release:

The Friendship Star Quilt
Stitching Post Romance: Book Two
co-authored by Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels

The Friendship Star Quilt is the second romance in the Stitching Post romance series. The books are about different women who shop there and bond over their love for quilting. Like all quilt shops, this one in Grandville, Michigan, has customers of every age and marital status. We wrote the stories to show different facets of love and romance in today's world. 

The first book was about a long-married couple who are nearing retirement age and suddenly realize their dreams are no longer on the same page.

This second book is about a young woman who fled from an abusive situation and sought a safe haven in Grandville. Here's a little about it:  

Anne Brown loves her job at The Stitching Post Quilt Shop in Grandville, Michigan, but she keeps a suitcase packed and ready so she can flee at a moment's notice. Living under the radar, she longs for a normal life but settles for listening to the family stories told by the friendly ladies who meet at the shop on Tuesday evenings to quilt. When she meets Brad, the handsome band director of an area high school and his adorable daughter, Anne begins to hope for a happily ever after of her own. But someone has far different plans.

Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as a high school band director with trying to be a better father to his daughter, Jennie. When Brad is late picking her up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to the rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of his and Jennie’s lives. Until her past threatens to destroy their relationship.

Excerpt:

He’d hit her. Not open-handed like in the past. This time, he’d used his fists, beating her until she’d been too weak to struggle and had fallen, broken, to the floor. He’d cursed at her, kicked her then dragged her to her feet so he could punch her some more. Finally, he’d tossed her in his fancy convertible and raced through the darkness, driving much too fast for the country roads. At least he’d stop hitting her.

The squeal of the tires nearly drowned out his angry tirade. Maybe he’d realized how bad she was hurt. Maybe he was taking her somewhere for help. She cried out as the car reached a stretch of rutted, gravel road, and her lungs burned as she gasped for air. Where were they? This wasn’t the way to the hospital. She tried to ask but her lips were swollen, her mouth too dry to form the words. She sank against the seat as he raced through the night, still travelling way too fast.

The car swerved, and she suddenly felt a rush of air as the door opened beside her.

"Die!" he hissed then shoved her from the moving car.

***

"Can you tell us what happened? Who did this to you?"

A shadowy figure leaned over her and blocked the brightness. A kindly face wavered into view. Another figure leaned over her from the opposite side.

Who were they, and where was she? She heard the sound of distant traffic and crickets chirping somewhere closer. So many questions flitted through her head. But her pain made it too hard to focus on them. She tried to look around to get her bearings but something pressed against her forehead, preventing her from turning. She tensed, feeling more restraints on her arms and legs.

"It’s all right, miss," the first shadowy figure reassured in a soft voice. "We had to immobilize you, so we could lift you without injuring you more. We’re going to carry you up the hill and take you to the hospital now."

Hospital? The word triggered a panicked reaction until one thought bubbled up through her confusion and pain.

What about my baby?

 

 

What is your earliest memory?

I remember visiting a relative of my parents, who lived on a high, grassy hill above one of the Great Lakes. It was a beautiful summer day and my two older sisters, and I were wearing matching, yellow cotton sundresses. We had an absolute ball giggling and rolling down the grassy hill over and over.

I later shared the memory with my Mom and she was amazed I remembered as I was 2-1/2 years old at the time. But the memory is crystal clear and I can still recall the pattern on our sundresses. (I wonder how long it took Mom to scrub the grass stains from our dresses since this was long before the invention of permanent press and stain-resistant fabrics.

 

What would you consider the greatest moment in your life?

I was with my daughter and son-in-law when my first grandchild was born, and it was the most incredibly moving moment of my life. My daughter is my oldest child, and her birth was pretty special, but to see the circle of life continue is indescribable -- and I'm a writer, for Pete's sake!

 

What’s the hardest thing in in life you’ve done?

Do you mean besides stepping on the scale in the doctor's office? I mean, what on earth does weight have to do with going in to see her for a broken thumb? :)

 

What have you learned in life so far?

That it's never too late to go after your dream, that the only true limits in life are the ones we put on ourselves, and that there is always something new to see or experience or do.

 

Everyone’s favourite question: if you could invite five people for dinner, who would it be?

Margaret Mitchell (my first literary hero), Princess Diana (I admired her courage and grace), Pope Francis (he is a genuinely humble and beautiful spirit, I'd just love to bask in his presence for a bit), JRR Tolkien (he gave my kids and me countless hours of of bedtime reading together),  and Sean Connery (because I'm a woman and he's soooooo nice to look at).

 

 

Chance for our readers - what else would you like to know about Stephanie Michels?