Guest Post by Eva Muhlenkamp
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes.
I love creating.
The word itself is so fun to say.
From finger painting in kindergarten to now attempting to complete a first draft, creativity has always been my middle name (actually, it’s not, but you get my meaning). Because of this, when I discovered Micheline Ryckman’s Instagram account, I squealed for joy. Not only was she a very talented illustrator, but an author and publisher, as well (my dream avatar come true).
I decided to reach out and ask her some publishing questions…Guys, it was awesome. And then, then…THEN, I was on fire! Leading me to be one of the lucky few to receive an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of her upcoming book, The Rightful Bearer. This is the third and final installment in her TMS Series, which I absolutely loved, and would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about family drama, pirates, humor, sarcasm, and…romance (*wink-wink*).
The first two books in the The Maiden Ship Series are The Maiden Ship and The Lion of the Sea. Aren’t the covers absolutely gorgeous?
I asked Micheline if she would let me spotlight her on my mom’s blog, and she said yes, so let’s dive right in:
Why do you write?
I’m going to start with why I started writing, then maybe that will lead to why I write now. A few years ago, amidst terrible chronic health struggles, I developed a frozen shoulder in my drawing arm. Doctors told me that it could take years to heal, it did, and the stress of not being able to draw or paint to express myself creatively nearly destroyed me. So, with my one working arm, I decided to write. I had so many pictures inside my head that needed a way out and writing seemed like the next best alternative. Writing gave me a reason to wake up everyday, it gave me purpose, it filled the painful hours while I was bedridden. In this process I was introduced to another creative outlet that I enjoyed just as much as painting and drawing. Now, I write because I love it.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
I didn’t until after I completed The Rightful Bearer. It was the first book that I wrote that had a very strict deadline and by the end of the process I was seriously burnt out. It took me a couple of month before I could bring myself to write another word. I’m back on track now, though I am still slower than I was before.
If you could be mentored by a famous author (dead or alive), who would it be?
This is easy, C.S. Lewis. What a wonder that would be! I’d say he is the main reason I even wanted to try my hand at being a writer.
If you could be a character in one of your favorite books, who would you be?
I’d wanna be Lydia from my The Maiden Ship series, she is everything I’d love to be. Strong, fierce, loving, capable–the ultimate mother hen. Oh, and she marries the man of my dreams. 😉
What are some of your favorite things?
I suppose books and art are a given, but I also love gardening (when I’m physically able), I love collecting pottery and original art, I love sewing and home decor, I used to really enjoy knitting before my arms got bad, so if they ever heal fully I’ll go back to that! I also adore my family beyond words and they are by far my favourite thing of all.
Isn’t she delightful? I asked her two bonus questions for my newsletter: the best part of writing The Rightful Bearer, and her top best advice for young writers. But if you want to read those you have to sign up for the amazing giveaway below. It includes the following items:
- A copy of her book, The Rightful Bearer
- One double-sided bookmark
- One character postcard
This gorgeous giveaway will run until May 31st at midnight (MST). U.S. and Canada Residents only. A winner will be contacted by June 3rd. If no address is provided within three days, another winner will be selected. To sign up, click HERE.
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And if you want to collaborate with me don’t be shy. I love to work with fellow writers, spotlight authors, and host writing challenges. I’ve also been known to swap short critiques on occasion. Reach to me here.
This guest post is by Eva Muhlenkamp (bookishemotions). She strives to write stories that will impact others, chapter by chapter, author by author, and character by character.
M.C. Muhlenkamp 