Author Michelle Browne sounds charming, quirky and fun – just the kind of person I’d love to spend time hanging out with. She writes a blend of SF, horror and fantasy. That’s a win for me because those are my favorite genres. Her collection The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming includes a full length novel, as well as some spooky short stories. Join me as we get to know more about Michelle and her new book.
Michelle is a published science fiction author with a love for talking about the end of the world, silver jewellery, nightmares, and chocolate. She came from a smallish town in Southern Alberta and now lives in Calgary with her partner. When they’re not saving the world from hipsters or riding their bear cavalry to work, they can be found on the internet or with their friends.
Read on for more about this intriguing author and her book!
About The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming
Nightmares bleed into the waking world.
Featuring a full-length novel, “The Underlighters”, and eleven stand-alone short stories, this collection blends fairy tales, horror, and science fiction. A city of shadows lurks underground. Restless ghosts, eerie dolls, and spiteful stepmothers wait among other dreams. These are haunting stories of love, madness and small disasters.
“The Underlighters” is a dystopian horror coming-of-age adventure that follows the life of Janelle Cohen from insignificance to bitter-sweet triumph.
“Footsteps in the Snow” is a Lovecraftian nightmare set in a Canadian winter.
“A Shot of Vodka”, a darkly realistic exploration of life after trauma, rounds out the collection.
More and stranger stories fill in the gaps. This genre-breaking anthology is a new and ferocious look at the frailty of the human condition. Gender and sexual mores are rewritten; dreams and reality merge. Primal fears take physical form. This beautifully-written thrill ride will captivate you long after the last page.
Now let’s shine the spotlight on Michelle!
Maer: What a fascinating concept and blend of genres, Michelle. Where did the inspiration for your book come from?
Michelle: My nightmares. A bit came from real life, a lot came from fairy tales, and some came from intriguing explorations of madness. Lovecraft inspired me a lot.
Maer: Wow, intriguing answer! Sounds perfect for a rainy night read. What is a one line synopsis for your book?
Michelle: This anthology of 12 stories includes a post-apocalyptic novel and a genre-breaking range of fiction—horror, madness, fairy tales, and regrets combined in ways that will twist your heart.
Maer: Are the stories connected or are they stand-alones?
Michelle: The short stories are all stand-alones, but the novel is the first book in The Nightmare Cycle and will soon be released as a stand-alone.
Maer: Which character other than your MC is one of your favorites to write and why?
Michelle: I have a few favorites. I really enjoyed writing Una and Aidan because they are really nice and strong people. Jaycenne was cool too; she’s one of those quiet people who hold everyone else together. Expect more about all of these characters in the future!
Maer: Oh, that’s excellent to hear. It’s awesome when an author gives us more of the characters we grow to love. Now, if you had to pick a color to describe your MC what would that be and why?
Michelle: Purple. A nice rich shade with brown and red in it, similar to aubergine—she is a pretty noble chick when the going gets tough, but also down to earth.
Maer: I’m guessing you’re probably an avid reader, as well as writer. Who are your favorite authors to read?
Michelle: I have a few. Too many. I’ll mention the ones who inspired me a bit for this work. Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman, H.P. Lovecraft, Fydor Dostoevsky,
Maer: That is certainly an eclectic group! Very interesting choices, Michelle. Can you share a bit about your current project with us?
Michelle: It’s called “Synchronicity” and is the story of six university students who sign up for beta-testing a dodgy VR game to get some extra cash. They soon find themselves trapped in a deadly cat-and-mouse revenge plot.
Maer: As an MMO gamer, I’m going to keep my eye out for that one. Sounds like something I’d love to read. What do you do when you’re not writing?
Michelle: I knit like a maniac and make jewelry. Also I edit and read. I like to dance and go on adventures, too. I’m fairly social, when I have time for it; I generally have time for all of this by excluding TV from my life!
Maer: Busy lady! What influenced you to write in your genre? Do you write in others?
Michelle: I usually write in science fiction, but urban fantasy and fairy tales have long been a passion. I had so many interesting ideas and mental images from dark dreams that I had to use them…and…well…here we are.
Maer: Do you like to listen to music while writing and if so, who?
Michelle: Ke$ha’s latest album, Jonathan Coulton, Deadmau5’s ‘Professional Griefers’, Mika’s ‘Origin of Love’, The Barenaked Ladies, and Cake’s ‘Comfort Eagle’ ended up being played obsessively while I was writing ‘The Underlighters’ for some reason. A few of those fit the post-apocalyptic vibe, but others…your guess is as good as mine.
Maer: Do you have anything you’d like to add?
Michelle: I love meeting other indie authors and I hope to keep doing it. I love a good argument and I run on tea power.
Michelle, thanks for stopping by and giving us a look at your fascinating book!
So you want to read Michelle’s work? Well, just check out her books and stories on Amazon:
The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming (The Nightmare Cycle)
And The Stars Will Sing (The Meaning Wars)
The Stolen: Two Short Stories (The Meaning Wars)
If you want to find out more about Michelle, you can track her down at her links below:
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