Name: Michelle Stimpson

Birthday: March 9

Occupation: Language Arts Consultant / Writer

City of Residence: Dallas Suburb

Favorite Movie: The Best Man

1.  What inspired you to write?

As far as writing in general goes, writing continues to be an outlet for me both spiritually and naturally.  I started writing regularly when I was a teenager as a means of dealing with problems – thankfully, I wrote instead of a lot of other things that I could have gotten into. 

2.  Tell us a bit about BOAZ BROWN.

Where do I begin?  BOAZ BROWN is a novel about a sassy young African American Christian professional woman (LaShondra Smith) who’s ready to receive the man (Stelson Brown) that God has for her.  The problem is, Stelson is NOT what she expected; particularly in terms of race.  What I hope that readers take from this novel is the message that God’s love transcends race and that our job as the body of Christ is to exemplify His love in our churches and our private lives.

3.  Do you have a full-time career outside of your writing?

Yes, I’m a full-time language arts consultant.  I design and conduct reading/writing staff development sessions for teachers in the Dallas area. 

4.  When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Spare time – what’s that???  Actually, I spend quite a bit of time with my family when I’m not writing or working.  My children haven’t quite hit the teen years yet, so they enjoy being with my husband and I at church, out to dinner and movies, etc.

5.  What is something about you that your readers would be surprised you do?

I don’t really have any surprising hobbies or interests.  I dabble in art every now and then, but I don’t have the patience for it.

6. What do you enjoy most about writing?

I enjoy closing the door to my office, listening to the Spirit’s guidance as I enter the world of the characters.  When I’m really into a story, I feel like I’m going to visit friends when I click on my computer.

7.  How did you feel when you got THE CALL?

Well, I happened to be off that day (isn’t God good) so I could scream and shout as soon as I got off the phone with Denise Stinson at Walk Worthy Press.  I can’t say that it was a surprise, however, because I knew that this was work that I was destined to do. 

8.  How did you get started writing your novel?

The idea came after 9-11 when I saw photos of people covered in ash and I wasn’t able to distinguish their races because they were so thickly coated in gray.  It was the first time that I saw someone without the filter of race and I got the revelation that that’s how God sees us His children – people covered in the blood of Jesus.  Following that, I guess I just started writing – putting one foot in front of the other.  There are some passages that I don’t even remember writing, and there were times that I’d look up and exclaim, “I can’t believe it’s already one o’clock!” a.m., that is.  I’ve heard people say that novels write themselves and, truly, this was one of those novels.  Well, I should say that the first draft was like that because the revision was something else altogether!  The first draft took 3 months, the revision took over a year.

9.  What process do you use in writing your novels?

With BOAZ BROWN, I just wrote and wrote and wrote – which, I think, is why it took a year to revise.  So, with the second novel, I made myself an outline.  I found that with an outline, I felt very restricted and the writing was formulaic.  So, I threw out the outline and just wrote.  But this time, before I sent it off the Walk Worthy, I made myself an outline so that I could see holes in the plot, timeline, and other inconsistencies.  I also waited a good 4 weeks before I looked at the novel again and tried to find those holes.

10.  How long does it take you to complete BOAZ BROWN?

3 months for the first draft, about a year and a half for the revision.

11.  How easy or difficult was it to become published?

BOAZ BROWN was the first novel that I wrote. (Quite frankly, I didn’t think I had the stamina to complete a novel and – for the record – I still don’t.  It’s God.)  Prior to BOAZ BROWN, I had written a collection of short stories, two novellas, a children’s book, and a nonfiction devotional – all of which were rejected.  So, I have my fair share of rejection letters.  And each time I sent out a batch of submissions that met with rejections, I’d put writing off for 6 months or so.  Eventually the professional writing bug would come back and I’d get back to the drawing board.

12.  Is being a published writer what you thought it would be like?

Well, that’s a little hard to answer because I don’t think I’ve really grasped this whole thing yet.  I still have a few weeks to go until the release date, so I’m bracing myself! 

13.  What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a writer and why?

Thus far, the writings that I did for my students to help them become better readers was certainly gratifying.  But BOAZ BROWN was something that taught me a lot about writing, God’s ability to take what little energy I had and stretch it through the novel, and how I had to line up with His Word before I could write this novel – so I don’t consider it my accomplishment but His.  Writing BOAZ BROWN was cathartic because it deals with racism and Christianity – two areas that I needed lots of work on. 

14.  Give us a sneak peek at your next book(s).

My second novel is scheduled for release in the fall of 2005.  The only thing I can tell you right now is that it’s got a whole lotta drama in a family of women.  Secrets, tragedy, humor, seeking deliverance from God – all that.

15.  Do you like communicating with your readers?  I prefer email:  michelle@michellestimpson.com.