55. From struggling writer to urban fantasy author w/ Michelle Summers
10/24/23 • 29 min
In this episode of Parents Who Write, Michelle Summers shares her inspiring journey as an urban fantasy author who brought mythological characters to life through the power of human beliefs.
Listen to her discuss her experience as a mom of three, her background in studio art and martial arts, and how she transformed her writing dreams into a reality.
But here's a delightful twist: Michelle and your host Erin share a long history, going back to their high school days, making this episode a nostalgic journey through decades of friendship.
We're diving into Michelle's journey as a writer, her experiences, and the development of her Guardian series. You'll hear about her early attempts at writing, her struggles with getting started, and the turning point that led her to embrace her passion for storytelling.
And be ready to discover the touching story behind a significant revision in Michelle's book and how real-life inspiration found its way into her fantastical world.
Michelle's story is filled with determination, resilience, and a touch of humor, making it a must-listen for aspiring writers and parents who share her passion for storytelling.
Get her books:
- The Predecessor: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4hbaitb32j
- The Chosen One, My Ass! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZQCQ68P
- The Chosen . . . Two (forthcoming Nov. 16, 2023): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BZQH7FT6
Connect with Michelle:
- FB page: https://www.facebook.com/msummerswriter
- FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/michellesummerssuperheroes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msummerswriter
- Website: https://msummerswriter.com
More about Michelle:
Michelle Summers writes urban fantasy / paranormal romance with strong female main characters who save the day and their love interests. As an author, she finds catharsis in writing the situations that arise when human characters have to handle fantastical elements in their everyday world. Family dynamics and relationships play a big role in Michelle’s stories, as do sarcasm and humor.
Michelle is a mom of three inspiring (and exhausting) children whom she is raising to be their own superheroes. In addition to having a blue belt in karate, she is PTA president and an avid crocheter, and while technically a stay-at-home mom, she likes to think of herself as a domestic goddess instead.
Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.
In this episode of Parents Who Write, Michelle Summers shares her inspiring journey as an urban fantasy author who brought mythological characters to life through the power of human beliefs.
Listen to her discuss her experience as a mom of three, her background in studio art and martial arts, and how she transformed her writing dreams into a reality.
But here's a delightful twist: Michelle and your host Erin share a long history, going back to their high school days, making this episode a nostalgic journey through decades of friendship.
We're diving into Michelle's journey as a writer, her experiences, and the development of her Guardian series. You'll hear about her early attempts at writing, her struggles with getting started, and the turning point that led her to embrace her passion for storytelling.
And be ready to discover the touching story behind a significant revision in Michelle's book and how real-life inspiration found its way into her fantastical world.
Michelle's story is filled with determination, resilience, and a touch of humor, making it a must-listen for aspiring writers and parents who share her passion for storytelling.
Get her books:
- The Predecessor: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4hbaitb32j
- The Chosen One, My Ass! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZQCQ68P
- The Chosen . . . Two (forthcoming Nov. 16, 2023): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BZQH7FT6
Connect with Michelle:
- FB page: https://www.facebook.com/msummerswriter
- FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/michellesummerssuperheroes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msummerswriter
- Website: https://msummerswriter.com
More about Michelle:
Michelle Summers writes urban fantasy / paranormal romance with strong female main characters who save the day and their love interests. As an author, she finds catharsis in writing the situations that arise when human characters have to handle fantastical elements in their everyday world. Family dynamics and relationships play a big role in Michelle’s stories, as do sarcasm and humor.
Michelle is a mom of three inspiring (and exhausting) children whom she is raising to be their own superheroes. In addition to having a blue belt in karate, she is PTA president and an avid crocheter, and while technically a stay-at-home mom, she likes to think of herself as a domestic goddess instead.
Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.
Previous Episode
54. Giving yourself permission to write now w/ Megan Clancy
For many parents, moms in particular, society perpetuates the idea that we should sacrifice everything for our children. So how do we push that aside and give ourselves permission to write now and pursue our creative dreams?
In this episode, you’ll hear how Megan Clancy did that—not only for herself but also the writers she coaches. Megan is a writer of upmarket women's fiction and queer contemporary romance, a book coach, a former high school English teacher, and a mother of two young children.
Needless to say, she has a lot to say on this topic.
So stay tuned to learn how she’s overcome these obstacles. And bonus: Find out how to own your identity as a writer today.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Losing yourself and writing in parenthood
- Fighting against societal norms
- Changing your mindset
- Setting boundaries with the family
- Owning your identity as a writer now
- Addressing the impossibility of writing dreams as mothers
- Getting past mom guilt
- Finding your confidence
- Sapphic women’s fiction
- Favorite books
About Megan:
Megan Clancy is a writer of upmarket women's fiction and queer contemporary romance. She has a BA in English/Creative Writing from Colorado College, an MFA from the University of Melbourne, and worked as a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer and book coach. She loves to travel, which frequently inspires her writing, and has lived and worked in Australia, Nepal, and the United States. She currently lives in California with her husband and two young children.
Get her book:
- The Burden of a Daughter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937818993/
Connect with Megan
- Website: http://www.meganaclancy.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mclancyauthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mclancyauthor/
Books discussed during the show:
- The No-Show, by Beth O’Leary
- Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
- Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, by Ashley Herring Blake
- The Magic Treehouse, by Mary Pope Osborne
- Dragon Masters, by Tracey West
- I Built a House, by Chris Van Dunsen
- Maybe, by Kobi Yamada
- The Remember Balloons, by Jessie Oliveros
- Robin and Her Misfits, by Kelly Ann Jacobson
- Tinkerbell and Wendy, by Kelly Ann Jacobson
Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.
Next Episode
56. Write Women Book Fest 2023: Inspiring journeys and genre magic (part 1)
Ever wonder what fuels the creative fire of women authors?
In today’s episode, you’re going to hear from seven incredible women authors who attended The Write Women Book Fest 2023 in Bowie, Maryland.
We'll dive into their inspiring journeys and explore what ignited their writing passions, the lengths of their literary careers, and whether they always envisioned themselves as authors. We'll also uncover what makes their chosen genres special to them.
Whether you're a fellow parent-writer looking for inspiration and camaraderie or simply someone who appreciates the art of storytelling, these interviews are bound to offer insight and wisdom.
So, let's dive into the worlds of these talented women and discover how they've harnessed the power of imagination to pen incredible tales.
Authors included in this episode:
- Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07P45YFQS
- ER Griffin, https://ergriffin.site/
- Eden Appiah-Kubi, https://edenawrites.com/
- Heather M., https://www.amazon.com/stores/Heather-M/author/B0813YGJ6V
- Jeaniene Frost, https://www.jeanienefrost.com/
- KL Richardson, https://www.amazon.com/stores/K.L.-Richardson/author/B0CGP19D62
- Laurisa Brant, https://laurisabrandt.com/
Connect with Parents Who Write:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite
- Website: https://parentswhowrite.com
- Book a free 30-minute consultation call:
https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting
Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.
Embracing the Fiction Author Journey - 55. From struggling writer to urban fantasy author w/ Michelle Summers
Transcript
What happens when a mom with a vivid imagination combines her love for storytelling with the chaos of raising a family? You're about to find out. In today's episode, we unravel the story of a mother of three who has ventured into the realm of urban fantasy writing. Learn about her initial struggles with completing a manuscript to becoming a published author. You'll also discover the inspirations that fuel her writing, the art of finding your voice ami
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