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Interview with Fern
Michaels
By Gayle Trent
Ever
prolific, Ms. Michaels launched her fourth series with KENTUCKY
RICH and has numerous single titles besides. This New Jersey Literary
Hall of Famer firmly believes that if she overcame all the obstacles
in her way to become a best-selling author, you can overcome yours.
You
note that FOR ALL THEIR LIVES is the favorite of your books. I
loved it, too; and though it didn't have the traditional happily-ever-after
ending, it ended the way it had to end. What is it about FOR ALL
THEIR LIVES makes it your favorite?
FOR ALL THEIR
LIVES has always been my own personal favorite, and you're right,
it ended the way it had to end. I guess it is special to me because
there really is a Casey and a Mac. It was based in part on a true
story. I am a romantic at heart like most of my readers and this
story just tugged at my heart.
In
PLAIN JANE, the character is aided by a friendly spirit. Did the
inspiration for this come from your own friendly spirit, Mary-Margaret?
My 'friendly
spirit' and all the other spirits that appear in my books from
time to time have a little to do with 'Mary Margaret'. "Plain
Jane" just sort of evolved. My grand children have always
asked me over the years what happens to pets when they die. At
first I was just going to have a ghost dog and then, Mary Margaret
went on a sort of rampage here in the house. I took that as my
cue and ran with it. I do want to stress that she is a friendly,
just mischievous.
Mary-Margaret
lives with you in your 300-hundred-year-old plantation house.
Have you done any research to determine who she is and what story(ies) she might have to tell?
No, I haven't
but only because I haven't had the time. The previous owners documented
her. Researching her and this house is # 1 on my To Do list at
some point in time. The truth is, I'm
not sure I want to know. My own imagination allows me to create
a life for her and I think it might be more interesting than her
actual one.
How
do you construct your books; i.e., do you work up an outline and
go from that; do you prepare extensive character sketches?
I do an outline.
One for my editor that is skimpy at best and
reads more like a book report. My own outline, the one
I work from is more detailed, maybe
twenty or so pages. My character sketches usually run to two or
three pages.
What
does a typical workday for you entail?
Wow! There's
never been anything typical about my work days. I go by mood.
If I'm on a roll, I literally work round the clock. If it's just
routine, my hours are from about eight to four with lots of breaks.
I mean lots. Having said that, let me say this, my writing goal
is 5000 words a day. If I goof off because I want to go out with
the dogs or plant flowers, I work into the evening or through
the night. It's only on rare occasions that I don't reach the
5000 word goal. I.e. an emergency or company comes by,
I'm needed at the day care because someone didn't show up, etc.
I
know you have been inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall
of Fame. Would you consider that one of your greatest writing
achievements? What other writing accomplishments do you consider
the best? What are your greatest writing disappointments?
Yep, being inducted
into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame was a biggie for me.
I felt that I had 'arrived' for want of a better word. As
far as accomplishments go just finishing a book will do it for
me. Because. . . I started with zip and wallah, I end up with 450
pages of a story. Going on the New York Times is another one.
The best, though, is getting a letter from a fan who
says all these wonderful things about your writing and ends her
letters with, "Please don't ever stop writing." I can't
say I have or had any writing disappointments.
What
has the publishing of THE FUTURE SCROLLS meant to you after having
it "lie dormant" for so long?
I am delighted
that Severn House decided to publish "Future Scrolls'"
for their libraries. It was one of those books that fell through
the cracks when my editor moved on and the company gave it back.
At that time, I just shoved it in a box and forgot about it. I
updated it a little but not much. It is what it is, an old book
with a charming story.
If
you weren't a writer, what would you be?
I'd probably
be a 24/7 grandmother to my kid's horror. Seriously, I think I
would have been a dog breeder. I love animals. I have six. I had
five but I just got a rescued Boykin Spaniel that almost drove
me nuts. He's a pure love now.
What
are you currently working on? What can Fern Michaels' fans expect
next?
Well, I just
turned in the last of the Kentucky series. I'm working now on a novel
that is almost finished and titled, "The Real Deal".
It's about a young female FBI agent who goes into the Secret Service
to guard the First Lady. In some ways it is a romp. I'm also working
on a seven book series that is being considered by two separate
media groups for a television series. It's all about women getting
revenge.
What
single piece of advice can you offer fellow writers?
Don't ever give
up. I didn't. Believe in yourself. My mantra has and always will
be, if you persevere, you will prevail. If I could make it happen,
so can they.
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