Interview with Michele Chynoweth, author of The Runaway Prophet (and The Faithful One and The Peace Maker)
Author’s Bio: Michele Chynoweth is the award-winning author of The Runaway Prophet, The Peace Maker and The Faithful One, contemporary, Bible-based novels full of suspense
and romance. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she and her husband
have five children and one grandchild and live in North East, Maryland. Prior to becoming a full-time author Michele
worked in marketing, publicity and journalism for 30 years. In addition to
being an author, Michele is also a college instructor teaching writing,
publishing and marketing your first book, an inspirational speaker and a book
coach and has helped several writers become successful authors with her
writing, editing, publishing and marketing services. Michele has a fourth book
due out in June, 2019 titled The Jealous
Son, a modern-day murder mystery based on the Bible story of Cain and Abel.
For more visit her website, www.michelechynoweth.com
DL: What’s
the inspiration for writing your book?
MC: Looking back I see God called me to write my first book,
The Faithful One based on the Bible’s
Book of Job, because He was trying to bring me through a lot of Job-like stuff:
I was losing my marriage through divorce, my advertising business through the
recession, my kids (who were becoming teenagers and, it seemed, no longer
needed their mom) and finally, my health through the disease of
alcoholism. Like my Job character, Seth Jacobs, I held onto that
last shred of faith and through the grace of God got my health, family and
life back in a richer, fuller way. I got remarried to a wonderful man, have
a great relationship with all five kids in our blended coach. I was healed
through my writing - and knew I could help give others hope too so I continued
to heed the call to write modern day Bible stories.
DL: Is there any particular author or book
that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
MC: There are several but the book that most
influenced me at a time when I was really frustrated in my author career was
Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.” In it he talks about the
“law of dharma” in which he states: “Everyone has a purpose in life . . . a unique gift or special
talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to
others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is
the ultimate goal.” This helped me realize writing the books God has called me
to write is my purpose and it will come to fruition because they are helping
others through their message of faith and hope.
DL: How
long did it take to write your book?
MC: It took me eight years to write and publish
my first book; two years to write and publish the second, four years to write
and publish my third, The Runaway Prophet,
and it took me only six months to write and edit my latest novel, The Jealous Son, because I was working
on it full-time. That makes a big difference – writing full-time vs. writing
around a full-time job.
DL: Do
you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
MC: I always write with a chapter outline and
encourage the writers I teach and coach to do the same. I believe it gives you
a roadmap to go by…without it writers have a tendency to drift off course. I
liken it to trying to climb Mount Everest without a plan. Even if you know
where you’re going, a plan (or in this case, outline) makes it much easier to
get there.
DL: Do
you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a theme song for this
book?
MC: I don’t because I would become too
distracted…I need total quiet. As far as a theme song for The Runaway Prophet, there’s a huge boxing match at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas in the book and the intro song to it is “We Will Rock You” by
Queen. (It’s a thriller in which the Jonah character, Rory Justice, tries to
avoid God’s call to work with the FBI to help rescue the people in Vegas (the
new Nineveh) from a radical Islamic State terrorist mafia building a nuclear
bomb under one of the casinos.) Let’s go with that, I love classic rock!
DL: What
are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?
MC: The number one marketing tool I’ve found
helps you get exposure (and according to my publisher) is public speaking. If
you have a fear of it or you feel like you’re not that good, don’t worry, join
a local Toastmasters group (email me for more info); also doing a little bit of
everything like having a good website, doing book trailers, building a good
social media platform, email marketing, blogging and being on good host
blogsites like this one, getting reviews (from readers on Amazon, testimonials
from influential or prominent people and those from the media and publications
like Kirkus), entering contests, networking…the list goes on. I have 30 years
of experience in marketing and public relations so to me it comes easily, but
if you need help, email me at michele@michelechynoweth.com
DL: What
advice would you give to aspiring writers?
MC: Never give up, follow your heart (not the
latest trend or the market) when it comes to what to write, learn the craft
because it needs to be perfect before it’s published…and always get a
professional editor and proofreader!
DL: How
about sharing an excerpt from The Runaway Prophet?
MC: Here you go:
(end of Prologue): His trancelike state broken, Rory rushed
toward the sound. He stopped still in the bedroom doorway. Lying barely covered
with a gold-colored silk sheet on the king-sized bed was a gaunt woman of Asian
descent. Her wrists were bound to the headboard with scarves, and her mouth was
covered with a piece of duct tape.
Once she
saw him, she became silent. Her black eyes gleamed with hatred, following Rory
as he approached her. He first threw the bedspread over her, but she fought to
kick it off, thrashing her legs like weapons, striking out at him like a wild
animal. Rory untied her left wrist and she swung at him with her free hand. He
darted out of her reach just in time and stood for a moment debating whether to
free her other arm, but when she ripped the duct tape off her mouth, hurled
loud screams and obscenities at him in a language he didn’t understand, and
then spit at him, Rory suddenly recognized she was going to come at him full
force if he freed her. He walked backward toward the bedroom door, averting his
eyes from her half-naked body.
“I’m
sorry,” he stammered, not knowing if she understood. As she frantically worked
to free herself from her last binding, he rushed out of the room, shut the
door, and ran to the anonymity of the crowded casino, leaving a still sleeping
Jim behind.
DL: What’s
next for you?
MC: After my next novel, The Jealous Son, is launched next June and hopefully winds up on
the New York Times Bestseller List, I’m hoping to follow that with my next
book, The Wise One, based on Solomon,
and to get my books produced into movies! In addition, I plan to take on more
writers to help them become successfully published authors through my book
coaching services in 2019…let me know if you need help!
DL: Where
can readers find out more about you and your book(s)?
MC: Here are my links:
·
Website:
https://www.michelechynoweth.com/
·
Amazon
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Chynoweth/e/B005NWR5UI/ref
·
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ModernDayBibleStories/
·
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AuthorMichele
Book Buy
Links: https://www.amazon.com/Michele-Chynoweth/e/B005NWR5UI/ref
·
Also
available wherever books are sold, at your local library, or visit my website
to purchase personalized, signed copies – still time to order for Christmas!
DL: It’s been a pleasure having you here with us
today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.
MC: My pleasure too, thank you!
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