I'm excited to be a tour stop today for the release of Emancipation by Jo Michaels!
Welcome Jo and CONGRATS!
Your writing journey—how did it start; where has it taken you?
My writing journey started in 2012 with Yassa: Genghis Khan’s coming-of-age tale. While it was the first book I wrote, I actually published book one of the Abigale Chronicles series as a test case before I published Yassa. There’s something about knowing there’s a great story there (when you ask what if) and being able to bring it to fruition. It’s a satisfying experience.
Where has it taken me? Well, I’ve now published nineteen books in several genres, and I’ve had the great honor of being able to write what I want, when I want, where I want.
What inspired you to write Emancipation?
Emancipation was born as I watched an episode of 20/20 one night. There was this dude on death row and this woman who married him. Of course, he tells her he’s innocent. She believes him. I asked “what if this and that?” and the idea was born.
Tell us a bit about your characters, Tobias and Jess.
Tobias is a serial killer. He’s cold, calculating, and manipulative. It’s exactly the kind of things a girl wants to avoid in a man, but these guys can usually charm the skin off a snake. Oh, does he ever charm Jess. Poor girl falls for all his lies. They’re dying to get their hands on one another.
What was your biggest challenge in completing the novel? Any things you wish you’d known when starting out?
I had a couple of places where I felt like my character wasn’t being himself. He started acting weird, and I had to go back and scratch/change a number of things. As I look back, I realize he was manipulating me as much as he was Jess. Guess I’m just another foolish woman, eh?
I wish I’d known he was going to be tricky like he ended up being. I would’ve been more careful writing him from the get go. It was a situation that was rectified, but I almost lost it; that was scary.
How did writing a psychological thriller differ from your past projects?
Oh, this one kept me up at night. Only one of the others did that (I, Zombie), and I think it was for the same reason (I was skeered). I studied serial killers day and night for months as I wrote because I needed to know what makes them tick. I’m a deep student of human nature, and I love exploring how twisted the human mind can become. People get weirded out by me sometimes because I can tell so much about them from just one meeting. That is why I love to write. I get to bring all the personalities to the page.
Plotter or Pantser—what’s your writing process like?
Pantser! I always know where the story is starting, have a vague idea of what it will encompass, and know where and how it will end. Everything between is organic. I like to be surprised just like readers do. *grin*
Did you have a message in mind for readers while writing Emancipation?
Watch out for guys like Tobias. They’ll tell you pretty things and be thinking something else. Always be ready to out think them.
I believe I counted 22 books. Are you really one person ;) How do you balance – blogging, writing, editing, formatting, parenting…
Twenty once this one publishes. There are two boxed sets in there. This is one heck of a milestone for me. I have a tight schedule and I stick to it. Things give now and then, but that’s the way life is. If something on the right is going to be great, something on the left might have to be not so great. I’m okay with that.
Mentors who have inspired your writing. What are you reading now?
Oh my gosh! Mentors… Stephen King, Fern Michaels, C. S. Lewis, JRR Tolken, and the women I wrote Fractured Glass and 7 with. As far as the people who inspire me daily, well, I have this coffee group… It’s one hell of an amazing time. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m reading Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith.
What are your top three resources for writers?
My blog—might be the number one because it’s SO full of useful information. Books on anything writing. Most writer conferences.
What can we look forward to next from Jo Michaels (future projects)?
I’m working on a paranormal romance that involves a magical book, and I just got accepted into a boxed set with a ton of other amazing authors (due to start releasing in September).
My writing journey started in 2012 with Yassa: Genghis Khan’s coming-of-age tale. While it was the first book I wrote, I actually published book one of the Abigale Chronicles series as a test case before I published Yassa. There’s something about knowing there’s a great story there (when you ask what if) and being able to bring it to fruition. It’s a satisfying experience.
Where has it taken me? Well, I’ve now published nineteen books in several genres, and I’ve had the great honor of being able to write what I want, when I want, where I want.
What inspired you to write Emancipation?
Emancipation was born as I watched an episode of 20/20 one night. There was this dude on death row and this woman who married him. Of course, he tells her he’s innocent. She believes him. I asked “what if this and that?” and the idea was born.
Tell us a bit about your characters, Tobias and Jess.
Tobias is a serial killer. He’s cold, calculating, and manipulative. It’s exactly the kind of things a girl wants to avoid in a man, but these guys can usually charm the skin off a snake. Oh, does he ever charm Jess. Poor girl falls for all his lies. They’re dying to get their hands on one another.
What was your biggest challenge in completing the novel? Any things you wish you’d known when starting out?
I had a couple of places where I felt like my character wasn’t being himself. He started acting weird, and I had to go back and scratch/change a number of things. As I look back, I realize he was manipulating me as much as he was Jess. Guess I’m just another foolish woman, eh?
I wish I’d known he was going to be tricky like he ended up being. I would’ve been more careful writing him from the get go. It was a situation that was rectified, but I almost lost it; that was scary.
How did writing a psychological thriller differ from your past projects?
Oh, this one kept me up at night. Only one of the others did that (I, Zombie), and I think it was for the same reason (I was skeered). I studied serial killers day and night for months as I wrote because I needed to know what makes them tick. I’m a deep student of human nature, and I love exploring how twisted the human mind can become. People get weirded out by me sometimes because I can tell so much about them from just one meeting. That is why I love to write. I get to bring all the personalities to the page.
Plotter or Pantser—what’s your writing process like?
Pantser! I always know where the story is starting, have a vague idea of what it will encompass, and know where and how it will end. Everything between is organic. I like to be surprised just like readers do. *grin*
Did you have a message in mind for readers while writing Emancipation?
Watch out for guys like Tobias. They’ll tell you pretty things and be thinking something else. Always be ready to out think them.
I believe I counted 22 books. Are you really one person ;) How do you balance – blogging, writing, editing, formatting, parenting…
Twenty once this one publishes. There are two boxed sets in there. This is one heck of a milestone for me. I have a tight schedule and I stick to it. Things give now and then, but that’s the way life is. If something on the right is going to be great, something on the left might have to be not so great. I’m okay with that.
Mentors who have inspired your writing. What are you reading now?
Oh my gosh! Mentors… Stephen King, Fern Michaels, C. S. Lewis, JRR Tolken, and the women I wrote Fractured Glass and 7 with. As far as the people who inspire me daily, well, I have this coffee group… It’s one hell of an amazing time. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m reading Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith.
What are your top three resources for writers?
My blog—might be the number one because it’s SO full of useful information. Books on anything writing. Most writer conferences.
What can we look forward to next from Jo Michaels (future projects)?
I’m working on a paranormal romance that involves a magical book, and I just got accepted into a boxed set with a ton of other amazing authors (due to start releasing in September).
Red’s Randomness
Favorite guilty pleasure when not writing? Reading. I know, boring. *grin*
If you were a character in a novel, what genre would it be?Paranormal. I need powers.
A fact about you that would surprise your readers? I’ve been an actress and a wedding/portrait photographer.
Favorite place to write? My office.
Sweet or salty snacks? I don’t really snack, but salty when I do. Not a big sugar consumer (except in my COFFEE).
If you were a character in a novel, what genre would it be?Paranormal. I need powers.
A fact about you that would surprise your readers? I’ve been an actress and a wedding/portrait photographer.
Favorite place to write? My office.
Sweet or salty snacks? I don’t really snack, but salty when I do. Not a big sugar consumer (except in my COFFEE).
Your world is about to change.
The highly anticipated psychological thriller
EMANCIPATION
by award-winning author Jo Michaels
is now available here.
Read on...
Tobias Butler has been sitting on death row since being sentenced for a gruesome murder in 2007. Bored out of his mind, he decided to apply to the online pen pal program in 2012. It's a pleasant distraction—nothing more, nothing less—for three years, until he's contacted by a beautiful, smart young lawyer named Jess. She's convinced he's innocent and wants to see him freed. As they organize their attack on the judicial system, he wonders how she plans to get his conviction overturned—because he's guilty, and he knows it. Jess is desperate to release him—and he's desperate to feel his hands squeeze the life out of her once she does.
This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. Tobias is planning to murder the beautiful attorney, Jessica, who’s promising to get him released from prison. See what happens as he manipulates her into believing in love, second chances, and justice for the wrongfully accused. She wants his love, and he wants her soul. What will happen when she sets him free?
You’ll pray he doesn’t get the girl.
But you can get him.
Buy your copy on Amazon here.
This isn't your mother's romance novel. It's 70k words of dark, gritty, and terrifying.
Nightlights will become the norm as Tobias sucks you into his world and leaves you breathless.
About the author:
Jo Michaels is...Hi, I'm Jo. Let's forget all the "Jo Michaels is blah, blah, blah" stuff and just go with it. I'm a voracious reader (often reading more than one book at a time), a writer, a book reviewer, a mom, a wife, and one of the EICs at INDIE Books Gone Wild. I have an almost photographic memory and tend to make people cringe at the number of details I can recall about them and/or their book(s). My imagination follows me around like a conjoined twin and causes me to space out pretty often or laugh out loud randomly in completely inappropriate situations.
One of my favorite things is hearing from fans! You can find me on social media most any day of the week. Connect! I'd love to hear from you.
Ways to follow:
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Tsu ~ YouTube ~ Wattpad ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads
Just in case you missed that link, you can score your copy of this novel here.
Caption phrase for FB party:
KILLER RED
Caption phrase for FB party:
KILLER RED
I hope you all enjoyed the heck out of this post, and I hope you come and join the party on Facebook. I'm over there giving away themed prizes and all manner of fun stuff. Come on down! We'll be at it from 11AM EST until I'm exhausted and can't take anymore!
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
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