Exclusive Interview with
Michelle Schad/Noa Rose
When did you start writing?
I've been writing since I could hold a pencil. My first stories were short, three-sentence anecdotes with illustration that turned into worlds and worlds of imagination.
What makes writing your passion?
It is my catharsis, the way I express who I am. I can be anything, anyone, and go anywhere when I write without shackles and with complete abandon.
How long have you been writing?
As long as I can remember. Journals, stories, notes - I'm always writing.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Fear! Fear and complete elation. It was like seeing my child go off into the world and it had my stomach all in knots!
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I write in so many genres it's hard to choose just one set. The characters for A New Game are little voices that invaded my head one day and would not be silenced until I told their story.
The Beyond Human crew came on a dare, a word prompt gone wild and so they are just as wild.
The Rise of the Phoenix crew came about a long time ago and evolved at the gaming table during the TTRPG I run based on the world setting.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
When people call it a 'hobby'. It isn't a hobby. It may look like it, but there is a lot of work, sweat, tears - sometimes blood - that goes into creating a novel and getting it published.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I write smut. It seems silly but it totally clears everything up because that requires total abandon to write. So, I write it, set it aside for something Noa can use, then go back to what needs to get done.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
My passion for words and the worlds that come of it. My advice is to always keep going. Someone will read your book and smile or be moved to tears or check under their bed at night. That is what matters. Even if it's just one person you reach, you've succeeded.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Keep a tighter schedule. Schedules matter. Keep writing. Don't let someone tell you to stop because it won't go anywhere. It will.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Yes. I take the bad ones with a grain of salt and try not to let them bother me too much. It is not logical to expect EVERYONE to like what I write.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
Giddiness. It makes me smile all day long to read a good review.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Absolutely. Several of my scenes have been taken from real life events.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
Of all my characters, I think Reven and Angel match me the most. Did I base them off me? Not entirely but each of my characters has a piece of me in them. These two just have the most.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Covers matter. I've learned the hard way that covers matter. They are the grabbing hook for any book written.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I love connecting with my readers and knowing what they enjoyed. It's the best part of the job.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Shock. It doesn't always register in my mind that people might know me and it throws me off.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Neil Gaiman. I love his works and the way he connects with everyone.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
My dream is to see my books on brick and mortar shelves next to others in my genres. I don't need to be like big-name authors, but seeing them there on shelves where they belong is the goal.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Yes. I've actually done so on one book already because the initial was so... flat. I gave it new life. I'm not afraid to admit if/when something is written poorly and I will correct it.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
Switch places? Oof. Uhm... I don't think I'd want to switch places with anyone. They get too much negativity thrown their way.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
What are you after? That's what I want to know. What do they stand to gain by being cruel? Delight? Schadenfreude is real, I get it, but there has to be something better they can be doing with their time.
What would you say to your readers?
May you enjoy every word - or, at least, most of them! May you crack a smile or shed a tear. Either way, I hope they are transported to a new place even if it's just for one page.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I am currently a resident of the Sunshine State. I am married, have four children, four furbabies, four grandfurbabies (my kids have their own pets), and an absolutely wild imagination.
What is your day job if you have one?
COO of an audio/visual company. I wear many hats.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Free time! That's funny. In the few minutes of free time, I am a gamer (TTRPG and board games), a crafter, and an obsessive Canva creator.
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yeah, for the most part. There were hard parts but I don't recall ever being particularly unhappy.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
No. It was just something I liked to do. I needed to get the stories out of my head, so I did.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
Oh, gods, so many! I have a steampunk novel that has yet to be published, another erotica about going to a different world and finding a lover there, sequels to the novels already published...
So many.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
This is a hard question to answer because my instinct is to say 'We lack everything'. Education has changed so much. It doesn't feel like children are learning - they're test takers but they don't retain anything.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
1. Normal feet (I have no ankles)
2. Health for my family
3. A house by the ocean in Hawai'i
What is your favorite music?
Alternative rock and southern gothic.
Share a secret with us 🙂
I am a happy pansexual.