Ask the Author: Michael Lindley
Answered Questions (8)
Michael Lindley
After I spend much of my day writing and reading my own stories, I love to jump into the latest releases from my favorite authors including the new Amor Towles novel, Daniel Silva, James Lee Burke and Kristin Hannah.
Michael Lindley
Conrad, I just saw your note. I'm very sorry about the confusion here. I certainly wasn't trying to trick anyone in re-titling two of my older books with original titles that really didn't fit the genre today. I've tried to place a disclaimer in all book descriptions for these books that they were formerly published as The Seasons of the EmmaLee and Grayton Winds.
Again, my apologies. I can't grant a refund on Amazon, but I would be more than happy to send you a free eBook copy of my new book that debuts this Friday, Death On The New Moon. Please let me know what email address I can send the book file to and what format (Kindle or EPub for PC). You can reach me a michael@michaellindleynovels.com
Most sincerely,
Michael Lindley.
Again, my apologies. I can't grant a refund on Amazon, but I would be more than happy to send you a free eBook copy of my new book that debuts this Friday, Death On The New Moon. Please let me know what email address I can send the book file to and what format (Kindle or EPub for PC). You can reach me a michael@michaellindleynovels.com
Most sincerely,
Michael Lindley.
Michael Lindley
"Letter from Palmetto Ranch" will be released early next year, a work of Historical Fiction/Mystery & Suspense set in Civil War-era and present-day Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC, and a remote battlefield in southern Texas.
The idea for the story first came from the discovery of a note written on a Confederate $5 bill my grandfather had kept from a collection of family Civil War memorabilia. The note was a message home from a fallen soldier. I began to think about the last soldier to die in the Civil War and found in my research there was a senseless battle fought weeks after the treaty was signed in Appomattox.
In my story, a letter home from a dying Civil War soldier delivered to the widow by a stranger, leads the woman on a trail of discovery of why her husband died in such a senseless battle, and struggles with her dead husband's family on the fate of her own family's property and future.
Recent trips to both Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC, captured my imagination for the setting of widow's home and her ancestor's in the present-day story of a senseless murder and the betrayal that leads to it.
The idea for the story first came from the discovery of a note written on a Confederate $5 bill my grandfather had kept from a collection of family Civil War memorabilia. The note was a message home from a fallen soldier. I began to think about the last soldier to die in the Civil War and found in my research there was a senseless battle fought weeks after the treaty was signed in Appomattox.
In my story, a letter home from a dying Civil War soldier delivered to the widow by a stranger, leads the woman on a trail of discovery of why her husband died in such a senseless battle, and struggles with her dead husband's family on the fate of her own family's property and future.
Recent trips to both Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC, captured my imagination for the setting of widow's home and her ancestor's in the present-day story of a senseless murder and the betrayal that leads to it.
Michael Lindley
My novels have all come from fascination with a particular place and time. My first two novels were set in a small resort town in Northern Michigan where I grew up and my family has lived for many generations. The era of the 1940's and '50's were always intriguing to me with the vast cultural divide of the wealthy summer elite who visiting each year and the local families like my own who cared for their homes and boats, and relied on their money to build a life in this remote area.
The third book is set in Atlanta, Georgia and a small beach village in North Florida. As I researched the early years of Grayton Beach, I was inspired to recreate the Prohibition-era times of moonshiners, bootleggers and a killer hurricane in that area.
Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC captured my imagination for my fourth book after trips there recently, with a story set in both the Civil War times and present day.
Daily inspiration seems to come from an excitement and anticipation in seeing where the story will lead and evolve as it continues to develop.
The third book is set in Atlanta, Georgia and a small beach village in North Florida. As I researched the early years of Grayton Beach, I was inspired to recreate the Prohibition-era times of moonshiners, bootleggers and a killer hurricane in that area.
Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC captured my imagination for my fourth book after trips there recently, with a story set in both the Civil War times and present day.
Daily inspiration seems to come from an excitement and anticipation in seeing where the story will lead and evolve as it continues to develop.
Michael Lindley
I just finished my new fourth novel, "Letter from Palmetto Ranch". It's off to the editor and cover designer. Hope to have everything ready for a book launch in late January.
"LFPR" is another work of Historical Fiction/Mystery & Suspense, with parallel stories of love, betrayal and murder set in Civil War-era and present day Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC, as well as Palmetto Ranch, Texas where the last battle of the Civil War was fought weeks after the treaty was signed at Appomattax.
In "LRPR", a Civil War widow in South Carolina meets a stranger who delivers an un-mailed letter from her husband who died in a senseless battle in Texas. The stranger's intentions soon become suspect, as do the actions of her dead husband's family as she tries to save her own family's property and way-of-life.
In the parallel, modern-day story, a descendent of the Civil War widow finds her life in turmoil when her husband is found murdered following his involvement in an unscrupulous land deal.
The story explores themes of trust, betrayal, gripping loss and the redeeming power of newfound love.
"LFPR" is another work of Historical Fiction/Mystery & Suspense, with parallel stories of love, betrayal and murder set in Civil War-era and present day Pawleys Island and Charleston, SC, as well as Palmetto Ranch, Texas where the last battle of the Civil War was fought weeks after the treaty was signed at Appomattax.
In "LRPR", a Civil War widow in South Carolina meets a stranger who delivers an un-mailed letter from her husband who died in a senseless battle in Texas. The stranger's intentions soon become suspect, as do the actions of her dead husband's family as she tries to save her own family's property and way-of-life.
In the parallel, modern-day story, a descendent of the Civil War widow finds her life in turmoil when her husband is found murdered following his involvement in an unscrupulous land deal.
The story explores themes of trust, betrayal, gripping loss and the redeeming power of newfound love.
Michael Lindley
Writing your book is only half the challenge. If you want people to actually find and read your work, be prepared to spend at least as much time or more in marketing and outreach to potential readers. Be persistent and patient. It takes time to build an audience. Don't give up.
Michael Lindley
Writing in the genre of Historical Fiction gives me the opportunity to go back in time and attempt to recreate a compelling time and place. I often wish there was really a time machine to take us back, but writing is the next best thing!
Michael Lindley
Fortunately, the dreaded "writer's block" has yet to be an issue. Before I start writing, I usually have the next scene in mind and the story plays out from there. Since I rewrite extensively throughout the development of the manuscript, I don't dwell on whether a particular scene or chapter is perfect, or will even stay in the book. I just keep writing!
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