Wow…  As if I didn't think I had enough going on!  This lady dabbles in just about everything – authoring books and screenplays, starting her own publishing company, wife, mother, blogger, ghostwriter!  I could go on, but she'll tell it better than I will.  Let me introduce you to D. Michelle Gent…

Q.  First of all, tell me a little about your most recent release YA novel Dream Lover (Dusty the Demon Hunter).

Dusty is a real feisty character. Her mother was seduced by an Incubus demon and Dusty was the result. Dusty saw her mother killed by the demon right before her eyes and it scarred her but made her very determined. Dusty's grandparents took her in and they both learned as much about Demonology as they possibly could in order to help Dusty with her life and the acceptance of being half-demon.

Q.  Is this part of a series?

Yes, Dusty was always going to be a series of short stories, aimed at the 99c market. There are lots of adventures that I can see Dusty taking me on and I'm looking forward to them – when time permits.

Q.  Do you always write YA novels, or do you dabble in other genres?

No, Dusty was my first foray into the YA genre. I did worry that the beginning of the story was a little too old for YA at first.

Q. How did you get started writing paranormal / fantasy?

I am a voracious reader, I have always read incessantly and I read a few books that I was disappointed with and I remember thinking "I think I could do better than this…" and so I gave it a go. Paranormal / fantasy is my genre of choice though.

Q.  Can you tell us a little about Gingernut Books?

Gingernut Books is named after what my Father-in-law always called me – Gingernut (sometimes Gingernutter) – it fits and it's catchy.

I was disappointed because I had been trying for a decade to get published and I decided that the editors and agents that rejected my manuscript (especially the ones that didn't bother to read it) didn't know *everything* and I was absolutely certain that my stories were worth reading. My husband agreed and with a lot of help and advice from a world-renowned author and film director – Philip Gardiner – last year, Gingernut Books Ltd was born. We had so much help with the project and the feeling that I got when I finally held my book in my hands was so astonishingly wonderful that we decided that we have to help other authors grasp that same feeling.

Q.  Do your friends and family read your work?  What do they think, and are they supportive?

My family read it (well those that read do). My daughter loves my work and re-reads my books. My Mother-in-law is always sending messages with my kids that she needs another one of my books to read and frequently reads stories that are just printed onto paper, she can't wait for them to be bound.

My friends always knew that I'd do something like this and read my work as soon as it's out. Facebook friends nag me to get the next one done so I can't even procrastinate on the 'net!

Q.  What kind of reaction have you gotten from your readers?

I've got nothing but absolute positive reactions. The reviews are far more than I could have wished for. I'm amazed that people seem to love my work as much as I do but I put that down to the fact that I write how I like to read… if that makes sense?

Q.  Who are your favorite authors, favorite books?

Stephen King, James Herbert, Terry Pratchett, Charlaine Harris, Derek Landy, Karen Slaughter.

Q.  Real books or e-reader? 

Both, either. On holiday, it has to be e-reader because it's so much more convenient to pack my Kindle than a dozen books into my suitcase. I do love the feel of a book though and I don't think that the e-readers will ever fully take over (not for me anyway).

Q.  Okay, now give me the deets on the real D. Michelle Gent… What was your teenage years like?  Did you love school or loathe it?

I was a terror! Tom-boy, always climbing trees, riding wild ponies, going off on adventures. I lived in a pretty rural place, surrounded by fields and would only come home when I was hungry.  I loathed school! I was so glad to leave and I have never been one of those adults that tells the school child "you'll wish you were still at school when you've left and have to work." Nope, nu-uh, not true. I prefer work thank you!

Q.  In high school, were you a social butterfly or wall flower?

Hmm.. high school… I'm from England and we have school 'til 16 (or 18 if you 'stay on'). I left at 16 – as soon as I could! I had already met and started seeing Trev, my husband by the time I left school so my 'social butterflying' was riding on the back of his motorcycle for the most part.

Q.  Do you have day job?

Yes, I'm aCountyCouncillor. I represent an area of my town in local government. I was elected just over two years ago and I'm very proud of the achievement. I'm also studying to become an accredited proof reader and editor to help with Gingernut Books.

Q.  Where do you live?

I live in the middle of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England.

Q.  Can you tell us anything about your family?

My husband works so very hard, he has a demanding and arduous full-time job as an Electrical Engineer at a local coal mine. Then he comes home and continues with Gingernut. He's publishing five books at the moment and he doesn't have a spare moment. He is my rock and we've just celebrated 25 years of marriage.

My daughter Danielle is a beautiful young woman that is a Mechanical Maintenance Engineer atThornton's (the chocolate makers).  My son Haydn is a driver's Mate at a local factory and he and his girlfriend have just got a flat, they'll be moving out soon.  Tammy, my son's girlfriend is a wonderful young woman too and such a caring person. She's studying to become a Youth Worker.  Ben is my son's friend who had a hard time at home and now lives with us until Tammy and Haydn move out, they're taking him with them.

Q.  Tell me something random that no one knows about you.

I'm a very open person, I don't think there's much that most people don't know… Oh, I had a stalker back in 2000 and I had to take him to court. I set a legal precedent by taking him to court under my chat-room name and his chat-room name. That was the first time it had ever been done and now, to protect your identity when someone is trying to find your real name and address, you can use the nick-name you're known as.

Q.  Sun bathing or sky diving?

Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good plane? Sunbathing every time!

Q.  Most reckless thing you've ever done?

Hahaha!… sorry… I've done loads of reckless things. I confronted a gang of 15 fighting Rugby players (similar to American Football) and stopped them from fighting. It was my job, I was a 'Bouncer' at the time, but it was still pretty reckless… I took a photo of friends riding their motorcycle while I was riding pillion. I had to hang off the side of the bike as we were going in order to get the shot. I've taken a car around Silverstone Race track and the instructor told me to slow down…

Q.  Where and when do you write?  Is it hard to find time to write?  Your preference – music blaring, or absolute quiet?

In my office, whenever I can. Sometimes I write long-hand in bed when my husband is on night shift. I'm lucky in my job in that I don't have meetings every day.

Absolute silence if possible. The wind and / or rain is acceptable, the ravening horde next door screaming at each other and their children and their kids banging on the walls is not…

Q.  Do you create your own cover art?

No! I can't draw recognisable stick figures!

Q.  At what age did you start writing?  Did you always want to be a writer?

I enjoyed English at school and the essays etc we had to do but I didn't give writing much thought until my children were small.

Q.  Do you have any advice for writers, young and old alike?

Yes, never take 'No' as the definitive answer. You may get knocked back by an agent or a publisher but they don't know everything and sometimes a real gem is missed because they think they do. So never give up, if you think yours is a good story, get it edited and proofread professionally and if it still doesn't get picked up, do it yourself! You are worth it!

Q.  What can we expect next from D. Michelle Gent?

Blood… on the Moon, the third novel in my Werewolf series, should be released on Halloween.

Dusty the Demon Hunter,

Lady of the Dark – a film by Philip Gardiner – I'm writing the book to accompany it.

Another film (title not decided) by Ray Andrew Wilkes – I'm writing the book to accompany it.

I'm also meeting with a Film Producer tomorrow to negotiate writing a screenplay for a new movie to be distributed through a large film company (sorry, I can't say more just yet).

I've been asked to ghost-write the autobiography of a local celebrity so that should be fun.

I'm also going to write the biography of a local lady who sees spirits. She is a wonderful and kind person and she's been seeing spirits since she was 4 years old.

D. Michelle Gent can be found on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.  Her books are both sold on Amazon UK and Amazon US, and more information on her publishing arm Gingernut Books can be found on their website and Facebook fan page.