Way To Your Heart: Summer Michaels

When I heard Less Than Three was celebrating their four year anniversary, I jumped at the chance to participate in some way. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to LT3. Sasha, Megan, and Sam all took a chance on me when they accepted Substitute Heart. Because of that chance, I get to call myself a published author :) I still squeal like a five year old when I say or type those words.

So what’s the way to the heart of Summer Michaels?

My heart can easily be reached by a breathtaking country drive. I live right outside of Lexington Kentucky. I’m surrounded by beautiful horse and cattle farms. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons. The farms are so beautiful those times of the year. Also that’s when Keeneland opens and nothing says Kentucky, like horse races. 

Another way to my heart is reading. I love, love, love to read! My husband joked the other day when he went to the library with me about how I was the number one draft pick when it came to the library. I know all my librarians by name and vice versa. I live in a small town, so my library will often order books for you if you ask…I just so happen to ask a lot. My library currently has no male to male material. It is my hope to turn that around! ;)

I read everything I can get my hands on! My current favorite M/M reads are: Bareback by Chris Owen, King Perry by Edmond Manning, The Heart of Texas by RJ Scott, and Look Away Silence by Edward C. Patterson, just to name a few. With all of these books, I couldn’t put them down. They made me want to become a writer, maybe not just a writer…a writer that touches reader’s hearts. Each of these authors moved me. Their characters stay within my heart as I write. 

The last and final way to my heart, is my family. I would'nt be the author/writer I am today without them. I have four wild and crazy kids who keep me on my toes. They teach me every day what it is to love unconditionally. They teach me to be strong and still believe in myself. My 7 year old will often come up to me, give me a bear hug, and tell me she is proud that I’m an author. That means the world to me.

When I completed Substitute Heart, I had my husband read it. I’m always nervous to have anyone read my work. I pour my heart into my stories. When he was finished, he cried and said he was so proud of me. To have my families blessing and encouragement is beyond amazing. 

In honor of Less Than Three’s Anniversary, I am giving away two copies of Substitute Heart. All you have to do to enter is tell me what your favorite M/M book is. Be sure to leave your email address as well. I can’t wait to hear from you all! :) The giveaway will end April 16^th. 

New Resolution

For the new year, I didn't want to get swept in the type of a New Year's Resolution. However, in my writing world, I need the extra push! You see, I have been sitting on a WIP (Work In Progress) for WAY to long!! It has been sitting at 57K. Why you ask? Simple. I'm afraid to finish it. It may seem silly but I am. 

What could an author be afraid of a almost completed manuscript? The WIP in question needs a lot of editing. There are holes that need to be patched. Thoughts needing to be completed. The short of it, it's a rough draft. 

I recently was told that all rough drafts suck. I thought for sure this person was just pulling my leg, trying to make me feel better about my writing. Talking with other authors, I have come to realize that not only do rough drafts suck, but every author who has ever dreamed of being published questions their talent. 

So this year, my New Year's Resolution is to stop being afraid of the 'What If' and start writing. My goal is to submit three stories for publication this year. I want to stop standing in my own way of my dreams coming true:)

Starting this Monday, (Jan 7)  I will start a new blog theme titled, Challenge Me Mondays. The rules of CMM are simple. I want fans, other authors, or the causal passerby to post a word for me to use in my WIP for that week. You post the word on Monday, I toss all the words thrown at me in a hat, and pick that word as my challenge word. I will have until the following week to post 1k written with the winning challenge word. 

I already participate in a weekly writing challenge with some friends, but this will be an extra challenge to help push me to write. I hope you all will pitch in and help me:) I look forward to hearing from each of you on Monday! 

Did anyone else make any New Year's Resolutions? Please feel free to share;)

Published!

I have been a horrible blogger lately. I have been so wrapped up in kid events, writing, editing, and running errands that I haven't been keeping my blog updated. I have poor time management skills! 

One of the reasons I wanted to stop by and share today is because one month ago today, my first story was accepted for publication by Less Than Three Press. I am so over the moon excited!! I have wanted to be a published author since I was in high school journalism class. 

The night I got my acceptance letter, I screamed, danced around the house, woke up all my children, and called/texted many friends. My mom was so excited she told the other teachers at school. Two of them asked if I would come and talk to their classrooms. 

I am so proud to soon represent Less Than Three Press. After getting to know Sam and Megan Derr, I couldn't have asked for a better publishing company. I have amazing press family! 

My story, Substitute Heart will be released on December 26,2012. I can't like a baby writing this piece. I fell hard in love with Travis, Lane, and Oliver. When I started writing, I didn't plan for this story to end up the way it did, but I couldn't have been more pleased. This piece is really special to me. It's the first work I ever submitted. 

Here is the blurb for Substitute Heart!! I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

Three years have passed since Travis buried his husband, but he is unable to let go and move on. Even the support of his late husband's fellow Marines cannot motivate him to live again. His apathy for life reaches a breaking point when he is fired days before Christmas, and an unexpected visitor shows Travis that he has one last chance for a happy future, else he is doomed to one far bleaker …

Self Doubt

As a writer, there is a member of the family that kinda invites its self where ever you go. Self Doubt. Self Doubt is that annoying voice in your head that asks, "Is this good enough? Does this suck major ass?"

I have named my doubt, Dan. Doubter Dan visits me often. He pulls up a chair like he belongs at my dining table. Dan is a stout man with a Boston accent who always seems to be eating a sub sandwich. He creeps up sometimes out of no where. Do all writers deal with this or have I just lost my marbles? Could you imagine the field day a shrink would have with this info?

How do other's break through their own doubt and move forward? I thought about creating a support group...

before I realized I would pick up other author's insecurities like a hypochondriac taking a psychology course. If you talk to any writer, they will tell you about their doubts and how everyone has them, but my question is how do you get rid of it? How do you put your work on display and still love writing?

Is doubting yourself all that bad? Maybe at the end of the day, what you have actually written is poo. Maybe Dan was right! What then? 

I have come to the conclusion that it's okay to doubt yourself, just as long as Doubter Dan doesn't win every round. Sometimes you have to flush the shit, that's what editing is for. Rocky didn't win every fight, but he didn't go down without a fight. I guess in my ramblings, what I am trying to say is this...Don't give up. Don't allow doubt to consume your writing. 

Newton Faulkner  Dream Catch Me 

There comes a point in an author's life where they have to face the facts. I'm an author. May sound silly, but it was the hardest words to admit to myself. I'm an author. I still feel the need to say it over and over again. 

When I write, one of the many artist I love to listen to is Newton Faulkner. I love Newton Faulkner! He is amazing! His song Dream Catch Me sums up the way  I feel about being an author. Here are the lyrics to those not familiar with the song.

There's a place I go when I'm alone
Do anything I want, be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm falling

That's where I'm going, where are you going
Hold it close, won't let this go
Dream catch me yeah
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at all

You do so much
But you don't know... it's true
And I know now who I am
Yeah yeah yeah
And I know now

There's a place I go when I'm alone
Do anything I want, be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm falling

That's where I'm going, where are you going
Hold it close, won't let this go
Dream catch me yeah
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at all

See you as a mountaina fountain of God
See you as a descant soul
in the setting sun
you as a sound just as silent as none
I'm young

There's a place I go when I'm alone
Do anything I want, be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm falling

There's a place I go when I'm alone
Do anything I want, be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm falling

That's where I'm going, where are you going
Hold it close, won't let this go
Dream catch me, yeah
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at all


There's a place I go when I'm alone, do anything I want, be anyone I want to be. The place I go with my characters is one I don't want to come back from. I'm truly blessed.