Michelle Buckley shares information with readers! 
-The SCBC, Inc.

Where are you from?
I currently live in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve been a midwesterner all my life.

Tell us your latest news.
In May 2005, my debut novel, Bulletproof Soul will be released by Carl Weber’s Urban Books. The book is about Lacy Foxx, for whom the humor and horror of being single and searching (but in denial about it) is all too real. She’s torn between two men, but unfortunately, her love life isn’t her only problem. She’s also struggling with the death of close family members, best friend woes, baby’s momma drama and major job trauma. Will she learn to embrace her indestructible spirit . . . her bulletproof soul . . . before everything comes crashing down around her?

Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
If you're in a book club or own a bookstore and would like to throw a Bulletproof Soul (Pamper Your Soul and Spirit) Book Signing Event, let me know. I’m really looking forward to meeting readers. Give me a shout through my website www.michellebuckley.com.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?
At age 10, I wrote as part of a school assignment that I wanted to be a writer. And when I was 12, one of my teachers wrote on one of my history papers that I showed promise as a writer. Decades later . . . here I am.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer when I had a personal essay included in the Essence #1 bestseller, Souls of My Sisters (Dafina/Kensington, 2000). My essay was about a friend who died at a young age of cancer. If readers haven’t checked out this wonderful collection of real-life stories by black women for black women, they should definitely add it to their must-read list.

What inspired you to pen your first novel?
I wanted to tell an entertaining story that celebrated women and our resiliency. Black women especially go through a lot in life and it’s amazing to me how so many of us are not destroyed by the things that happen to us. I wanted to honor that strength of spirit. Also, I wanted to write an anti-‘Men are Dogs’ book. Good, take-your-breath-away men do exist. The men in Bulletproof Soul aren’t perfect. Like the rest of us, they’re simply human beings attempting to navigate life’s tricky lessons. At their core, all of my characters are struggling to be good people who do the right thing. But, they’re only human and prone to making mistakes.

Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m not a write-every-day kind of writer (although I’m working on that). I’m more of a write-when-the-inspiration-muse-strikes kind of writer and sometimes my muse can be darn fickle and not show up for days. On the other end of the spectrum, once when I was traveling on the highway out of town, my muse struck and I pulled over on the side of the road and wrote for three hours! Dangerous? Yes! But times like those are when I find the writing process most enjoyable. When the words just flow, I’ve learned to get out of my own way. That’s when I realize I’m just a vessel, an instrument, and God is really the one at work.

How much of the novel, Bulletproof Soul, is realistic?
Love, death, career challenges, family interference, betrayal, friendship drama, infidelity, forgiveness, infertility, single motherhood . . . these are issues that have affected many of us. And in that sense, the book is definitely realistic. I’m dedicated to dealing with real issues because it’s a way of connecting honestly with readers. And if I provide a little hope, inspiration or perspective along the way . . . that’s great.

Describe your publishing journey for your first book, Bulletproof Soul.
The amazing author, Donna Hill agreed to act as my agent and Carl Weber at Urban Books agreed to buy my book. A deal was brokered around Christmas 2003. It was one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever received. Overall, my publishing journey has been great. I’ve received wonderful support from my publisher and now my fate is in the hands of readers. (Hint: run out and buy the book!)

Are any of your characters based on people you know? Which ones are your favorites?
A piece of me surfaced in each character. But beyond that, my characters aren’t based on real people. Instead they’re based on people I wish I knew or on the other side of the coin . . . people I’m glad I don’t know. And for the record, I don’t have favorite characters. That’s like asking a mother, which is her favorite child. After giving birth to them, I love all my babies equally.

Who are your writing influences and why?
I like period writing and am a big fan of William Shakespeare’s. I also love Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon is one of my favorite books. I have paid homage to both Ms. Morrison and Shakespeare in my debut novel Bulletproof Soul. Additionally, I like Edith Wharton who creates strong, moral, duty-bound female characters. House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence are two of my favorites. And of course I’m a big fan of Carl Weber, Donna Hill and Monica Jackson. They are all wonderful writers who are paving the way for countless African-American authors, like me. Beyond that, I’m into business biographies – there’s no better drama than real corporate life. Barbarians at the Gate? Loved it long before it was ever a movie. And I’m currently reading THE BILLION DOLLAR BET: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story of Black Entertainment Television.

What are your current projects?
I’m working on my second novel for Urban Books and I’ve just finished a screenplay – a period piece about black womens’ service to our country during wartime.

Do you feel more African Americans are reading?
We’ve always been readers, I just think what we’re reading is changing. For years, contemporary women’s fiction didn’t include stories about people like us. And then Ms. McMillan, among others came on the scene and the availability of our stories exploded.

Do you see writing as a long- or short-term career?
God willing, I’m definitely in it for the long haul. And I hope readers recognize that. To sustain a writing career, I realize my passion for writing and my respect for readers must always come across. And I want readers to know that I’m dedicated to writing good books about positive life journeys featuring realistic characters they’ll long remember.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
To be a successful writer, you have to be passionate about the written word and you have to have a vivid imagination. You also have to be self-motivated and you can’t be afraid of a little (or a lot) of rejection. Beyond that, you of course have to write! Also, I’ve learned you can’t share your dream of writing with just anybody, instead share your dream with only people who will help you nurture it. And as with any goal, remember . . . 100% of the shots you don’t take, won’t go in. I borrowed that from hockey phenom, Wayne Gretzsky, and it’s so true, whether you’re talking about writing or anything else you want in life.
 

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