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The Interview - Michael Weiss

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Which character do you enjoy writing the most as a writer and why? If choosing a favorite character is like choosing a favorite child, which character do you find requires the most attention and detail from you as a writer?

Writing romance novels under my real name and not a woman's pen-name carries a tremendous amount of responsibility and eye for the smallest details. Therefore, it is always more challenging for me to develop and write the heroine character of the book. I adore womens, and I find great pleasure in showing how my heroine's personality develops during the storyline. I like witnessing the changes they are going through, how they overcome challenges, and how they know how to orchestrate the external world to fit into their plans and goals. Exactly like in real life. 
 

Can you explain your writing process? Do you prefer to create an outline and plan beforehand, or do you prefer to write more spontaneously and organically?

For me creating an outline is a must, as I want to see like a long bread-crumb path how the story starts and ends. I want to see how one chapter connects to the one before and after, and that the main plot and subplots are consistent all along the story. There is enough room for being spontaneous while writing the chapters, so I find very little need to have it also in the outline.

Tell us what you enjoy most about writing [genre].

Writing for me is like performing magic. I close my eyes and from the darkness within I start seeing the building blocks of the story I wish to tell. I call it the “black canvas of my imagination”. I feel this ability, which lies in each and every one of us, is a true gift, as it allows a total freedom that is second to none. From the ocean of genres in writing, I feel strongly connected to contemporary novels, as there is so much beauty in our world, so many stories waiting to be written, that my mind is sometimes overwhelmed with ideas. That also connects to my vision to bring people together through love stories. Captivating stories that show how love is both timeless and borderless, so no matter where you live, you can always connect through love. 
 

Would you like readers to have any specific takeaway from your book?

I would like readers to tell themselves during and after reading the book, “wow, I never imagined this place to be like that, these people to be like that, and honestly - they are much closer to me than I’ve ever imagined”. I believe that if this quote is adhered to by a majority of people, our world will become such a better place to live in. 

I'm thrilled to have you on this journey with me, and as a small courtesy I'm pleased to offer you a short story I've written specially for my reader's circle, and towards the official launch of my book, in January 2025. Grab your free copy now here!



 

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I always start my writing sessions with a…gum. It takes about an hour until it's tasteless, and then I take my first break to scratch my bones. Sorry, but you asked. 


 

Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?1. What is your favorite line from your book?

Writing isn’t a matter of muse, but discipline. 
 

Was there anything you had to research for the book?

Research is maybe one of the most fundamental things I do when I write. When you write contemporary novels, you have to be true and loyal to the place you write about, definitely when I’m writing about other destinations and cultures. So once I create the skeleton of the book I always find a local, native, assistant, that help me with both the facts I need, as well as making sure the dialogs, the behavior of the characters and what they do, don’t do, and how they do, is aligned with this place, it’s people, and their way of living. 

What are you reading right now?

“It Ends with Us”, by Colleen Hoover. 
 

Did you always want to be an author? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I actually decided to pursue my passion for writing only recently, when approaching my 6th decade. For the past 25 years I’ve been an entrepreneur, developing and creating different types of businesses, most of them in the travel industry. To me, writing and entrepreneurship are quite similar. In both you have to be passionate, creative and maybe the most important thing - being persistent. I think that in many ways, to be a self-published author is like being an entrepreneur. You have to kick-off your book, you have beta-readers who are like beta-testers of your product, you design a cover, you deal with marketing and sales, and so on. Maybe we should change the name of authors to authorprenuars. 🙂


 

Where do you like to write? In a coffee shop? In your home office? On the beach?

I like to write and can find myself writing in many different venues, where the most bizarre one was during a train ride that had a malfunction right inside a tunnel and stopped for two hours. As it was a tunnel there was no reception and passengers who were with me nearly went nuts. But for me it was like meditation. I’ve put my headphones on, hit my Spotify playlist, and had one of the most fruitful writing sessions ever. 
 

What other hobbies do you have outside of writing?

Well, I’m a true foodie, and once had one of the most popular blogs for restaurant’s critic. I like exploring places by their local cuisine and believe this is the most exciting way to get to know places. For me a local restaurant when I travel is like going to a museum. Serve me your dish and I’ll tell you about your culture.

Beside being a foodie, I’m also an enthusiast traveler. I can’t think of anything more enriching than visiting countries, cultures, and people. On one hand our world is huge, but on the other hand, the more you travel, the more you learn that people are people everywhere. We all have dreams, passions, fears, and hopes, and we all want to love and be loved.