Photo: Michele Brouder: Crafting Stories with Authentic Characters and Captivating Settings
Captivating Narratives Across Genres
Michele Brouder discusses her writing inspirations, the impact of female relationships, and her journey across multiple genres, sharing insights into her creative process and upcoming projects.
Michele Brouder, a native of Buffalo, New York, has found her muse in the lush landscapes of Ireland, where she currently resides. As a devoted mother and wife, Michele’s passion for storytelling was ignited at a young age, thanks to her mother’s influence. Her love for reading, crochet, the beach, and animals enriches her life and work. In this insightful interview, Michele shares the inspirations behind her beloved Hideaway Bay and Escape to Ireland series, offering a glimpse into her creative process and the profound impact of female relationships on her writing. With a unique ability to weave stories across genres, from women’s fiction to contemporary romance, Michele captivates readers with her authentic characters and vivid settings. Join us as we delve into Michele’s world of captivating narratives and explore her journey as a versatile author, including her upcoming projects and reflections on balancing diverse storytelling styles.
What inspired you to write the Hideaway Bay Series and how did you come up with the characters?
I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, just south of Buffalo, New York, so the beach is in my blood.
Several years ago, when my mother was dying, her lifelong friends flew in from all over the country to see her one last time. These women had been friends with my mother since they were 8 years old. They went to school together and stood up in each other’s weddings. At the time, my mother remarked, ‘Old friends are the best friends.’
That off the cuff comment got me thinking about women and their relationships with other women, mainly sisters and friends. And although these relationships sometimes are fraught with difficulties, for the most part, they are rich and rewarding. I have two sisters, my mother had three and the women in my life were a strong influence. The underlying current of all of it was female solidarity, which was something I wanted to explore and write about in contemporary and past times.
How has living in Ireland influenced your writing, particularly in the Escape to Ireland series?
I’ve lived in rural Ireland for 16 years. I never have to look far for inspiration, usually just outside my window. Ireland has some of the most spectacular scenery which certainly inspires.
I loved Ireland so much that I couldn’t help but write a series about it. I felt that living here had given me a particular insight as to how things were done, the customs, and the vernacular, all of which helped to make those books as authentic as possible.
Can you share some insights into your writing process? How do you develop your storylines and characters?
As for my writing process, I think about the book I want to write for a while: characters, their arcs, themes, etc. When I finally sit down, I do not write in order that the finished version will appear. I will have written some notes on the scenes I want to write and start with them first and then see where it takes me. When I first sit down to write the very first draft, my goal is four thousand words a day until the draft is finished. Usually 20 days. Then I send it off to my fabulous editor, Jessica, who does a developmental edit. In a couple of weeks, she sends me back a developmental letter, telling me what works, what doesn’t work, and what I need to explore. These letters are worth their weight in gold because they make me think of things I hadn’t considered. Then I do rewrites, do a grammar and spell check, go through for all my crutch words and finally a ‘read aloud’ which I find helps. Then I hand it back to Jessica for the line edit which takes about 3 weeks. She sends it back, I go through it and do a few more minor rewrites, and then send it back to her for one final time for review.
How do you balance writing across different genres such as women’s fiction, contemporary sweet romance, and young adult paranormal?
I usually concentrate on one genre at a time. I haven’t written paranormal in many years and it’s been at least three years since I’ve written romance, but that’s not to say I won’t return to romance. For right now, I’m enjoying writing women’s fiction, especially the dual timeline.
In your book “Her Fake, Irish Husband”, what inspired the unique problem that Rachel Parker had to solve?
In the romance genre, marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes. I cut my teeth (many years ago) on Barbara Cartland novels and it’s a trope that I love. Had a lot of fun writing that one.
Can you share any upcoming projects or plans for future books in the Hideaway Bay Series or the Escape to Ireland series?
The Hideaway Bay series is complete at 7 books. I have a new women’s fiction series, The Lavender Bay Chronicles, out this year. The second book, Lost and Found in Lavender Bay, was just released on June 26th. I’m back to the beach with this one. I’m also playing around with writing another Irish series, time permitting.
