Ask the Author: Michael Hebler
Answered Questions (8)
Michael Hebler
Hogsmeade from Harry Potter. Butterbeer, quirky candy, secret passages, a beautiful forest, historical architecture, magic... love it.
Michael Hebler
Hi Christine,
Thank you for your question. This was a concern of mine from the start of my first book because religion is a prominent part of history, especially during the Old West period. Every dusty lawless town had a priest or reverend trying to absolve the occupants of their sins. While my stories are not centralized on religious beliefs, including religion does add to the historical accuracy even in the genre of historical fiction. How I have chosen to deal with this sensitive subject is to keep all beliefs out of the narrative and contained only in the dialogue of the individual characters. This, of course, only works if your main protagonist isn't heavily religious. Thus far, mine haven't been.
I hope I have fully answered your question. If you have any others, please do not hesitate to ask.
Cheers!
Michael
Thank you for your question. This was a concern of mine from the start of my first book because religion is a prominent part of history, especially during the Old West period. Every dusty lawless town had a priest or reverend trying to absolve the occupants of their sins. While my stories are not centralized on religious beliefs, including religion does add to the historical accuracy even in the genre of historical fiction. How I have chosen to deal with this sensitive subject is to keep all beliefs out of the narrative and contained only in the dialogue of the individual characters. This, of course, only works if your main protagonist isn't heavily religious. Thus far, mine haven't been.
I hope I have fully answered your question. If you have any others, please do not hesitate to ask.
Cheers!
Michael
Michael Hebler
Write what makes you happy, and when you do, I think you might be surprised at how your words don't come across to the reader as writing, but more like a conversation that you're having with him/her. And do your research! It's all in the details. Details, details, details.
Michael Hebler
"Legend of the Chupacabra" is book three in a series, so the inspiration behind the idea just came to me once I knew how I would end book two, "Curse of the Chupacabra." But [Legend] does have this subplot about shanghaiing and the Portland Underground. That idea came from an hour documentary I watched on a cable channel. I don't remember which one. Either the History Channel or Discovery. I think the episode was part of a series called, "Underground America," or something along that line. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It's fascinating!
Michael Hebler
It depends what I'm working on. For example, "Legend of the Chupacabra" has this nautical subplot, and I just listened to "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" soundtrack over and over when writing chapters that needed to contain that feel. As for "The Ghost of Christmas Past," since it's based on Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol," I usually read a few pages from that book before I get started. It helps gets the juices flowing.
Michael Hebler
At this moment, I am finishing up the last couple of chapters of audiobooks. I've recorded all three current chuppie titles in the past six months. They will be released on July 29 along with chuppie #3, "Legend of the Chupacabra." Then, I jump immediately into my editor's notes and start a rewrite of "The Ghost of Christmas Past." That deadline is approaching fast as the release date for that novella is October 7, 2014. I'll also be recording the audiobook for that story as well. Lastly, my year will end with a first draft of chuppie #4, "Dawn of the Chupacabra."
Michael Hebler
Having the opportunity to write. Because in all honesty, most writers don't write because they want to, they write because they NEED to. I'd explode if I couldn't get my ideas down on paper, and nobody wants that. Yuck!
Michael Hebler
Luckily, I don't suffer from writer's block too often. But when I am hit with the ailment, I step away. The answer usually comes to me by the next day. I think writer's block comes with a lack of preparedness, and the reason why I don't experience it too often is because an idea has usually resided within me for no less than a year before I write the first word.
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