It’s been a seven year labour of love for a Drumheller resident whose first novel was released Friday, March 20.
37 year-old Michelle Hiscox’s novel “A New Day at Midnight“ was released on Amazon Friday, published through Bookkus.com, based in Calgary. The crowd funded site publishes books selected as favourites by participants.
Hiscox describes her book as a paranormal romance, a genre she has been a big fan of, particularly books written by J.R. Ward. “Once I started reading those, I got it into my head. I loved them so much, I knew I could do the same - I knew I could write.” Her own book she says is a about love between two people, and what they have to overcome to find each other.”
Her love of reading began at a young age, and her imagination was further sparked when her Grandmother introduced her to Stephen King books. She finds the darker stories mysterious and compelling, especially in the way the characters must overcome the obstacles they face.
With the support and encouragement of her husband, her family, and her employer, Hiscox started writing around her regular daily schedule, which included caring for her then newborn daughter, wherever she could fit in the time, including writing on the laptop when her husband was driving. “Anything that I could do, I would do.”
Her work on the book included a lot of research on one of her interests, the Eastern European gypsy culture, facts of which are blended in with the story in her book.
“I ordered the oldest books I could find, and there are very few, on gypsy culture and folklore. I started reading on the history, and just started formulating ideas.” And with all her reading, writing and research, Hiscox found a well of support with fellow aspiring authors, learning and connecting with people who understood the process she was
going through.
Since her book was released, she has received a lot of support through social media, which she believes is helping to level the playing field in improved recognition for Canadian authors.
The marketing plan for her book is still in the works, with the release on Amazon and social media being the first step.
Her first step as an author sounds like it came from encouragement she received while in high school, from teacher, Lynn Hemming.
Twenty years may have passed since then, but the author is clear on Hemming’s belief in her students - “the first time I started writing, I thought of her.” and her own reasons for belief in writing.
“I wanted to make other people feel how I felt when I read their books. I just know how powerful some of the authors I read were, And how much I loved their characters,” Hiscox describes.
“And I wanted to do that for others as well.”
Visit the author’s website at michellehiscox.com to read a snapshot of “A New Day at Midnight”.
