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| Michelle Gent - YA guru, Lycanthropist, paranormal scribbler and er, Politician? |
During one of the fan sharing events I seem to spend most of my life involved in, I came across author Michelle Gent beating up an online troll and not showing any mercy.
The troll fled the battlefield with his tail between his legs. Impressed, I reached for the Wizphone straight away to see if she fancied a natter.
One of the new wave of global YA paranormalists and deep seam miners of the supernatural (and soon to be a film director), Michelle is so busy at the moment, I was lucky she could spare the time. Wizardwatchers will be pleased she did.
Michelle donned her leathers, straddled her Ducati superbike and headed down from Sutton to Southwell to have a natter with the Wizard over fruit meringue and Thor's Hammer in the Rodney. A barrel of laughs and a prolific writer, her restless energy powered the interview all by itself...
Michelle donned her leathers, straddled her Ducati superbike and headed down from Sutton to Southwell to have a natter with the Wizard over fruit meringue and Thor's Hammer in the Rodney. A barrel of laughs and a prolific writer, her restless energy powered the interview all by itself...
Hi Michelle.
Hi Wiz, nice to meet you.
You're a new face on the
block in these parts. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve been working since
my first paper round... age 12 or 13 I think. I then went on to the heady
heights of washer-upper at a restaurant and then added to the hours by working
nights at the same place - glass collecting - well before I’d left school. I
think it’s illegal to employ under -16 yr olds in nightclubs these days! I’ve been a factory
worker in a few factories (one of which was my own). I’ve made clothing for
M&S in the 80s, I made cars at Toyota and I made merchandise for my own
company. You remember Robbie Williams’
Rock DJ pants? I made them! Yes, really! I’ve been a Bouncer at a number of
nightclubs, a Dining Hall Manager at one of the local schools (technically I
was still the Bouncer) and I’m now an elected government official at County
Hall, Nottingham.
Oh yes, and I’m also a
writer, screenwriter, Editor of AWESOME Online Magazine,
...Movie Producer…
… and soon to be a Director
of a film based on one of my books – Dusty the Demon Hunter.
I’ve been married for 26
years (I met him while I was still at school, he was one of the ‘bad lads’ and
we have two children and a granddaughter.
Football? Blergh! I made
my living making merchandise for footy teams but I don’t really follow or watch
football. I’d rather be on my motorbike – I have a Ducati 900Monster.
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| Ducati 900 and mechanics near Michelle's garage |
You're from
Sutton-In-Ashfield. Quite a few Wizardwatchers originate in the East
Midlands and will know the area well. How does your environment affect your
writing?
It’s brilliant! I live in the heart of Sherwood Forest (technically)
what’s not to like?
I write about the towns and areas that I know best. Mansfield features heavily in my first and third novels and I mention Matlock Bath in the first one too. People that really know the area will be able to spot some of the places I write about. I like dropping little factual snippets in, it makes it more fun for me.
I write about the towns and areas that I know best. Mansfield features heavily in my first and third novels and I mention Matlock Bath in the first one too. People that really know the area will be able to spot some of the places I write about. I like dropping little factual snippets in, it makes it more fun for me.
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| Robin Hood Hideout "The Major Oak" |
Tell us about your
latest project?
Just one? I have a handful of them! I’ve just finished Producing Exorcist
Chronicles with Director Philip Gardiner – that was an AWESOME experience. As I
said, I’m writing the screenplay for Dusty the Demon Hunter movie, coming soon.
I’m in the middle of writing my 4th Wolf series novel –
Ancients and Gods. I have a few more irons in the fire too – Diamonds and
Deviants, Dusty 7, and another collaboration with Philip Gardiner – Paranormal
Possession. I think that’s all of them... maybe...
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| Terrific cover for angry wolfy epic |
Are you a tattoo buff?
What's the story behind your tattoo and what does it mean?
I have a beautiful
tattoo. She’s the character from my Wolf series. Her name is Hazel (Red to her
friends). I gave the wonderfully talented Tattooist, Theresa Gordon-Wade the
pictures of the flowers, the necklace, the eyes and the first chapter of
Deadlier... than the Male and she drew her.
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| Michelle's fantastic backplate tattoo |
The other part of the tattoo is a large clawed hand which seems to burst from
my shoulder blade to ‘ruin’ the other tattoo. That’s a representation of the
dragon within me that sometimes bursts out to make its presence felt.
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| More Michelle Body Art |
Away from the word
processor, what does Michelle Gent do to relax and take it easy?
Relax? Take it easy? I know nothing of these words... what do they mean?
This year has been literally nonstop for me. We went away for my husband’s
birthday and met up with two dear friends to celebrate her birthday too but
since then (January) that’s it – nose to the grindstone, nothing but work, work
work. It’s really a good job that my work is so much fun!
Oh and I go to the gym J
So do I, Michelle!! A gang of hard core
Mansfield hoods see the chance to make a million by taking you hostage at
gunpoint while you potter in the garden. You find yourself imprisoned somewhere
near Shirebrook. Derek, your gaoler, is a kindly soul and allows you three
books, two CD's and a DVD to pass the time. What would you choose?
They’d have to get past Bear first (my Rotweiller) and as my husband
says, they’d be bringing me back before tea-time..
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| Close relative of Bear - Zoltan, Hound of Dracula! Watch out hoods! |
Anything Terry Pratchett or Stephen King in the books, I just love those two or
something on mythology – a large tome of mythology (or history) would set me
right and keep me quiet and if I had a notepad and pen so I could write, they’d
not be bothered by me.
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| Despite 873 books, still Stephen King's most famous creation - Jack Torrance from "The Shining" |
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| Jack Torrance imitator from ill advised/bollocks author directed TV remake of "The Shining." |
CDs – Aerosmith Big Ones and possibly Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little
Pill are my favourites at the moment... unless it’s December, then I just LOVE
blasting out the Christmas songs!
I can watch many movies time after time but nothing in particular.
Perhaps Gone with the Wind would be a good one... excellent story and it’s long
enough to keep me occupied so I wouldn’t get into too much trouble by thinking
up ways to damage my captors J
With which writer would
you like to share dinner with? And what food would you suggest? Would you cook
or go out?
Stephen King I think... or Terry Pratchett... perhaps Neil Gaiman...
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| Neil Gaiman's first US work - Sandman Number One. If you have to ask how much this is worth, you can't afford it. |
I like venison (only tried it for the first time just recently).
Me, cook? Just wait while I stop laughing...
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| Terry Pratchett receiving ginormous royalty cheque for Discworld |
Sweet tooth or savoury?
SWEET! Or fruit... yep, fruit and meringue and lots of cream.
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| I'm off to buy one of these after this!! |
What do fans of Michelle
Gent have to look forward to in the coming year?
Ancients and Gods, the 4th Werewolf book in the series (see above: Ed!)
Dusty the Demon Hunter Novella
Diamonds and Deviants – Celtica Diamond’s first outing – I love this new
character
Exorcist Chronicles movie www.exorcistchronicles.com
Paranormal Possession movie www.paranormalpossession.com
Dusty the Demon Hunter movie
And you never know... there are two more works in progress that I might
pick back up again – ‘Daughters of Le Fay’ and ‘Biker’
Michelle, thanks for coming down the A614 to speak to us and I wish you all the best for the coming year. By the looks of it, you're going to busy!!
Thanks Wiz. You rock!
You can contact Michelle in a wide variety of places including:
Sample Michelle's scribblings here:
