with Michelle Sutton

Welcome to Patterings, Michelle! Thanks so much for being with us. Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
I had been reading Love Inspired romances and had a favorite author named Cynthia Rutledge. I wrote her one day to tell her how much I loved her books and she sent me some books that were no longer available AND she autographed them. How cool was that? Anyway, we started talking and she told me that she started writing fiction when her kids left home and she had an empty nest. She had no formal training other than a writing class at her local college. So I thought if she could do it I could do it. Then I sat down to type and I felt like God ignited a spark in me that continues to burn bright to this day and stokes my passion for writing.

Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite?
My favorite book is so edgy I’m having trouble finding a publisher brave enough to take it on, but I’m still working on selling it. It’s called The Anatomy of Temptation. It’s women’s fiction with romantic elements and a very timely novel in that so many marriages are falling apart these days. My story offers hope. It was fun to write because the story flew out of me at lightening speed. It was the easiest book I’ve ever written, too.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
It’s the common problem of not having enough hours in the day.


Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote?
Tony, of course. I love that guy because he’s the real deal. I mess his life up and watch how he handles it. It’s a beautiful thing to observe when he starts learning to trust God more.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Kissed the family dog on the nose in front of a room full of good-looking guys. I was trying to turn them off. Needless to say, it worked because of the “ew” factor. But I was hurting from a broken relationship so I wasn’t being reasonable.

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Reviewing books I don’t really like. I hate to finish them if they bore me so I never quite get around to reading the whole book.

What would a perfect day for you look like?
No interruptions and no day job. Morning devotions followed by buckwheat pancakes for breakfast (with real maple syrup) and me reading some amazing story to relax after the meal. Then later that day I’d go on line and discover an e-mail from someone who loved one of my books. I can live for months on one nice comment.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Historical romance, historical fiction, contemporary romance, women’s fiction, young adult. The more kissing and romantic tension in the book, the more I like it.

Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
Chocolate. Thankfully I don’t usually have any on me.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
Absolutely. Themes of healing and forgiveness. Themes about how Christians need to behave in order to reach the lost. Themes about how fake Christianity is useless and that passion for life comes from a heart that loves God.

What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?
To write for Him and to minister to people about His power and His grace and not to write for the mere praises of men.

You can purchase It's Not About Him at Amazon and CBD.

Don't forget to enter the giveaways still going on! I'll be drawing winners for both of them late tonight and the results will be posted tomorrow when I introduce you to Candy Arrington. :-)
The giveaways going on right now are with Shirley Connolly and Kay Marshall Strom. Have you entered them? :-)
See ya tomorrow!

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