Interview with Christian Michael, Author of Peter

What can you tell us about your new release, Peter?

Telling the tale of how Peter Baley became the most infamous Pan in history, Peter is the culmination of a nearly 13-year journey to bring a children’s fairytale to dark, adult fantasy. While working mostly full-time, blogging, finishing my degree, and trying and failing to start a few small businesses, the seven-book Legend of the Pan fantasy epic has been my passion project. Having drafted the entire series, the edits are focused to tighten the entire series as a single, flowing story while each book serves a distinct, key part.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

A voracious reader since I was old enough to begin, I devoured Hardy Boys, Isaac Asimov, Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, the X-Wing Series, Tom Clancy and so many more. I remember attempting to write a sequel to Disney’s “Rescuers Down Under” when I was in fifth grade and finished a staggering thirteen hand-written pages. My favorite book of all time is Ender’s Game. Always, good stories made me want to make up my own and tell them my way!

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

• Ender’s Game (and series)
• Wheel of Time (Series)
• Sword of Truth (Series)
• Jack Ryan (Series)
• The Night Angel Trilogy

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Other than the feel of pure creationism, I love the fact that I’m the first person ever to read these stories! I love that I got to meet Peter, Wendy, Tinker Belle, and all the others and experience their journey, all by myself, before anyone else. There’s a supreme joy about that.

What is a typical day like for you?

Get up, have some quiet time studying the Bible. Then breakfast and a few hours of writing. In the afternoon, I do some side jobs to pay my bills. I’ve committed fully to writing as my primary profession, even if I’m still working out the marketing side to start expanding my email list, driving sales, and making a living on what I’ve already been doing for sixteen years.

What scene from Peter was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene would spoil too much, but there’s a scene near the end where Tinker Belle has had wings and arms broken, blood running from her nose and face, watching the world around her burn down, and she is in a lone position to save countless lives. She refuses to give in to the agony or hopelessness of her situation, musters herself, and just gets the job done. I’ve had so many readers come back to say how much they love her and how badass she is, and this scene is just one example of how complex, relatable but inspiring Tinker Belle can really be.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive, because what the world needs are people who come alive.” – Howard Thurman. Every individual is capable of great good, but to fully realize their potential, they must face themselves. Our greatest enemy isn’t out there, but the demons we carry inside of us, which we can’t run from through group membership, but by sitting through the difficult moments and coming to peace with old mistakes, learning to stand and sit alone, away from the group, content in isolation even while embracing the love of voluntary family and friends. To be fully realized, we must learn that controlling our circumstances is chasing after the wind; the only world that truly matters is the one within arm’s reach.

Christian Michael is the author of the new book Peter (Legend of the Pan Book 2)

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