Author Spotlight of the Week

🖋 Meet MICHELE CASTLEMAN

She is a local (to us) writer and you may have even met her before at events at PanYan book store or an event around NE Ohio!

Michele Castleman is a teacher and writer who lives in Ohio, but was raised in Michigan. When she is not thinking up complex plots for teenaged heroines to mess with, she is snuggling her three cats. Stolen Hearts is her second book.

📚 Meet her featured book: STOLEN HEARTS

Seventeen-year-old Ella Gatz is alone when the thief enters her father’s mansion on Halloween night. Ella fights the intruder but fails to stop the theft of Her Heart, her mother’s favorite painting. Ella mourns the loss of the only remaining piece of the mother she lost, and when her father, CEO of a security firm, refuses to report the crime for fear of the humiliation he will face at having his security system fail in his own home, Ella determines to hunt down the culprit and reclaim Her Heart.

The only hint to who the thief may be is a long, pink-and-blond hair. Finding her thief will become Ella’s first move in a dangerous game of wits that exposes family secrets and could lead to her family’s financial ruin.

❔ Q&A with Michele

Q: Share a fun behind-the-scenes detail that won’t spoil the story.

A: Originally a lot of characters were going to be named after chess pieces. While I minimized that trend, you can look for some of the names that survived into the final book.

Q: What’s a fun or surprising fact about your writing journey?

A: How long my ongoing journey has been. I knew I wanted to be a writer as a student and it would be around a 20-year journey to see my first book in print.

Q: What is something you learned while writing this book that you want to carry forward?

A: I learned about famous art heists and famous chess competitions as I researched. But I'll particularly carry forward a quotation by chess grandmaster Mikhail Tal that I wanted to incorporate: "You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one." I liked it both for Ella's journey, but I also think it speaks to what authors do when crafting mysteries and thrillers.

Q: Do you have any writing rituals, habits, or chaotic quirks?

A: So many! I need to have a writing routine. I usually write in the morning with music and a lit candle. I also ideally want to be by a window as I write.

Q: What’s something you wish more readers understood about supporting indie writers?

A: This is an approach to writing that requires a lot of persistence. A lot of the time, you feel alone. Any little bit of appreciation or encouragement is always welcome.

Q: What’s your favorite way for readers to connect with you?

A: Connecting on Insta is great: @ShelTheProf. I like meeting people at book events. I'll be at The Big Ohio Book Con in June.

Find her on Instagram here!

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graphics in this post created by the fabulous Lisa at Plants Paws & Pages on IG!