When she was young, Michelle Griep attended poetry workshops instead of summer camp, and holed up in her room with books instead of going to parties. She prefers Bronte to Austen, and she’ll send you her brownie recipe if you’ll send her an email. She also has a great sense of humor. If you don’t believe me, read her interview below.

Michelle lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been married for “twenty-something years,” and is the mother of two sons and two daughters and a dog mom to Tyson.

 

What sparked your writing journey?

I’d like to say it was something noble like wanting to right all the wrongs in the world via the medium of the written word. Reality? I needed to get out of the house one night a week to retain what little sanity I had left. So I ran away to Starbucks and started writing.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Child #4. Didn’t see that one coming! She’s eighteen now and I wouldn’t trade her for anything. Well, maybe on some days for a latte, but truly, she is a joy and delight.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Can anyone honestly write anything without their worldview showing through? I don’t use my stories as podiums, but if I were to strip out anything that smacked of faith, the only thing remaining would be a pile of discarded adjectives and maybe a noun or two.

Let’s talk about your new book, A Heart Deceived (David C. Cook, June 2013). Please tell us about it.

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor’s edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he’ll be committed to an asylum—and she’ll be sent to the poorhouse.

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law . . . from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.

When Ethan shows up on Miri’s doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

God often uses our stories to teach us when we’re writing them. What did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself) in the process of writing this book?

Hero Ethan Goodwin sums it up when he says, “Sometimes faith is a moment by moment thing.” Just when I think I’ve got life all figured out, wham! God shakes the ground and I wobble. I suspect it’s His way of keeping me trusting in Him alone.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Anything chocolate. Anything java. Preferably both. There’s nothing more satisfying than a slab of chocolate cake and a cup o’ joe with heavy whipping cream. Why? I think it’s part of my genetic code.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

Growing up I played flute, clarinet and saxophone. I set those all aside in the crazy-go-nuts season of raising kids. Now that my baby just graduated, I recently started the hammered dulcimer.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

The kind you hear on a merry-go-round.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Super heroine . . . and I’ve got the cape in my closet to prove it.

I’m a dog lover, and I know you are too. Please tell us about Tyson and share a photo if you’d like.

Tyson is a special needs dog. Really. He won’t eat if I’m not around, and when I am around, he’s glued to me. Unless, of course, someone is offering a nibble of steak.

Thanks, Michelle! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

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For more information about Michelle, visit her website or her blog, Writer Off the Leash.

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