You know, looking through these answers, I can’t help but feel that Michael and I have a connection, he’s an army brat, I was an army brat. His stories are based off of games he played with friends and family, so are mine. It’s almost like I’m interviewing myself in some ways! It’s good to know that imagination is alive and well in the world out there.
Michael Young is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Western Governor’s University with degrees in German Teaching, Music, and Instructional Design. Though he grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and his two sons. Michael enjoys acting in community theater, playing and writing music and spending time with his family. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
He is the author of the novels in The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, and the Chess Quest Series. His also authors several web serials through BigWorldNetwork.com. He publishes anthologies for charity in his Advent Anthologies series. He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Bards and Sages Quarterly, Mindflights, Meridian, The New Era, Allegory, and Ensign.
Blurb for Book:
Paladin Pawn (Chess Quest Series)
When nerdy eighth-grader Rich Witz unwittingly becomes a paladin, a white knight in training, he is thrust into a world where flunking a test can change the course of history, and a mysterious bully is playing for keeps with his life.
Rich’s grandmother leaves him one thing before disappearing for good—a white chess pawn with his initials engraved on it. The pawn marks him as the next in an ancient line of white knights. He must prove himself in a life-or-death contest against his nemesis, a dark knight in training. With the ghost of an ancestor for his guide, he has seven days to complete four tasks of valor before his nemesis does, or join his guide in the realm of the dead.
Social Media
Social Media Links:
Site: www.writermike.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormichaelyoung
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mdybyu
1. What do you do to keep your spirits up through a bad review?
I try not to go out of my way to look for reviews. I find that you can take things way too personally. I just always try to do my best and let people say what they will. If I do see a bad review, I do the same thing I do with a rejection: I let myself have 24 to feel bad, and then move on by writing something new, or making a new submission.
2. What has been your greatest inspiration for writing your story?
In this story, I was inspired by the imaginative games my siblings and I acted out while we were growing up. I was the sort of Master of Ceremonies, and we were each a different kind of knight. We would often act out our adventures on our large trampoline, which made it much easier to do awesome action sequences. With this one, I thought “What if a young person really were a knight? What would that look like?”
3. Are there any people you feel need a shout out for supporting you?
My wife and kids, for sure. They are the ones who allow my continued participation in all sorts of writerly events such as conferences, book signings, and even just the day to day writing that I need to get done.
4. Has self-publishing taught you any lessons that you feel will help you in life?
One of the best lessons that I have learned from self-publishing is that attention to detail is important, especially as you are putting a team together to help you work on a project. The more you think about the details, and the better the final product is going to be. That is going to put you ahead of many others who don’t take the time.
and last, What’s your favorite color?
I’m a blue man, myself.
Sumo Sized Ginger 