
**Giveaway is now closed**
Micheline McAllister is the author of two novels: “Welcome to My Life” and “Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch”. Micheline grew up on the east coast and studied musical theater at university. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she is a writer and an animation artist. She is also known as Stephanie Olivieri in some professional circles. I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview Micheline to find out a little bit more about her as well as her writing. In addition, she is giving away two signed copies of "Welcome to My Life” to some lucky readers in the US and Canada.
1. How long did it take to get your first book “Welcome to My Life” published?
I entered into a contest through a print on demand publisher so it didn't take that long. Looking for a bigger more traditional publisher is proving to take a lot longer.
2. Do you always know how a story will end when you start a novel or does it change throughout the process?
No I never do. I am one of those writers that other writers hate, because I just go with it and see where the characters take me. They usually take me on their own journey once I get going, and it does change a lot during the process. That said, I do have a general idea where I want them to go when I start.
3. You grew up on the east coast and now live in L.A., what do you miss the most about the east?
This is a question with many answers, but I miss the weather the most. I am not a 'hot weather' kind of gal.
4. How did you celebrate when your first book was released?
I don't think that I did anything more than go out to dinner as I as busy working on a film that week. I know that is so uneventful and I would love to say I had a fabulous Hollywood release party, but it was more boring than that. Maybe next time.
5. You studied musical theater in college; do you ever participate in local productions in L.A.?
No I haven't done any acting since I started working in animation. Sometimes I go to a show and think 'I could play that role', but otherwise, it is in the past.
6. Where do you get the most writing done? Home, coffee shop?
I work both at home and in coffee shops, and carry a writing pad with me everywhere I go.
7. You have said that your heart is in New York, what is your favorite thing about New York and do you go back to visit often?
New York is my favorite thing about New York and if you have been there you would know what that means. It is just the craziness of the city, the fashion, the stores, walking down 5th avenue, the Upper West Side, the buildings, the noise, everything and sadly I don't get to visit that often.
8. Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and why?
I think my second novel, Love You, Love Your Work, Let's Do Lunch would be great as a film. It is just written in a way that I believe would translate into film pretty easily and is a straight up situation comedy. I see either Drew Barrymore or Kate Winslet as the lead! My first book, Welcome to My Life could be a TV series and there have been talks with studios, but nothing yet.
9. You are currently working on your fourth novel, are you having any challenges with it and can we expect to see it in stores any time soon?
I have completed my third and fourth novels and haven't had any real challenges with the writing part. I am looking for a new agent and then we will be looking for the right publisher together. I don't have a release date for either.
10. On your blog you recently wrote a blog about how much you love Joan Holloway (Harris) from AMC’s “Mad Men”, what is it that you love about her?
I love the way the character is written and I believe she is a strong woman living in a time where a woman's role in the workplace was a lot different than it is today and from an artist's point of view. I just love her look and the way they style her. I also love that a curvy woman is called beautiful and is a sex symbol on that show instead of the normally anorexic types that reign in television today.
Special thanks to Micheline for a great interview and for offering to give away copies of her first book.

How to win “Welcome to My Life”:
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)
For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite animated movie?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Friday, August 20th at 8:00 am EST.
56 comments:
Thanks for sharing this fascinating interview.
lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net
My favorite animated movie is Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."
lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net
I'm a follower.
lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net
Posted on Facebook
lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net
I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook.
lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net
My favorite animated movie is "Ratatouille"
foxchick0323@live.com
Thank you for the great interview.
foxchick0323@live.com
I am a follower.
foxchick0323@live.com
I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook.
foxchick0323@live.com
Great interview Micheline! It's always great to get to know a fellow chick!
I am a follower of this blog.
I will post on facebook.
My email is jenceyg@msn.com
My favorite animated movie is Beauty and The Beast.
Great interview!
myra0502@yahoo.com
I am a follower
myra0502@yahoo.com
I am a follower.
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com
I posted to facebook.
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com
I am a member of Chick Lit Central.
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com
My favorite animated film is The Little Mermaid!
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com
Great interview and interesting process you have. My favorite animated movie is Up!
Micheline,
I enjoyed learning how you let your characters take you on the 'journey' with them. That's pretty much how my five fiction manuscripts have evolved.
I'm a member of the ChickLit group on Facebook.
My all-time favorite animation has to be the Disney Studios of the 40s & 50s. Being aware that each cell was hand-modified to create motion which looks as natural as motion picture photography ... makes me marvel at the skills involved. That said, I also love the modern computer animation of flicks like Toy Story (among many).
Please enter me in the drawings.
Jeff
salter8jeff@yahoo.com
I was thinking about this recently actually! My favorite animated movie is "The Little Mermaid". I follow your blog and I posted this on Twitter. (@stereoqueenbee)
Always love to find a new author! otkeri@comcast.net
My favourite animated movie is also my favourite fairy tale... Cinderella. Although, I also love Aladdin, Lion King, Ratatouille.
ladykathryn@rogers.com
I am a follower of the blog.
ladykathryn@rogers.com
I am also a member of Chick Lit Central through facebook.
ladykathryn@rogers.com
And lastly, I'm posting this in facebook.
ladykathryn@rogers.com
Thanks everyone!!:0) Appreciate it. As well, I work in animation too, and we still do a lot of films by hand, drawing with paper and pencil. The color is done on computer, ever since Little Mermaid. I am enjoying reading the fav animated films of you all. :0)
xoxo
I'd love a chance to read this one!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
My favourite animated movie is "Beauty and the Beast", but my boys have watched "Cars" about 37,000,000 times and I secretly enjoy that one too!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a follower through GFC.
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a member of the CLC Facebook group!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
I, on the other hand, love hot weather!
mommyk18@hotmail.com
Aladdin is my favorite animated movie.
mommyk18@hotmail.com
My favorite animated film is Up.
I'm a follower.
Posted this in facebook.
What a great interview, Micheline! I'm a New Yorker myself and I absolutely know what you meant about your favorite thing about New York is New York. We spent three very long years in the south and I was thrilled to move back. I also studied voice/musical theater is college and now write chicklit. I feel like we'd be BFFs if we met in person :)
princess_jewel78@yahoo.com
I LOVE animated films, so picking one is difficult, but...for today I'll say The Princess & the Frog
princess_jewel78@yahoo.com
I'm following!
princess_jewel78@yahoo.com
Posted to Facebook :)
princess_jewel78@yahoo.com
Joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook :)
princess_jewel78@yahoo.com
Ooh I need to read this one! Thanks for offering the giveaway. Schlarmette(at)gmail(dot)com
Follower! Schlarmette (at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite is Anastasia Schlarmette(at)gmail(dot)com
Member on fb schlarmette(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted on facebook. Schlarmette(at)gmail(dot)com
Great interview. Please enter me, thanks.
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
I recently saw 'Up' & loved it.
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
Joined your FB page
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
no need to enter me, I just posted this at win a book for you.
http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/08/18/welcome-to-my-life-by-micheline-mcallister/
I'd love a chance to read this, thanks for entering me into this giveaway.
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
My favorite would be "Finding Nemo"
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
Great interview! My favorite is Alice in Wonderland... love love love that movie.
papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com
I am a GFC follower
papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Please count me in.
simplystacieblog at gmail dot com
Favorite animated movie: Sleeping Beauty.
Already a follower.
Thanks,
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
Follower.
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
FB member.
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
Hey Retro Heads!
I entered a contest to win a walk-on role on the most retro-licious TV show ever: MAD MEN!
But I need your votes to help me win, so please visit http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/browse/detail/EZ3MBH and vote for me!
Thanks a bunch,
Marcheline
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