Nothing can transport the mind into another world more clearly than the written word. The description of adventure, feelings, colors and even fragrances can be experienced through words. Let brilliant novelist Crystal Michaels share her experiences with you in her world of fabulous writing.
by Rodney W. Branche
by Rodney W. Branche
Novelist - Crystal Michaels
Copa: Where did you grow up Crystal?
Crystal: I grew up in a Row House in S.E. DC on 51 Street in Washington, DC. My Grand parents bought the home back in the 50's. Before my maternal Grandfather passed away when I was 4, he asked my parents to move in and take care of my grandmother. So they did as promised and moved me and my two brothers to a very rough part of D.C. Although I lived in the hood and stepped over wino's in the ally, my home was very loving and comfortable with everything I could want or need and then some.
Crystal: I grew up in a Row House in S.E. DC on 51 Street in Washington, DC. My Grand parents bought the home back in the 50's. Before my maternal Grandfather passed away when I was 4, he asked my parents to move in and take care of my grandmother. So they did as promised and moved me and my two brothers to a very rough part of D.C. Although I lived in the hood and stepped over wino's in the ally, my home was very loving and comfortable with everything I could want or need and then some.
Copa: What was your favorite subject in High School?
Crystal: My favorite subject was English. I excelled in it, I loved words, I still do to this day. I get super excited when I learn a new word.
Crystal: My favorite subject was English. I excelled in it, I loved words, I still do to this day. I get super excited when I learn a new word.
Copa: Where and when did you discover you had a gift for writing?
Crystal: I was in the 2nd grade attending Davis Elementary school in S.E. Washington, DC. My teacher Mrs. Mills sent a note home one day. I thought I was in trouble, but when my mother opened it, Mrs. Mills told her I was the most gifted writer that she had ever come across at this age in all her years of teaching. I loved to write stories and plays, it's what I did every winter. Of course during the summer I was outside playing until the street lights came on.
Crystal: I was in the 2nd grade attending Davis Elementary school in S.E. Washington, DC. My teacher Mrs. Mills sent a note home one day. I thought I was in trouble, but when my mother opened it, Mrs. Mills told her I was the most gifted writer that she had ever come across at this age in all her years of teaching. I loved to write stories and plays, it's what I did every winter. Of course during the summer I was outside playing until the street lights came on.
Copa: What type of novel do you enjoy the best and what authors?
Crystal: My favorite type of novels are historic romance. I wish I could say it is something more profound than that but there it is. My favorite Author in this genre is an African American author by the name of Beverly Jenkins. For years I had read Historic Romance by great Caucasian authors like Johanna Lindsey, I loved her books, however, I had always wished for stories like that with people of color. I ran across Beverly Jenkins' books and was captivated reading about a person of color who was the captain of the ship rescuing his love, or a Black soldier during the Civil War rescuing his enslaved woman. I was hooked!
Crystal: My favorite type of novels are historic romance. I wish I could say it is something more profound than that but there it is. My favorite Author in this genre is an African American author by the name of Beverly Jenkins. For years I had read Historic Romance by great Caucasian authors like Johanna Lindsey, I loved her books, however, I had always wished for stories like that with people of color. I ran across Beverly Jenkins' books and was captivated reading about a person of color who was the captain of the ship rescuing his love, or a Black soldier during the Civil War rescuing his enslaved woman. I was hooked!
Copa: Would you please share with us your most memorable experience working with other professionals in your writing career?
Crystal: Well, my most memorable experience doesn't involve me working with someone, it involves when my work was read by Phylicia Rashad, Richard Roundtree, Al Freeman and Sally Richardson. They were all working on a movie entitled "When We Were Colored"...they all read the script I wrote ; "Trail of Tears". Ms. Rashad called me and asked if I could come to North Carolina to meet them all. I never saw my Dad move so fast, he put me and my brother in the car and off we went. They all told me that I was a great writer and I owed it to myself and to black people to always do my best with my writing and write stories with black people in a good light. When Al Freeman patted my shoulder and said "Young Lady, you are gifted." I almost passed out!
Crystal: Well, my most memorable experience doesn't involve me working with someone, it involves when my work was read by Phylicia Rashad, Richard Roundtree, Al Freeman and Sally Richardson. They were all working on a movie entitled "When We Were Colored"...they all read the script I wrote ; "Trail of Tears". Ms. Rashad called me and asked if I could come to North Carolina to meet them all. I never saw my Dad move so fast, he put me and my brother in the car and off we went. They all told me that I was a great writer and I owed it to myself and to black people to always do my best with my writing and write stories with black people in a good light. When Al Freeman patted my shoulder and said "Young Lady, you are gifted." I almost passed out!
Copa: What is the feeling that you experience when the characters and plot in your novels really start to take on a life for themselves?
Crystal: I get exited because I don't know what's going to happen next. It's like I'm reading it just like everyone else. I say, "Oh wow! Why did she do that? Or Why did he say this?" It's as if the character takes over my hand and types the story and I'm just a fan reading it.
Crystal: I get exited because I don't know what's going to happen next. It's like I'm reading it just like everyone else. I say, "Oh wow! Why did she do that? Or Why did he say this?" It's as if the character takes over my hand and types the story and I'm just a fan reading it.
Copa: Would you please tell us about your first screenplay and how it's different from a novel?
Crystal: My first screenplay was something I just did off a story that plagued me day and night. I had to put it on paper but I didn't know how to write a screenplay. I had to go to the library and get a book on how to do it. It was a story about Black Indians who walked the Trail of Tears from North Carolina to Oklahoma in the 1830's. I had no earthly idea that it would get the attention it did at that time by Warner Brothers, Disney and the actors I mentioned previously.
Crystal: My first screenplay was something I just did off a story that plagued me day and night. I had to put it on paper but I didn't know how to write a screenplay. I had to go to the library and get a book on how to do it. It was a story about Black Indians who walked the Trail of Tears from North Carolina to Oklahoma in the 1830's. I had no earthly idea that it would get the attention it did at that time by Warner Brothers, Disney and the actors I mentioned previously.
Copa: What type of story would you prefer to write?
Crystal: I'm known at the moment for my erotic writing, but it depends on my mood, it really does.
Crystal: I'm known at the moment for my erotic writing, but it depends on my mood, it really does.
Copa: Please tell us a little about your next novel.
Crystal: My next book is the third book in the ménage series entitled "Unrelenting Ménage." It follows the story of an attorney Rosalind who is having an affair with the very married District Attorney Richard Cintron. She's quite the spitfire and very determined which then leads her into the arm of a stranger; Bruce. The story then takes us on a crime mystery that she is destined to solve.
Crystal: My next book is the third book in the ménage series entitled "Unrelenting Ménage." It follows the story of an attorney Rosalind who is having an affair with the very married District Attorney Richard Cintron. She's quite the spitfire and very determined which then leads her into the arm of a stranger; Bruce. The story then takes us on a crime mystery that she is destined to solve.
Copa: How would you like to be remembered?
Crystal: I would like to be remembered as a woman who inspired many. I know that I am a lot of things but that to me is most important. I want my life and accomplishments to inspire people to go above and beyond, even when the odds are against them they need to know that they can still keep on going. The key is to never give up, to pray and then above all, believe. ~Copa
For more information about Crystal follow this link: www.crystalmichaels.com
Crystal: I would like to be remembered as a woman who inspired many. I know that I am a lot of things but that to me is most important. I want my life and accomplishments to inspire people to go above and beyond, even when the odds are against them they need to know that they can still keep on going. The key is to never give up, to pray and then above all, believe. ~Copa
For more information about Crystal follow this link: www.crystalmichaels.com
