This interview/review set was originally published on Associated Content, interview conducted in 2008; re-posted to this blog 11/2010 & 6/2013.

Name: Michele Lee
URL: www.michelelee.net
Titles: Her Supreme Majesty of Quivering Blue Jello… … oh you meant books.

I’ve been in From the Asylum, Cthulhu Sex Magazine, Read by Dawn volume 1, 9, Pseudopod, Black Ink Horror XXX, Aoife’s Kiss and the last issue of Cthulhu Sex Magazine. I’m focusing on selling books instead of shorts right now which makes everything go slower.

(Note from Jodi: This interview was conducted during the winter of 2008, pre-acceptance and release of Michele’s novella, Rot. Review of Rot is being posted alongside this interview.)

Jodi Lee: What brought you to write horror, specifically the type of horror you write?

Michele Lee: I got tired of fluffy bunny. Maybe girls see more of that kind of thing growing up than boys do. I’ve certainly been just as irritated with it since I had my daughter as I was when I was a girl. Barbie and stuffed animals, My Little Ponies and princesses, our female fantasies of dressing up and being pretty and/or special are definitely met by society, but what about our desires to be strong, dynamic people? All the female superheroes, for example, are in the boy’s section.

Then when I was six my mom found out she had cancer. She died after a long fight where we were largely separated from her and our father chose not to be around at all. That pretty much shattered any childhood illusions I had of happy endings and sparkly princess fantasies. Instead there was this out of control feel to the world and I was like a twig lost at sea. I couldn’t help myself, much less my younger siblings, and as badly as I wanted to escape, being a vet or a lawyer like Barbie seemed empty and fake.

But then I read a little story called Black Beauty. Very girly, by some people’s standards, but it’s not a normal horse story. The book is about cruelty and the way people use animals. While there are good times, they are some pretty vicious times in Black Beauty’s life, including horses burning to death and being worked to death. It’s really a tragic story, not a happy one. But then in the end, Beauty by chance finds a wonderful, final home and is retired to enjoy his last years. So it has a happy ending, but after a lot of pain and heartbreak. You can probably see why I connect so much with this story, even now.

So I began to read more and more about people who face some pretty big, dark problems. It started with Christopher Pike, who sparked my love of all speculative genres and especially cross genres. I was also really attracted to the paranormal, the idea that something else is out there other than the daily humdrum of life. It seemed that I could only find paranormal stories in horror and fantasy, so for a while that’s what I read. And of course, when I started writing it’s what I wrote because that’s what I wanted to read.

I enjoy cross genre (dark science fiction, dark fantasy, dark urban fantasy) most because I think people (and therefore characters) show who they really are when things go wrong. I think that dark spec fic is a fantastic place to explore human nature and psychology and how external things and events affect us. It’s a safe place to explore my own fears and crazy ‘What ifs’ as well.

JL: What inspires you?

ML: Everything. No, really. Last night we were driving to a used book store and I started taking pictures of houses because I wondered about the kind of people who might live there in my imaginary worlds. Poems and other people’s stories, art and music, and especially things that have a tinge of truth to them. I watch a lot of History Channel and Discovery Channel, and talk shows too because I think, again, that people show a lot when they’re at their worst.

When I’m burned out on writing I read something I know I like or browse around DeviantArt.com. Seeing other people’s creativity helps renew my own.

JL: Given your current material, would you ever consider writing in another genre? Have you already done so?

ML: I could never consider only writing in one genre. So far I’ve been published in horror and science fiction. I’m trying to sell an urban fantasy novel right now as well as a few fantasy shorts. I even have a plain old, not at all paranormal, erotic romance sitting in a slush pile. I’m a genre slut, I just can’t commit to one.

JL: What author has been a staple in your life since youth?

ML: I know some of you are making faces out there, but Christopher Pike. I lost a great deal of my Pike books in a move and have been trying to rebuild them. But he writes (wrote?) horror, science fiction, fantasy and mixed them all. His books were about time travel, vampires, reincarnation, gods and teens dying in a hospice. They didn’t treat teens like idiots either, they tackled sexual relationship, and personal and global evils. The books were complicated, esoteric and fueled my imagination.

I’ve also been reading Terry Pratchett for a long time and I used to be a big fan of Laurell K. Hamilton but not so much anymore.

JL: Your favorite novel or anthology so far this year (2008) is?

ML: Novel: Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams. It’s part fantasy, a lot science fiction with zombies, star-fueled flame throwers, talking animals and most fun of all the core plot is based on the idea that Intelligent Design is true. But it’s not religious. It’s such a complicated mix of things that it still has me fascinated.

Anthology: Oh jeez, that’s hard one. Some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read is in Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year volume 2 from Night Shade Press. Some of the scariest and creative speculative futures are found in Pump Six by Paolo Bacigulpi. The scope of the human mind is a strong feature in Deep Inside by Polly Frost and Unwelcome Bodies by Jennifer Pelland. And I wasn’t even a zombie fan until I read History is Dead edited by Kim Paffenroth. I think 2008 was a good year for anthologies.

JL: Could you give an approximation of your submission to rejection ratio?

ML: In 2008 I sent out 100 submissions (short stories and novel queries). I received 79 rejections (a lot of them personal and very complimentary), 2 accepts and 2 hold requests (that are still on hold). The novel right now has a 49% request rate, that is, 49% of the queries result in an agent asking to see some or all of it.

That may not sound good but it really is. Especially considering that I’m trying to qualify for SWFA right now, which means those rejects are from places with really high submissions numbers and some insane competition. You’re going to get more rejections from places like Asimov’s and Cemetery Dance in part because they’re looking for writers who put out quality work on a regular basis, and you have to prove that by submitting to them often, and partly because they just get so many stories. Even if you’re good that might not be enough.

JL: What advice would you give new writers on:
a) submissions
b) handling rejection
c) handling critiques

ML: a) Submissions- For the god’s sake, follow the damn guidelines! Edit and proofread your story before sending it out. Do not just bang a story out then fire it off. You’re wasting everyone’s time. Target your submissions to the best of your ability. A lot of places offer free samples and lately places like Shimmer and Weird Tales have been offering free sample pdf copies. You should absolutely take advantage of this and read an issue to make sure your style jives with theirs. And there is no excuse not to read free online magazines if you plan to submit to them.

b) Handling Rejection- Yell, scream, rant, rave… in the privacy of one on one, face to face. Email and message board rants can and will be made public. It’s not about YOU it’s about the story. Chances are the editor has no clue who you are and doesn’t have time to care even if they did. There are always other places to send a story, and if you believe in it and no one appears to want it there’s always blogs and web pages. Stories can be good, they are never perfect so get that out of your head right now. And finally, do NOT argue with rejection or push for a “why”. No amount of talking will change a no to yes.

c) Handling Critiques- The goal in critiquing is to improve the story and preserve the writer’s personal style. The proper response when someone has given you a critique is always, always “Thank you”. Do not argue with a critique. You’re the author, you can throw it out if you want and avoid the person if you feel the crit was purposefully cruel. Try to keep in mind when giving or receiving a crit that people’s tastes are different and people are at different levels of skill. Some people get hooked on surprise twist ending and lots of gore. Some people never like those things and consider them crude and a waste of time. Keep this in mind. Try to give productive feedback even if the story isn’t your bag. And if a critter doesn’t like your story and is hard on it, always consider whether they might feel that way because of their personal style. Remember YOU have the final say and it’s really easy to just ignore advice if you feel it’s not right for your story.

JL: Do you have a specific time of day, set length of time or perhaps a word count goal for each day? Or do you ‘wing it’ and let the story take you where it will, for as long as it will?

ML: I find that I get very little done if I don’t set goals. I try to do something related to publishing every day, either reading for review or doing research of hitting a particular word count. Right now I’m editing a novel so my goal is chapter by chapter, and 3-5 chapters a day rather than a specific word count (though I do hope to add 5k to the project over all). When I’m actively writing a new project my goal is usually 2k a day.

JL: What has been your greatest achievement during your writing career so far? What goal do you hope to reach in the coming year(s)?

ML: So far, well, there have been a lot of little ego boosts; Nick Mamatas asking me to send more when he edited Clarkesworld, Brian Keene recognizing me at Context, winning an Honorable Mention in the WotF contest, interviewing Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, an Asimov’s reject that said I was a beautiful writer and asked for more. But the things that I’m most proud of is the stories I’ve written. Going back to edit them I fall in love all over again and usually end up quite pleased that my name is on them. Now if only other people could look at them and get a chance to feel just as happy with them.

I hope to qualify for SFWA. It has stricter requirements than the HWA, and I’m not sure I’d actually join either one, but I’d like to be able to if I want. I’d like to sell a novel, something with only my name on it. Someday I’d like to edit an anthology too (*winkwink nudgenudge* to publishers out there).

JL: What is in the future, as regards your work?

ML: Funny you should ask.. I’m really enjoying coming up with ways that science and magic can be complimentary rather than opposites of each other. In my Bloodwalker works (one of which is published and one of which is that novel I’ve been talking about) I wanted science and magic to blend together so I had to make magic absolutely provable, and it had to be useful to every day life, just like science.

I’ve also been fascinated with gender identity and sexual preference lately and hope to someday write a “sweet” m/m romance (that is, no erotica). I’ll always write paranormals, so I hope the UF market doesn’t burst because I have a lot planned there.

As for a more concrete future, well I do have a story that will be in Aoife’s Kiss in September 2009. I hope to have more fiction published, but all I can do about that it keep writing and keep sending it out. The publishers have to accept it.

JL: In 500 words or less, describe your current (or recent past) project.

ML: Corpse Blood is post apocalyptic CSI complicated by the existence of shape shifters and vampires. A vicious blood borne virus has killed off 6 billion people and revealed the existence of vampires and shape shifters (among other things). The incredible decline in human population has also lead to the re-emergence of the true human psychic.

Ravenna Hall is a forensic detective who works for the police department. She has the power read memories by ingesting a person’s blood. If that wasn’t creepy enough the human population is still terrified of the disease, and a lot of people are convinced Raven will be the next person to come down with it. Despite this Raven uses her powers, and her mind, to help solve all manner of suspicious deaths because she thinks it’s the right thing to do.

Besides Corpse Blood I also have three short stories, written and circulating (or sold), set in this world, I’m writing a novella/novel that focuses on how the outbreak happened and I have more short stories and Raven novels planned (er, or started).

Thanks for the interview opportunity, Michele – best of luck with Rot, Corpse Blood and Ravenna Hall!

Title: Rot
Author: Michele Lee
Publisher: Skullvines Press, 2nd Edition
URL: http://skullvines.com/
Specs: Kindle Edition, $2.99

When Michele told me about her zombie novella Rot and it’s publication, I was thrilled. She hinted, like the literary tease that she is, at what Rot was about, and how it was different than other zombie works. This was not going to be any zombie novel I’d ever read, it would blow me away. I was skeptical of that part… I’ve read a lot of zombie material in the last two years and like I told her, it’s all starting to run together. Fast zombies, slow zombies, smart zombies, dumb zombies… they’re dead. They walk, they eat. A zombie is a zombie is a zombie.

But, naturally I was hooked. I didn’t know then that I was going to be full-on, emotionally involved – or just how right she was by saying this one was different.

From the publisher’s website:
In a world where certain people can will others back from death, Silver Springs Specialty Care Community caters to the undead for those who aren’t quite ready to let go (zombie milk available by special arrangement at the home office).

Dean, retired from the military and looking for an easier life, runs security at this zombie herding farm, but he learns that dark injustice is not unique to war. There’s a rotten core to Silver Springs. Now, Dean and a quickly-decaying corpse named Patrick are on the hunt for a woman they both love and lost to a lucrative business that specializes in greed, zombies and never having to say goodbye.

At only 56 pages, Rot is classed as a novella, and should have been a quick, easy read. Really, it was neither for me. Early on, Michele’s characters Dean, Amy and Patrick had me involved. I could feel the setting around me, I could hear the smirk in Amy’s words and the sadness in Patrick’s. I could feel the horror Dean experienced when he realized exactly what was going on. All this, in the first few pages.

There is a perfectly logical reason that the story was hard for me to read through in one sitting. I’ve had family in personal care homes. I’ve seen the good and the bad that happens in these places and it wasn’t a far leap to put those loved ones in Amy and Patrick’s places in the story. Only for that reason did the story become a hard one, both in reading and in how long it took for me to finish it. I had to stop and separate myself from the story, separate my wandering imagination from it’s own path and put it back to the story itself.

When I finished the story the first time (after three breaks) I went back and read the whole thing, in its entirety, to get the full impact. Michele has written a world so removed and yet so reflective of our own that it would not surprise me in the least to know that Silver Springs actually exists out there somewhere. Her characters are real, and as I said, they immediately take you in and carry you above and beyond the call.

This little novel is the most exciting piece of work I’ve read in a while, and I am going to be highly, thoroughly and painfully disappointed if Michele never revisits the nastiness that is Silver Springs.

You MUST get a copy of Rot.

5/5