It’s been a wild week here in the United States, but it looks like the horrible orange monster that infected our country is on his way out of the White House. So it feels appropriate that my next interview is with Rory Michaelson, author of the queer dark fantasy, Lesser Known Monsters!
Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?
Rory Michaelson: Oh, I have no idea. I honestly think that you will probably know everything you need or want to know about me by reading Lesser Known Monsters. I’m a little strange, but fun. I don’t take anything too seriously, unless it needs to be – and even then, my humour tends toward the gallows. I value truth, adventure, and love. My anxieties tend to leak out into my characters, each one with a few small morsels of inner fear to help make their poor little hearts beat!
What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?
Rory Michaelson: I took a bit of a journey, for many years I read almost exclusively high fantasy. Brandon Sanderson definitely dominated my bookcase, then later Robin Hobb, VE Schwab, and Leigh Bardugo. Really the most my reading has expanded was when I started to write. Once I unlocked the knowledge that not only could I write stories like the ones that I wanted to read – but other people were doing it too – I was hooked. Given the time I gobble up books from indie and traditionally published authors alike, and every one of them teaches me something.
Alexis: Interesting! I do find that I get drawn to different kinds of books now that I’m a writer. I get curious about other genres, or I start wanting to do research on different subjects for the next book.
What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
Rory Michaelson: I hate tropes that are dangerous or damaging to at risk groups. Other than that, I think most tropes are fun if used effectively or subverted. That said, I don’t like the centuries old immortal falling in love with the teenager. Maybe that’s why I write new adult (ha).
Alexis: Oh, I hate that one, too! As if any teenager wouldn’t be horribly dull if you are past the age of 25. Maybe I’m biased about this because I’m a teacher, but I think adult writers who write teenagers often have no idea what they’re really like. They forget how truly young they are.
Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)
Rory Michaelson: Marcus. I love Marcus, he is my enfant terrible. My absolute disaster boy. When you have a character who is a little unpredictable, it makes dialogue fun and can also really help move the story along or lead it on a fun detour. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone...
Beautiful cover of Lesser Known Monsters, by Rory Michaelson
What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?
Rory Michaelson: I am constantly busy! My day job has only gotten busier, I’ve been finishing off Lesser Known Monsters and drafting a new book. Marketing and preparation has really taken a wild amount of time, and we had only recently moved house before everything started off – so I’ve had lots on my plate to distract me!
What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
Rory Michaelson: I enjoy TV, Movies, and I do a lot of cleaning. I wish I had time for more hobbies, but writing is my top priority when I get any free time! I am kind of handy with upcycling furniture, but I haven’t had time for that in a while. Before the pandemic, we travelled a lot on exciting holidays abroad- which I definitely miss.
Alexis: I miss travelling so much, too.
Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).
Rory Michaelson: When I was growing up, a family friend always used to warn us about Jenny Greenteeth. He told us that children shouldn’t go near the river because Jenny Greenteeth would pull us in and drown us. I thought it was a thing he made up, but when I looked it up, it’s a legitimate English folklore of a green-skinned river hag that drowns children...
Alexis: Wow, that’s a pretty terrifying legend! It’s not unlike the La Llorona stories we have in South Texas.
What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?
Rory Michaelson: Movies are quite a commitment! I wish I had time to watch more. I grew up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I think that kind of variety between horror, comedy, action, romance, and adventure has stuck with me. I like a bit of variety in things. Recently I’ve been a huge fan of The Expanse, that’s an amazing show. I enjoy animation too – love She-Ra and Steven Universe.
Alexis: I still love Buffy the Vampire Slayer! It was such an amazing show, especially for its time. I like She-Ra as well, and my daughter loves it.
What’s your favorite animal?
Rory Michaelson: I like animals in general, but I don’t get to be around them much because we’re out too much to have pets. I grew up with lots of dogs, so they are always special to me, but taking into account non house pet animals, I’m a little bit obsessed with red pandas.
Alexis: Red pandas are very cute!
Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?
Rory Michaelson: I love video games. I tried getting into animal crossing, and it worked for a while, but anything with ‘daily tasks’ tends to make me feel a bit claustrophobic. I’m currently replaying the old Final Fantasy remasters on Switch. Video games have definitely influenced my writing, to me like books, movies, and tv shows they’re all ultimately forms of storytelling – and consuming helps refill and expand your creative well.
Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?
Rory Michaelson: I’ve always wanted to try, but I’ve never had chance. I’m a bit antisocial, and things like that tend to require other humans. I’m not sure how successful it would be – I’m a bit rebellious so I might get annoyed or impatient rather than hooked.
Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!
Rory Michaelson: I wish! We’re always working so we haven’t got any pets. I would like a cat, but my fiancé says we can’t have one because I’m already too much like a cat and he can’t live with two.
What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
Rory Michaelson: Listen to other people’s advice with caution. Take your time, trust your instincts, and enjoy yourself. Write for yourself, and don’t worry about making mistakes – that’s probably how you will end up learning your own process best.
How do you choose what books you want to read?
Rory Michaelson: I want to read ALL THE BOOKS.
Seriously though, I’m a nightmare. I buy a bunch of books depending on if the sound of them excites me. I am too scared to read my pretty hardbacks so normally end up reading them as e-books. I tend to always have an epic book as my audiobook on the go (because value), and then I usually read whichever book in my kindle library tickles my fancy when it’s time to choose!
I love the title of your book "Lesser Known Monsters," in part because there are so many incredible and interesting dark creatures in mythology or folklore, and yet so many books are just about vampires. What inspired the title for your book, and did you research or read about any unusual monsters when you were writing it?
Rory Michaelson: The title came to me when I was thinking about ‘lesser spotted’ varieties of creatures and considered the same for monsters. The thought then followed exactly the same path as your question. I wrote something that later became one of the small excerpts in the book (after some editing) about how humans had created fabled monsters, sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves – but these weren’t anything like real the real monsters. The monsters of myth. I read lots of myths and folklore whilst I was writing. I really liked the idea of certain folklore being connected, and them in fact being the same monster travelling around over the years and being spotted I different locations. A few of them inspired my little intermissions in Lesser Known Monsters, and others I wrote short stories about which will be released later this year (currently and early order bonus through my website for buying Lesser Known Monsters!)
Rory Michaelson, Author of Lesser Known Monsters
More About Rory Michaelson
Book: Lesser Known Monsters
Website: https://www.rorymichaelson.com/
Social Media: Twitter