Michelle Larks
Interviewed by: Lauretta Pierce
A. I choose short stories as a vehicle to write about current and important issues women and men may face at some point in their lives, regardless of race, or age. Someone has experienced one of those situations, or knows someone who has.
A. What's A Woman To Do? was actually my favorite story. With the government tightening the purse strings, that has forced people reliant on stipends to re-think and plan their lives and my hat goes out to them. Especially in Rita's case because that was the only lifestyle she knew. I tried to put myself in her shoes and imagine what would be the worst that can happen to someone bettering their lives. I came up with an unplanned pregnancy and her chose to decide what was best for the family as a whole.
A. Letting Go, brought to mind, many conversations I've had with mothers regarding daughters and vice-versa. I tried to explore how difficult adjustments can be for children of divorced parents and how it affects them. I also tried to tell those daughters to give Mom a little leeway because mothers are only human and make mistakes. I think it's a hard concept for some children to accept their parents as people with feet of clay.
A. I've discovered that children experience sibling rivalry that sometimes extends unto adulthood. Those feelings disrupt the flow of the family sometime, until the something tragic happens to force the issue.I thought the sisters issues would make an interesting seconday theme in Family Meetings.
A. I am hoping Peaches and Cream will be available by the spring or early summer of 2005. I am working on the last of the re-edits now.
A. Yes, I'm working on another book, tentatively titled, Mirrored Images. In that book I expand on the sibling rivarly issue in more depth. This time with twin sisters vying for the affections of the same man.
A. I would to impart to readers of Crisis Mode, that family is so very important. We only get one set in life, and regardless of our differences, maintaining family values are very critical to the quality and fabric of our lives.
"Crisis Mode"
December 16, 2004
Q. Why did you choose to write 4 stories about families dealing with crisis?
Q. How did you come about the story idea for "What’s A Woman to Do", in Rita’s and Tone’s situation?
Q. How did you come about the story idea for "Letting Go" about Desiree and Mia’s conflict?
Q. How did you come about Marsha’s and Marty’s sibling jealousness and the painful ordeal concerning their mother in "Family Meeting?"
Q. When will your new book "Peaches and Cream" be available for readers?
Q. Are you currently working on another book?
Q. What message would you like readers to receive from reading "Crisis Mode"?