Michelle Saftich #WeLoveOurAuthors

Michelle Saftich resides in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband and two children. She holds a Bachelor of Business/Communications Degree, majoring in journalism, from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). For the past twenty years, she has worked in communications, including print journalism, sub-editing, communications management and media relations. In 1999, she was named National Winner for Best News Story in the ASNA (Australian Suburban Newspaper Awards). Born and raised in Brisbane, she spent ten years living in Sydney; and two years in Osaka, Japan, where she taught English.

Her first two books – Port of No Return and Wanderers No More – are historical fiction based on real events in WWII Europe and post-war Australia. Her forthcoming title, The Hatch, is a science-fiction novel – quite a genre shift!

What drew you to write sci-fi after writing historical fiction?

I’ve always believed there is more to our world than what we can see. I sought to create a story that could allow me to explore those hidden dimensions, patterns, and connections. Having two sons, I’ve been exposed to the science-fiction genre through film and have enjoyed reading books with strong female characters, such as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. These influences played heavily on my imagination to guide my writing of The Hatch.

Are your characters and settings in your book based on your own life experiences?

Yes. I’ve had psychic experiences and have been using tarot cards for more than twenty years. My interest in this area helped to shape a character, the hero of my story, with highly developed psychic abilities, a state that I aspire to and believe we all could benefit from in a rapidly changing world.

What adventures can we expect your characters to have in future books?

Close to completing a sequel to The Hatch, my heroic character, Britta Tate, continues to train to enhance her abilities, wanting to push the human form to its limits. In future books, I will continue to explore human evolution in a futuristic/other planet setting with assistance from advanced interdimensional forms. Through this, I’m also trying to shine a light on existing human strengths and weaknesses and how they contribute to our developmentand the choices we make.

What is your biggest motivation for writing?

I have to write. I have been writing long stories since childhood and have spent much of my free time behind a keyboard. I love words and linking them to bring human stories to life. My first two novels were inspired by my father’s family story of displacement and similar themes have carried over into The Hatch. I enjoy writing about the inner emotional and psychological journey of people while also examining the outer social constructs and their impacts.

How many books have you written?

The Hatch will be my third novel.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?

Being able to write consistently, while working and raising two children.

What advice would you give a writer trying to get published?

Write a story that you would like to read. Write what fascinates you and be brave in putting it out there. Don’t expect to be published first attempt but don’t stop trying if it is important to you. Write because you love it and you will always be happy, published or not.

What inspires you when you hit writer’s block?

People inspire my writing. What they say, how they behave, the mistakes they make, their joys and upsets. I look to feelings for motivation, what I feel and what others feel, and soon I’m writing again.

Describe your writing style in three words.

Sensitive. Swift. Gripping.