Michele E. Northwood

An award-winning author who has worked in a circus and traveled widely. She writes stories, both fiction and nonfiction.

Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.

Hi, I´m Michele. I’m from the UK, but Spain is my home. I have been living here for about seventeen years now, and I love it! I’m married to Randy, my Spanish husband. We share our home with two dogs, two cats and two terrapins (We’re slowly building an ark.).

As a child, I was obsessed with dance. My aim was to become a professional dancer. I attended classes five days a week, for three hours a night, and studied a vast array of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, character, national, Greek etc. My childhood dream came true and, for the next 25 years, I worked all over the world as a dancer/magician/fire-eater, in theatres, circus, nightclubs, floor shows – you name it and I did it! I have worked as a midget’s assistant, a knife thrower’s assistant and a juggler’s too. I´ve performed as a contortionist inside a bottle, danced in a Scorpions concert and have also been in the Guinness Book of World Records for being part of the largest human mobile. (I’m referring to the object you would hang over a baby’s crib, not a mobile phone!)

When I had to retire due to injury, I went back to school and now have a First Class Honour’s Degree in English and Spanish. Here in Spain, I own an English Language school, and I prepare students for the prestigious Cambridge English Examinations which are recognized worldwide by over 130 countries.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

With my animals and my job, I have very little free time. I enjoy writing, obviously, but I describe myself as a frustrated writer, as I never have enough time to do what I love! I´m a big reader too. I also enjoy doing embroidery and tapestry. I love watching good films and enjoy pottering in my garden. I live in the countryside, so I dabble in growing my own vegetables. (They came in handy during the Covid lockdown!)

What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today?

Good question. I guess that, at the moment, I don’t have a specific long-term plan. With the number of writers out there these days, to say I’d like to become well known in the field seems like an impossible dream. At the moment, I don’t want to limit myself to one genre either. I am writing whatever comes into my mind or that I fancy writing about. It seems to me, however, that those who write series of books appear to be more successful so, maybe eventually, I´ll have to pick one genre and stick to it.

About Her Books

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book, Fishnet in the Far East: A Dancer’s Diary in Korea, is a memoir about a dancing contract that I accepted in South Korea in 1989. I was inspired to write it when I found my detailed diary of the six months’ contract. I sat down to read it and thought that it would make an interesting book. Not just for dancers but for anyone interested in travel and the Far Eastern culture. I was a naïve twenty-year-old who was seriously out of her depth. I was part of a trio who had to endure lack of funds, sleazy nightclubs, male domination, rat-infested hotels, and language problems. Despite all this, we also had some great experiences and fun times, so there is a lot of humour in the book too.

How do you decide on the title of a book?

I tend to mull things over in my mind for days before I hit on the right title. I need them to convey elements of the book but also make the reader think about the title and what connotations they inspire. Fishnets in the Far East and the sequel Fishnets and Fire-eating I hope do just that. The word fishnets could imply fishing rather than dancing and I hope that it would impel readers to reach for it to read the blurb and find out more. My third book is a novel called The Circus Affair. Again, the word affair could imply different things, an incident, a fling, adultery, an issue…, and these variations make the title thought-provoking and intriguing – well, that’s what I’m hoping for anyway!

Have you developed a specific writing style and why?

I feel that my writing is always evolving and growing. It is a learning process. I don’t believe I have a certain style of writing, although my work has been described as quirky and a little off the wall. (I secretly like that description!)

How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

The memoirs are 100% true, of course, but The Circus Affair is a work of fiction set in Brazil. However, as I worked in circus for twelve years, there are several true elements in the book which happened either to me or the girls I was working with. So, in this book, I invite readers to try to decipher fact from fiction. They can send me an email and I´ll tell them how many elements they got right. The characters are all figments of my imagination though.

Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I have several writers that I admire but if I have to choose one, I would say Ken Follet. He writes across genres and every novel is so unique, original and diverse, I admire that. I love The Pillars of the Earth” and I have to admit that I have read it three times.

I also hold the late James Herbert in high regard. In my opinion, he was the English Horror equivalent of Stephen King. Herbert was a prolific writer whose style is, again in my opinion, totally unique.

Do you remember the first book you read?

I can’t remember the title, but it was a little book about a Collie dog who caused havoc on a farm. My mum said that at two and a half, even though I couldn’t read, I could recite it word for word and would turn the pages accordingly. She said that people were shocked and would remark that, it was wonderful that at such a young age, I was able to read so well! My mum never told them the truth! I still have most of my books from my childhood, but that little book mysteriously disappeared. (Maybe everyone was sick of hearing me read it aloud!)

If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories?

I would tell the stories out loud like the old storytellers of yore, and if that wasn’t possible, I´d try to portray them through dance. I should admit at this point, however, that I´m not as supple as I used to be, haha!

When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice?

Write every day, no matter how little time you have. Practise makes perfect. Mull things over in your mind and read everything you can, regardless of the genre. You will be surprised how many things you can pick up or how an idea for a story can be sparked from the most unexpected places.

To Be Remembered

How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you?

My motto has always been: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone. People love to laugh and are drawn to those who amuse them. For that reason, I inject a lot of laughter in my classroom when I teach, and I believe that laughter also helps the children to learn.

One mother once said to me: “You know; my kids have several after-school lessons. They always say, ‘I´m going to math class, I´m going to French class,’ but when it comes to you, they always say, ‘I’m going to Michele’s.’ They think of you as a friend.”

That gave me a warm feeling inside. I considered that to be one of the greatest accolades a teacher can receive. So, I guess what I´m trying to say is that, for me, it’s important that in life people regard me as being a good teacher. When my students are grown up and successful, I hope they´ll look back, think of me, and smile.

Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events and special offers? Include links to any and all of your sites.

Yes, I´m active on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

https://www.facebook.com/michele.e.northwoodauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18794280.Michele_E_Northwood

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michele-e-northwood