INTERVIEW ~ Michelle Garren Flye author of Close Up Magic

 

Do you believe in magic?

 

Reporter Stacey Matthewson has made a living writing sensational stories that knock celebrities off their pedestals. Now she's got a hot lead on an even hotter magician who's mystifying Las Vegas with his new show--the problem is, she's had a crush on him for years. How can she write a story that might ruin him, especially when he proves himself to be so much more than she'd ever dreamed?

 

Magician Andre Hawke has a knack for making things disappear, but when it comes to his brother's drinking and gambling, he's got a problem. Hiring the sexy reporter who threatens to blow away his carefully wrought illusion might be the answer to his problems...or she might bring on a whole new set of them.

 

Stacey’s never believed in magic, and Andre doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Can passion overcome their inhibitions, or will betrayal stem the tide of love?

Purchase through:  Amazon

Click HERE to be taken to an excerpt of Close Up Magic.

Today I have Michelle Garren Flye stopping by RYWBR. We’re going to talk about her new book, Close Up Magic. Hi Michelle, thanks for stopping by and answering some questions for me.

Thanks for having me here, Kim.

So we can read about you in the “Author Bio” section at the end of this posting. Tell me something about Michelle that isn’t widely known.

I don’t think it’s widely known that I’m a total introvert, although many people probably suspect I’m not exactly an extrovert. I love people, but being around them for too long exhausts me. That’s why writing suits me so well. I can internalize my love for people and create my own world in my writing. Of course, when it comes to marketing what I write, I have to take on a whole new challenge.

I’m an introvert too. I tend to only speak when spoken too. Sometimes, it’s a little scary. But get on the computer, I will talk your head off. When it came time to write Close Up Magic, what did you have first, the characters or the story idea?

Definitely the story idea. I’ve wanted to write about magic most of my life, but couldn’t find a good way to do it. It finally occurred to me that I love watching magicians. I admire anyone who devotes themselves to their art, but magicians are especially intriguing to me. Of course there’s a trick, but if a magician is good at what he or she does, they can really leave you with a sense of “Oh my God, I know there’s a trick to that, but it sure looked like magic!”

Tell me about Andre Hawke and Stacey Matthewson. Who are they and what makes them tick?

Andre Hawke is my magician. He comes from a small town in North Carolina, and he’s worked hard to get to where he is. He’s devoted to his family and to his art. He has a few trusted friends, but he’s a man of secrets. The history he gives out to the public is based on half-truths, but that’s more to preserve his family’s privacy than anything else. He grew up without a father, so he feels a lot of responsibility to his mother and brother.

Stacey Matthewson is an entertainment reporter. She never actually intended to get into the gossip-mongering side of reporting, but she found tabloids paid well if you were good at what you did. And she is good. After years of living with a mother and father who fought constantly, Stacey left home to go to college and only looked back long enough to “save” her little sister from their parents. Stacey’s life centers around her work and her sister. She’s jaded, but something in her wants to believe there’s more to life.

What’s the attraction between Andre and Stacey?

Andre sees there’s more to Stacey than she shows to the rest of the world. He believes in her, believes she can do more than report on the latest scandal. Stacey, on the other hand, is jaded and hurt. But when the one man who can make her believe in magic wants to help her heal, she finds it easier than she’d anticipated.

What was your FAVORITE scene to write in the book?

That’s tough. There are actually several I enjoyed writing. But I guess my favorite is the one where Stacey finally decides to trust Andre and what she’s come to feel for him. She’s at his show and he sends her a drink. She sends him back a note that tells him the answer to something personal he’s asked her several times. His reaction to the note was really fun to write!

Hmmm...Can’t wait to read that scene. You did a lot of research on magic to write this book. What’s the most fascinating/intriguing thing you’ve learned?

You know, I started out looking up how to do some of my favorite magic tricks and realized very quickly that I didn’t want to know. Last month I interviewed magician R. Paul Wilson for my blog. He’s in the midst of a documentary project called “Our Magic” which will take the public into the world of magic. I asked Paul how he could do this without destroying how we see magic as outsiders looking into a world of wonder. He pointed out that the methods of magic would not be discussed in the documentary. He also said that exposure of magic methods would be an issue the documentary would address, and that it’s not the magician who’s hurt by exposure…it’s us, the audience. I guess this is what surprised me most. I realized I watch magicians because I want to be fooled. I want to be dumbfounded. I want to feel like I did when I was five and saw my first magic show, back when it was easier to believe in magic and unicorns and fairies.

Of course, I also found out a lot of really cool stuff about magic and magicians throughout history, and I’ve been posting these on my Close Up Magic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CloseUpMagicFlye. Don’t worry. You won’t find any secrets there!
 

~FUN QUESTIONS~

Morning person or night owl?

Night owl when I can, but I’m forced by kids and dogs to be awake in the morning most days.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee.

Tar Heel Basketball or Tar Heel Football?

Basketball! Go HEELS!

Favorite color?

Green.

NC Winters or NC Summers?

Summers. I hate being cold.

Do you believe in magic?

Yes. I see it every day.

I love that answer. Thank you for stopping by Michelle. Is there anything I missed that you would like to add?

I’d just like to say I hope when people read Close Up Magic, they’re able to believe in magic and love for a few minutes. It’s so easy to become cynical in today’s world, but I swear, if you take the time to look around, you can see magic everywhere.

I completely agree. Thanks again Michelle.

 

Connect with Michelle Garren Flye:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Michelle is having a blog tour giveaway and also giving something to a Read Your Writes Book Reviews commenter. Click HERE to be taken to the giveaway post.

**Please note while this giveaway is going on, you will not be able to comment on this interview. If you wish to comment on the interview, please click on the link. That way, you’ll also be entered in the giveaway.**