If you haven’t yet read A Brief History of Montmaray, read it now, today, this minute. Seriously. The characters will grab hold of you and won’t let you go (or breathe!) until you get to the last page... and then you’ll be scrabbling for your car keys so you can race to the book store and buy the sequel, The FitzOsbornes in Exile. Anyway, enough of my blather, here are Michelle Cooper’s answers:

1) Which compliment about your work/personality do you recall with the

most fondness, and why?

How sad is it that I can barely remember any compliments, but can recall

in great detail every single time that someone insulted me? I do remember

that when I was a teenager, a teacher once said, 'Michelle doesn't talk

much, but when she does say something, it's always worth listening to.' I

still find writing much easier than talking. I can't edit my spoken words,

unfortunately.

2) If you had to pick an element of nature - an animal, tree, plant,

landscape, energy force - which would fit your approach to life best?

I love animals, especially dogs, especially scruffy little terriers.

They're so loyal and hard-working and tenacious. I'm a bit like that.

3) If you were to set up a publishing company and making a profit was

not a concern, what kind of books would you publish?

Books for teenage girls. Fiction with strong, smart, realistic female

protagonists, and thoughtful, accessible non-fiction about history and

philosophy and science. I don't have to make a profit, right? Well, then,

NONE of the books would have pink, sparkly covers!