Michael Ross is a real multi-genre author. From children's books to comedies, he wrote in a wide range of topics, but his favourite is epic fantasy. Michael's true life story, Just Five More Minutes, was not just wrote, but narrated by him and it went on to win the 2019 Independent Audio Book award. Wand Chronicles is a four book long series of him, which has a special book merchandise. Michael created and developed a game board to accompany the books. The game was so successful, that it was voted in the top 10 of best new board games for 2019 in the UK. Michael is recognized as a challenger to George R.R. Martin and Tolkien, however his stories are less dark and dramatic, with more humor. Currently, Michael is working on a series called 'The Big Fairy Adventures.'

If you want to know more about Michael Ross and his works:

https://www.facebook.com/Thetalentedauthor 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thewandchronicles/ 

Twitter: @wandchronicles 

https://www.instagram.com/thewandchronicles/?hl=en 

https://amzn.to/33IWuAO 

The Wand Chronicles: 

https://www.thewand.me/books

All other books/genres: 

https://www.thewand.me/all-other-books

The interview

1. You are a real multi-genre author, who wrote stories from children's books to comedies. Do you have any favourite genre? If yes, why that genre?

Yes! My favorite genre is fantasy and epic fantasy, as it is with The Wand chronicles (https://amzn.to/37e3ibF) having said that, 

I have a true-life story called 'Just Five More Minutes' (https://amzn.to/3jb7jBq) and one of my children's books, 'What Is A School? (https://amzn.to/366gDTU) that are best sellers.

2. Creating stories, mostly in such a wide range of genres, needs a lots of ideas. Wherefrom do you have the most inspiration?

Well, between me and you, I still have the imaginative mind of a 6-year-old boy! Ideas are floating around in my head all the time. I am a 'pantser' , someone who likes writing by the seat of his pants.

I find I am much more creative when I sit down and write without building any normal author plan. ie I have an idea of the story, and the characters develop as i actually write. I have learned to free up my mind and let it do what's best without a lot of interference from me. I never put any barriers in its way.

3. Which is the very first story you wrote?

I believe, in humor. it is everywhere, even at the darker times in all our lives. I went to see a clairvoyant, she demanded I start writing, so my first book was a comedy. It was a tongue-in-cheek affectionate look at shoppers close to where I live. They are one on their own, believe me. It is called 'Memoirs from the S.B.C.' (The S.B.C is a coffee shop within a shopping mall)

4.  You like both scifi and fantasy. If you should choose between magic and science, which one would you choose and why?

Great question. I was a consultant microbiologist for the first 9 years of my life (So there is the scientist bit) so although I have a healthy respect for Sci-Fi and cut my teeth on Sci-Fi as a youngster,

I am now very much more into all things magical. I would go for a drink with a fairy any day of the week! I just love fantasy. Hang on? Fairies are real, aren't they?

5. Do you like creating a new universe for every book, or you rather use one for more stories?

Oh Yes, every single book I write, I will be creating a new universe, it may not be completely different, but the places, the characters will be different.

6. Do you prefer writing a single book, or a series? Why?

I have done both, but for the books, I feel more passionately about, I like a series. When I used to find a very good author, I remember being disappointed when he or she only wrote one book at a time.

If the story and adventures are good, then I love to write a series. The Wand Chronicles is nearly 400,000 words and 4 books. My new project, The Big Fairy Adventures, will have many books. I have written 3, but many more are to come AND I will bring one or two of my favorite characters from the Wand Chronicles into these new stories as well. (https://amzn.to/2TJvtsJ)

7. Some people can write and get inspiration anywhere. You are also like this, or there is any time, or environment, where you can focus the best?

Doesn't matter where I am in the world, even if I am ironing or shopping or lying on a sun-drenched beach, ideas are floating around in my head all the time. Having said that, when there are no virus pandemics, I usually spend a month on the South coast of Spain on my 'writers retreat' and this makes me very productive. I do two things, I write a lot and test the local red wine to make sure it is up to scratch!

8. You created a game board for your Wand Chronicles series. Can you tell me about it? Do you like always making some merchandise connected to your books?

The board game was fun to do, and I designed the game while on one of my writer's retreats. Like everything in life, things are not that easy once you delve into creating something.

But I wanted a hook for my book. The game has all the main characters from the Wand Chronicles, and it is all about trying to steal or protect a powerful wand called Elvina. It actually went on to be voted in the top 10 of best new board games for 2019 in the UK, which is where I live.

9.  Your current project is a series called 'The Big Fairy Adventures'. Can you tell me about it?

Ahh The Big Fairy Adventures, it is what I call a realistic fantasy. As the title suggests, we find ourselves in the fairy queendom of Layleamonee. The heroine is a rather overweight fairy called Tinker Tanker. (She likes her nectar too much) Of course, the extra weight throws her flying patterns off so she is always bumping into walls. She is slimming though. She was once called Tinker Supertanker.

I also have a favorite character from the Wand chronicles, a Chinese man called Ding Ling who is always quoting Confucious to lighten the mood. They are on some dangerous adventures though, eg Fighting off a very powerful fairy witch called Maldranan, and having to cope with an effeminate male Orc called Chard Bhum (His Mom dropped him in a lava stream when he was a baby so his, you know? is a little scarred, hence the name.) All the adventures in this series revolve around a very magical and powerful wand called The Golden Quandrill. This is no ( Apologies to Harry Potter fans) piece of stick, this wand integrates with the host, so the whole person becomes the wand.

10. If you could live anywhere, as anything, what would you be and where? Why?

Oh that's not fair, I have so many answers. But I am going to give you an answer to do with this world we live on and in now. 

I would love to be a professional storyteller. I wouldn't need a book, I would ask someone to shout out a subject and would make up a story as I am telling it. For most of my life I have been a professional actor and would want to tell a story that would delight adults and children alike. oh yes, I would have to be amazingly multilingual so I could tell stories in any language.

Thank you for your answers! And what would you ask from Michael Ross? 🙃