Chatting with Michelle Monkou

I know you grew up in Guyana.  Do you consider yourself a Caribbean writer?

Yes, I was in Guyana from 3 to 12 years old (give or take a few months).  Depends on the emphasis of Caribbean.  Am I a writer who identifies with the Caribbean – yes.  My adopted parents are Guyanese and my birth mother is Jamaican.  But if the question is whether I’m a writer who writes Caribbean stories, I’m not that person.

Have you set any books in the Caribbean?

I have often set my books in the Caribbean or have characters whose ethnicity is from the Caribbean.  Knowing how I felt and was treated as an immigrant, I’m mindful of showing people and places from the West Indies that are equally vibrant, interesting, and diverse.

What do you think of the direction AA romance is heading in now?

AA romance is transitioning according to readers' taste.  I don't think that it's any different from mainstream romance.  Stories are steamier and more graphic.  What we may not have is the various subgenres, like sweet romance, inspirational romance, sexy romance, erotic romance in distinct imprints.  Not that it's necessary because providing such product would depend on the demand.

I do feel that the quality of the stories have gotten better.  These larger publishing houses are sales oriented.  It doesn't do anyone any good to place poor quality books out there in the market.  Profit margins are slim, customers are very picky, editors are swamped, so the final product has to produce a commitment from the reader to buy.

What AA romance will face (like its counterpart) is the challenge of attracting new readers.  Our readership is aging with us, without the same rate of new readers.  I think the types of stories that we see are an attempt to bring in new readers to romance from the urban, erotic, or women's fiction.

Do I have any proof of this, no.  But thanks for letting me share my opinion.

What contribution do romance novels make to the life of the modern woman?

Romance novels serve as stories of fantasies, stories to inspire, stories for examples of life lessons in women’s lives.  How you receive the story message depends on where you are in your life and what you are looking for.  When I read a book about a millionaire, it’s pure escape.  If I pick up a book with a more serious tone, then that might have some motivational or inspirational aspect.  I’ve also had fan mail where someone identified with a character or the conflict in the story and liked how the heroine handled the situation, thereby providing an example for her.

What was your greatest writing moment?

I don’t think that I’ve had that greatest moment, yet.  I’m learning to celebrate all the milestones because it’s easy to take them for granted or to forget them.  So for instance, the first phone call from the editor, the glowing review, a fan who says they’ve read all my books, the pride in my children’s voice when they tell someone that I’m an author. 

Your lowest writing moment?

Again, each low moment may seem like the biggest crisis until you step away and gain perspective: a bad review, a proposal rejection, not being selected for something.  I find that the longer that I’m in this business, the thicker my skin. 

Tell us about your best, worst, weirdest experience with a fan.

Best is when a fan talks about the character as if s/he is a real person in her life.

Worst (and really it’s not) is when someone mistakes me for another author.

Weirdest is the large amount of fan mail that I get from the male prisoners.

If a hero from your own books could suddenly step off the pages and rock your world, which would it be, and why?

Bo Pemberton from an earlier book, Making Promises (Arabesque).  I have a thing for cowboys and Bo was a Texan cowboy: macho, smart, and gorgeous.  He cared about family, respected his mother, and readily faced danger .

Have you ever written anything outside of the Romance genre, or do you intend to?

I’m working on a young adult and women’s fiction. 

What writer has been your greatest inspiration?

No one writer has been the key inspiration for me.  Authors and their works are as vast as my taste in music and movies.  I will read the most obscure works or listen to music that the average person may not ever experience.  I keep myself open to enjoying  and learning from everyone.

If there's a question you wish I had asked you, or anything you want to say, someone you want to shout out, please feel free to do it now.

Thank you for this platform.  Much appreciated.  There are two authors who are near and dear to my heart.  They are the ones that get to hear me whine or cheer.  They are the ones that I trust with my business and enjoy and treasure our long friendship over the last eight years: Candice Poarch and Celeste Norfleet.

 Thanks, Michelle!