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Michelle Adams is the author of Little Wishes, which is out now.
Michelle Adams grew up in the UK and now lives in Cyprus with her husband, step-children, and young daughter. She is also the author of two psychological suspense novels My Sister and Between the Lines.
Here’s the synopsis for Little Wishes:
On her favorite day of the year, Elizabeth Davenport awakens in her cottage on the wild and windy Cornish coast, opens her front door, and discovers a precious gift: the small blue crocus and a note that begins I Wish . . . They are not signed, but she knows they’ve been left by her first and truest love, Tom Hale. Each of these precious missives convey a simple wish for something they had missed, and the life they might have shared. She has kept them all.
But on this day, what should have been the fiftieth anniversary of their falling in love, the gift fails to arrive. Could something have happened to Tom? Elizabeth has always been plagued by thoughts of “what if?”. Propelled by worry and decades of pent up longing, Elizabeth packs a little suitcase, leaves Porthsennenon, and journeys to London . . . to find the love of her life once again, years after circumstances forced them apart.
Finding him, Elizabeth is faced with the desperate knowledge that any time they might have now is running out. Never before had she thought that she might truly lose time—forever. And now, knowing that life is too short, Elizabeth vows to fulfill as many of Tom’s wishes as she can. Yet she fears that her efforts may expose the shameful secret that, until now, has kept them apart.
Can she continue to hide the truth, or will she have the courage to reveal herself completely and finally make their dreams come true—before it’s too late?
Get to know Michelle as she talks favorite novels, writing different genres, inspiration behind the story and much more.
What are some of your favorite novels?
There are so many books that I love, it’s always hard to choose. But my longterm favourites are Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, The Secret History, and A Little Life. This year, My Dark Vanessa and Normal People have been added to that list.
When did you know you wanted to become an author?
I have always enjoyed books, and even as a child I loved going to the shops to buy Roald Dahl books, or collecting stamps for the school book-club. But the moment I realized I’d like to write, was when I read my first Stephen King book. I was about nine years old, and my parents we’re trying to stop me from borrowing it from a family friend’s shelf. I remember thinking how cool it was that the guy on the back of the book had written something that was so taboo. It made the idea of being a writer feel a bit like magic, and after that I always harboured the idea of trying to write one day.
What inspired you to write Little Wishes?
When I started writing Little Wishes, I had just signed a contract to write two psychological thrillers. My father had been diagnosed with end stage cancer, and I was flying back and forth between Cyprus and England to try to be with him. It was a difficult period, but while we had some hard things to deal with, there were also wonderful moments of unexpected friendship, support, and laughter. His girlfriend of many years was there to support him also, and watching them come to terms with what we were facing, and expressing how they felt, was a beautiful thing. I was returning for what I knew would be the last time, on a last-minute flight via Lithuania with a seven hour layover. I was alone in the airport, watching snow settle on the runway, and I knew I wanted to write a story based on the love I had witnessed between my father and his partner.
What was your favorite chapter or part to write?
Part of the story is told in 1960’s Cornwall, UK. Learning about village life in that period, and exploring young love and how it would have been played out, was really fun. I also managed to get in touch with a local from the area where the book is set, and talking to him about the memories of some of the locals made a huge difference to the final book.
Can you talk about the process of writing for different genres? Do you have a favorite genre?
My daily process is the same across genres. I write between 2,000 and 4,000 words per day, and work five days a week. For psychological thrillers, I find I am most inspired when I’m reading a lot, but also watching a lot of crime shows. When I wrote a dystopian series many years ago, I found I was creating a lot of supporting documents to help me build the world. I even wrote legislation so I could understand the world at large. For love stories I find that being open to life and being sociable, makes the biggest difference.
What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?
I have just finished C L Taylor’s Strangers, and before that, Normal People. Other recent reads are The Silent Treatment, and Catch and Kill. Next up is The Chalet, A Brief History of Time, and The Vanishing Half.
Click here to order Little Wishes on Amazon.
