Interviewing Michael Lynes – Scary Love

Introducing you to Michael Lynes one of our authors who published his short story Scary Love in our latest Ghostly Writes Valentine’s Anthology called Love from The Other Side.  Don’t forget it is FREE in ebook 

Introduce yourself and where you’re from.

My name is Michael Lynes. I am an engineer by training and a serial entrepreneur. I’ve been married for almost thirty-five years with four sons and two grandchildren. I enjoy baking bread, feeding seasoned hardwood into my ancient Timberline woodstove, working on various cars, bird watching and taking amateur photographs. I live in Sussex County, New Jersey, USA – a beautiful rural area of the state.

Tell us about your writing journey?

I was inspired to write my story mainly because I personally love the short story as an art form, both as a reader (first) and now as an author. I also like the process of creation. I enjoy the technical aspects of story craft. I get a thrill when I have managed to incorporate a rhythm or a set of syncopated lyrical elements into the warp and weft of my storyline. Balance and smooth narrative flow are also key in telling an effective story. I am delighted and humbled when my writing is able to evoke an emotional response in the reader. It is a privilege to witness the transmission of emotion, felt at first by myself or by my character, into the readers’ separate emotional space. Getting feedback through a review or comment is extremely gratifying.

What is your story about?

My story is titled ‘Scary Love’ – it is a short story about the power of love, how it transcends the end of life and how through love all hurts and fears can be overcome. My main character is Himi-Ko Sarume. Her name in Japanese means ‘Daughter of the Sun’. Himi-ko is confronted both by the demons of her past and by her aching sense of loss and despair. She comes to realize that only love can provide her the answers she most desires.

Why did you choose this topic/genre?

Well, genre for this story was contemporary, with a twist of the supernatural. It seemed to fit well with the theme of the anthology. As for the topic, I’ve always been fascinated with the Shinto religion and this was an opportunity to write about it in short-story form.

Why publish in the Ghostly Writes Anthologies?

The anthology provides authors with great exposure and the opportunity to meet a terrific bunch of other writers and collaborate with them on a project.

Share your experiences of helping each other in the Ghostly Writes Group.

I am not sure if I helped anyone directly but it is fun to read all of the other stories and also to vote on the cover and title of the anthology.

Thank you for participating.