#Author Interview: C. Michelle Jefferies @cmichellejeffe1

Lets all welcome C. Michelle Jefferies today! Michelle is the author of a variety of titles across the genre board. Most recently she published a middle grade chapter book collection. I know, I know, exciting right!? AND, as if that isn’t impressive enough, just wait until you explore what these books actually have to offer!

Enchanted Etiquette (Meraki Middle Grade Books Book 1) as well as Dragon Decorum (Meraki Middle Grade Books Book 2) 

These books are intended to assist in teaching young teens manners as well as bring families/friends closer by crafting and cooking as a team.

Amazon Description: ENCHANTED ETIQUETTE is intended to provide you with a way to teach manners to younger girls who are just starting to understand social etiquette, and to reinforce the concepts in older girls. It is meant to be friendly and non-lecturing.
The book has eleven different areas of focus, and is not intended to be read or taught in one long session. Instead, it is broken up into sections with a recipe and craft at the end of each chapter. Each craft and recipe is easy to do.

Using this book provides the perfect opportunity for you as parents and guardians to spend quality time with these girls. You will not only be teaching them manners, but simple crafting and cooking skills, while also providing an opportunity to bond with them. It can be used one-on-one, in a small group, or in a larger group of girls

NOW, without any further ado, lets pick at Michelle’s brain, shall we?

Q — Michelle, thank you so much for allowing me to put you in the hot seat today! I’ve got to know, what gave you the idea to put this entire endeavor together? I’ve never seen chapter books quite like this!

A–  I felt like my kids needed some manners lessons but when I tried to talk to them, they definitely zoned out. I love to craft and cook with my kids so when I changed the lessons to be more kid friendly they started to listen, and then I added recipes and activities to keep them even more involved and I knew I had something special. So one weekend when my family was traveling to a tourist site I sat down in the hotel room and wrote out the base text for the book. Then we spent time testing the crafts and recipes and I knew that I had to get these published. 

And finally, I knew it had to be released around June 24th, which is International Fairy Day. 

Q– If you were to pick one particular craft and/or recipe section that you feel is the most beneficial to your readers… which one would it be? and why?

A–  Probably the cookie recipes, because I feel it is important to learn to follow directions. As for the crafts, I love the idea of making ink from the Dragon Decorum books. 

Q– Of all the previous works you’ve published before the Meraki Middle Grade collection, do you have a favorite?

A–  These are the only two books in the Middle grade collection, but, Enchanted Etiquette is definitely my favorite because I used to do these kinds of things with my daughter when she was little. (She’s the only girl with six brothers) Meraki, (meaning putting your heart and soul into your work,) is the imprint that publishes all of my works.  

Q– Will there be more of the Meraki books to come, or is book 2 the end of your collection?

A–  I don’t know if I will do any more Middle Grade books, I do have an idea for a martial arts, code of honor type activity book. We shall see if it gets done. However this is definitely not the final book that will come from my Meraki Imprint. I have three plus books in the New Adult genre, and another three in the futuristic suspense line. 

Thank you so much Michelle, for taking the time to answer my pestering questions. More importantly, thank you for introducing such a lovely concept to the world. You’re an amazing author, and we can’t wait to see what comes out of your head next!

Thank you.

Please check out Michelle’s work, and follow her here:

—  cmichellejefferies@gmail.com

—  cmichellejefferies.wordpress.com

—  https://twitter.com/cmichellejeffe1

—  https://www.pinterest.com/cmjefferies/

—  https://www.facebook.com/CMichelleJefferiesAuthor/