SoWal Scene Q & A - Romance/Erotica Author Michael Ferguson

Having lived in many cities around the country in my 37 years, I have had the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world, and from all different professions.  Recently, not in some big metropolitan city but here, in our little slice of paradise, I had the incredible fortune to cross paths with a gentleman who writes romance/erotica novels - now that was a first for me.  Cool!

Michael Ferguson, author of My Space Her Space - Love Found on The Pages of MySpace, is a recent transplant to the Beaches of South Walton.  A few years ago, life offered him a bitter pill.  As he shares on his website, his wife of almost 20 years pursued, and was granted, a divorce he did not want.  Instead of  letting the devastating experience stop him cold in his tracks, he somehow found clarity and courageously channeled his emotions into a passionate, steamy novel which he recently had published.  WOW ... a very inspiring story to say the least.  His book is now on sale at Sundog Books in Seaside, Barnes and Noble Online and Amazon.com.  Attention ladies ... this is a great beach read! 

I caught up with Michael online for this week's SoWal Scene Q &A.  Welcome to paradise, Michael!

You are a recent transplant to South Walton – where did you move from and when?

I moved to Seagrove Florida in January of this year from South Louisiana.

Why South Walton?

Have you looked around? lol  I fell in love with the area along 30a for a number of reasons.  The architecture and layout of the communities is first rate.  The way the communities are planned and designed, particularly Seaside and Watercolor, is simply brilliant.  And the people here are fabulous.  The people who live here are happy and the people vacationing here are happy.  That happiness creates a unique atmosphere that is simply inspiring.  This area is also a melting pot with people from everywhere around the country.  It is vibrant.  And the feeling of community has been a blessing.  People are so incredibly helpful and supportive here.  I loved that a state forest was here also and that the area along 30a is not built up with towering commercial structures.  Did I mention the beach? 

A romance novelist – what a unique profession!  How did you get started in your profession?  Have you always been a novelist?

I have written a few things, including a series of children books, but this new Romance is my break-out book.  I've always written, but after my divorce I wrote about what I needed most in my life, love.  I began writing blogs on MySpace that were about me meeting someone, falling in love, and about what that love could be like.  The responses to my blogs were absolutely phenomenal.  I described a very passionate relationship and my readers loved it.  Many readers secretly told me that they wished they had someone that felt the way about them that I described in my writing.  And they were emphatic about another thing too, the love scenes that I described.  So much so that they begged for more.  It was then that I truly knew I was onto something big.  That was what inspired me to turn what I had into a book.

Please tell us more about your first book, which you just recently published. 

Well, it has been a wonderful journey.  'My Space Her Space' is a beautiful love story.  The subtitle, 'Love Found on the Pages of MySpace' gives you a good understanding of the setting and where the story takes place.  Rather than tell a lot about the specifics within the book, what I should say is that it is a very passionate read.  And where that passion leads is what most of my readers say they can't turn away from.  The love scenes are quite stimulating and visually descriptive.   "Wow" has been a frequently used term in messages to me about my book.  It is definitely a hot read but without question love is the theme.  It's a love story.  The book is about the love shared between soul mates.  And it's a magical love indeed.

Are your novels autobiographical? 

This book is actually very much autobiographical.  In fact, I called an old childhood friend of mine to tell him he is mentioned in the book.  The book begins with me coming off of a divorce and running into him.  He actually recommended that I join MySpace, the social networking site, and that's where the journey and the book begin.

And in that journey is where the lines between reality and fantasy blur.  I lived through the words in my book.  I was in love.  I felt emotions deeply as I wrote the book and that comes across to the reader.  I needed love and I needed to give love, and in 'My Space Her Space' I did just that.  Even today, after going through the pages many, many times during editing, I still pick up the book and look through the pages and I still smile.  And still, I am in love.   

Any more books in the pipeline?

Yes.  I smile when I think about that.  I am working on a few things.  Actually, I have been asked by readers to do a sequel to 'My Space Her Space'.  In truth, that was already in the works, but just knowing that they are asking for it is such a tremendous feeling.  For me, the one thing that comes close to the rush of writing is the feeling I get when a reader tells me how touched they were from what I created.  One reader wrote that she could not put my book down and even held the pages open with a lotion bottle while blow drying her hair.  Is that not reason enough to write another Romance?  You can't buy that kind of a compliment.  You can't put a price on that.

Where do you draw your inspiration for your novels? 

Feelings.  Let me see how to explain this.  Okay, imagine that you are dying of thirst.  You need something to drink and there is absolutely no substitute that will do.  You need water or a drink of some kind and money or a flower or a gold nugget will not do.  You need a drink.  Well, I needed love.  The quickest way for me to get that love just so happened to be to write about it.  I wrote about it and I had it.  I still do and I will forever.  It's in the pages of 'My Space Her Space' and all I need to do is open the book and read.

That's what is inspiring me to continue to write.  I want more of it.  I love the richness of the feelings I get when I create my vision.  I am inspired by people too, obviously.  I'm inspired by beauty.  I have some friends that are very beautiful and just to be near them or to look at them can spark a chapter or two.  I can pass someone on the street or see someone on the beach and be inspired too.  Life gives me my inspiration.  I guess my greatest inspiration is to find the love that I write about, fully and truly. 

Where can people purchase your books?

'My Space Her Space' is available on Amazon.com, BN.com, here at Sundog books in Seaside and any bookstore should be able to order it if it is not on their shelves.  I'm happy to say that I have a 5 star rating on Amazon.com and some great reviews.  That's always a favorite place for people to order online.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off in South Walton?

Good question.  I'd have to say, favorite thing needs to be plural.  There is so much to do.  I love getting on my bike and heading into the State Forest and discovering nature.  Heading into Seaside and people watching is always nice too.  Riding my bike along the bike path like so many people like to do has been fun for me.  Visiting Bud and Alley's has fast become a tradition, day or night.  The view there is breathtaking and watching the sunset from that location is monumental.  I love meeting people there and really anywhere here along 30a.  Everyone is so nice.  Like I said, it's a happy place.

Thanks, Michael!  Keep us posted on the release of your next book!