An Interview with Micah Briarmoon

Micah Briarmoon is a true Renaissance man: educator, entertainer, musician, world traveler, and author. After many years entertaining crowds around the country, he pursued his teaching degree, going on to teach both locally and internationally.

He now resides in Kirkland, Washington, enjoying his free time studying new languages and spending time with his family. His current work as a delivery driver affords him the time to brainstorm new characters and their potential adventures for his future novels.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

I was inspired to write this book after making a delivery to a strange and mysterious house on Cougar Mountain in Bellevue, WA. Every time I left a package at this house, my scanner said it was a business. I would change the setting, but it never stayed. I didn’t have this issue anywhere else on my route, only at this house. I thought, “What if my perceptions are being manipulated and my scanner is showing me the truth?” A story idea formed. With every subsequent delivery, the house seemed to say, “You must write this story.”

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title of my first book, A Haunting Deception, came to me right away—supernatural plus the main character is being deceived. The second book is titled A Haunting Connection. That was easy, too. It connects book one to book three. The main characters are learning how to connect with others on a spiritual level. The title of my current story is A Haunting Redemption. I had originally called it A Haunting Return, but a fan of mine said it should end in -tion to match the first two books. And because a main character redeems themselves in the third book, I thought it was an appropriate title.

Describe your dream book cover.

My dream cover. I don’t think my daughter would ever allow my dream cover to come into existence. I love complicated covers with lots of clues. My dream cover would ask you to stare at it for five minutes and guess what each person and thing meant. It would be a collage of the whole book. My daughter, however, insisted I keep it simple. I had the hardest time coming up with cover ideas. I made fifty or more designs for book one and my daughter rejected them all. Then my niece started drawing an idea. It looked cool, but she never finished it. My daughter scanned the image into AI, and told me, “Here is your cover!” It’s a great cover.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I reference a few songs in the story. The first is Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. It was used in the movie Ghost and sets the stage for the story. The second is Mozart’s Queen of the Night aria. Leah’s trapped in a black void and the song plays over and over in her mind. The third is Hard To Handle by The Black Crowes. It’s later in the book when the characters dance and sing and forget where they are. Clint Mansell: Requiem For A Dream, Max Richter: November, and Jenkins: Palladio all fit the tone of my book.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

As I talk with people about my book, I’m meeting fellow authors. Currently, I’m reading Layover by R.A. Schwarz. He lives on my route. I’m also reading manuscripts from a coworker and from my sister and giving them feedback.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I was an apprentice to a flute maker. I performed a comedy astronomy show called The Great Debate at Renaissance festivals for five years. I taught English as a second language in middle school, and English as a foreign language in Japan and Thailand. I speak Thai very well, Spanish not very well, and a tiny bit of Japanese and Korean.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I saw Star Wars in the theater when I was five years old. This movie had a huge influence on my imagination. I remember wanting to write a story about a boy here on Earth who learns to become a Jedi. The way I was able to become a writer came through Korean dramas. My daughter got me hooked with Hi Bye, Mama! I binged thirty different K-dramas over eight months. I recognized the structure/framework/formula these dramas used and found my path forward to writing my own story. What made me want to write about ghosts and spirits was a near death experience I had. In the third grade, the hair dryer fell into the bathtub and I was electrocuted. My mother had to resuscitate me. That event has haunted me my entire life.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is at the kitchen table, although I’m not creating the story there. The story is created while I’m delivering packages. The repetitive motion allows my mind to wander. I record all my ideas on my phone while I work and then type them when I get home.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Edit, edit, edit, and edit again before you try and find an agent or attempt to publish. Don’t rush the process! Set the story aside for a few weeks and then come back to it.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

That we are all connected—to each other and to Earth, maybe even to a higher power. Each of my characters are spiritual in one form or another. I want readers to feel like they are seen. I want them to feel included. I hope that my diverse cast helps to show that even in our differences, we are similar.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.