An Interview with Michelle Mae

Michelle Mae is a mother of two and the heart behind Stor-e-Line LLC.

As an author, Michelle is passionate about creating stories that help children (and adults) build strong social-emotional skills in a fun, approachable way. Through her books, she tackles everyday challenges like learning patience, calming a busy mind at bedtime, and using art to manage emotions like anger.

With three children’s books published so far, Michelle has crafted stories that resonate with young readers, offering them not just entertainment but also valuable life lessons. Whether it’s learning how to navigate tricky feelings or simply getting better sleep, Michelle’s stories combine heartfelt moments with practical techniques—helping children and families grow together.

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

I’ve always loved to write, for as far back as I can remember. But I didn’t write my first book until just a couple of years ago. This will date me, but I remember getting so excited to write my “away messages” and statuses on MySpace. It was my first taste of sharing my writing with the world (ha). But a couple of years ago—after having a successful ‘teaching’ moment with my then-six-year-old—I had a spark of an idea for a story and in that moment I committed to following it. I committed to turn it into something I could hold…and gift to my kids. And that’s how it officially started. That’s how Sleep Tight, Pen came to be. Followed by A Little Patience. And more recently, Angry Little Artist.

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

I’ve tried out quite a few actually. I worked in retail for a good portion of my life—as a cashier and customer service for (again, probably dating myself) the toy store with everyone’s once-favorite giraffe. I worked as a server on a cruise ship. And I worked as a Deliverables Manager for a financial firm. None of which fueled my passion for writing—but all somehow led me to where I am now…writing children’s books and stories that I absolutely love and am so excited to share.

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

Funny enough, the titles for my recent books were the first thing that came to me right after the spark of the idea for the story. But the title for Sleep Tight, Pen did NOT come easily for me. I went through so many versions of that title—I started with something like “emotional pjs” and then I think I made it “Sleep Tight, Thoughts” for a while. I remember thinking that one was close but not quite right—I kept hoping something would come to me in the final hour. And then it was actually my husband who helped me realize the book was truly about putting Pen to bed…and then the title Sleep Tight, Pen was born!

What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?

Of course holding the proof print of Sleep Tight, Pen made it feel really real, but honestly—that giddiness for me really happened when I saw the very first character sketches for Pen by the illustrator. She really brought him to life for me and made it all seem real—that was such a magical moment. I still smile when I think about it.

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

That there’s always room for imagination and creativity to help you work through tricky situations.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

This is my favorite question—I absolutely LOVE hearing from families and teachers that tell me how much they enjoyed reading my stories with their kids. My all-time favorite is when they tell me that my books have helped their children to be more willing to talk about what’s on their minds—that my books (especially Sleep Tight, Pen) have helped with open communication and they feel closer to their kids. I love that.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I just finished up some companion books (a sketchbook, a journal, and an activity book) that are themed to pair with my three books. I’m also planning on giving Sleep Tight, Pen a minor face-lift (working on a second edition). Oh, and I’m currently working on two new stories—one about friendship and one about frustration. Be sure to sign up for my mailing list at www.stor-e-line.com to find out more!

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