Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf I have a special treat for everyone for Halloween! Author Michelle Rowen is my featured Q&A guest. I hope you all have a Spooky and happy Halloween!

To start off, welcome and can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

Sure! I’m a full-time, national bestselling, award-winning writer of paranormal romance and young adult fantasy novels. Since 2005, I’ve sold sixteen books to five different NYC publishers and some of my books have been/will be translated into five different languages. I live in Southern Ontario in a tiny condo with two needy cats and a really fast internet connection.

Can you tell us a little about your new and/or current releases?

I’ve had three releases out in the last three months. Tall, Dark & Fangsome came out in September and it’s the last book in my Immortality Bites paranormal romance series about a fledgling vampire. October was the release of my debut young adult novel (the first in a series) Demon Princess: Reign or Shine about a girl who finds out that her father is a demon king and that makes her a half demon princess and heir to his throne. And November brings my first Harlequin Blaze release, Hot Spell, about two paranormal investigators who find an enchanted clock that helps to reveal their true feelings about each other.

How did you decide what to write?

My ideas find me, mostly. But I find a couple of themes that seem to be consistent in all of my work is the “normal” person who falls into a “not normal” adventure. I also have a habit of making the monsters the good guys.

When you’re not writing what kind of books do you like to read? Do you have any favorite authors, that are must reads?

I love YA most of all right now. I have a lot of favorite authors but a few off the top of my head along with my book recs are: Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, I’m a big, unapologetic fan of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, and right now I’m reading and loving Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange.

What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a new book?

When I sit down to write a new book I must have 1) an outline (I am a plotter, not a pantser, and when I try to write without an outline I am always headed for trouble and a lot of revision work), 2) Silence (some people can write with music playing or at Starbucks, but I need silence in order to concentrate and get into the heads of my characters), and 3) Diet Coke (it fuels the muse. She used to require more fattening fare, but she has adapted nicely).

What are your favorite things to do in your downtime?

I love going to the movies, watching trashy reality TV, and going out for lunch or dinner with friends.

Where can we purchase your books?

All of my books are still in print, so you can purchase them at online booksellers. The more recent titles would be available on the shelves of most bookstores.

Do you have a blog or website that your readers can keep up with you and your books?

Absolutely. Readers can find me at www.michellerowen.com where I also have a blog and lots of info about my books. You can also find me on twitter at www.twitter.com/michellerowen.

If you could pick one character from your books to join you on a deserted island for a month, who would it be and why?

Oooh, I like this question. Hmm, let me see. I would probably choose Darrak, the demon hero from my new paranormal romance series out next May with The Demon in Me. He’s resourceful, strong, gorgeous, and funny as hell. He’d definitely entertain me during our stay.

Thank you so much for joining me for a Q&A Session for our readers!

My pleasure. Thank you for asking me!