Michelle Hansen is the self-published author of the amazing fantasy novel, Painted Blind, which is far from your typical fantasy.  It mixes Greek mythology in with the modern world in an unexpected and I had no idea it was self-published until she told me; it was really that good.  She agreed to an interview via email and here is the result.  Warning: there are a few minor spoilers.  So go on and read about Michelle Hansen’s incredible road to being published, writerly advice and how she came up with the idea for Painted Blind.

Where did you get the idea for Painted Blind?

I was walking through Barnes and Noble in February 2002, and I saw a beautiful picture book version of the myth of Cupid & Psyche. I was in the middle of teaching The Odyssey to my freshman classes, so I bought this book to read aloud to them on Valentine’s Day. Whenever I read it, I wondered how the story would translate into our day. There were so many things the Greeks accepted—like gods who could make themselves invisible and fly—that we as a society do not accept.  I was particularly intrigued by the idea of a girl who was too beautiful to find real love in her own society, a girl who was lonely while being admired by everyone around her. Eventually, these musings became Painted Blind. Continue reading →