SUN CITY – Sun City author, Michele May was always a passionate reader but didn’t start writing until she was 50.
May said, “I finally realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. An author.”
Sun City resident and mystery author Michelle May, or M.E. May as she writes under, began her writing career after 50. Since then, she’s published five mystery novels with contracts secured by Harlequin. (Photo provided)
Some of the world’s most celebrated writers didn’t hit their literary stride until their mid-forties or later.
May said, “I grew up in a family that read. My sister was 18 years older than me and she used to read mysteries to me all the time.”
May attended Indiana University in Kokomo, Indiana, studying Social and Behavioral Sciences.
“My interest in the psychology of humans sparked my curiosity to ask why they commit such heinous acts upon one another,” she said.
May always knew she had it in her but was never quite sure how to fit writing in with raising children and working full-time. In 2008, her husband, Paul Banasiak discovered her dream and suggested she take a year off to get started.
May said, “The children were grown and had been on their own for several years now, so why not?”
How did she get started?
May said, “Writing is like doing a crossword puzzle but in reverse. You write the story leaving a trail of clues for the reader.”
May has authored five books taking place in the city of Indianapolis, involving the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, called the Circle City Mystery Series. In the series, she brings to life fictional characters who work diligently to bring justice to victims of crime in the city of Indianapolis.
Why Indianapolis?
May said, “I grew up there. The name of the series is inspired by an area of downtown where the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument is located. It is on Monument Circle, a circular, brick-paved street that intersects streets in the center of downtown.”
May’s other interests in criminology and forensics inspired her to write crime fiction that is as accurate as possible.
“I have taken many classes at McHenry College such as forensics. I also contacted the police department in Indianapolis for help. They have answered questions that I have in solving a crime. For example, I wondered if you could obtain a DNA sample without a warrant. I also have gotten assistance from fire department for water recovery questions and even help from Detectives. They help me out with the details,” she said.
How hard was it to write that first book?
May said, “I love to write. I can’t write a letter that is less than six pages. I joined a group that supports women who write mysteries, Sisters in Crime. They had classes and one of the questions they asked me was ‘Do you think your book is ready?’ and then how many words is your novel? My novel was 45,000 words at the time. It was not ready. It needed to be around 65,000 to 85,000.”
May had a solution.
“I decided to go away to a cabin and write. I added some twists and turns. It was 90000 words when I finished,” she said.
May’s efforts paid off. Her first novel, Perfidy, was honored on February 2, 2013 by colleagues at the Love is Murder Conference in Chicago. Michele received the 2013 Lovey Award for Best First Novel. In 2014, Harlequin approached Michele to take a look at the series for their Worldwide Mystery imprint and offered her contracts to publish the first four novels. There are now five novels in the series: Perfidy, Inconspicuous, Ensconced, Purged, and Unscrupulous.
May also had a short story, “Uncle Vito and the Cheerleader,” accepted for the Speed City Sisters in Crime for their anthology, Hoosier Hoops and Hijinks, which was released in October 2013.
Doe she have plans for another book?
May said, “Yes, the next book in the series is titled Enmity. But it is difficult now to promote books. There are no book signings or shows that I can meet with my readers.”
