Author Michele Torrey

Where were you born?

I was born in Wenatchee, Washington. It’s a mid-sized community nestled in the heart of the Cascade mountains. It called the “Apple Capital of the World” because there are apple orchards everywhere. I only lived there for two years, though.

Then where did you spend your childhood?

From Wenatchee my family moved to France, and from there to England. After a five year spell back in Washington State, we moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where I spent my junior high and high school years. Much to my dismay, I had to move back to Lynnwood, Washington for my senior year. I would have much preferred to have my graduation ceremony at the Heidelberg castle rather than the local gym. It was a bit of a letdown after such an exotic childhood.

Then did you travel a lot?

Yes, mostly reluctantly. My parents wanted to see all of Europe and so I was dragged along. Sometimes I accidentally enjoyed myself. Now, though, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool traveler. I make a couple of trips a year and have visited over thirty countries.

What’s your next big trip?

The next real BIG trip is to Scotland in October, 2008. Although I lived in England as a child, we never did make it to Scotland. We always thought we would, but somehow things like that have a tendency to slip away until it's too late. Whoops, did I say too late? Nay, lads and lassies! Scotland, here I come!

What is your favorite memory as a child?

That’s a hard question to answer because I have many favorite memories. But I think my favorite memory would be my time spent as a four- and five-year-old on our 400-year-old farm in Cockfield, England. My brother and I spent our days finding lost kittens (there were lots of stray cats hanging around), frying eggs on the hot tar roof of the chicken coop, and playing Indians with a shirt draped around my head (simulating long Indian hair).

As a child, what were your favorite books?

I loved the Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and must have read it ten billion times. I also loved The Outsiders, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Jane Eyre, Gone With the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Where the Red Fern Grows. Besides all of the Dr. Seuss books, my favorite picture book was Beauty and the Beast, beautifully illustrated by Hilary Knight. I remember staring at that book for hours at a time, year after year. I eventually lost the book, but my sister gave another one to me as a gift about eight years ago. I was able to vividly recall every single illustration and cherish it still.

Who had the greatest influence in your becoming a writer?

My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Betty Buzitis. In response to a class assignment, I wrote a story about a dinosaur egg popping out of the kitchen sink. The teacher liked it, read it aloud, and published it in our little newspaper. I felt so proud, and began from that moment to believe that I had a talent for writing. Throughout junior high, high school, and college, I made sure to take creative writing courses. I have no doubt that I would have become a writer anyway, but Mrs. Buzitis set me upon the writing path at a very early age, with confidence and a head full of dreams. (You can read the story using the link at left.)

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Not until fifth grade. Then it was a no-brainer. But I didn’t think writing was commercially viable (and still don’t!) for many years and so it was more of a hobby before it became a career.

Do you have any kids?

Yes, I have three sons: Ian, Aaron, and Ethan. They’ve all flown the coop.

Do you have any pets?

I have a sweet calico cat, Sheba, who spends most of her day sleeping on my lap or sleeping on my desk. In those moments when she’s awake and wanting attention, she sits on the books I’m trying to read. Then we snuggle. We’re great friends. Sadly, my dog, Tasha, passed away not too long ago. We really miss her.

What do you most want readers to know about you?

That I believe in a power greater than myself, a loving power which co-creates with me. That each of us has access to this higher power, and that it only wants us to be joyful and to claim the light that shines within us all. I live my life every day believing this.