1. When did the realization of your desire to become a writer first dawn on you?

I realized that I wanted to become a writer around second grade.  I wanted to have the power to make a movie come alive in other people's imagination like I enjoyed from reading books.  It was reinforced steadily by my mom who always encouraged me to improve and who always eagerly read whatever I offered to share.

2. Could you provide insights into your typical daily schedule while working on your writing?

I have to grin at this question because, as a stay-at-home mom, I really don't have a schedule.  I mean, I try to, but kids (especially little ones) seem to always throw a wrench in my best laid plans.  One of my biggest struggles is actually the lack of a schedule and realizing that I have to make time for myself to unwind and write in order to be a better mom - even on the hardest weeks when my whole family is passing a bug of some kind or another around.

3. Which books do you enjoy reading the most?

I suppose books that share about a character's life.  Some of the first books I read as a teenager are books that I reread over and over again as an adult.  Janette Oke's 

 series.  Another favorite author of mine would be Lauraine Snelling. 

4. What are the sources or inspirations behind the information and ideas in your books?

Well, most of my book is simply my own story so my inspiration was just my life.  The reason I chose to share it though is because I see a problem with stigma against mental health in a lot of different places.  I want to change that, but especially change the way that people look at schizophrenia.  Just because I see things that aren't there, doesn't make me a danger to society.  I have lost friends and been shut out of places when they learned of my illness or I requested reasonable accommodations.  I might not change the way the world looks at me, but I pray that at least one other schizophrenic might read my story and it brings them hope that I didn't get for years after being diagnosed.

5. At what age did you write your first book and how long did it take to write it?

My first book I started when I was 15 and it took a couple of years to write.  Then, it took a couple of more years to make sure the story flowed and got the editing done.  It was published in February 2015, about 4 years after I started writing it.

6. What topic or theme might your next book explore?

Well, Whispers of Strength talks about my first year as a scared mother and how I grew in strength since then.  I haven't decided fully on a title for my second book, but I am considering Whispers of Prayer since my second year of motherhood was full of doubts and questions.  Praying is the opposite of doubting.

7. Can you depict the environment where you typically write?

My typical spot to write is at my dining room table.  The dining room has the best lighting in my house and it is also central so that I can keep an eye on my kids playing on the deck or in the living room.  But really, I take my laptop with me whatever I might have a moment to relax and write.

8. What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing a book?

The editing process is the most challenging aspect for me.  I start missing things that shouldn't be missed and then that frustrates me to no end!  I have to take lots of breaks - plus get help from a few people that are much better at grammar than I am!

9. What activities do you enjoy when you're not engaged in writing?

I enjoy homeschooling my kids and doing arts and crafts.  Our family loves camping, so we try to camp a few times each summer.  I love taking long hikes to help decrease my anxiety, but my kids are too little to hike with me and my partner isn't quite a fan of racking up the miles!  So, I usually go on my hikes with my service animal.

10. How does your family perceive your writing? Do they like it or have concerns?

This is a hard question for me to answer because it is so broad.  I'll answer as to my direct family: my kids and partner.  My kids love that Mommy writes and tells stories.  My oldest has started telling me that he wants to be a story-teller like Mama when he gets big and my youngest will sit and snuggle for hours while I make up stories for her.  Both of my kids are too young to ask about this book, but I pray that they will treasure the story it holds - their story.  As for my partner, he loves reading out of Whispers of Strength as it triggers his own memories.  My partner also worries about our privacy, so he is a big help for removing information that might be too personal or area-specific.

11. Have you encountered writer's block, and how do you manage it?

Oh yes, writer's block and I are not strangers!  I'm not sure how I manage it other than stepping away from what I am trying to work on for a while and work on a different interest.  For example, my best binge-watching sessions started as writer's block.

12. During the process of creating Whispers of Strength, what was one of the most unexpectedly enlightening discoveries you made?

I would say a major discovery I made was exactly how much I have changed.  My partner has said, in the last 2 years, that I changed and that I am no longer the same person I was when we got together.  Editing my journal for publication has made me realize that he is right.  Several years ago, I was scared of doing everything wrong and there was just a "whisper of strength."  Today, I have come to the realization that through the grace of God, I am a strong woman ready to face whatever comes with only a few major panic attacks.

13. What, in your opinion, constitutes a captivating story?

A captivating story is any story that is told well enough to bring laughter to it's readers in the funny parts, tears during the heartbreaks, is something that they can't wait for the next part or can't put the book down, and paints a vivid image that is relatable in some way to the reader.  If you can watch your audience's facial features rise and fall throughout the story, you have written something that has captured their emotions and they are right there living in that world you shared with them.

14. Which aspect of being a writer brings you the most joy?

My favorite part about writing is figuring out how to share what my mind sees in a way that my readers will see a similar image as they read.  That being said, it is also one of the most frustrating parts of being a writer because I have to slow down in order to get the little details.

15. What aspirations did you have for your future career when you were a child?

When I was a child, my career choices changed a lot.  I wanted to be an actress, a singer, a writer, a reporter, a vet, an animal trainer, a marine biologist, a teacher, and a computer programmer.  I am so thankful to say that my favorite teacher (mom) was willing to support any dream I had.  I decided not to be an actress, singer, or reporter because of my stage fright.  My dreams of being an animal trainer were crushed when I realized that I probably couldn't work with dolphins, so marine biology was my back up until I took a class in high school and realized that I don't enjoy research THAT much.  I opted out of being a vet when I learned that I had to put animals to sleep.  Then, I opted out of computer programming because it frustrated me too much.  So, that left being a writer (which I didn't think could earn me enough to live off of), and being a teacher (which I was told I couldn't be with schizophrenia).  I am now happy to say that I am a homeschool teacher to my two kiddo's and I haven't lost my love of writing.

Michal Czyz

Questions and Answers from an Interview

From 2023

1. When did the realization of your desire to become a writer first dawn on you?

I realized that I wanted to become a writer around second grade.  I wanted to have the power to make a movie come alive in other people's imagination like I enjoyed from reading books.  It was reinforced steadily by my mom who always encouraged me to improve and who always eagerly read whatever I offered to share.



Questions and Answers from an Interview

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