An Interview with Romance Comedy Writer Michelle J. Mann

A special spotlight featuring the author of "The Good Ones" series!

Note: If you’d like to be a part of one our author spotlights, please fill out this form. Lastly, this post is too long for standard email viewing, and is best viewed on our website or the Substack app.

Michelle Mann writes sweet, contemporary small-town romances with heartfelt characters and a healthy dose of humor that will have you grinning from ear to ear. She has lived in Texas since she was a very young child and now lives with her husband and two of her children.

Her debut novel was released in March 2025 with glowing reviews from readers who felt genuine, deep connections to the characters. Michelle has found a purpose in advocating for individuals with disabilities. Michelle has many hobbies, but particularly loves spontaneous do-it-yourself projects, reading, writing, traveling, and taking care of plants.

If you’d like to learn more about Michelle and her work, you can visit her website here. She’s also on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Now… let’s dive into the interview.

Below are some questions Michelle answered for this Spotlight.

What drew you to writing, and what has your journey with the craft been like so far?

I've always wanted to write a book, but never had the courage to start. One day my husband said, "why don't you write your book?" I drove straight to Walmart to buy a new computer and started writing my first book that night.

If you had to pick one, which of your stories was your favorite to write and why?

My second book, Something Good In The Dust, was my favorite to write. The first book was very stressful because I was learning and everything was new and scary. By the second book, I wasn't nearly as nervous and felt freer to just write instead of panic over everything.

And what was the most difficult part of getting your work published for the first time?

Everything about the first book was a learning experience. It was all difficult, formatting, learning keywords, writing a blurb, ect. It was all incredibly frightening.

How would you describe your ideal writing set up?

I like a quiet room, low lighting, comfortable temperature, a cozy blanket, and a large drink. I don't do well with a lot of chaos or interruptions. If there is a lot going on in the house, I like to listen to a youtube video with white noise to drown out the distractions.

What was the most profound piece of advice you’ve ever received? How did it influence your writing?

The best advice I've had was that you cannot please everyone. Not everyone is going to like your book and if you try to please everyone, your book will be very bland.

Lastly, do you have any book or story recommendations?

I particularly enjoy reading stories from indie authors. I've found so many excellent books from indie authors, but I do not have a favorite.

Synopsis for each book or series is pulled directly from their webpage.

A sweet, small-town romance with friends to lovers and heartwarming second chances, Everything Good that Happened amps up the drama while providing cozy, feel good vibes.

Sydney has had a streak of bad luck, and she blames herself for everything that has happened. Recently divorced and looking forward to a fresh start with her two young children, she has absolutely zero intentions of entering the dating world anytime soon, especially with the uncertainty of her ex’s whereabouts and intentions looming over her. Men in general? Totally over them.

Fate intervenes when Sydney’s cousin drags her to a bar for a night out, and they meet Will, the devilishly charming DJ. Will has had his own misfortune, and he just goes with the flow, unmotivated to change his life for the better... until Sydney unintentionally wiggles her way into his heart. As for Sydney, her determination to avoid romance at all costs, slowly crumbles as Will’s easy-going nature gives her a new change in perspective.

In a whirlwind of yearning hearts, family drama, and a rescue bull, Sydney and Will try to keep things platonic, but they’re only one stolen kiss away from falling for each other completely.

This heartwarming love story follows Sydney, an insecure woman overcoming a bad marriage, and Will, an almost too good to be true all-around good guy, in their gradual emotional journey as Will brings out the best in Sydney and makes her wonder if she should rethink her strategy of staying away from men.

This swoon-worthy, laugh out loud, opposites attract small town romance delivers the witty banter and perfect happily ever after.

She drives like a drunk driver, hit him with her car, taped an entire loaf of bread to his front door, but he cannot stop thinking about her.

Impulsive and carefree, 32-year-old Lilly spends her days running a bakery and daydreaming about her next travel destination. But what she yearns for, more than anything, is finding someone she can be her true, quirky self around. And in small-town Willow Creek, the chances of finding her match are slim to none.

That is, until Kade, a reserved but sexy police officer, comes to town, searching for an escape from his past. Jaded and trying to remain a loner, all he wants is to start a new, quiet life in sleepy Willow Creek.

But when Kade pulls Lilly over one night, it sparks a string of quirky run-ins that eat away at his reserved nature. When the dust storm rolls in, they end up on a collision course, and she becomes an irresistible light in his bleak world. As for Lilly… this uniform-clad, unadventurous man makes her giddy in the best ways. In a windstorm of sub-par driving skills, unfortunate sourdough decisions, and questionable pet choices, Kade and Lilly find that opposites really do attract. Each moment spent together sparks undeniable chemistry, bringing the promise of something more.
But when someone from Kade's past makes an unexpected visit, bringing his past traumas to the surface…will he and Lilly find a way forward or let it all crumble?

This book contains respectful autism representation as well as other disability representation, lupus representation, and also involves a character with a brain injury.

Well, that nearly wraps up this spotlight. However, there is a couple more things Michelle wanted to mention, so let’s get into that! The two books above are part of a series of closed-door small town romance novels, and Michelle is currently working on Book Three. She also thinks she might move to a different genre in the future, but hasn’t decided yet.

Thanks so much Michelle for letting us highlight you, and thanks to all of you for reading. If you’d like to support her and her writing, I highly recommend following her socials (Instagram, Threads, and Tiktok) — or by checking out her websites and books. See you all in the next post! <3