Interview with Michael Reilly, author of FRESH HEIR

Michael Reilly is a writer and entrepreneur. He earned a bachelor´s degree in history from Yale University and a master´s degree in journalism from Columbia University. His first published novel, Fresh Heir, was released in May 2011. He is also founder and chief executive officer of FitDivs Inc., a company that promotes and rewards healthy living. Michael resides with his wife and four children in Charlottesville, VA.

More information on Fresh Heir can be found on the book´s website at FreshHeirNovel.com

Thank you for this interview, Michael. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, Fresh Heir, is all about?

Fresh Heir is a novel about the challenges of parenting in a dynamic, competitive world. It pokes fun at the trend toward helicopter parenting and the penchant for parents to over-schedule their kids for fear they won´t be successful (the kids and the parents).

The main character is a 12-year-old boy named Jamie Shoop. He has a photographic memory that essentially qualifies him to be a genius. Some of that distinction, however, may just be in the eyes of his father, Doug. Down on his luck from a failed marriage and dead-end career, Doug believes Jamie is his ticket to salvation. So he hires an academic consultant to accompany the family on a cross-country trip to California, where Jamie is set to attend a program for gifted youth.

The story follows the family´s journey, both physically and symbolically, as Doug´s passion for the success of his son veers off the road into obsession. The subject matter is one that has become more and more prevalent these days in the press and non-fiction books. My goal was to take a different approach and write a fictional story conveying a substantive message within the scope of an entertaining narrative. I hope my readers will laugh along the way, but in the end, stop and give serious thought to the underlying issues.

Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?

Well, first it was living the life of a parent that influenced my decision to write a book about the stress we all endure. I don´t know how many times I´ve been running around crazed, bending over backwards to get my kids to this sports practice, or that camp, or to piano lessons or art lessons, or whatever it might be. And all the while, I´m beating myself up with doubt about whether I´m doing enough. It´s very difficult to ignore what´s going on around you because you want the best for your kids...we all do. You have to remind yourself that perhaps the best is just letting go of this concept of the uber-parent, if not for our own sanity, than for our kids´ peace and tranquility. I just don´t see much tranquility for a kid stuck in the back of a car every afternoon as his parents schlep him an hour across town so he can play on some elite hockey team that ultimately has more of a chance of burning him out than getting him a scholarship to an Ivy League college.

The second inspiration for the book was a cross-country trip I took with my two older children a few years ago. At that point I knew the topic I wanted to write about, but I did not have a structure. I wanted something that would resonate with readers, and I believe any parent can relate to "quality-time" in the car with their kids. Whether it´s for a few hours or several days, the fun is all the same, isn´t it? The backseat fighting, the constant hunger complaints, and the countdown to the next pitstop so everyone can pee. These seem to be among the more popular themes for family car rides. There´s plenty of that, and much more, in Fresh Heir.

Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

Yes, it is my first published book. I wrote several books before Fresh Heir and did not have much luck with publication. Any author who has been through it can relate to the frustration and disappointment. So when I began writing Fresh Heir, I decided right from the beginning to sidestep this frustration, particularly since I knew my book was coming out amidst so much upheaval in the industry. So I opted for self-publication through Amazon.com´s CreateSpace unit. It´s been a great experience.

Where do you live and if I were coming to town, where would we go to talk books?

I live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where there´d be no shortage of spots to hang and talk books. We could do it on the Lawn at the University of Virginia, or better yet, up at Jefferson´s Monticello. Or perhaps at one of the wineries, sipping a cabernet and watching the sunset over the mountains. My preferred place, though, would be somewhere up in the mountains, looking down at the spectacular Virginia countryside. As you can tell, this is a great place to live.

When you´re not writing, what do you do to relax and have fun?

I have four young children so they keep me pretty busy. Mostly what I like to do in my spare time involves the outdoors: coaching and playing sports with my kids, going for a run or bike ride, or just hiking in the woods on a crisp fall day.

Do you make a living off your books or do you have another job?

I would like to make a living off writing some day, but I´m not right now. I was an executive for a family business for about 15 years. I left several years ago to pursue my creative dreams, which include writing as well as entrepreneurism. I currently am launching a business devoted to promoting and rewarding good health.

Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?

You must be persistent. I don´t think many endeavors in life compare to trying to get your first book published. You have to put in so many hours without any real tangible reward to shoot for. You just have to have faith that it will one day pay off. It´s similar to trying to start a business. Having done both, I´m very grateful I am still sane! At least I think I am.

What´s next for you?

I am working on my next book idea, which will be similar in theme to Fresh Heir.

Thank you for this interview, (please add your first name here). Do you have any final words?

I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to do this interview. And I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to read my book.