Hello!

Judith Michael is a New Zealander who writes under the name of J Victoria Michael. 

 

She is a story-teller, fascinated with other dimensions, time travel and unexpected, remarkable talents. Long novels with speculative elements are her favourites, stories that take her to strange places and keep her turning the pages late at night. Judith has a passion for classical music and beautiful movement, from ballet to belly-dancing. As a child she made up stories told in dance, wearing out the toes of her shoes to the vexation of her parents. Later, she discovered the joy of story-telling in words. Music is her constant muse.

 

Her first long work was a fantasy novel. When the manuscript was finished and its themes clear, she re-wrote it, retaining only the main protagonist and the original premise. The story of one woman’s compelling need to redefine herself could have been told within the framework of contemporary Australia, but Judith wanted to add the archetypal element of an imagined world. Long before she finished the work she realised her novel was turning into a trilogy. In order to keep track of her characters she would summon individuals to her study for a discussion. Sometimes they summon her to the fictional world of Dar Orien. 

 

New Zealand’s pristine beaches and richly-greened landscapes have influenced her sense of place. Time spent living among the flamenco gypsies of Andalusia, and communing with mediaeval spirits in France has, in subtle ways, informed the physical and emotional landscapes of GriffinSong Trilogy.
 
Judith has a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing, and her short stories have won various awards, appearing online and in print. Judith lives permanently in Melbourne and shares her home with a bossy ginger cat.