As a man running from the law, Oliver Ward is an unusual main romantic character. What do you consider essential qualities of a leading man?

Unpredictability tops my personal list. I love a hero that cannot be contained by the heroine or even by the author. A willingness to die for those he loves is also a crucial trait. And there’s got to be some flaw in the man that he learns to master by the end of the tale. Above all, he must be a man of integrity, one who keeps his word.

In House at the End of the Moor we have an opera star, a vengeful politician, and an escaped prisoner. What was the most challenging part in writing this novel?

Pulling off the reverse heist. There were so many details to consider, like how on earth were Maggie and Oliver going to get those jewels back to the owner without being discovered by the law and make sure that the true thieves were brought to justice?

Which character surprised you the most as this story unfolded?

Sebastian Barrow caught me off guard, especially at the end. I didn’t set out to write him such a drastic character arc, but I surely do love it when a secondary character leaps off the page and makes those kinds of demands.

Click thru to find out how she balances all the elements of history, crime, and romance!

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About The Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild).