Featured Official Interview: Jeff Michelson

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Jeff Michelson, author of Anticipation Day. This will be book of the day in June 2025, so get your copies and get reading!

View Kindle edition on Amazon

View Official Review

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1. How did you start writing?

I am a certified professional accountant, so while writing is part of my day-to-day job, it is certainly nothing like what it took to write this book. I never thought I would write a book like this, but I had the idea for the basic concept a few years ago. Finally, in the summer of 2023, I took about four months to lay out the shell of the full novel with another several months of editing and rewriting following.


2. What does your writing process look like?

The writing process for me was enjoyable but time-consuming for sure, especially with a full-time job and three kids! I typically utilized cannabis as a vehicle to help with the creativity of the story; it seems to unlock that side of my brain that is typically shut down most of the time! I also did some research for some of the concepts in the book around artificial intelligence and the technology it would take to run the simulations noted in the book. I also traveled to the Lewis and Clark Museum near St. Louis to do some research on what it was really like to be on the expedition with them. It was definitely a fun process, but not sure I would do it again!


3. Let's discuss your book Anticipation Day. Why did you start the book in 2026 and then have the product ready six years later?

Well, like anything with the government, I figured it would take a long time to get this technology developed, tested and approved by the government. It's funny, because someone recently told me that it took the government 20 years to get the REAL ID program finally in place, so I don't think 6 years to get a fully-functional simulation program approved by the government is very long at all. I had to make it realistic!

4. Which of the characters is your favorite? Which did you like writing least?

I think I enjoyed Patrick's story the most – he came into the simulation lonely and looking for a direction in life, and I think he left the simulation a much different person than when he went in. I relate to Eric the most, though, and think if I had a choice to do a simulation, I would definitely do something in nature, like the Lewis and Clark expedition. I didn't enjoy writing Mike's story – while I can't give away all the details, Mike had a tough life in the book, and while I wanted it to end with a Hollywood ending, I knew going into it that it would not be the case.

5. Anticipation Day is an immersive simulation. How far away do you see something like this being a reality? Or are you basing it on something currently in existence or being developed?

I am just an accountant, so I can only give you my best guess, but I could honestly see full simulations being developed within the next 1 to 3 years. That is why I started the story in 2026, as I truly believe something like this could exist in the short term. Do I think the government will take these simulations over and offer them to citizens? Who knows. But a boy can dream!

6. Do you see the short-term future being similar to the future you invented in your book?

I really do. With the way Artificial Intelligence and technology are going, I could definitely see some version of a simulated world being available for purchase in the very near future. I think it will be expensive and only available to the rich (which is more or less how I laid it out in the book), but I do think these types of simulations will be something humans can experience at some point in the next decade.

7. Was there a message that you wanted to convey to your readers?

I think the message is that while the idea of being able to get whisked away to a world of your choosing sounds amazing (who doesn't want an escape from their everyday life), the mental health repercussions and consequences of that type of technology will be something that has to be dealt with. That is something we are currently dealing with in regards to social media and an overall sense of loneliness from most people who use it. Technology certainly has its benefits and uses in future society, but this technology will come with issues that need to be dealt with.

8. What's next for you? Any more books in the works?

Right now, I am focusing on my day job as an accountant, and if people enjoy the book and I think a sequel would make sense, I do have some ideas for the next book that I have started to write down. I will have to clear it with my wife first

I like to end with lighter questions.

9. What book (other than yours) would you recommend to others?

I recently read Scattered by Katherine Benfante (another local author near me) and really enjoyed it!

10. Are you a cat or dog person?

Dog (cats do not like me).

11. What's your favorite vacation destination?

Italy – by far the most beautiful part of the world I have ever been to.

12. If you could meet any living person for dinner, who would you meet and why?

Maynard James Keenan – lead singer of Tool. Their music influenced my early years, and I find him to be a fascinating person. Plus he makes delicious wine.