Michelle's familiarity with FCA began when she started the huddle at Naples High School during her junior year. She also swam for Naples High School and then for Asbury College. She holds an accounting degree from the University of South Florida.
Michelle is now an award-winning fantasy author, writing under the pen-name of M. B. Weston. Her writing attracts both fantasy and non-fantasy readers, and her audience ranges from upper-elementary students to adults. The Elysian Chronicles, her flagship series, is being adapted into a graphic novel, and her third book, The Sword of the Vanir (working title), is due out in Spring 2012.
Weston is also a talk radio host for The Final Cut in Movies, a show that discusses science fiction and fantasy movies, on WSBR Radio 740 am, reaching audiences from North Miami to West Palm Beach.
Random Fact: I once hiked on the world's largest active volcano!
Favorites:
- Book: The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien & The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
- Food: Steak, pizza, dessert
- Snack Food: Grande Latte, cupcakes, dark chocolate, ice cream, creme brulee
- Movie: Star Wars (the original 3, not the new ones), Lord of the Rings (all 3), Harry Potter (all 8)
- TV Show: Yankees baseball (preferably on YES), The Closer, CSI
- Musical Artists: Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and anything classic rock
- Actor: too many to list
- Time of Day: Night
- Season: In South Florida: Winter. Anywhere else: Fall
- Place in the World: The Smokey Mountains
- Place to Pray: the shower
- Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Watching baseball, jogging, writing, writing & writing
- Scripture: Depends on my predicament... It's all good for teaching, rebuking... ;)
- Sports Team: New York Yankees, anyone playing the Red Sox, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Sport: To watch: Baseball. To play: Volleyball & Martial Arts
Least Favorites:
- Food: Brussels sprouts boiled until they're dead. I mean, why? If we must choose a food from Belgium, ahem, CHOCOLATE!
- Snack Food: Vegetables. They violate the very definition of snack food.
- Time of Day: Morning, especially right before I have to jog.
- Season: Summer
- Place in the World: Naples in the Summer
Life Motto: "Preach Christ to the world through fiction."
Three People I'd Like to Meet: Derek Jeter (and anyone else who has worn a Yankees jersey), Peter Jackson, and George Lucas.
My Hero: My friends who have given their time, homes & money to help me with my writing goals (you know who you are)
One of My Greatest Experiences with God: Anytime after a particularly tough time in my life because I can see how God used it for good.
Best thing about FCA: I love how FCA gives students and athletes a platform in which they can tell others about Christ.
Why I’m involved in FCA: I can do things I'm good at doing and at the same time, be a behind-the-scenes influence on helping to tell others about Christ. FCA also gives me the flexibility to continue promoting my novels and sharing Christ with those I meet.
My Experience/Role as Ministry Coordinator: I keep the website, twitter feed, and facebook pages updated. I also work behind the scenes at registration for events, etc. I do the administrative stuff so our awesome area reps can do what they do best: ministry.
Best Spiritual Advice I’ve heard/read: Correct theology applied with modern-day interpretation and exhortation, given at the proper moment, is always the best spiritual advice. Right now, I would say that Pete Briscoe's sermon series on the Bema Seat has had the most impact on how I live my life.
Jesus is awesome because: Even though He was God and guilty of nothing, He came down to earth as a human, grew up here, and allowed Himself to endure hours of torture via Roman crucifixion so that I might have eternal life.
Competition Tip: Practice after everyone else stops practicing.