Q&A With Zoey Michaels
Mickey Mikkelson has connected me with author and podcaster Zoey Michaels, the author of The Echoed Mind which is the first book in a series, and its prequel Fractured Shadows!
Q: Welcome to Book Notions Zoey! Would you please give a brief description of each of your books?
A: Thank you for having me.
The Echoed Mind follows Lyra and her uncle Rowan, who live in a society where every person is assigned a “perfect” role— one where individuality is discouraged, even punished. In this world, success is defined by the completion of mindless “busy tasks,” each dictated by Echolink, which is basically their computer overlord. Although this is the only world they have ever known, Lyra and Rowan are drawn into a small group of rebels who have been working underground since the beginning to put an end to it. This so-called orderly society claims to improve lives through structure, but it is actually a carefully constructed cage—one designed to silence creativity, erase independent thought, and maintain absolute control.
Fractured Shadows travels back to the time just before Echolink began to dominate the world. In this story, we are introduced to Adrik and Rhea, who rise to become the leaders of the rebellion later revealed in The Echoed Mind. Adrik, once an inspiring classroom figure, crosses paths with Rhea, whose skills prove invaluable for what lies ahead.
Although Echolink appears unstoppable, they discover that its creator harbored deep concerns about how the technology might be used. With this knowledge, they join forces with an underground resistance, searching for the key to bringing Echolink down.
Q: How long did it take you to write both The Echoed Mind & the prequel Fractured Shadows? Where did the ideas for both novels come from?
A: It’s funny how inspiration works. Sometimes it grows out of the positive things around us, and other times it emerges from frustration—something negative that we reshape into something meaningful. The idea of The Echoed Mind was initially sparked by my own experiences with my day job, and by the ways people can become unintentionally trapped in certain career paths, often due in part to technology.
Over time, a number of small frustrations began to stand out. I noticed how often people would automatically start spelling their name, street, or other details—even when it wasn’t necessary. I also experienced how difficult it can be to break out of a familiar career pattern, as resumes and algorithms tend to match past roles with similar opportunities, even when someone is trying to move in a new direction. More broadly, I saw how technology has begun guiding people through tasks that once required independent thought and reasoning.
Technology itself isn’t inherently negative—AI, for example, has clear benefits—but it raises an important question: where do we draw the line? Are we using these tools, or are they using us? The more we rely on them, the less we may think for ourselves. For instance, how many of us still have even a handful of important phone numbers memorized?
Another key element of The Echoed Mind is the relationship between a girl and her uncle. That dynamic was especially meaningful to me, inspired by the close bond I share with my own favorite uncle.
In total, it took about four months to write this story and an additional three months to complete the prequel.
Fractured Shadows was not a book I originally planned to write. The initial vision was a short, two-book series centered on Rowan and Lyra. However, as I worked on The Echoed Mind, it became clear that Adrik and Rhea’s backstories—and their motivations—deserved greater depth. I realized there was a need to give them a story of their own, one that could further explore the origins of Echolink and lay the groundwork for its eventual downfall.
Q: What are some important lessons or reminders you hope readers learn or are reminded of after they finish reading The Echoed Mind & the prequel Fractured Shadows?
A: More than anything, I hope people will occasionally “unplug” from the technology that surrounds us. We have incredible tools, and I enjoy using them myself, but we can’t forget that the most powerful computer we will ever have is already within our minds. Unlike any machine we’ve created, it can imagine, question, adapt, and create in ways no technology truly can.
But like any powerful system, our mind requires care and intentional use. We have to actively “program” it ourselves—by stepping away from screens, picking up real books, and making time for quiet thought and reflection.
If we rely too heavily on external tools, we risk letting them do the thinking for us. Instead, we should be questioning, processing, and deciding with intention—not simply following instructions from technology or even from other people. The goal isn’t to reject these tools, but to ensure they serve us, while our minds remain sharp, independent, and fully engaged.
Q: What can fans expect in the sequel to The Echoed Mind? Have you already finished writing book 2 or 3 and how many novels in The Echoed Mind series do you hope & plan on writing?
A: There will be one final book—part two of the original story—which will conclude the series. I don’t currently have any plans to write any additional stories set in this world. Instead, I’m looking ahead to new ideas and projects that I’m excited to begin exploring.
Part two is already outlined, and I will be starting the writing process soon.
Q: Would you please talk a little bit about your podcast and give a link so the readers of the blog and I can follow and listen?
A: I actually have two podcasts now. The Molten Truth is my original show, which began in June 2025. On it, I interview people from a wide range of backgrounds—authors, entrepreneurs, music artists, and more. I like to think of our audience as a fly on the wall, enjoying a conversation where my guests can share their stories and a bit of themselves. My goal with every guest is to let them shine at their best, asking thoughtful questions that allow them to express their full perspective and personality.
My second podcast, Behind the Diagnosis: Famous Lives Untold, launched just a month or two ago. This show focuses on raising awareness of medical conditions by highlighting how a well-known public figure’s illness or injury led to positive changes in medicine. The storytelling style is inspired by Paul Harvey: the story unfolds first, and the public figure’s name is revealed at the end. While the show is still in its early stages, I’m actively working on expanding it to include insights from medical experts.
The Molten Truth:
https://themoltentruth.riverside.com/
https://rss.com/podcasts/the-molten-truth/
Behind the Diagnosis: Famous Lives Untold
https://rss.com/podcasts/behind-the-diagnosis-famous-lives-untold/
Q: Would you please give links to your social media accounts so the readers of the blog and I can follow you?
A: https://www.facebook.com/ZoeMichaelsAuthor/
https://www.instagram.com/zoeymichaelsbooks
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