Michelle Park Lazette has presented coast to coast about storytelling techniques. She’s excited to share the inspiration for and journey to publication for her debut apocalyptic fiction. Contact us to have her speak at your webinar or conference, join a panel or podcast, or answer reader questions at a future book club.
October 18
Chapel Hill Venue. Book-tique Bazaar. 3381 Austinburg Road, Ashtabula, Ohio. Book swap. Craft vendors. Food trucks. Pumpkins. Family fall activities.
November 17
NEO Book Worms Book Club Q&A session. Fairview Park Library, 21255 Lorain Road, Cleveland, Ohio. Read the book and ask yours truly whatever questions occur to you, but be sure to register so there’s enough crafts and prizes (and maybe even some lasagna).
December 10
I’ll appear at a Meet the Author event at Lakewood Public Library.
If you doubt self-published authors’ credibility, join the club. I did too, but I’m doing the thing anyway. Join me for a conversation about The Descended; why I stopped querying literary agents after pitching over one-hundred and fifty people; and what I have learned through copious and methodical tracking of sales. Sometimes, the journey we wanted isn’t what we pave.
Let’s learn together. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Press and appearances
PRESS RELEASE, September 4, 2025
Ohio author Michelle Park Lazette launches The Descended, a gripping apocalyptic fantasy from Flying Snake Press
Lakewood, Ohio — The Descended, a highly rated apocalyptic fantasy novel by Ohio-based author Michelle Park Lazette, is now available in multiple formats from Flying Snake Press LLC, a Lakewood, Ohio, small business. The story follows journalist Audrey Kelly through supernatural chaos that descends upon Ohio and the world, marking a bold entry in the speculative fiction landscape.
Early readers call The Descended
- “a fantastic read”
- “a series I would genuinely want to continue on with”
- “an imaginative and atmospheric debut that blends speculative suspense with deep emotional undercurrents,” and
- “so unique and fun (in, you know, a terrifying apocalyptic sort of way?)”
About the book
After Audrey’s partner shocks her with a revelation, their confrontation is abruptly interrupted by terrifying creatures that crash‑land in Ohio. Fleeing for her life, Audrey follows a quiet man into a mysterious underground refuge accessed via a hidden red door in a mountain. Inside, she discovers a secret society whose members possess uncanny powers tied to her own past.
With 322 pages of suspense and classic Midwestern grit, The Descended offers readers:
- A richly atmospheric setting rooted in Ohio landscapes
- A heroine whose courage and curiosity drive the plot
- A fresh take on apocalyptic fantasy and hidden conspiracies
Spotlight on the author
Michelle Park Lazette, a proud Ohio native and author, draws on her Midwestern roots to weave a story that resonates with both local realism and speculative imagination. Her ties to the region lend authenticity to the setting, making The Descended a story born from—and for—Ohio and Midwestern fiction lovers.
Publication details
- Title: The Descended
- Author: Michelle Park Lazette
- Publisher: Flying Snake Press LLC (based in Northeast Ohio)
- Publication Date: September 4, 2025
- Formats: eBook, paperback, and audiobook
- Page Count: 322 pages
Author contact & availability
Michelle Park Lazette is available for interviews, guest posts, and local book events throughout Ohio in support of her debut novel. Media and booksellers interested in review copies or stocking the book can reach out via Flying Snake Press’s official website, www.flyingsnakepress.com.
About Flying Snake Press LLC
A Midwest indie publisher committed to showcasing bold voices across speculative and literary genres, Flying Snake Press is based in Ohio and champions stories with heart, imagination, and regional flavor.
For more information, visit flyingsnakepress.com/the-descended or follow Michelle Park Lazette on her official author channels.
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LET’S GO LIVE! WITH GiGi MEIER, September 4, 2025
GiGi and I discuss writing after long days, our writing processes, The Descended sequel, and more.
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MICHELLE PARK LAZETTE, June 9, 2025
What inspired the setting of The Descended in an underground shelter, and how did that concept evolve during your writing process?
I had a nightmare in early 2020 wherein aircraft plummeted to a rural state route in my native Ohio, and I found myself before a bloodred door. It was the kind of dream you try to stay awake to avoid resuming it. Not a fan. After early readers said they desired a richer world-building, I walked the actual forest I name in the novel and took tons of notes about what I saw, heard, and otherwise experienced. They are details you can read in The Descended. Most interestingly, perhaps, I worried that I wouldn’t accurately depict how it felt to live life indoors, unable to go outside. Then COVID spread to the States. Sure, we could go outside, but it was uncertain. I used that inspiration immensely in this book.