Miles Beyond the Page | Janis Patterson
In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, Michelle sits down with the multi-talented Janis Patterson—a seventh-generation Texan, third-generation wordsmith, and master of writing across genres. Whether it’s mysteries under Janis Patterson, romance and gothic suspense as Janis Susan May, horror as J.S. May, or scholarly works as J.S.M. Patterson, Janis brings intelligence, wit, and incredible life experience to every page.
We talk about her fascinating career journey—from actress and talent agent to DNA lab supervisor and Egyptology scholar—and how her adventurous spirit fuels her writing. With decades of storytelling under her belt and a proposal in a moonlit Egyptian garden, Janis shares wisdom, humor, and a true love of the written word.
If you’re a fan of bold women, rich histories, and stories as layered as the woman who writes them, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.
ABOUT JANIS PATTERSON:
Janis Susan May is a seventh-generation Texan and a third-generation wordsmith who writes mysteries as Janis Patterson, romances and other things as Janis Susan May, children’s books as Janis Susan Patterson, horror as J.S. May and scholarly works as J.S.M. Patterson.
Formerly an actress and singer, a talent agent and Supervisor of Accessioning for a bio-genetic DNA testing lab, Janis has also been editor-in-chief of two multi-magazine publishing groups. She founded and was the original editor of The Newsletter of the North Texas Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt, which for the nine years of her reign was the international organization’s only monthly publication and catalogued in world-wide libraries and universities as a scholarly journal. Long interested in Egyptology, she was one of the founders of the North Texas chapter and was the closing speaker for the ARCE International Conference in Boston in 2005.
Janis married for the first time when most of her contemporaries were becoming grandmothers. Her husband, a handsome Navy Captain several years younger than she, even proposed in a moonlit garden in Egypt. Janis and her husband live in Texas with an assortment of rescued furbabies.
WHERE TO FIND HER AND HER BOOKS:
Website
Michelle Miles
Author, Narrator, Podcaster
MICHELLE MILES is the host of Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast that celebrates the magical, messy, and inspiring journey of storytelling.
As an author of fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance, Michelle brings her passion for writing and publishing to every episode—whether she's interviewing debut authors, bestselling giants, or industry pros. With her warm, down-to-earth style and curiosity for all things creative, she dives deep into the heart of the writer’s process, from first drafts to final edits, rejections to rave reviews.
When she’s not behind the mic or crafting enchanting worlds on the page, Michelle can be found wrangling her to-be-read pile, sipping wine, or plotting her next story twist. Miles Beyond the Page is her love letter to authors, readers, and the stories that connect us all.
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