DeLaune Michel
Encyclopedia
DeLauné Michel is an American
author and actress. She was raised in southern Louisiana
in a literary family which includes her uncle, Andre Dubus; her mother, Elizabeth Nell Dubus; and her cousins, James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke.
Michel was named for Helene DeLauné, the first woman over from France on her mother's side of the family. Helene DeLauné was in the court of Marie Antoinette
and her husband, Jules Andre, fought in the French Revolution
. Antoinette gave Helene DeLauné jewels to help her and her husband escape to Louisiana. Michel's father's family was the eleventh family in New Orleans
.
Upon leaving high school (St. Joseph's Academy
in Baton Rouge), Michel moved to New York City
. She did some modeling there and in Europe, then spent several years studying acting in NYC with teachers from the Neighborhood Playhouse
, The Actor's Studio, Juilliard, and the Yale Drama School.
After moving to Los Angeles
, Michel had guest starring roles on TV shows such as NYPD Blue
, The Gilmore Girls, and Judging Amy
, among others. She did a number of independent films that never saw the light of day and Equity-waiver theatre, including her own one-woman show.
In 1996, Michel created "Spoken Interludes", a critically acclaimed reading series where award winning, bestselling, and up-coming writers read their own work. This literary institution has been covered extensively by publications ranging from the Los Angeles Times
, the New York Times, GQ Magazine, LA Magazine, LA Weekly
, and has been heard on NPR.
The first two short stories that Michel wrote won recognition in the Thomas Wolf Short Fiction Competition sponsored by Duke University. Later work won the Pacificus Foundation Literary Award. One of her short stories caught the eye of an agent, who then sent it to Joyce Carol Oates
, who referred to Michel's writing as "a wonderful, idiosyncratic voice and an extremely promising talent." But Ms. Oates felt that the story was actually a chapter of a novel. Michel agreed and her first novel, Aftermath of Dreaming, was born.
In Aftermath of Dreaming (William Morrow/HarperCollins, April 2006), Michel explores with humor and pathos the universal themes of abandonment, forgiveness, and letting go. The novel is loosely based on an intimate six-year relationship she shared with Warren Beatty
.
Her new novel, The Safety of Secrets, will be published by Avon A/HarperCollins in May 2008. She lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two sons. She is currently working on her third novel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author and actress. She was raised in southern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in a literary family which includes her uncle, Andre Dubus; her mother, Elizabeth Nell Dubus; and her cousins, James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke.
Michel was named for Helene DeLauné, the first woman over from France on her mother's side of the family. Helene DeLauné was in the court of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
and her husband, Jules Andre, fought in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Antoinette gave Helene DeLauné jewels to help her and her husband escape to Louisiana. Michel's father's family was the eleventh family in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Upon leaving high school (St. Joseph's Academy
St. Joseph's Academy (Baton Rouge)
St. Joseph's Academy is an all-girls Catholic school established in 1868 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille. It is located on a live oak shaded campus in Mid-City Baton Rouge, Louisiana, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.SJA has been recognized three times...
in Baton Rouge), Michel moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She did some modeling there and in Europe, then spent several years studying acting in NYC with teachers from the Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
, The Actor's Studio, Juilliard, and the Yale Drama School.
After moving to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Michel had guest starring roles on TV shows such as NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, The Gilmore Girls, and Judging Amy
Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
, among others. She did a number of independent films that never saw the light of day and Equity-waiver theatre, including her own one-woman show.
In 1996, Michel created "Spoken Interludes", a critically acclaimed reading series where award winning, bestselling, and up-coming writers read their own work. This literary institution has been covered extensively by publications ranging from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, the New York Times, GQ Magazine, LA Magazine, LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
, and has been heard on NPR.
The first two short stories that Michel wrote won recognition in the Thomas Wolf Short Fiction Competition sponsored by Duke University. Later work won the Pacificus Foundation Literary Award. One of her short stories caught the eye of an agent, who then sent it to Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American author. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since published over fifty novels, as well as many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction...
, who referred to Michel's writing as "a wonderful, idiosyncratic voice and an extremely promising talent." But Ms. Oates felt that the story was actually a chapter of a novel. Michel agreed and her first novel, Aftermath of Dreaming, was born.
In Aftermath of Dreaming (William Morrow/HarperCollins, April 2006), Michel explores with humor and pathos the universal themes of abandonment, forgiveness, and letting go. The novel is loosely based on an intimate six-year relationship she shared with Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has received a total of fourteen Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Director in 1982. He has also won four Golden Globe Awards including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.-Early life and...
.
Her new novel, The Safety of Secrets, will be published by Avon A/HarperCollins in May 2008. She lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two sons. She is currently working on her third novel.