My hearts, I’m so excited to introduce you to a dear friend who’s making waves in holistic health and wellness: Michelle De La Mora, formerly known as Michelle Savage. While she’s not a romance author, her work is every bit as transformative! Michelle is the brilliant mind behind the Green Aisle Series, a collection of books that makes healthy eating as fun as it is delicious. Her popular titles include The Green Aisle’s Healthy Smoothies & Slushies, The Green Aisle’s Healthy Indulgence, and The Green Aisle’s Healthy Juicing.

Michelle trained at Amen University under the guidance of Dr. Daniel G. Amen and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York where she studied with Joshua Rosenthal, the institute’s founder.

If you’re in Tennessee, here’s your chance to meet her in person! Michelle will be signing her books at the vendor fair at Jasper Highlands on Nov. 23, at Rose and Remington in Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, on Dec. 20, and back in Jasper on Feb. 8.

JEN: Michelle, I’m excited to talk about your books—but first things first. What’s your favorite snack?  

MICHELLE: I love green olives stuffed with jalapenos, vegan Rebel cheese and almond crackers right now.

JEN: My best friend and I can put away an entire jar of those olives in a weekend. And I’m so excited you introduced me to Rebel cheese on Instagram. It’s going to be my go-to holiday gift this winter.

Tell me about Tennessee. Have you always lived there?

MICHELLE: I’m originally from California’s Central Valley, but now I live in Jasper Highlands, Tennessee. The serene mountain landscape here has really sparked my imagination, inspiring a lot of creative ideas. I have so many ideas, in fact, that I have to narrow them down and tackle them one at a time. Currently, I’m working on an online course for sleep mastery aimed at helping people with insomnia. I've also created several educational eBooks, and I’d love to start interviewing authors soon. I’m planning more book signing events and even hope to attend a live cooking TV show.

Great news! I’m currently in the process of writing a children’s book that is very close to my heart. The story follows my grandson Arthur, who calls me “Honey.” While we share an incredibly close bond, the story revolves around how Honey moved across the country, and Arthur is learning how to cope with the distance.

The book’s theme is all about connection, hope, and the ways we stay close despite physical separation. It’s astronaut-themed, with Arthur and Honey exploring space and sending messages of love through the stars. There’s a rocket ship, and they’re never too far apart in their hearts.

I’m currently in the process of hiring an illustrator to bring this beautiful story to life. It’s a story of love, perseverance, and the power of imagination to stay connected. I can’t wait to share more as it comes together!

 JEN: Congratulations! That will be so fun to read. What else do you do? How have you been able to incorporate your “day job” in your writing?

MICHELLE: I’m a self-employed court reporter. I write over 200 words per minute and edits daily. English grammar and punctuation are in my blood.

JEN: That makes sense!

What kind of feedback do you get on your books?

MICHELLE: One of the reviews for my smoothie book mentioned confusion over when to have each recipe—breakfast, dinner, dessert, etc. To be honest, I’ve never been into strict calorie counting or sticking to rigid rules. If you want a dessert smoothie for breakfast, go for it! If dinner feels like a treat, why not? It’s all about your preferences and freedom to enjoy food however you like. There’s no need to fit inside a box—make the choices that work best for you! By the way, they're all healthy anyway. [laughs]

JEN: What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out? What advice would you give your younger self?

MICHELLE: Step outside your comfort zone and embrace the challenge. Afraid of doing reels? Start now. Nervous about being on camera? Push through and do it anyway. Want someone to review or endorse your book? The worst they can say is “no.” If you never try, you’ll never succeed. Face your fear, take action, and watch your confidence grow!

JEN: That’s how we ended up here, in fact! Right? You asked if I’d do an interview with someone who’s not a romance author. And I’m so glad you did! What’s coming next for you?

MICHELLE: The Ultimate Guide to Easy Plant-Based Cooking will launch summer of 2025. Oh, and in the works for the children’s book and a pitch to the publisher.

JEN: Oh! That’s what your Instagram feed is full of right now! Everything looks so delicious.

My hearts, you can find Michelle on her website—be sure to sign up for her newsletter!—and on Instagram and Facebook. Just know, you’ll be hungry for healthy foods after you check out her socials!

I saved the best part for last! Here’s Michelle’s recipe for Maple Almond Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Dough—it’s almost as though she knows about my obsession with oats! A gift from her to you, my hearts!

Maple Almond Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Dough

Yield: 2 servings

 Ingredients

1 cup almond flour

1 cup oats

⅓ cup maple syrup

¼ teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

⅓ cup chocolate chips

Directions

In a food processor, pulse oats until they become mealy. Add almond flour, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla extract, then blend until combined. Gently fold in the chocolate chips by pulsing a few times to distribute them evenly. Scoop the dough using an ice cream scoop, transfer to a bowl, and enjoy! 🥄✨

For a smoother texture, grind the oats into flour before mixing with the other ingredients. For a quicker option, mix all the ingredients by hand in a bowl and shape them into balls or flatten into cookies.  Alternatively, turn them into Raw Maple Almond Chocolate Chip Oat Cookie Dough Pops found on the next page….

Customize your dough by adding cinnamon, cacao powder, shredded coconut, or chopped nuts.  For a café-inspired variety, add espresso powder and top with coconut whipped cream, cherries, and chopped peanuts.  Experiment to discover your ideal flavor combination. Experiment to find your perfect flavor combination.

Are you a human author? A human who narrates audiobooks? A human who designs book covers? Or a human who does PR and promotion for other authors? I’d love to interview you, too. Let me know when you’re ready!