She cheated. I wouldn’t give her questions, and guess what she does? She cheats and gets the Divas to give her some. *tosses severed hands at her*
Mock her for her cheating, and you could win a copy of Harmony!
When May said I could guestblog I had no idea what to talk about so I asked people to tell me what they’d what to know about. Here are the questions they asked:
What were your struggles when you started writing for publication and how did you over come them?
When I started my struggles mostly involved juggling family time with writing. At the time I started writing seriously, for publication, I became pregnant and experienced a difficult pregnancy. That sidetracked me for a while, but then when my youngest was a few months old I came back to it and my first published story was written with him in my lap. Really, itās just been a matter of finding time for everything. Iām not really sure Iāve over come anything, some days are easier than others. My family has to come first, especially because my kids are so young right now.
How do you deal with writer’s block or do you think there is such a thing? I totally believe there is such a thing. It is hard. My worst was last year when I went three months without writing anything. I was miserable, but I just couldnāt write. The well was empty and I didnāt really know why. I just kept in touch with my CP and hung out with Romance Divas for inspiration. It finally came back. Thankfully I wasnāt on contract at the time, although I tend to work better under stress and when work is due, so hopefully that wonāt be a problem.
Why are you the way you are?
Because God made me this way.
What is the nastiest, dirtiest non-writing job you’ve ever had and do you think it contributed to you becoming a writer?
For me it was being a busser at busy restaurant where the kitchen was downstairs. We had to haul trays of dishes, cutlery etc. up and down those stairs without killing ourselves or breaking anything. I know thatās not necessarily nasty, but it was dirty. And I didnāt last long at it, so I donāt really think it contributed much of anything to my life, let alone writing. I waitressed for a long time and was much more suited to that. I love people-watching and working at restaurants provides a great venue for that. People-watching contributes a lot to my writing.
When you write do you keep pictures of your heroes and your heroines in front of you?
Nope. Theyāre in my head.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
A pantser for sure.
How would you describe a typical writing day?
I have three kids aged 2-9, there really is no typical writing day for me at the moment, but mostly it would start at 9pm when my house is quiet. When Iāve got something due then I try to write between 9 and 11pm every day and then whenever I can catch some time throughout the day.
Is there anything you have to have on your desk or you can’t write? And I don’t mean a computer.
Duh. LOL Coffee!
If you could choose just one, would you rather win the National Book Award, a Nobel prize, or be on Oprah for something unrelated to your writing? And we aren’t sayin’ what!
Wow ā well, Iām not really eligble for the National Book Award because Iām Canadian, but Iād probably pick that if I was. Otherwise, Oprah, for something unrelated to writing.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Iām not sure I could just choose one. I choose different things from different people. But, I guess, if I had to choose just one, it would be Imogen Howson. She is brilliant with world-building and description/narratives. She puts words together in a way that makes them magical and sheās a grammar goddess.
What book are you reading now?
I just finished Lara Adrianās Midnight Awakening.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I need to work on descriptions more. I love dialogue and I like the pace to move along. When I read I donāt like a lot of filler, so I tend to write that way, but sometimes you need descriptionsāyou need more information.
You write within a few romance sub-genres. How do you think that affects your writing? Are any of the sub-genres the one you aspired to write?
I honestly didnāt intend to do that. I honestly write what I am called to write. What I mean is, the story in my head evolves the way it evolves and I let it. At the base, everything I write is contemporary romance. What I actually aspired to write was romantic-suspense, but my voice seems to be lighter than that requires. I like to read gritty romantic-suspense, but I just donāt have a dark voice. Iāve learned to accept what my voice calls for and am slowly finding what works for me.
How did you get so tall? Can I have some?
Itās my genes! And Iāll Fedex you some.
I think this is srsly unfair. I’m her sister. How come I’m so short? I throw more severed hands than she does. I should be taller!
Seriously, does the butterfly (in your banner) have significance to you or is it just pretty?
Itās all about the emergence of me as a writer and how I coccooned andā¦ No, really, itās just pretty! LOL
What is your favorite cheese?
Brie
If you could write anywhere in the world, where would it be? why?
Probably on the beach in Mexico, because I would really rather do anything on a beach in Mexico. LOL Truly, I am lucky to have a great office to write in at home, where I can look at the trees, squirrels and nature in my backyard. Sometimes, I wish I had walls so that I could shut out the household noise, but otherwise Iām good.
Michelle (MG) Braden is the author of several contemporary romances, the latest of which is also a paranormal. Vampire Oracle: Harmony cover Vampire Oracle: Harmony was released by Cobblestone Press on August 1, 2008.
You can find out more about the book at http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/harmony.htm and more about Michelle at http://www.mgbraden.com
And so. Giveaway. Harmony. One lucky winner, one vampiric copy. It’s gonna suck your soul out into its pages. *nods* That’s why I haven’t read it yet. Not sure I have one, but if I have a soul, I wanna keep it. So comment if you dare!
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