Interview with Michelle Windsor

 

Biography

Michelle Windsor is the author of over a dozen steamy, contemporary romances filled with alpha males and even stronger females. She has achieved both Amazon and Barnes & Noble International Best Seller status, and was awarded Best Contemporary Romance Writer by Passionate Plume Ink in 2019.  Her first book, The Winning Bid, was nominated for the Summit Indie Book Awards by Metamorph Publishing in 2017, and continues to be her best selling book to date. 

Michelle is married with three grown children, and lives north of Boston in the type of suburban neighborhood you read about in sweet romance books, (not hers)! When she’s not working on another book, you can find her spending time with her husband, hanging out with her three sisters, or snuggled up with her three cats, yes three, watching a movie or reading a book. 

Credit : ABOUT | Author Michelle Windsor

Questions

Why did you decided to write contemporary romance?

I’ve always written stories based in modern times, and when I realized the genre was definitely falling into the romance category, it was an easy, natural fit. You know the old saying, “write what you know”, I know today’s world the best, and romance just lives in my head 24 hours a day!

What do you like the most about writing?

Seeing my vision come to life. Very often, an idea for a story will come to me in a dream, or as I’m driving down the road and I see something that just sparks a thought for something new. When I finally get to put it into words, and see the characters come alive, it’s so rewarding.

Which struggles did you meet when you wrote your first book?

My biggest struggle then, and still to this day, is how to close and wrap up a story nicely. You don’t want to rush it, or leave the reader feeling incomplete, and sometimes, once I’m on that downhill slope, the story stalls for me. I’ll overthink the closing concept for weeks sometimes, until finally, an idea will trigger and then I can’t stop writing!

Which one of your books will you recommend to a new author?

Gah! I hate recommending any of my works to another author. To be judged by another writer is so stressful. You want nothing more than your peers to love you and your writing, and sharing your words with anyone you might admire makes you feel so vulnerable. The best story I feel I’ve written is Love Notes, although it’s not a typical happily-ever-after story, so I always make sure to warn the author to have tissues handy!

What advices will you give to a new author?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If possible, find another experienced author to help mentor you, and act as a guide to you. As an author, nothing feels more rewarding than giving back, and being able to share information I’ve learned along the way to someone new is an honor.  Three facts I’ve learned along the way: The cover does matter. Always, always have your book professionally edited. Finish the book before you preview it, or presale it—it reduces so much stress in terms of trying to meet a deadline.

Are you listening to music when you are writing? If yes, do you have a special song?

I write in complete silence. I’m a complete panster, which basically means I write freestyle-with no plotting-so the characters live in and play out in my head as I write. I do love a good Taylor Swift mix though for all my business type work I perform during the day!

What are your next projects?

I’m so extremely busy with upcoming projects. I’m in the middle of creating a new brand with a designer, who will update my website for me. We’re also implementing my own shop so I can sell all my books myself; this will include ebooks and paperbacks. I’ve recently updated all my books to have three different paperback versions, so being able to offer those directly to my readers, at a reduced price, will hopefully be a big win for all. I’m writing a new trilogy, going down a road I haven’t before, which is romantic suspense, and I’m so excited about the reveal for this one. I believe it’s the best work I’ve ever done and seriously think readers are going to love it!