Michele: I love to tell my gambling stories. <g> We moved out here so my husband could take a job with an airline tour company. (He's a pilot.) We didn't have enough money to put down a deposit for a phone; we were broke! I'd spent a week unloading boxes and cleaning the new apartment and my husband said, "Let's get out of here!" He took me the MGM Grand, handed me four dollars, and pointed me toward the nickel machines. (I love the one-armed bandits, even knowing the odds of winning a jackpot.) He took our daughter, Katie, to go look at the hotel and the amusement park. I started out in the hot zone; I didn't lose my money and the tally rose to $10. I was pumped! Then the machine went nuts and I almost had a heart attack.

The darned thing hit the jackpot—$500. I stared at the matching symbols; then I gave the machine an awkward hug and held onto it for dear life. Finally, some gal showed up and gave me five $100 bills. Plus I had the $10+. I cashed out the nickels and headed to the quarter machines. Dean tracked me down and was surprised to see me still playing. He didn't notice I was playing the quarter machines or that I had bucketful of 'em—about $80 worth. HE almost had a heart attack when I whipped out the $500. We cashed in our quarters and went to the food court. No macaroni-and-cheese for us that night—we got to indulge in McDonald's! <g>

About a month later I won $1,500 on the dollar slots—just enough to cover the fee for an important license Dean needed for his job. I LOVE Las Vegas. <g>

Actually, living in Las Vegas is a lot like living in other places. One big difference, however, is the feeling of distance between people; there's a lack of community here that was always evident in Oklahoma, where I grew up. I knew how jaded I'd become when I went home last summer and noticed how everyone smiled at each other. In Vegas, we avoid people who grin like that. LOL!
 

Kristie:   I understand that you are not originally from Las Vegas (is anyone??). Would you please tell me where you grew up and what it was like to live there?

Michele: I grew up in Oklahoma and lived there my whole life. I experienced a huge culture shock, but eventually, I got over it. I made friends, learned to like the desert, and found a job a liked. Then I got pregnant, had a bouncin' baby boy, quit my job, and starting doing what I REALLY liked: writing and editing full time.
 

Kristie:   Michele, if you could live anywhere in the world that your little heart desired, where would that be and why?

Michele: I've never thought about it. There are lots places I want to visit, but I've never thought, "Gee, I'd love to have a villa in the south of France." Anywhere my husband and kids and pets are—that's where I want to be. I can tell you where I DON'T want to live and that's in a houseboat. My husband has this fantasy of living on one. As long as he built me a house on the shore, he could tool around in his houseboat all he wanted. <g>
 

Kristie:  You are the Senior Editor for Hard Shell Word Factory. Could you please tell me a little about Hard Shell and what it is like being the editor there?

Michele: I love Hard Shell Word Factory! Mary bought my first book, DADDY IN TRAINING, and purchased the rights to four more of my books. I was hooked as an author and eventually became a reader-editor. Then, last year, the opportunity to become Senior Editor came my way and Mary didn't have to ask twice. I like editing books and helping shape other authors' works. It's a bummer when I have to write rejections, but we always give detailed critiques about why we're rejecting a book. You won't get a form letter from HSWF. :-)
 

Kristie: Your novel, Midnight Intentions, was an Eppie 2002 Finalist in the Romantic Suspense category. Tell me about ‘Midnight Intentions’.

Michele:  MIDNIGHT INTENTIONS is a story I've been writing off and on for a few years. I write romantic comedy, but I've always wanted to write romantic suspense. So I thought, if I GIVE it away and it sucks, then no harm done. I started a list for readers and started giving away the chapters for free. It took me awhile to finish the novella, but those readers, bless 'em!, stayed on the list until it was finished. In the summer of 2001, I uploaded the entire novel to my site as a free read. I received such wonderful feedback from readers that I got up the courage to enter the EPPIEs. (I'm a contest junkie, anyway!) I was SHOCKED when it tied for Best Romantic Suspense Novel. Talk about an ego boost! So I entered it into another competition where it competed against all types of fiction books. I didn't win the trophy (and it would have looked so nice next to my EPPIE—LOL!) and the judge's comments started with, "the issue I have with it is that it is a formula romance." Nothing like rejection to deflate a boosted ego. That judge also had an issue with the domestic violence—not the actual violence, just the fact that the heroine didn't leave her husband after he hurt her the first time. It made me realize that a lot of people don't understand the dynamics of an abusive relationship. Sure common sense dictates that you don't stay with someone who belittles you and hits you, but it's not that easy. Abusers control their victims in a lot of different ways.

But I digress…
 

Kristie:  Michele, I just loved reading ‘Daddy In Training’ and ‘Bride In Training’ from your ‘In Training’ series. I can hardly wait to read the rest of the books in the series. What got you started writing this series of fascinating romantic comedy books?

Michele:  Well…I only have one more story planned. It's called HEARTTHROB IN TRAINING and will be the story of a grown-up Sylvie. I have two other books, HUSBAND FOR HIRE and HOUSEWIFE FOR RENT that will be published by Hard Shell Word Factory sometime soon. They'll be available in a variety of electronic formats and together in trade paperback.

It didn't actually start as a series, but as soon as I finished writing DADDY IN TRAINING, I wanted Susan to have her own story. Then someone mentioned how much they liked Sylvie…and the idea for her story was born. It's just not written. LOL! I've also started a free short story called BUTLER IN TRAINING. This is the story of Ross' mother, Aladonia, and her longtime friend and former butler, Reginald. I have a whole site dedicated to the "…In Training" series: http://www.daddyintraining.com
 

Kristie:  When I first began my writing career, I thought that the actual writing of the novels would be the hardest part of the writing business. I have since discovered that the actual writing was the easiest part and that the marketing side of publishing was really the hard part. Marketing of my novels takes up a lot of my time and takes away from my writing. Is this true with you too? If so, how do you handle making time to write but do promotional work as well?

Michele: An unpublished author writes and writes and writes. She has her eye on the prize—publication. What I didn't realize is that publication is only ONE step forward. You've reached the next level—but there are lot more levels. You have to sell another book, promote the first published one, focus on your next set of goals, and think about what you want from your career. I have friends who are happy writing category romance novels. And others who want to break-in to single title or leap to another genre such as mystery. I have friends who are electronically published who are happy to write e-books. And others who want to break-in to other markets such as hardcover and audio or who want to use e-publishing as the springboard into traditional print markets.

It's easier to promote than it is to write. It's easier to edit, rewrite old work, update my website, read and post on lists…you get the idea…than it is to sit down and begin a new novel. I had to sign up to a "do or die" writer's list in order to get back into the habit of writing consistently. My HSWF-contracted book, WILD WOMEN (aka WILD BRIDE), has been in limbo for more than a year. For the last three weeks, I've been working on it again. The idea behind the list is simple: Write three pages a day, six days a week. If you don't have 18 pages uploaded by the end of the week, you're axed from the list. I've tried Book-In-A-Week, panicked, and sabotaged my own efforts. But the three-pages-a-day thing is working very well.

It's so weird…I love writing. But at the same time, it's a daunting prospect to write another novel. I get to the middle and think, "I'm never going to finish this book." And then I do. But I always experience the same kind of doubts every time I write a novel. I write short stories and novellas and articles all the time—because I can finish those kinds of projects without experiencing the omigod-I-can't-do-this-where's-the-Ben-and-Jerry's blues.

Everyone searches for balance. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't. I have yet to find a routine for writing and editing and promoting and other life stuff. I take it one day at a time. There are days where I'll feel like I've accomplished a lot and others where I feel like banging my head against my computer screen.
 

Kristie:  Michele, what is the most satisfying part of your career as a writer? What is the most dissatisfying part?

Michele:  The most satisfying part of my career as a writer is hearing from readers. It makes my day when I reader e-mails me and says, "I love your books." And they get it. They get what I was trying to do with the story. They laugh at the right parts and understand the characters' motivations and enjoy the journey. That's a great motivation to write another book.

The most dissatisfying part? I'm not making a heckuva lot of money. So more money would be nice. Other than that, I feel damned to lucky to be doing what I love. I'm happy. Not a lot of people can say that about their lives.
 

Kristie: Thank you so much, Michele, for taking the time to talk with me. I wish you the best in your writing career. Is there anything that you would like to add?

Michele:  Thank you for interviewing me. This has been fun! I'd like to invite everyone to visit my personal website at http://www.michelebardsley.com. And for writers … I just launched a new site: http://www.writers12stepprogram.com

Have a GREAT day!

Double Delights Series Romances
Daddy In Training & Bride in Training
By Michele R. Bardsley
Hardshell Word Factory
ISBN: 0-7599-0337-8  – Paperback
ISBN:  1-58200-124-3 - ebook
Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Kristie Leigh Maguire, MyShelf.com

DADDY IN TRAINING by Michele R. Bardsley is a delightful romantic comedy. If you want a book that will make you both laugh and cry, one that will lift you out of the doldrums, and one that can be read in one easy sitting - DADDY IN TRAINING is the book for you.

It is the story of Rory James and her three children, Sylvie, Mike and Andrea. Rory had been married, and happily so, to her high school sweetheart until he passed away four years ago. After his death, she was left with the daunting task of raising her three children by herself. The children weren’t bad kids; they were just typical children with all the typical antics of  --- well, children.

To Dr. Seth Stone, veterinarian and bachelor extraordinaire, the James household looked like an unruly, undisciplined war zone – with kids and dogs and cats going ever which-a-way. Why in the world had he ever accepted the challenge issued by Susan McMillian, host of the TV show ‘Welcome to Ordinary People: Extraordinary Views’? OK so he needed the prize money of $25,000. But how in the world was he going to teach those kids discipline in a mere four days?

As Rory watched the TV crew setting all those wires and cameras and filming equipment and in general turning her house into a TV studio, she wondered why in the world she had ever accepted that challenge thrown out by her best friend and TV host, Susan, to have that stuffed shirt of a veterinarian come into her house and even so much as look at her children, much less try to discipline them. OK so she needed that $25,000 prize money. The kids needed new shoes, new clothes, new --- oh new everything! These next four days should pass by quickly and Susan could hand over that much needed $25,000 – and Dr. Seth Stone could be on his uptight way.

You will just have to read DADDY IN TRAINING to see what happened after the film crew started rolling. I am not going to give away the ending of this story. Read it for yourself – you know you want to know how it all ended!

Susan McMillian was engaged to be married in less than a week. To a very nice man, a man she had known for several years. In fact, he owned the television studio where she worked. He was nice, steady, and respectable. This marriage would give her the edge she needed to convince the judge that she deserved custody of her little sister. Why then did her heart go pitter-patter over her future husband’s nephew? God, what a mess she had gotten herself into.

Ross Cameron took one look at his uncle’s fiancé and knew that he could never allow this marriage to take place. It was wrong. Totally wrong. She was a moneygrubber. Or so he tried to convince himself. Why then did his stomach do flip-flops when he looked into her whiskey colored eyes? This was no way to react to the woman who would be marrying his uncle in just a few short days. What in the world was wrong with him anyway?

Michele Bardsley was not content with giving the reader just one good book with DADDY IN TRAINING. Oh no. She had to go the extra step and give us BRIDE IN TRAINING as well with this Double Delights Series Romances. Thank you so much, Michele, for going the extra mile!