Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Q&A and Giveaway With Author Michelle Smart

I’m so excited to welcome debut author, Michelle Smart to our Hot Seat today!

This is a huge year for Michelle, with debut releases from Entangled Publishing Indulgence and Harlequin Presents.

Michelle’s debut book Indulgence book, TEMPTED BY TROUBLE has been receiving awesome reviews.  I've just finished reading it-and loved it!



As far as Marco’s concerned, wild child Pippa has ruined his life once and he’ll be damned if he lets her do it again. But it’s hard to reconcile the adolescent he knew with the mature, beautiful woman who stands before him. Soon he's questioning if everything the media is claiming about Pippa is the truth, or if he should trust his heart.


Socialite Pippa Rowantree has always provided excellent fodder for the UK’s gossip rags. After another unfortunate scandal sends the gossips into a feeding frenzy, her shamed family retaliates by forcing her into hiding at old family friend, Marco Capello’s lush Caribbean estate—literally the last place on earth she wants to be.


Available Now:
Amazon  Amazon UK B&N

 

 
I’m so very thrilled for you, Michelle, congratulations!

Thank you so much, and thank you for having me here!


Q: Michelle, can you tell us a little bit about your journey to publication?

It’s been a long journey involving plenty of rejections and a huge learning curve – I wrote my first book five years ago. Somehow, last year, it all came together and I was contracted with both Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled Publishing. This is my debut release.


Q: Can you tell us the difference between what you write for Indulgence and Presents?

The main difference is that my Presents books have a much darker side to them.


Q: What are some of the challenges in writing for two different lines?

The processes are so very different! It’s all the little things – for example, I write in my own voice of English/English for Presents but with Entangled I have to use American/English, so I have to Americanise my spellings (see, that would become Americanize!) and make sure I don’t use colloquialisms that can get lost in translation. But it’s more than just that – everything’s different.


 Q: How do you balance writing, social media/promotion, and family?

Badly. These past couple of weeks are the first time I’ve really had to deal with promotion and it’s eaten into everything, especially my writing. At least I’ll know what to expect next time and will, hopefully, be able to manage my time more effectively (oh look, there’s a flying pig!).

Normally it’s much easier to manage everything and everything runs like clockwork (oh look, there’s another flying pig!).


 Q: Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

I’m a complete pantser. I tend to get the kernel of an idea, dream up the characters, and then off I go! It’s such a wonderful feeling running with an idea and making it all the way to the end of the book without any pause or hesitation. At least, I assume it’s a wonderful feeling. I’ve yet to make it to the end of a book without rewriting sections, hitting the saggy middle, and thinking at least a gazillion times that what I’m writing is a pile of pants.


 Q: What is a typical work day like for you?

I get the kids to school and am back home by 9am. I get the minimum amount of housework done that I can and am generally sat down with my laptop by 10am. I’ll procrastinate for an hour or so and then write until around 3pm. I then collect the kids from school and do family stuff until around 8/9pm, and then I’ll sit down again and write until around midnight. As you would expect, I never allow myself to be distracted by trivial things such as twitter, or get lured into playing Angry Birds. Honest.


Q: Can you tell us what you’re busy working on now and what/when your next release will be?

I’m currently working on revisions for book two with Presents – book one releases on the 23rd July and is entitled The Rings That Bind. And guess what? It’s available for pre-order at all good book selling websites, ha ha ha!




Visit Michelle Smart's website:

http://www.michelle-smart.com

Follow her on Twitter: @chellebellwrite

Facebook Page

Goodreads






Thank you so much for being here today, Michelle. Once again, I’m just so thrilled for you and wish you nothing but success! Be sure to check out Michelle's book, I'm sure you'll love it! And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!

Thank you for having me!
 
 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will be given at the end of Michelle's Blog tour to one international winner.

20 comments:

  1. Great interview, Michelle, we lead very similar family lives! Many congratulations on your new (and utterly fabulous) Indulgence and I can't wait to get a peek at your Presents. Fab title ... :0)

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  2. Thanks Rachel! And thanks for all your help and encouragement xxx

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  3. Hi Michelle! It's fab to have you back here on HPT. It seems such a short while ago we were talking about Tempted By Trouble and eagerly awaiting the release. Huge congrats on your debut, my lovely! And another fab interview. Your reviews are fantastic - I can't wait to read it! xxx

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  4. Thank you Lindsay! It's wonderful to be back here with you all xxx

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  5. I am definitely adding this to my TBR list, sounds awesome!

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  6. What a great interview! Congrats on your debut. :) I had to laugh when I read that you are a complete pantser--so am I, complete with saggy middles and rewrites. Nice to know I'm not alone, but I hope you get the nice, easy beginning-to-end writing experience someday!

    Can't wait to read this book--it sounds awesome!

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    1. Nor can I! Do you think that utopia even exists...? xxx

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  7. Michelle, huge congrats!!! I'm so thrilled for you on your debut.

    And thank you for the laughs. Your interview was so entertaining...maybe that's cause I saw so much of myself in it. ;-)

    Now I'm off to buy your book. Can't wait to read it.

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    1. Thank you Jennifer! I really hope you like it xxx

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  8. I love your interview, flying pigs and all!!

    You deserve all your fab reviews and I predict many more successes for you to come :)

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  9. Loved your interview, Michelle! It's always inspiring to read about someone who has worked their tail off and achieved something awesome. Congratulations on your debut, and please come back this summer to tell us about your Presents! :-)

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    1. Thank you Natalie - and I would love to come back here and natter on about my Presents! xxx

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  10. I'm so excited for you, Michelle. :)
    Congratulations on all your success! It's so well-deserved.
    (Big hugs)

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    1. Thank you Tina! Am sending big hugs right back xxx

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  11. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better, Michelle - and huge contgrats on Tempted...sounds like a fab read!

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  12. Hi Kristina, and thank you - lovely to 'meet' you (although I now know you on twitter too!). xxx

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  13. Wow, it's great you keep up such a great writing schedule.

    CONGRATS on your new release! I'm excited to read it.

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  14. Huge congrats on the debut AND the pending release! So deserved! I still remember your NV entry and I am not at all surprised by your success:-) Hope you celebrated all weekend long!

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