 On Writing
I’ve always loved writing, and could be found writing stories as early as first grade. In high school I wrote romances while my stepsister wrote westerns and killed everyone. I married them off instead. I first got serious after I wrote a fan fiction novel just for fun. Since I always read romance, a coworker suggested I write one. He was correct—I sold the first time out in 1999 after an RWA editor interview. I’ve since completed 20 novels and am under contract for 2 more.
On Genre
I love romance and believe in the happy ending. I love series romance because I know what I’m going to get whenever I pick up the book: a quick fast read that satisfies.
On the Writing Process
Anything really [can trigger a story idea]. I was at a Halloween party at my daughter’s school and the smoke machine set off the fire alarms. The firefighters came and the little girls got a big kick out of the fire truck. That’s the first scene in LEGALLY TENDER (Harlequin American). I see the characters in my head first, and then the plot comes together.
[The hardest part is] the actual middle of the book. I like the beginning and the ends, for those go fast. The middle is like exercise or Wednesdays…just the middle and rather ugh. It’s not that it sags, it’s just not the beginning or the end.
On the Harlequin NASCAR Series
I sold the first book, HART'S VICTORY, to Harlequin and then they asked me to be a part of their 2008 continuity series. For the first book I had my own idea, which I got after my daughter got to ask Dale Jr. a question in a Q & A (see that triggering a story idea above). For the next two I wrote the characters from the Harlequin bible they provided.
 On Writing Schedule
No set routine. I teach full time during the day so I do my writing in big spurts on weekends and in the PM and in the summer or on Christmas break. I also use an alpha smart a lot to get things done.
On Writer's Block
I think everyone has writer’s block at one time or another. I simply don’t write. I do other things. Eventually the idea suddenly clicks in my head and I go sit back down. I’ve discovered I write better when I eat, breathe, and sleep the characters, which is why I write in big spurts.
On Conferences and Contests
In the only unpublished contest I ever entered, I came in 26th place in a 3-way tie (and there were only 30 entries), so I was pretty much dead last. I took some comments, trashed others, and that’s the book I sold the first try. The key thing for me was to get the book in front of the right editor. Really, that’s who needs to see your manuscript, not 15 chapter contests. You can get so mired down in perfecting the first three chapters that the rest of the book comes off as not being as strong.
On Getting "The Call"
When I got home after work on a Friday PM there was a 212 area code on my caller ID. We waited until after business hours and called, and it was a Harlequin number. Luckily I had my writers’ group that weekend. They were all positive. I wasn’t so sure, but on Monday I had a message on my answering machine asking me to call Melissa Jeglinski. We played phone tag—and when she finally got me I was in the office of my school. She said she wanted to buy my book and would call me in five minutes (after I got to my classroom phone). I set the office phone down and started screaming. The nurse came running out of her office thinking someone had died.
On Being a Published Author
The biggest challenge of being a published author is to constantly be fresh and interesting. When you write as an unpub, you write because you love writing. When you are published, you write for your audience, and with that comes sales numbers, reviews, and all the stress that comes with. You lose a little bit of that “writing for fun.”
Best Advice Received
Stay true to your voice. I once was agent searching and had an agent tell me one of my manuscripts (my third) would never sell. I’d sent it to my editor at the same time I’d sent it to this agent. One week after the scathing rejection from the agent, my editor called, said she loved it, and bought it. And I got offered a continuity book right after that. So know when to stick to your guns.
Worst Advice Received
That I need to be in a hurry. Time has a way of letting me be in the right place at the right time. So don’t rush. The other thing is that you should quit your day job right away. I love my teaching job and enjoy what I do. I have no desire to leave it, or lose my retirement and benefits!
On Promotion
I’m not really the best one to ask. I honestly do very little promotion. I’ve never done bookmarks, I did postcards one time, and pretty much have stopped doing book signings. I don’t have a Myspace or a Facebook. The best promotion you can get is media articles and press, and be sure to get your books out there to readers.
On Publishers
I love writing for Harlequin. I’ve received wonderful editorial support in growing my career. I love the Harlequin American line and I’ve had such a great time writing the NASCAR books. I still haven’t met Dale Jr., though, although I’ve been 10 feet from him.
On
Agents
I did not have an agent for my first 14 sales. I did an agent search after my second sale and didn’t find anyone I liked, so I simply stayed away. When I wanted to write for two Harlequin lines and eventually move into single title, I did another agent search. I’d met Jessica Faust of BookEnds, so I queried her, waited out her maternity leave and then signed with her. She’s made eight sales for me in the two years we’ve worked together.
On the Future: What are you working on now?
Right now I am on a August 1 deadline for a 2009 Harlequin American book that will be part of the Men Made in America promotion (I think that’s the name). I’m doing the corporate CEO book and I am writing my own characters and plots for that. I also have another American to write after that. I’m also concurrently playing around with three single title ideas, all unrelated. We’ll see where those go, if anywhere. I’m just having fun writing those and playing around with them.
Advice for Aspiring Writers
Writing should be fun. You should be writing because those characters in your head need life, and giving them life should be your main purpose. Selling the book is the icing on the cake, but the joy of writing and simply creating a novel should be your goal and what gives you pleasure. Once you’ve finished, go after the market and the paycheck. The creation of the book should be what gives you the most satisfaction, not the financial reward. Don’t be in such a rush, but savor each moment of the words going on the page. This probably sounds strange, but it’s a truth that helps me stay focused on the work itself, and allows me to enjoy the writing process. I repeat: writing should be fun (even when it’s discouraging after a rejection and trust me, published authors get them too).
The Last Word: Any parting words for our readers?
Trust your voice. Be persistent. Refine your craft. Don’t let your critique group genericize your writing, but be open to suggestions. Simply enjoy writing. In the end, that’s what it’s all about, doing something you love. Thanks for having me!
You can visit Michele on the web at www.MicheleDunaway.com
Michele’s publications include: Hart's Victory, Harlequin NASCAR, 12/07; The Christmas Date, Harlequin American Romance, 12/07; The Marriage Recipe, Harlequin American Romance, 4/08; Out of Line, Harlequin NASCAR, 6/08; Tailspin, Harlequin NASCAR, 9/0
(Interviewed by Cathy Zornes, June, 2008)
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