Interview with Michel Prince

Today, I'm pleased to welcome my friend and colleague, author Michel Prince, who is celebrating the release of her new book, The Guardian's Heart:

Case Thomas is always in control whether its on the basketball court, the lab where he works, or in his love life. He thinks he has everything all figured out. All that changes when his parents pass away during his last year of college and Case is thrown into fatherhood when he becomes temporary guardian to two adorable twin toddlers. Weeks later, exhausted and running out of time, Case must decide if he's ready to become a father to these children, or give them up and move on with what's left of his life. Then he meets Gabbie Vaulst.

Gabbie is amazing with the kids, owns her own business, and has all the right curves in all the right places. She can tell Case is attracted to her, but does he really love her or is he just settling for a surrogate Mom who can wrangle his new kids? Knowing that she's falling in love with him, she chooses to push him away until his world straightens out. Can Case prove to Gabbie, and himself, that his feelings are real? Or is this sudden family too much for both of them to handle?

The odds, as well as members of their past who've come out of the woodwork, are against them, but when kids are involved, all bets are off.

Welcome, Michel!

What's the earliest story you can remember writing?

Best Friends slash enemies. It was in fifth grade and I won 2nd in a town wide writing contest. A literary classic if I must say so myself.

When did you decide to make the move to "published"?

Really early on. Once I decided to write a book and I saw how all consuming it was I knew that I had to at least get something out of it if I was going to spend day and night on the project ignoring my family and friends.

How did you find the experience of seeking a publisher?

Daunting. It’s not for the weak of heart. Especially if you submit to multiple publishers at once you could end up getting a ton of rejections, nicely worded with no notes on what they might find wrong with your work so you could improve.

What did it feel like when the acceptance notice came?

My whole body went numb. I called around. Told everyone because I couldn’t believe it had finally happened.

What inspired you to write the current release?

It was an anthology collection that was going to be published about sexy dads. I went way over the word limit but I just had to be true to my characters and come to a conclusion.

What book are you reading now?

I always have a few books going. I’m listening to Defending Jacob on audiable. Reading Touch of the Gods by D X Luc on my Kindle and reading First Grave on the Left by Deyondra Jones.

What are your current projects?

Right now I’m trying to get my Chrysalis series edited enough to get the final books to my publisher. I also have a few contemporaries going. Really I usually have 9-12 books going at once.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I had to do research into chemical formulas as well as state laws on adoption and guardianship.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Research don’t assume. I tend to tie sports into almost every book. Something about the characters and their psyche when it comes to their sport and position. So when other authors put in a sports reference that’s wrong I get really upset. I don’t go around making wild assumptions I contact medical personnel or historians on the Swedish land. Whatever it is unless you’re writing on a foreign planet that’s all your making, make it accurate.

How important is the support and friendship of other writers?

Extremely. Other people can’t understand how repeatedly asking “how’s sales” when you only get reports every 4 months can be extremely frustrating, because Amazon numbers or ARe rankings are so random. And no one person can know everything about marketing, pub houses, and all the social media. You need them to lean on when your Muse flips you off and locks themselves in the closet. For the most part we’ve all been there at one time or another.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

It’s a mixed bag. They do seem proud of me. I was surprised how well my father took it when I told him that I’m also writing erotica under another name. We actually joked about yes sex is in the world. And my son even though he’s too young to read my books tells every friend, teacher, or parent he encounters about my books. He knows my release dates as good as I do.

Tell us something random about yourself that we don't know.

I was the cheerleading captain in high school for 2 years. Rah Rah Ree yep that’s me.

Thanks for coming, Michel!

Michel Prince is published with Rebel Ink Press and Secret Cravings Publishing, and writes multiple genres under different brands. To learn more about Michel and her books, you can find her on Facebook.