Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Hi Fiona!  Thank you so much for having me!  I’m Michelle Windsor and I’m trying very hard to forget my age, so let’s just skip right over that one!!  😉

Fiona: Where are you from?

I live in the burbs about 20 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts.  But I still always describe myself as a Vermont girl, because this is where I grew up and still have family.

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

So, let’s see, I’m very happily married to a great guy named Doug.  We met 22 years ago and have been married for 18.  We have two teenage sons, and one adult daughter who is expecting twins in August!  We’re still freaking out a little over this one, but so excited for them to arrive.  She’s having a boy and a girl!

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I just dropped a new book last week, (4/13), called Love Notes, so that’s definitely the biggest news on my plate.  It’s a contemporary romance, but doesn’t have your typical HEA, so I was nervous about how it might be received.  But, so far, so good!!  Aside from a few death threats over the ugly tears I have made some readers cry, people seem to like it!

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I didn’t publish my first book until October 2017, so I’m still  pretty new in the book world!  I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember being able to pick up a book, and I think I’ve probably been making up or ‘seeing’ stories in my head for almost as long.  I wrote down my very first story when I was in my early twenties, but then set it aside.  Mostly because I had to support myself and had a full time day job and had NO idea how to even go about getting a story published.  When I discovered the online book community a few years ago, I knew I had finally found an outlet that would allow me to pursue my dreams and began writing again, and finally indie publishing my first book.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’m not sure I still even consider myself a writer…  isn’t that strange?  Maybe because I haven’t reached a level of success that I’m aiming for?  I’ll let you know when I feel like a true writer.. lol

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

The Indie community!  You can’t imagine how much my world changed when I discovered that there was an entire online community dedicated to independent authors, readers, and blogs.  I initially started a blog page, and wrote reviews for books that I had been reading, and then slowly started supporting authors I read and loved, eventually realizing this was the perfect outlet for me to finally try and make my dreams come true it.  At the time I began writing my first book, The Winning Bid, the 50 Shades hype was at its peak, so I tried to come up with a concept for a book that involved a dom/sub relationship, but with a story line entirely different.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

My heroine in the book is a brand new submissive that gets sold to the highest bidder at an auction at a high end private club (voluntarily!), and the evolving story is about the man who ultimately wins her for the weekend and falls in love; thus ‘The Winning Bid’ was born.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I’m a complete panster.  For those of you who don’t know what that means, it’s simply a term for saying you write by the seat of your pants.  I don’t work off an outline or predetermined story line.  I get an idea in my head for a general story or character(s), and just start writing.  This works great for about the first 25K words, but I often have a hard time once I’ve reached the ‘conflict’ part of a story, coming up with a resolution.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Absolutely nothing about the first two books, (which are a duet), have any commonality to my life at all.  My third book, Losing Hope, takes place in large part in Vermont, and there are parts within the book where I reference certain things; a covered bridge where everyone carves their names—I lived next to a bridge where everyone did this.  And songs and movies I reference in the book are actually a couple of my favourites.  My latest book, Love Notes, is inspired by actual events that I lived, so it’s extremely personal to me.  I like to make my readers guess which parts really happened and which didn’t.  There are those that lived some of the story with me, so they know, but they’ve been sworn to secrecy!!

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

No, I haven’t so far, but I tend to reference locations that I’m familiar with.  At least so far…

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

The covers for my first two books were custom designs made by Jessica Hildreth.  I love my Auction Series covers.  After my second book released, I hired a PA, who also happened to be a designer, so she’s designed Losing Hope, Love Notes, and an upcoming release I have, Dirty Little Secret.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I think all of my books contain the same message in the end; if you believe in love, follow your heart!  Life is so short so try and make every minute count.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favourite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I discovered Saffron Kent about a year ago, who at the time, had only one book published.  She’s just published her third.  She’s fairly young, (I think in her 20’s), but I’m so completely blown away by her writing.  Her stories and emotions are so complex.  I devoured all three books.  It would be impossible for me to pick a favourite writer.  I can tell you that when I was twelve, my mom gave me my first Stephen King book, (Salem’s Lot), and I was enthralled at how well someone could tell a story the way he did.  The level of detail in his written word was so unbelievably skilled in that I literally felt I was shadowing each character’s every move, thought and emotion.  I’m also a huge Colleen Hoover fan.  Her stories are so genuinely human and relatable, but it’s also in how she tells a story that makes her writing so beautiful.  I aspire to write a story the way she does.  And I admire how down to earth she has stayed and the way she gives back to so many.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

My friend Joel.  Every single time I see him, before and after publishing, he’s been so inquisitive about my process, the process in general, pushing me to question my next steps.  He’s one of my most intelligent friends and being able to talk through the evolution of thought, to writing, to publishing has been amazing.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Fingers crossed!  I’ve decided to pursue this full time for the next six months to see if I can make a living out of it…. Stay tuned!

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

You know that any author you ask this question, is going to tell you that we go back and read our books 100 times and still find issues with it!  Lol  It’s a process!!  But yes!  Especially with Love Notes… I wish I had spent a little bit more time rebuilding the relationship of my couple after they reunited.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Yes! That I still have so much to learn!  Each book is a lesson for me.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Which book?!  Henry Cavill has to play Drew from the Auction Series!  He was my muse and boy, would I love to see him in some of the ‘action’ scenes I wrote!  😉

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Oh boy, I don’t know if I’m the correct person to ask advice from.  I feel like I still have so much to learn.  I guess if I had to offer anything, it would be, if you want to write, write!  But make sure you have a great editor to keep you inline!

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you!!  Thank you so much for taking a chance on me and my stories!

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I had to go look on my kindle…..  I tend to read a few different books at a time because my mood drives what I feel like reading.  So, currently, I’m reading Badd Mother F*cker by Jasinda Wilder and Roman by Heidi McLaughlin and Amy Briggs.  I LOVE dark romance and paranormal, so have a lot of those type of books on my device.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

No… I wish I did.  I do know that when I was younger, my favouriteDr.Seuss book was Horton Hears a Who, and of course, I loved Cinderella.  I remember reading all the Nancy Drew books, and then the Little House books…

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

My husband makes me laugh!  He’s a funny guy! I can be in the foulest mood and he can say just the right thing and have me cracking up.  And, I’m one of those sick minded people that laugh at someone tripping over a crack in the side-walk, and then stay worried for the next two days that karma is going to come bite me in the ass!  Funerals make me cry…  And if I get really, really nervous I’ll cry.  It’s like I need the extra energy to go somewhere.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Is it okay to say I wish I could go back and talk to my grandmother?  I was lucky enough to know her, but she died about twenty years ago.  Now that I’m a ‘real’ adult, there are so many things I wish I could talk to and ask her about our family, my own mother, and the time she grew up in.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I like to hike with my dog.  He’s a german shepherd and a beast, but he’s a big ole baby and just loves to be out in the woods.  I’m totally nerding out here and going to tell you that I love bird watching.  I have feeders all over my yard, and love to try and figure out what kinds they are.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I’m a huge, huge Outlander fan.  I’ve read the books, so I love watching the show.  I think they’ve done a fabulous job translating it to tv.  I also love Grey’s Anatomy, Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.  I’m a sucker for ANY love story.  I’m a huge movie person…  I may or may not have a slight obsession with Wonder Woman.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Pasta is my weakness, and I’m trying to stay away from carbs, so it’s been torture.  I love veggies though, so I’m getting by!  Love blues and silver.  My love for music is all over the place, but I do love it.  My son is a musician, and he’s very indie rock, so I tend to listen to a lot of his music now.  I’ve come to love Catfish and the Bottlemen, Hippo Campus, The Strokes.  But of course, I love, love my classics; Eagles, U2, Counting Crows, Tom Petty, Van Morrison.  And listen, if T. Swift comes on the radio, I’m turning that shit up loud!!  Lol

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I’d be a doctor.  I worked in the medical profession most of my life in one form or another and wish I had pursued that avenue sometimes..

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

No headstone.  This girl will not be placed in a hole in the ground, only to have dirt thrown on me.  Nope.  Burn my body and scatter my ashes in the ocean so I can float to every corner of the world.  Come see me there if you want to catch up.

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

Yes!  You can find me at www.authormichellewindsor.com

https://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Windsor/e/B01KYCA620/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michelle-Windsor/e/B01KYCA620/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1524059535&sr=1-2-ent