No Funny Stuff! - Michele Hart

Please welcome my special guest this week, Michele Hart, whose book No Funny Stuff! was recently released by The Wild Rose Press and spent three weeks at the top of the bestseller's list!

Thanks for popping in today, Michele!

Hi, Christina,

Thank you so much for the opportunity to spread my brand.
Here are the answers to your questions:


Can you tell us a little about your book, No Funny Stuff!?

No Funny Stuff!, a tale for the Muse of Comedy, is a very special project. Before NFS!, I’d only written my own ideas and in full-length novels. But then, I was invited into the Song of the Muses anthology, 9 Tales of Romance for the 9 Muses of Inspiration, and suddenly I was handed a preformed structure, Thalia’s story and the entire realm of Greek Mythology, and I had to do it in 35,000 words. It was a tall challenge for me to write so short. And I never wrote a comedy.

But it’s been an incredible experience. I love the Muse writers, and I’m lucky to be in their midst. Several of us have become close. I’m proud of NFS!, and the other Muse stories. I hope you’ll check them out @ Meet the Muses.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

For the very first time in my writing, the ending came to me before much else! Then it was just a matter of time and writing to get the characters there.

No Funny Stuff!’s doing very well holding #3 for three weeks on The Wild Rose Press’s Current Bestsellers, and it’s getting a great reception.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I wrote in 1990-95, then was swept off my feet by a handsome guy, and the writing took a back seat. I started again on 2003, determined to see publication. And I found EVERYTHING has changed in Romance. Everything from the ‘90s, author rights and respect, the advent of e-publishers, big changes in RWA. So I reshuffled my game plan.

I quickly wrote my Erotic Romantic Suspense, Looks Are Deceiving, and sold it twice, the first e-publisher who’d folded in the first round of e-publisher crashes. I was very lucky they rushed me to print just before they closed and didn’t have to, so it was a bittersweet happening. They believed in me and made sure I was published before they drowned. I appreciate that. Very soon, Siren Publishing picked LAD up and it’s done very well, hitting #2 on Siren’s Bestsellers List. It all moved quite fast. I’d received 3 contracts be e-mail in a week for 3 different projects. That’s enough to make a writer’s head spin.

I came into the Song of the Muses anthology a few days later than most of the Muse writers, so I had 3 of the Muses from which to choose. It was never a battle in my mind. I was inspired to take Comedy, and I was probably a numbskull to have chosen it! I knew Thalia would be a very hard Muse to write. Sense would have made me choose another, but I had none! I’ve always had great respect for the Comedy Romance authors, but that’s doubled since this project. All hail Katie Macalister! I want to be her!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I love everything futuristic. My current favorite movie is Equilibrium, very poignant and emotional film, one of Christian Bale’s very best, but somehow it didn’t get as big as it should have. Fantastic movie. I love Historicals. Who didn’t say Wow over Dangerous Liasons?
I rarely watch TV, hardly have an idea what’s on. When I watch, it’s real-life crime and forensics shows so I’ll learn something or get some brain and plotting exercise thinking out and solving the crime. I won’t watch the dramas. They often present untruths, and I don’t want false info in my head. The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are the most important shows on TV right now, IMO. And cartoons. I watch Adult Swim on the Cartoon Channel every night.

What are you working on now?

I’m editing a SF Romance short story called Zero-G, and then I’ll be getting back to my full-size SF Romance, Alien Whip. I’m really looking forward to writing AW again. It’s about a group of people who are abducted by aliens. Here’s a little on that project:
http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/b21-book.htm

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

I can be found forever at: www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/songofthemuses.htm
Please stop by and take the tour.

No Funny Stuff!, a tale for the Muse of Comedy
Watch the Book Trailer, Discover the Excerpts, Check out the Reviews!
http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/b22-book.htm
BUY LINK: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.phpmain_page=product_info&products_id=925

Looks Are Deceiving, an Erotic Romantic Suspense
Dive into Steamy Excerpts, Look out for the Fantastic Reviews. Book Trailer, too. http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/b18-book.htm
BUY LINK: http://www.SirenPublishing.com/michelehart/lad.asp

Have a magical day,
Michele HartSci-Fi/Fantasy Romance Author Walk Another World ~~~ * * * * * * * * *Available NOW! * NO FUNNY STUFF! * a tale for the Muse of Comedy!http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=925

SONG OF THE MUSES * 9 Inspirations of Romance * coming October '08AMUSE ME * another tale for the Muse of Comedy * coming 2009!~ ~ ~ ~ Available NOW! * LOOKS ARE DECEIVING * a Siren Bestseller!http://www.SirenPublishing.com/michelehart/lad.asp