Hi! I’m Michele Dunaway, and Conveniently a Fortune is my 29th Harlequin. The Playboy Project from Special Edition will be my 30th. Here’s a big secret…
I don’t write every day and I don’t necessarily write at a desk or in my office. My office is a place for paperwork, book storage, photos, and planning. I rarely write in there. You could say in that aspect I’m a rule breaker. I write on a laptop, which means I can write anywhere and everywhere, so I do.
Often I’m at my kitchen counter, sometimes sitting, sometimes using my walking pad. I love to travel, so I’ll write on the plane and in the airport lounge. I like writing in libraries, Panera, or at friend’s houses. This past summer I spent two weeks writing in the south of France. I’ll write both inside and outside, especially on a nice day. When I my daughters were young, I wrote on an AlphaSmart in Chuck E. Cheese.
I find I write better in big spurts. I’ll do anywhere from 2,000-7,000 words a day depending on what’s going on. I work a day job—I retired from teaching simply to return in a different position. During the school year, my writing time begins after I get home. On weekends, I’ll start around ten a.m. and write for ten-to-twelve hours, with breaks included of course. When I can, I do online sprints on Mondays and Wednesdays evenings with various writing organizations.
I type every single word—if I get a good run, I can write about 1,000 words an hour thanks to those two typing classes I took in high school. I wish I could dictate but have learned that’s not my process. I actually write the first half, print it, edit and revise on hard copy, input those changes, and then write to the end. Then I print, read, edit and revise the entire thing from the beginning yet again before off it goes. Depending on my deadlines, I may write for a week, not write for another, and then get right back to it. That’s how the magic happens.
Another secret? There’s no coffee involved and I average about six hours of sleep a night. Can’t say I’ve ever had a cup. I don’t drink soda either. I’m beginning to drink tea, but I’m choosy about the flavors. I’m one of those boring water people. Like plain old tap water. On rare occasion I might drink a Polar seltzer that’s flavored and has fizz.
Since I’m always on the go, the most consistent part of my day is my unofficial “helpers.” My cats have their own Instagram hashtag, #dunawaycats. They make sure I take breaks, help me type, and proofread my pages by sitting on them.
I’d love to connect, so visit my website www.micheledunaway.com. You can sign up for my newsletter while you’re there and find my socials.
Michele Dunaway’s latest title, Conveniently a Fortune, is out now! Check it out on Harlequin.com.
Jacinta Gomez despairs in the face of an impossible mission: in six weeks, marry—or lose the family’s beloved chocolate business forever! After Jacinta confides in her mentor, powerhouse Micah Fortune, he’s got an irresistible proposition: he’ll be her husband for one year to secure her birthright. But Micah can’t ignore the simmering attraction for his whip-smart, stunning bride. After a devastating betrayal, though, he’s sworn off love. Can this make-believe match usher in a happily-ever-after? Find out in Michele Dunaway’s latest title, Conveniently a Fortune.
