Since I was fifteen, I've worked in one capacity or another. For twelve years I was a country singer/songwriter, and pursued dreams of stardom. I hosted a talent showcase on Satellite, then moved to a local showcase on ABC in Montgomery, but my life as a country superstar obviously wasn't meant to be. These days I rarely sing. I always joke around and say I had to give up my singing voice to become a writer.
In the beginning, writing was just a way to stop the boredom. I went from pulling a 72 hour week to being a stay at home mom to one, my other four children were already in school by then. Never did I think this would become a career for me, but obviously the powers that be had a plan in mind. It took me almost two years to write Tears of Crimson, and to be honest I had no idea what I was doing!
Pull into 2014, and I've written fifteen books, worked with some of the most amazing people in the self-publishing world, and finally feel that I know what I was meant to do, outside of being a mother and wife. I worked through this industry day and night until I finally had some idea of what I was doing. Even today, I don't think I've perfected it by any means, but I no longer feel like a bumbling idiot!
The digital book world opened up a new world for me, allowing me to live in backwoods Alabama, while getting my work in front of people I never dreamed would pick up my books! I like to say now I have the best of both worlds with career and family. I get to raise my children in a country environment, and promote my work all over the globe. I'm a social media fanatic, living where I do there isn't much choice. My family has a homestead in Verbena, Alabama on forty acres that me and my husband like to call paradise. Every natural resource you could want is right here, and we live in a conservation area. Seeing Eagles nest, fishing some of the best spots available, hiking, riding four wheeler's, all of that is right outside the back door!
I was raised as a military brat, my father is a retired Air Force Cook, who also went postal since he retired with the US Post Office as well. My mom has been my biggest supporter, both in the book world and when I was performing across the United States. Three of my five children are now grown and my babies are seven and ten. Needless to say we spaced our children out a bit! Having younger children, I think keeps me young. I'm always learning new things from them, and I have to say out of all the blessings God has given me, my family will always be number one.
Recently I became a den leader for my sons Boy Scout group. This is a new adventure for me, and as always I embrace learning new things. Balancing a career and family was made much easier by being able to work from home. Writing offers me the chance to work around their schedule. All in all I feel like my life has worked out incredibly. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but I have no complaints with the life I've been given.
Like I said earlier, I love social media. If you'd like to catch up, feel free to follow me.
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormichellehughes
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/MichelleHughes_
My Blog: www.tearsofcrimson.com
On Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tearsofcrimson
Mailing List: https://tinyletter.com/authormichellehughes
eMail: Michelle (at) tearsofcrimson (dot) com
