Michelle Monkou Swims with the Mermaids: Aligning Passion, Career, and Job

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the uber-talented Michelle Monkou to the lagoon today! I have had the pleasure of knowing Michelle for the last year and a half, and I can honestly say she is one of the most hard working, dedicated, and inspirational people I’ve ever met. Her latest book, ONE TO LOVE, is being released on April 1 from Harlequin Kimani and she has graciously agreed to talk to us about aligning her passion, career, and job. Take it away, Michelle!

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I’m entering my 13th year in the business…wow, I can’t believe it. From the first day of publication, I had no idea what the future would hold. I was so focused on the fact that I had signed a contract and a publisher would take my contemporary romance, Open One To Love CoverYour Heart, out to the world.

That was the big dream.

So what came after the dream had been fulfilled?

• 20 titles with an additional 3 titles in the hopper with publishers.

• One publisher expanded to three publishers and my own indie platform.

• Contemporary romance now sharing space on the shelf with urban fantasy, and erotic romance.

Now what?

I hadn’t planned for Acts or Parts or Phases to my dream. Yet, a shift in priorities and vision made me take stock of where I was and where I wanted to go. The only direction to go is forward, upward, where the sky is only an artificial limit.

Passion for writing is there. Writing groups, networking events, goals keep the momentum going and the energy flowing.

This is my career. Thirteen years is not amateur night or a side gig. I’m creating a legacy. I’m building a fan base. I’m channeling that passion for the long haul.

At the end of the day, this is my job. I earn a living, want to continue earning a living and unapologetically expect to earn a living.

With these elements aligned, I’m free as I want to be, in order to create, to imagine, to continue fulfilling my dream—to be one helluva kick ass writer.

I hope your passion, career, and job are in alignment with your dream.

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Photo 2 (1)Michelle Monkou is a multi-published author with over 20 books in print and digital. She began her writing career in 2002 with Black Entertainment Television (BET) Books, Arabesque imprint. She writes contemporary romances, paranormal/urban fantasy and publishes her backlist and original stories on her independent digital platform, Stella Maris Publishing. Her stories speak to the heart and offer that happy ever after ending for the romance fiction reader.

Michelle is also an active participant with romance writers’ advocacy efforts. She served on the boards and as presidents of Washington Romance Writers, and the 10,000 membership Romance Writers of America. She’s a weekly contributor on USA TODAY’s Happy Ever Blog providing commentary on romance fiction.

She resides in Maryland writing many more stories to fill the hands and e-readers of romantic bookaholics. Michelle‘s One to Love is available for purchase this week. Preorder your copy now and catch Michelle‘s fabulous other titles.

7 thoughts on “Michelle Monkou Swims with the Mermaids: Aligning Passion, Career, and Job

  1. Just stopping by to say Hello!!!
    I enjoy your work Michelle and I have pre-ordered One to Love.

  2. Hi Michelle – I’m so glad you stopped by the lagoon!!! *glitter toss*

    I don’t know how you keep everything straight but I’m in awe. Much luck for great sales and continued success! 😉

  3. Hey, Michelle. You forgot to mention that you’re the Creator of the Inner Circle. lol. I got tired just reading this post. I’m with Kerri. I have no idea how you keep it all straight. I love that you’re exploring so many different avenues on your way to reaching your goals. And you’re so right. The sky is an artificial limit. Go past it. 🙂
    So glad you came by the lagoon to hang out.

  4. Hi Michelle and welcome to the lagoon! I loved where you said you are doing this unapologetically. That is inspiring to those of us who sometimes feel that weird need to be apologetic as writers and authors. I’m not even sure what for. But just know that reading this post has been a motivator to me and I know to others as well. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

    xoxoxoxoxo

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