Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Hardy Hardy.

Hi Michelle Hardy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I have been writing ever since I was ten years old and for almost 50 years I have been delving into what writing is. I started writing on a vintage typewriter, backs of magazines, cardboard or whatever I found to get my thoughts out. Back in the 1980s, as a kid, I would do as much as possible to be part of the publishing industry. I would spend all my money on magazines and books that helped me learn more about the writing and publishing industry. I would spend hours at the library to help with my research.

As I got older, I began looking into publishing my own work by submitting my work to contests I had found in the magazines. As a kid, when someone accepts your work you are so stoked. I continued writing and then self-publishing my own work the best way I knew how. As time went one, I learned more and did more.

I found others who were intrigued with my type of writing and made friendships. One book I self-published was used by a professor at my local college. Oh how proud I was of that. When I think about it now, I love how things were happening for me and I didn’t even know how huge it was.

As I learned more about self-publishing and looked even deeper, I was able to make my work look more professional by getting people to help me with publishing. When you start out you just do what you know and as I’ve grown, I noticed some parts of self-publishing I don’t want to do, so I hired someone to do those parts for me.

Publishing became easier and easier. I started publishing for myself and not the world around me. I always say it’s not about the books, it’s about my joy.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

I think the road to publishing can be an emotional rollercoaster because you are submitting to magazines and publishers who are deciding whether or not your work is good. Getting rejection letters is probably the worst thing for a writing.

I had decided many years ago not to expect acceptance letters because putting your faith in one magazine editor or people to decide your joy was ridiculous, so I just write for me. I publish for me. I write stories and poetry, publish a beautiful masterpiece and then offer it to the masses. I don’t walk in expectation for my work. I walk in my joy; that’s the only real place to be when you are writing.

When you write for yourself and write what makes you happy and you are pleased with the work. I’m not allowing the outside noise to define my work. I produce more books this way. I have a saying “dropping books like albums.” This keeps me going. I produce the work like a Beyonce Album. You never know when it’s going to drop, but I’m going to give you someonething. Whether or not you buy it is up to you, but it’s truly for me and my joy.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

While I have had a “regular” job most of my life, I would say I am mostly an artist who works to supplement my income to do what makes me happy.

I currently work in asset management as a senior administrator and it’s probably the most fulfilling because I’ve been doing this job for years. This job is however not my special talent. My talent is encouraging and inspiring people to write and publish books. I doesn’t hurt to know that I have several books under my belt to help inspire others to write their stories.

I’m known for “dropping books like albums.” I’m proud of it. I believe everyone can write and publish a book. I don’t let anything or anyone stop me from self-publishing. I do it regardless of what people say or think about my work.

In my writing I’m very candid and extremely honest. When you write, you need to be proud of your writing. Write from an authentic place. I am unique in that I’m writing for me and me only. I’m educating people to help them know they are too great authors and have masterpieces inside of them as well.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

I believe self-love is so important. You have to be selfish with your time and writing for yourself and not waiver. What helps me the most is to let people know what I’m doing and then I do it. Even if someone cringes at the thought of my writing, I still keep the writing. Never question your writing or what you do. Even if someone doesn’t like what I’ve done for myself in my writing, I still leave it. People are where they are with their feels about your work and you can’t satisfy them. Just leave it as it is. They’ll adjust…. or not…. and both are ok.

I don’t sacrifice myself for someone else’s own internal dialogue. It doesn’t serve me to serve someone else’s comfort and sacrifice my joy. My joy is my writing and I’m willing to lose someone to keep my joy and let my writing shine for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michellehardyxo.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/michellehardyxo
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/michellehardyxo
• Youtube: https://youtube.com@michellehardyxo

Image Credits

Michelle Hardy