Articles written by Michele Bardsley

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About me - Michele Bardsley

Nationally bestselling author Michele Bardsley is multi-published in several genres, but she is best known for her vampire mom series set in the fictional town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma. The adventures of her paranormal PTA parents have garnered excellent

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Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Suspense: 3 of 168

Excerpt from The Dark Heart Claremore, Oklahoma. Wednesday. 3:04 a.m. "Daddy?" Sullivan O'Malley jolted awake. He sat up, snapped on the lamp, and looked into the pale face of his six-year-old son. "Trevor, what's wrong?" Trevor clutched his father's arm with small, anxious fingers. "The bad man killed her, Daddy," he sobbed...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Drug addiction: 9 of 277

Co-Dependence Beer and vodka and rum and wine my husband drinks alcohol all the time. He drowns his sorrow and his shame and submerges me in anguish and pain. He passes out when he's done. I envy his escape because I have none. I care for the kids, the pets, the house. He's too far gone to help methe louse! Confrontation nev...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Memories: 63 of 492

Fruit from the Bitter Tree The bedroom window frames the backyard: Blue sky, green grass, old memories. There is an old oak tree with gnarled limbs. Once, a tire swing dangled from it. Birds flutter branch to branch: Chirp. Chitter. Chirp. The oak tree has a story, too. It remains silent. It knows how to keep secrets. Once, ...
Arts & Humanities > Writing Resources Finding writing inspiration: Lessons from accomplished authors: 6 of 16

Twenty years ago, when I started writing with the intention of being a published novelist, I read books, I joined organizations, I took classes, and I went to a weekly critique group. I did it all. I wanted to learn everything I could about writing and I somehow hoped that I would discover some magic or secret way to get pub...
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Advice for new writers: 27 of 65

WORKSHOP CRITIQUES: FOUR WAYS TO CONVEY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM Writers who seek out critique workshops want to improve their writing. They must. Why else would they allow their works to be judged by other writers? While writers who offer their manuscripts to the group must be mentally prepared to accept criticism, it is the ...
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Tips for editing a manuscript efficiently: 5 of 11

Five Key Steps to Editing Your Manuscript Learning to effectively edit your own work is more important than ever. You're not only competing with other writers in a tight market, you're competing for an editor's valuable time. Good plotting and radiant talent won't mean much if it's obvious that your book needs a lot of copy ...
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Great reads: Dark Fantasy Books: 1 of 2

Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge In Caitlin Kittredge's dark fantasy, Street Magic, the urban landscape of London provides more than just a backdrop for an engrossing story about ghosts and magic and redemption. London is almost a character, particularly the secretive shadowy world called the Black that dwells within its no...
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Writing on a budget: Time saving writing tips: 8 of 14

Six Ways For Writers To Produce In Volume Do you have too many ideas and not enough time to write? Do you wander from project to project with the vague hope of completing as many as possible, yet you don't finish any of them? Don't let frustration and disorganization disable your ability to create viable, marketable works. T...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) Lessons to learn from children: 24 of 38

Today, I Did Not Disappoint My Daughter "Are we still going to the park?" asks my ten-year-old daughter, Katie. I made the promise in the morning rush when the whole day stretched out before me and time had seemed infinite. I think about all the tasks I need to finish. Laundry, dinner, cleaning up a day's worth of disasters ...
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Parenting: 101 of 130

Mornings In The Rough "Mommy, the dog pooped. Two times," says Reid, my darling five-year-old as he bounds into my bedroom. I crack open an eye. He never lies. Well, he never lies unless it's about his sister and various tortures he's forced to endure from her evil teenager hands. But about poop nah, he never fibs. It gives ...