Welcome to the home page of

Michelle J. Prima

Welcome to my corner of the Internet. Inside these pages you will get to know a little about me--who I am, what I write and how I spend my days.

Who am I?

First and foremost, I am a writer. And as any writer would understand, while I exist in the real world, my mind is often preoccupied with the imaginary world. I like to believe I have achieved a comfortable balance between the two, but what writer hasn't questioned their sanity at one time or another?

My passion is Victorian England, which is the setting for my novels, as well as the theme for my Internet business.

In my writing world, I escape to Great Britain in my imagination.  In my professional world, I am the owner of a Professional Organizing business, Prima by Design.  It was with utter amazement that I learned one day that I could make a living doing something that comes naturally to me--organizing closets and rooms.  It was also utterly amazing to me that not everyone keeps their clothes and drawers color-coded by season.  What?  Don't tell me you don't coordinate the color of your hangers to your blouses? 

The favorite part of my business is helping other writers.  I maintain web sites, help schedule blog tours and provide virtual assistant services.   Like to learn more?  Contact me at Michelle@PrimaByDesign.com.

In my personal world, I have two beautiful daughters, Jessica and Lisa, and my husband, Steve (more about Mr. Wonderful below). My daughters take after my artistic side, for they are both musicians and avid readers, and Jessica has a passion for writing poetry.  Jessica lives in Buffalo, so I don't see her as often as I'd like, but we keep in touch through today's technology.  Lisa works for an import store as a photographic assistant.  Steve's children, Samantha and Tommy, are frequent visitors.

The most special person in my life is my husband, Steve.  What can I say about him besides "WONDERFUL"?  He is my personal hero who has helped me through some difficult times.  He listens to me, he cares about me, and he's there whenever I need him.  He surprised me on Christmas with an oil painting reproduction of my favorite work--The Hugenot--by Sir John Everett Millais. Steve had it commissioned by an artist in Bulgaria and shipped to the U.S.  It is a gift I will remember forever.  His is a love I will keep forever.

Also in our household are three loyal (and crazy) dogs.  We lost Zeus, Steve's mastiff, several years ago.  He lived a long life with us.  He was eleven when he crossed the bridge.  And just this year, Marley, the bloodhound we adopted, passed away peacefully one Sunday morning.  We'd adopted him in a moment of insanity, but don't regret it.  Abused in his former home, he had nothing but love here.  Loki is our ten-year old chocolate lab and Bera is our Akita, who has a mind of her own.  Her name means "Spirited" in Norse, and she lives up to her name.  She turned nine in December. Our moments of insanity are becoming more frequent in our older age. We adopted a bloodhound/lab (or Blab) mix, which meant we had five dogs at one time.  Her name is Raven, and at five years old, she's as insane as her owners.  But we love them all.

 

My Businesses

II am the President of Literary Liaisons, an Internet site for readers and writers of Historical Romance. Here one can:

  • Learn the craft of writing romance /b>
  • Read research articles on the Victorian Era
  • Buy research books and works of fiction by writers of the Victorian era
  • Find links to sites on the Internet for the romance writer
  • Promote published books

I am the President of Prima by Design,, a professional organizing business.  My specialties are:

  • Home offices (most specifically for writers)
  • Virtual Assitance for writers
  • Errand services for seniors
  • Closet organizing/b>
  • Garage/tag sales
  • Moving/Relocation

 
My Writing accomplishments

TThese include:

  • Self-publication of "I'm Moving! Now What?" a relocation workbook.
  • Self-publication of "101 Organizing Tips for Writers"
  • Self-Publication of a detailed Victorian Research Guide, Researching the British Historical, the Victorian Era.
  • Publication of non-fiction articles in the Fall 1999 Weddingpages Bride & Home Magazine, the 1997/1998 Chicago WeddingPages Bride and Home Magazine and the 1996/1997 Wedding Pages of Chicago Magazine
  • Publication of research articles in the Chicago-North newsletter, with re-release of these articles in other RWA chapter newsletters
  • Electronic publication of research articles on Blue Shingles, a research site on the Internet
  • Third Place in the 2000 Inland Valley RWA Put Your Best Hook Forward Contest--Historical Category
  • Third Place in the 1999 Indiana RWA Golden Opportunity Contest--Historical category
  • Second place in the 1999 Inland Valley RWA Put Your Best Hook Forward Contest--Historical Category
  • Second Place in the 1998 Neighborhood Press Lover's Knot Contest-Long Historical category
  • Third place in the 1998 Windy City Romance Writer's Four Seasons Contest-Historical/Regency category
  • Second Place in the 1997 Virginia Romance Writer's Fool For Love Contest-Historical/Regency Category
  • Finalist in the 1997 RWA Golden Heart Contest-Long Historical Category
  • Honorable Mention in the 1994 Monterey Bay Chapter Silver Heart Contest-Historical Category
  • Second Place in the 1993 North Texas RWA Great Expectations Contest-Historical Category
  • First Place in the 1992 River City RWA Showdown Contest

My writing projects
  • Tempting Fate **1997 golden heart finalist**--set in London, England, 1851 (Completed)
  • Christel's Ball--Set in Sussex, England, 1856 (Completed)
  • By My Side--Set in London, England, 1855 (Completed)
  • Betrayals--Set in Liverpool, England, 1863 (Completed)
  • The Misplaced Marquess--Set in London, England, 1864 (Work in Progress)
  • Long Way Home--Set in Manchester, England, 1887 (Work in Progress)
  • Every Step of the Way--Set in London, England, 1886 (Work in Progress)
  • Unfortunate Daughter--Set in London, England, 1869 (Work in Progress)
  • Love You Forever--set in London, England, 1884 (Completed)
  • Star Collector--Set in London, England, 1885 (Work in Progress)

What is left of my life after all this (my hobbies)

I like to travel, especially to England. I lived there for three months during college, and have returned to Scotland and England four times since then. I love scouring their bookstores for unusual references.

I have attended many RWA National Conferences since Chicago in 1992, often extending my visits to include the city sights. Orlando in 1997 was the highlight of my writing career when I attended the conference as a Golden Heart Finalist.

I like to take long walks, either alone so I can plot my books, or as a family outing to a nearby lake.

My collections include: tiger memorabilia, especially anything Tigger, Monkees Memorabilia (I've had the pleasure of meeting Davy Jones several times), Wedgwood's blue Jasperware, and books--particularly romances.

To keep my aging mind sharp, I do sudoku, logic and jigsaw puzzles.

 

If you would like to contact me, click here:

If you would like to visit Literary Liaisons, Ltd., click here:

If you would like to visit Prima By Design, click here:

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Copyright 1998-99, 2000-08 M. Prima

Artwork courtesy of Marvelicious and Little Wing