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Author and Consultant Barbara Mitchell
Barbara, a human resources professional and previous owner of The Millennium Group International, LLC, is a frequent speaker on human resources topics such as employee engagement, retention, generations at work, political savvy and more. Much of her business career was spent in HR leadership positions with Marriott International.  She also has HR experience with start up technical companies.  The Essential HR Handbook is her first book.
 
Author and Consultant Sharon Armstrong
Sharon began her career in human resources in 1985 as a recruiter/trainer in a large Manhattan law firm. Since launching her consulting business in 1998, she has provided training and completed HR projects for a variety of clients. She is the author of Stress Free Performance Appraisals.  In addition to her writing, Sharon has a thriving HR consulting practice in the Washington DC area.

Thank you Barbara and Sharon for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  What are you both currently working on?

Barbara is working on a new book that includes interviews with successful human resources professionals about how they got into HR. This book will make the case that HR is indeed a profession and not a job that anyone can do.  It is based on my years of HR experience where I've heard many times that organizations give the HR responsibilties to anyone "who likes people".
 
Sharon is adapting her book, Stress-Free Performance Appraisals, into the format used in our book, The Essential HR Handbook.

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

Sharon and I do a presentation based on our book called The 10 Mistakes Managers Make that Impact HR.  We also do a variety of other workshops that include topics such as:

Behavioral Interviewing
Performance Management
Effective Feedback
Resume Writing
Interview Techniques and Tips
Political Savvy
Generations at Work
and many more...

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

Writing a book has had a tremendous impact on our businesses.  Being a published author lends great credibiity to our consulting work.  We use our books as introductions to clients and also conduct workshops based on the books.  Some clients have purchased copies of our books for participants in workshops and there is nothing more exciting than to see a room full of people holding one of our books--and asking for signatures!  What a thrill!

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published?

Sharon's first book was a humor book called, Healing the Canine Within - a doggie self help book.

Sharon is the co-author of Stress-free Performance Appraisals

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

The consulting work we do gets us in front of our readers all the time.  We try out ideas in workshops and training sessions.  We get ideas for future books from questions participants in workshops ask.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?
 
Work that makes a difference in people's lives. Both Barbara and Sharon do a lot of career transition coaching with people who have recently lost their jobs. While we can't find them their next position, we can help them be ready for new opportunities.  Also, we love it when a participant, at the end of a workshop or training session say, "I can use this information tomorrow back in the office!"

How did you both get started as writers?

Barbara started writing stories in the 3rd grade when shewrote a fascinating story about a pet pig (and you must know at that time, she'd never seen a real pig and lived in the suburbs were pigs were not kept as pigs!) 
 
Sharon got started when a friend asked her to co-author a humor book with her.

Which is your favorite book/work published? Is there a favorite?

The first book I (Barbara) remember not being able to put down was Gone With The Wind. I was about 13 when I found it and read it in a weekend - getting up only to eat.  I read 4-5 books a week so picking out a favorite would be nearly impossible.  Best book I read recently was by Michael J. Fox called Always Looking Up!
 
Sharon's favorite book is always the one she just finished. So, her favorite is The Guernsey Literaty and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Barbara loves that book too!)

Has either one of you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

(Barbara) In terms of a writing mentor - Lynn Waymon, author of many books on networking, has taught me a lot about the writing process and encouraged me to try!
 
Sharon didn't have a mentor but wishes she did - her writing is "trial and error".

Is there a favorite writer/author you admire?

Since we write business books, Barbara's favorite authors include Marcus Buckingham and Jim Collins.  Barbara also reads all of Dorthea Benton Franks books and especially love her books set in the low country of South Carolina.

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

Barbara--I sing along to the soundtrack of Mama Mia all the time when stuck in Washington traffic and yes, I get a lot of strange looks from other drivers--but, this helps me stay sane!

Thank you Barbara and Sharon! We wish you great success with your upcoming HR books!