It all started a few years ago when
Siren-Bookstrand signed up five of my books. They are American and
business-like; I am an Australian from Queensland, a State that describes
laying-back as strenuous exercise. I had been writing away by myself, creating
books, and now Siren-BookStrand were going to sell them for me.
Turned out that the first thing I needed on
my journey from dilettante to successful author would be a website. I needed a
corner of the web all to myself, where potential readers could drop by and
learn about my books and, of course, about me.
Now, there was a problem. The thing is, I
like to write about fun, travel, good food, sexy romance - and I like real. In
fact, I insist on real. I might be writing a fantasy about witches, or soldiers
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but I have to believe in them and the way they
behave.
I’m sure you can see what is coming. If you
want sexy romance and reality, well, the clothes are coming off at some point.
The thoughts and feelings of a heroine do not always revolve around ponies and
flower arranging. At some point in her romantic journey, she will want to get a
grip on things. Literally. And she will certainly want her things to be
gripped, firmly, by the consenting adult of her choice. In fact, there are
going to be pink bits all over the place, and our heroine and her hero will be
putting them to good use in all sorts of interesting and rewarding ways.
Creating stories like that was all great fun. In fact, writing naughty stories
is just about the most fun you can have by yourself.
Fair enough. This is the twenty-first
century, and even maiden aunts are aware of quite sophisticated ways to amuse
themselves. It’s just that, even now, I find it a little embarrassing to carry
a book like that up to the bookstore checkout. And if that’s embarrassing,
imagine how I would feel if the rest of Cooktown found out what I write. Not
that it was ever likely to happen. With all the people in the world, what were
the chances that anyone from here would discover my site?
Let me tell you about Cooktown, Queensland.
Firstly, our state reckons we are the Texas of Australia when it comes to
miserable Puritanism. Playboy has to be toned down before it can be sold
locally. Secondly, Cooktown is tiny. Even considering all the countryside for
kilometres around, I doubt if we can raise 2000 souls. No hope of hiding in the
crowd here. We don’t do crowds. We are literally at the end of the sealed road
going up the east coast. We grow mangoes and passion fruit. Imagine what the
farmers would think if they ever found out about my books.
Then the nice girl at our local newspaper
chanced on my website, presumably when she was looking for some bedtime
reading. She called me immediately, and the jig was up.
What happened? Firstly, I got an interview
in the paper for my latest release, the paperback version of How to make
Wild, Passionate Love to your Man. Then I had an interview on national
radio about the same title. Local radio called up and demanded a chat.
People stopped me in the street, and I
quickly found they were divided into two categories. The first group wanted to
congratulate me just for managing to get a real book published. The members of
the second group wanted to drag me off into a corner and discuss the book they
had always wanted to write and had been ready to put pen to paper for the last
twenty years.
I released another book as an Australian
paperback - The Prince and the Nun. The Cooktown library bought a
copy from me and did not even ask for a discount. The book just would not stay
on the shelves, and there was a waiting list of people wanting to borrow it.
Strange that. Cooktowners are so cheap they would not buy their own private
copy, but they were happy enough to put their name on a public waiting list to
read a very naughty book.
Nothing else. There must be people who
disapprove, but I did not hear a whisper. The neighbours still talk to me, and their
kids bring us fresh eggs and take care of the cats when we go to the bright
lights of Cairns two hundred miles south. I now write for the local newspaper
group - five papers covering an area the size of Michigan (but with less than
20,000 people.)
I feel different. I work at my chosen craft
with some pride. I have started Q~Press Publishing and taken the lead
with Yellow Silk Dreams, a growing band of independent authors, all
writing interesting and sexy romantic stories. I am part of the ebook revolution,
and bringing in some money. Not enough for a Jaguar yet, but a new second-hand
car is on the cards. I am writing and selling more books than ever, and
having even more fun!
Jacqueline lives in Far North Queensland,
on the shore of the Coral Sea. She keeps herself busy with her cats and garden,
and by writing books - some of which are far too naughty for her own good. You
can find out more about Jacqueline and her books at www.jacquelinegeorgewriter.com
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