About Jackie

I’m a Geordie and grew up in Northumberland – although not in beautiful Lindisfarne Castle, pictured below! And even though books have always been a part of my life, I didn’t set out to write women’s contemporary fiction until very recently.

 

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved reading and remember the wonderful world of our local library. Each week, regardless of the weather, we’d walk the twenty-minute journey and once inside that hushed sanctuary, I’d scurry over to those crammed shelves.

 

With the smell of books in my nostrils, I’d run my fingers over the spines to carefully select three precious gifts. After that came the resounding clunk of a metal date stamp on paper, and then a smiling librarian would entrust me with some amazing stories.

 

The walk home took forever and I’d repeatedly get called back for racing ahead, as I was desperate to dive into those new adventures. And that love of the written word has never left me.

Perhaps like you, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I’ve always had drive and a strong work ethic. Along the way, there have been many different roles. And like all good stories – plenty of interesting characters!

 

In the past, I’ve taken the plunge and quit full-time work to travel and study. Don’t live with regret, I say. Life’s too short for what-ifs. So how did I find myself writing women’s contemporary fiction for you to escape into? Well, it started with a recurring dream about a feisty female protagonist arriving in Greece. And she refused to be silenced.

 

I took a deep breath and started writing her story and the more I wrote, the more excited I became. All of these characters and storylines kept evolving and suddenly I wasn’t writing a stand-alone novel anymore but the first part of a trilogy. And I’m loving it.

Find out more about Anna's adventures in Apokeri Bay