Amazon Author Interview
J. M. Shorney
Dangerous Lovers: A Memoir
Congratulations! Your book’s available to buy on the Amazon bookstore. How did you feel to see it there for the first time?
Seeing my published book, available to the outside world, is an amazing and exciting feeling and experience.
Can you tell us about your book and why you wanted to write it?
My book Dangerous Lovers is autobiographical. A memoir of my early teens and twenties from 1967 to 1973. Being a female butcher in an all-male environment at a time when women in the workplace suffered sexual abuse, both mental and physical, from their work colleagues.
I was no exception until I fought back against a boss who reckoned that he owned me body and soul. Yes, the men I met were dangerous. One of them, a young knife-toting criminal, was possessive enough to almost stab someone who was chatting me up. A teenage unmarried mother, and a childless woman who wanted my baby at any cost, were just some of my experiences of those early years.
Prompted by my family, they encouraged me to write about all the things that happened to me, some exciting, some harrowing, and to publish them.
Have you always been a writer/wanted to become an author?
I’ve always been a writer, ever since I was about eight years old. I began just writing things for myself, some fan fiction mostly. Writing for my aunt who loved reading and who enjoyed my stories. I’ve written crime, horror, even westerns, and a true ghost book.
What made you take that leap and publish your book?
I had been writing Dangerous Lovers for four years, finally deciding the story had to be told, and the time was ripe to publish, thanks to Michelle’s help and guidance.
Have you any more books in the pipeline?
Yes, a horror novel entitled Too Scared to Die. The story concerns two young motorcyclists, firm friends. When one of them crashes his bike on an icy road, he ‘dies’ for six minutes. During those minutes he has a near-death experience in which he sees shadowy creatures reaching out for him.
On the road to recovery in hospital, he puts his NDE down to a bad dream. But when the creatures begin to invade his nightmares, then his waking life, he wonders if he was scheduled to have died on that lonely road, and they have come for him.
Oh, wow, I can’t wait to read that! What advice would you offer other aspiring authors who are thinking of self-publishing their books?
If you have a story to tell that you are happy with, then publish the book you have written. The only way to find out how good your book is is to get it out there.
If you have written your story as the very best it can be, then publish. The first novel I published All of them Vampires some ten years ago started out as fan fiction for ‘Being Human.’ I fleshed it out and sent it out. People seemed to like it.
Thanks so much, J. M. Shorney.
Very best of luck! Working with you and seeing your fascinating book come to life has been a pleasure.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
ABOUT THE BOOK
A 60s/70s memoir that will stay with you forever.
Growing up in the 1960s and 70s was tough at times, especially as a woman.
In her moving, heartbreaking, entertaining and unforgettable memoir, J. M. Shorney shares stories and events from her life as she tried to gain her independence and overcome the challenges she faced.
Working as a female butcher in an all-male environment came with its own problems at a time when women were classed as second-class citizens and sex objects. But this didn’t stop J. M. Shorney from succeeding, and neither did the constant sexual abuse from her balding, sad, 50-something-year-old boss.
When the author became pregnant at 19, she was single, and although the baby’s father (and domineering grandfather) tried to pressure her into marrying, she declined. She had the loving support of her parents and knew she would work even harder to provide for her baby. Even when a local, childless, wealthy woman offered her £1,000 to hand over her baby, she refused. Sadly, the woman and the author’s boss (who believed women with children should stay at home) made all kinds of threats when the baby’s birth drew close.
But that was not all. You see, good-looking men drew her like magnets. One, a young Hungarian boy, left a huge mark on her life. She couldn’t see past his looks, and despite him being violent and jealous, spending time in Borstal and later becoming a hardened criminal, he was like a drug to the author.
There are so many stories to tell, too … from almost running away with a young man the night before his wedding to coming-of-age sexual adventures in Brighton (at Devil’s Dyke) and, of course, the night she met her beloved Mike, whom she later married.
Would you like help to publish your book on Amazon?
We can work together to make publishing your book a painless, enjoyable and happy experience.
Michelle
Helping first-time authors to self-publish with confidence
