As I am spending the end of 2020 planning ahead and looking back at my writing career, I can’t help but notice how far I have come even with a long writing hiatus of nearly nine years. So much has happened since I sat at the edge of the lake in Burlingame Park in Rhode Island in 2007 with the plain spiral notebook I had purchased from the camp store to start write my very first manuscript, which eventually became American Title Winner ANCIENT WHISPERS published by Dorchester Love Spell in May 2010.
And this is what I have to say to all of you who chose to read my first story, A WARLOCK’S KISS, released almost decade after my first publication.
Dear reader,
I am so exited that you picked up this story.
And I want to apologize for not writing faster.
About 10 years ago, I achieved my life long wish of publication when a talented NYC editor requested my very first completed novel for a contest. The contest was the American Title and the novel was ANCIENT WHISPERS.
After a grueling completion with 8 extremely talented authors, I was very fortunate to win the contest and see my dream come true – a novel of mine in print everywhere.However, less than 6 months after the release of my debut novel, my writing life took a downturn.
Things were hard for publishers in 2010. First my editor was let go, then my publisher went digital-only before closing for good. My ebook disappeared from people’s devices and my paperback was now out of print.
I found myself at a crossroad.I had family duties that could not wait for my dream so I returned to school. I earned a Masters in Teaching, and put my writing goals aside for six long years while working as a science teacher.
Your emails and letters kept me going. Your Facebook interaction built our friendship while I hoped that one day, I could publish stories again.
Most importantly, the characters I dreamed were still alive in my mind. They kept coming, wanting their tales to be told.
And so after all my hard work to get back on my feet, I am now in a place where I have an amazing day job as a Seattle public school teacher while still having time left aside for writing.
So yes, I am back. And grateful that you want to read my world of magic and romance.
My heroines, like I do, believe that if you work hard enough at something, you can achieve it.
So I hope you’ll like the story of fearless panther shifter Kerala Clarke and the duty-bound warlock who loves her, Diesel Stanford.
My Order of the Black Oak books are shorter than what I wrote before and are perfect from those of us with super busy lives, but no worries, they are as powerful, sexy and magical.
And I do have plenty more coming.
Thank you for your support,
Marie-Claude
MARIE-CLAUDE BOURQUE 
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