MAGGIE COX loved to write almost as soon as she learned to read. Her favorite occupation was daydreaming and making up stories in her head, and this particular pastime has stayed with her through all the years of growing up, starting work, marrying and raising a family. No matter what was going on in her life, whether joy, happiness, struggle or disappointment, sheâd go to bed each night and lose herself in her imagination. Through all the years of her secretarial career she kept on filling exercise books and her word processor with her writing, never showing anyone what she wrote and basically keeping her stories for her own enjoyment. It wasnât until she met her second husband, the love of her life, that she was persuaded to start sharing those stories with a publisher. Maggie settled on Harlequin as she had loved romance novels since she was a teenager and read at least one or two paperbacks a week. After several rejections, the letters that were sent back from the publisher started to become more and more positive and encouraging, and in July 2002 she sold her first book, A Passionate Protector, to Harlequin.
The fact that she is being published is truly a dream come true; however, each book she writes is still a journey in courage and hope and a quest to learn and grow and be the best writer she can. Her advice to aspiring authors is âDonât give up at the first hurdle, or even the second, third or fourth, but keep on keeping on until your dream is realized because if you are truly passionate about writing and learning the craft, as Paulo Coelho states in his book The Alchemist, âthe Universe will conspire to help youâ make it a reality.â
BLISS knew she really ought to resist, but she couldnât help stealing another surreptitious glance at her watch to check on the time when her dragon of a supervisorâs back was momentarily turned. The store was hot and crowded and the overpowering scent of perfume from the counters arranged around hers was making her feel as though sheâd wandered into an opium den. Besides that, her eyes itched from the shadow she was forced to wear to promote the make-up, and she longed to be able to scrub it off along with the foundation cream, blusher and lipstick that transformed her into someone she almost didnât recognise. It was too bad sheâd have to endure another two hours of this torture before she could give in to such a rebellious desire.
What on earth sheâd been thinking of when sheâd decided to work in the plush department store that catered mainly to fashion-conscious women with more money than sense, she didnât know. Well, yes, she did know. Sheâd been between jobs yet again and as inspiration about what she really wanted to do had been in appallingly scant supply, sheâd let her best friend Trudy persuade her to apply for a post in the same store that she worked in. For Trudy, who loved all things retail, it was heaven. To Bliss, it was increasingly turning out to be just the opposite.
âExcuse meâ¦I would like to purchase a lipstick.â
âCertainly, madam. Do you have any particular shade in mind? I can show you theâOh, Lord!â
Bliss watched in alarm as the striking brunette in front of the counter slid weakly down to the floor, almost like a slow-motion replay of an actor fainting in a soap opera. Beside her, an apple-cheeked toddler with big brown eyes and curly dark hair ensconced in a pushchair cried out in distress. Her actions automatic and concerned, Bliss flew round the counter to crouch beside the woman who had passed out, at the same time taking a brief moment to stroke the baby-soft cheek of the toddler and murmur something soothing. A small crowd quickly gathered and Bliss took immediate charge, urging them to stand back while she loosened the collar of the womanâs silk shirt beneath her expensive suede coat, then gently smoothed back the wavy dark hair from her olive-skinned forehead.
âI donâtâ¦I donât feel well.â Momentarily the womanâs surprisingly blue eyes fluttered open and her lush mouth trembled slightly as she stared dazedly up at Bliss. âLook after my baby,â she said beseechingly in her accented voice before she fainted dead away again.
âDonât worry. I will.â Her teeth clamping down worriedly on her soft lower lip, Bliss glanced across at the now-quietened toddler, who stared back at her with wide-eyed interest, as if wondering what might be going to happen next.
âNow, whatâs happened? Do you know this woman?â Her supervisor pushed her way through the small knot of curious bystanders and knelt down beside Bliss in anxious distasteâas if she really didnât need or want this untidy disruption to her working day. Fighting down the little spurt of annoyance that burst like a bubble inside her chest, Bliss briefly shook her head.