My New Website
One of My Sons - the Producer's Personal Blog
A former in-law once said of me; "If Jackie were invited to Buckingham Palace and she ran into a maid, she would find her more interesting, and forget she was supposed to meet the Queen." Though not his intention, I found that to be a high compliment.
My first story sold when I was 22 to "Radio Mirror" part of the MacFadden chain in 1944. I was Poppa David, a benevolent character in a popular radio soap, "Life can be beautiful." So I wrote the character, answered his fan mail, and judged the contests for the "Life can be Beautiful contests. I had a lot of fun with it.
Gentleman's Agreement was a popular book by Laura Z. Hobson before it became the movie with Gregory Peck. She took on the taboo subject of racism. The MacFadden Editors asked if I had read the book. They wanted a confession story covering the same subject matter. They informed me that this story was on spec, and two of their best writers had tried and failed. The result was a 28-year career as a top writer 12 of the sixteen premiere confession magazines of the day.
In the publishing world, confession pubs were not highly regarded, but I cried all the way to the bank. Between 1945 and 1972 I was able to stay home, raise four sons,and still have my career.
My first book, a Gothic Romance came to me in a dream in 1974, and was published in 1975 by Popular Library. Let the Crags Comb out her Dainty Hair. "She had the gift of future knowledge - but was powerless to overcome her own terrifying fate."
Since then 18 titles have been published with British, German, Chinese, and even Russian translations. God knows what else!
A woman should never reveal her age, but at this point, why be modest?! I think I am one of the oldest Charter and Life Members of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA).
