About Jackie Parry:
Originally from the UK, Jackie is now an adopted Australian. She grew up with horses in the UK until her world was shattered with a heart-breaking bereavement. Disillusioned with life she ran away to Australia and met and married Noel. They decided to buy a boat and set sail. So within her first year living in a foreign land, she was getting used to a foreign husband, and a foreign life on board!
Mariah II took Jackie & Noel around the world. Pyewacket II (purchased in San Francisco) took them across the Pacific Ocean for a second time on a more southerly route. Adventures include The Great Loop in the USA plus Canada’s Great Lakes and the French Canals.
As a commercial skipper Jackie has worked internationally, and has been a Marine Rescue skipper. She has also taught commercial maritime. She co-wrote a pilot book (in America) and several hundred magazine articles worldwide. Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen) was Jackie (and Noel’s) first self-published book.
Currently Jackie is exploring the French canals on a Dutch barge with her Australian husband.
What inspires you to write?
The voices in my head! No, really. I have that many ‘things’ going on in my mind, to get them down on paper (or screen) is actually very cathartic for me and a bit of a relief.
I love writing, so if ‘those-things’ in my head make sense – why not share them?
Tell us about your writing process.
I am very seat-of-my-pants. There is no organisation in my life or in my writing. Somehow it all comes together in the end. I do keep copious notes though – even if they are messy.
However, that is for non-fiction. I plan to tackle fiction next year and I am super organised so far. I think you have to be, already I am building my characters and getting to know them. Last night I sat in bed and my husband, Noel, said to me, ‘what are you writing?’ I replied, ‘I’ve just thought of a way to murder someone and get away with it’! I don’t think Noel slept well that night!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I am starting to! I am attempting fiction next year and already I know some of my characters very well, they are fun to chat to (well, the nice ones are!).
What advice would you give other writers?
Keep going. It is a hard, long progress. A marathon. But just keep putting one step in front of the other and keep going. Whether it is a few hundred words per week, or researching and reading, or blogging, do something/anything each day to bring you closer to your goal. Every little step matters and every little step takes you that bit closer to the final product.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I was about to sign a contract with a publisher for my first book, Cruisers’ AA. Then, they pulled out. They had just purchased three other companies and had no time for new projects. I was last in, so first out. While disappointing at the time, it actually did me a great favour. I had to figure it all out myself. Now I have complete control over my books and I have learned so much. Best of all I CAN do it!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It is the same as that person who said, ‘It will be a paperless society.” If you write a good book there will be readers, so it is great that people like me can self publish. There are enough ‘readers’ in the world to justify ebooks, self-publishing and books shops.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Non-fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Jackie Parry Home Page Link
Link To Jackie Parry Page On Amazon
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