Writing dream has become a reality

Armed with a whole notebook of story ideas, a strict routine, a savvy business plan and friendly dog Matilda by her side, author Claire Boston is enjoying life.

Living out her lifelong dream of being a full-time writer came naturally to the Warnbro resident after she was made redundant in 2014.

“They gave me quite a nice payout so I decided to take three months off to write to see how I would go,” she said.

In those three months, Claire finished her bestselling Texan Quartet, having published the first book while working full-time, and she hasn’t looked back.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Records Management and Archives, Claire worked as a records manager for a plant in Kwinana, but always held a soft spot for writing.

Since making the transition, she says she is never tempted to curl up on the couch with a good movie or book, but sticks to her routine.

“I’m always writing, whether underneath the doona covers on a rainy day or out in the garden when the sun is shining,” she said.

“It makes it easier when you love what you do.”

Claire’s latest project, the soon-to-be-released Break the Rules, is the first book in a new series, The Flanagan Sisters.

She described it as a “light contemporary romance with lots of emotion and a running theme of the importance of family” and the book has already received positive reviews.

“I’m aware there is a lack of diversity in romance and I thought the only way its going to change is if I write diverse characters, so The Flanagan sisters are part El Salvadorian and half Irish,” she said.

Always on the go, Claire is editing books two and three of the Flanagan Sisters, finishing off a short story, writing a manuscript and cooking up an idea for a potential book four for the new series.

“It’s not just about writing, there’s always business stuff to do — marketing, promotions, organising book launches, formatting, uploading and sorting out a whole variety of rights including film, print and online,” she said.

“In terms of money, I don’t do it for the money.

“If you want to earn a fortune, you do not become a writer.

“My aim is to earn enough for a full-time income.

“At the moment I’m not and am lucky to have a husband who is kind and supporting me.

“Even if I do have to go back to full-time work, I will always be writing because that’s what I love.

“All those stories have to come out or I might go mad.”

Break the Rules is being launched at the opening of the Rockingham Writers Centre Book Fair on Friday, May 6, at 7pm at the Rockingham Arts Centre.