Back in January Prima magazine launched our Flirty Fiction writing competition to win a publishing contract. After hundreds of entries our panel of judges have managed the difficult task of deciding on an exciting shortlist. In the weeks running up to the announcing the winner, we thought you might like to know a little more about each of the shortlisted authors.

Emma Billingsley
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What’s the title of your story?
The Allure of a Stranger

What’s the title of your story?
In Search of Silver Linings

Can you tell us about your story?
A woman goes on a hunt to unravel the mystery of her aunt’s 70 year-old romance and discovers a few things about life and love along the way.

Where do you live?
I live in Liverpool, not too far outside the city centre.

What do you do?
I am a student nurse and just about to finish my first year.

How you ever written anything before?
I’ve been writing for about ten years and I’ve completed a few stories that I’ve posted on the internet. I was over halfway through another novel before I came up with the idea for In Search of Silver Linings for my competition entry.

When did you read your first Mills & Boon?
About a year ago when my friend bought me Kristan Higgins – All I Ever Wanted.

Who is your favourite Mills & Boon author and why?
Fiona Harper. I read the Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams and loved it. The way she developed her characters, the humour and the sweet, smile-inducing moments definitely solidified her as my favourite Mills & Boon author.

What would you do if you won?
Squeal, probably! This is the kind of pipe dream that you never think will actually happen to you and I’m so happy that I was even shortlisted. If I won then I’d buy my cousin something nice for convincing me to enter in the first place, then I’d get writing!

The winner and the first chapter of their book will be exclusively revealed in the August issue of Prima magazine available from 3 July 2015.

Would you like to become a Mills & Boon author? Do you have a bestseller waiting to be told? Join our Author Lab community on Facebook and Twitter.

By The Mills & Boon team