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.

Jessica Jackson
@sjessicaj

What is your story called?
Love by Design

Can you tell us about your story?
A quirky heroine has designs on complicated hero in a variety of intense and romantic situations.

What do you do?
I’m semi-retired and am a carer for my son and mother.

Where do you live?
Near Saffron Walden in Essex.

Have you ever written anything before?
I’ve written pieces for the design magazine that I used to publish, plus I’ve written the odd story for my own pleasure.

When did you read your first Mills & Boon?
Many years ago, when I was a young mother looking for some romantic interludes!

Who is your favourite Mills & Boon author and why?
I read voraciously across genres and within genres; I often work my way through all a particular author’s titles when I find someone that really captures my imagination – so would find it hard to pin down any particular author above another.  Certainly the author needs to write in a way that engages my imagination and has me teetering on the edge of despair when it doesn’t seem as if the heroine and hero will ever get together; if they can make me cry at the end they’ve really got my attention.

What would you do if you won?
Live the dream to be a writer and enjoy getting the professional help that is M&B.

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