After finishing up The Yorkton Series in 2020, Thorold writer Judy MacPherson is at it again with a new book series entitled Women of Strength.
“I feel very passionate about other women believing in themselves and that they can overcome whatever adversity they face,” says MacPherson, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “That’s always been a passion of mine, because I did it myself.”
The first book in the five-book series is called Veronica Tate: Ironclad, and follows a female prison guard in an all-male maximum security prison.
“That obviously takes a strong person to be able to hold her own,” MacPherson says. “She came from pretty challenging situations. She was homeless, she was into drugs, and through a series of events became a kick-butt woman with inner strength. It takes you on quite a journey.”
MacPherson found her calling as a writer after a therapy counsellor told her to write out her feelings in an unsent letter to her abusive father.
“There was a lot of damage done when I was little,” says MacPherson. “So much time has passed and I truly have never stopped getting help and improving myself, and repairing the damage that was done to my psyche when I was small. It doesn’t bite anymore. I’m feeling that I went through all of that for a reason and now that I got my life together I can help other people.”
A small press in Illinois published the first novel in The Yorkton Series, but after not seeing enough of a financial return, MacPherson started her own publishing house: GateCove Publishing.
“Print-on-demand is such a great thing because so many authors aren’t discouraged anymore,” MacPherson says. “I had enough feedback from other readers to know this is a great story. I’m not going to let myself quit because agents, who are really looking for the Danielle Steeles, are not having a look at this. I was a bit stubborn about it.”
To market her novels, MacPherson can rely on her 15-year long career in marketing for Cadbury Chocolate in Toronto.
“As with promoting anything it takes a lot, you just can’t quit,” she says. “That is something you have to be persistent at. My background is in marketing. I do understand it and I do have a head start there, but it’s a lot. It’s like any other business, you just have to keep hammering it.”
That’s why MacPherson has set herself a tough challenge for her new novel series.
“I’ve committed to five books in 18 months,” she says. “It’s just pouring out, I’m so passionate about it. I’m going to hit that target, and that’s a pretty aggressive target. My readership is building and people know my style of writing now, I’m just loving it so much.”
It is no coincidence MacPherson's new series is called Women of Strength.
“I was attracted to writing this series because it brings out my own strength,” says MacPherson. “Veronica comes across some pretty tough challenges and I felt satisfaction in the way she handled them in a really tough manner. I guess I’m living through my characters. I will sit there and I’ll cry and I’ll laugh and be amused because I’m transported into my stories.”
Veronica Tate: Ironclad is available through MacPherson’s website. The second book in the series will be released in early April.
