Edmonton mom a star of erotic fiction
Edmonton mom decides to bare all about her job writing erotic fiction
Melanie MacGillivray lives a double life.
She’s a 41-year-old Edmontonian, a married mother who left a promising career to raise three young children. She’s also M. J. Summers, a bestselling author who resides “not far from the Rocky Mountains,” at least according to her official biography.
MacGillivray has finally decided to step out of the shadows and admit it: she writes erotic fiction for a living.
“You’re not sure how people are going to react to it — you tread cautiously,” says MacGillivray. “The reaction that I’ve received from people that we know has been really welcoming. So I feel comfortable about being more open.”
Like young love, the words came innocently. Less than three years ago, MacGillivray thumbed through a couple of romance books. Apart from the obvious contents, she was taken with the depth of emotion.
One evening, with her husband out of town on business and kids tucked in bed, she sat down and began to write. Feverishly, to her amazement.
“I wanted to try to write a book I would want to read,” she says. “Something that is emotionally compelling and provides that escape, that feeling of falling in love.”
Break in Two is about Claire Hatley, a 31-year-old grappling with insecurity and jealousy after her boyfriend leaves. There are explicit parts, sure, but plenty of inner dialogue and conflict too. Readers went berserk, buying 40,000 copies in 10 weeks. On Amazon, the debut hit No. 2 in Canada and in the top 40 in the U.S. and Britain.
The response still mystifies MacGillivray. Just a few days ago she noticed while re-reading parts of her book on an e-reader that 187 people had highlighted one passage where a character offers advice about jealousy, insecurity and self-sabotage. It shows that readers aren’t just skimming for the dirty bits.
“Something about that advice resonated with them. To think a little differently about themselves, or relationships and love.”
Self-publishing had tested the waters and MacGillivray was emboldened to begin a second novel. While she wrote, a German publisher contacted her about translating the first one. It might be time to find a literary agent, her husband suggested. Bullish sales helped her attract a Toronto-based agent who helped MacGillivray land a six-figure, fourbook international deal with HarperCollins in Canada.
The books typically mix exotic locales, semi-plausible scenarios and square-jawed and curvy-hipped characters.
Inspiration comes from surprising places, like her former life as a mediator.
After graduating from the University of Alberta, MacGillivray became a shop steward at a telecommunications company, then trained in alternative models of conflict resolution. Eventually, she became the RCMP’s alternative resolution co-ordinator for Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Over three-day courses, she had to convince grizzled cops that she knew a thing or two about breaking up a fight.
“I know what people say when they’re upset. And I understand what’s underneath it. That helps me form what I hope are really deep human people with real motivation.”
MacGillivray dedicates her books to family members, often with the stipulation that they don’t read it. If her kids were to ever ask, an unlikely scenario, she’d hand them a Slovakian copy. But she hopes they find passion and romance of their own.
“Some day, in the future, I wish for them really loving, passionate relationships with generous people. I think that’s what I’m writing about, people who are generous with each other, who are respectful.”
This Christmas, she’s giving her fans an innovative gift: a personalized short story emailed to readers who submit names and details (reach her at mjsummersbooks@ gmail.com).