The dramatic and traumatic events and colourful, larger than life characters I encountered during my years on this Caribbean island were indelibly seared into my mind. Even while going through those disasters and trauma, I was often struck by what a compelling book or movie this would make.
Joan Giannone – 25 April 2025
The Back Fklap
Though few ever do it, it might be every worker’s dream – to leave behind the stress of the rat race and start life all over again in some tropical paradise. That’s exactly what Canadian businesswoman, Jackie Morrison, actually dares to do.
Burned out from years in a high-stress corporate career, and fed up with depressing northern winters, she’s been yearning for a happier, more peaceful life. Now, as the charismatic presenter of Mind Magic, a ‘you-can-do-it-all’ seminar, Jackie believes she can manifest an idyllic life in the Caribbean for herself and her handsome young lover, Christian.
At first, sunny San Glorio Island does not disappoint – with its lush green mountains, beautiful beaches, wealthy expatriates and quirky but friendly islanders. True to their vision, the couple is ‘in the pool every day after work by 4 pm, drink in hand’.
But within weeks, the island reveals a terrifying darker side and her dream shatters, testing her spirit to its limits. As the next two years unfold, Jackie bravely battles disaster, death threats, hardship, betrayal and dire unintended consequences until finally, heartbroken and alone, she is forced to consider whether to persevere or try to escape, abandoning the dream completely, and with it, her most cherished beliefs.
About the book
What is the book about?
The book depicts how disaster and betrayal can irrevocably shatter beliefs, but it also portrays hope, as the main character finds her inner strength to start again. It’s an emotionally gripping story of surviving danger and devastating loss and moving forward to wholeness.
Money Moth/Death Moth is a novel inspired by the true story of my own struggle to survive my ‘dream life’ on a Caribbean Island.
When did you start writing the book?
Around January, 2014
How long did it take you to write it?
Three drafts, over a period of 3 -4 years
Where did you get the idea from?
The dramatic and traumatic events and colourful, larger than life characters I encountered during my years on this Caribbean island were indelibly seared into my mind. Even while going through those disasters and trauma, I was often struck by what a compelling book or movie this would make. I also felt I could use them as a base to build a novel that could engage and entertain, while at the same time, warn others of the dangers of extreme dependence on “Magical thinking” and let them know that there are dangers lurking behind the beaches and palm trees of gorgeous Caribbean islands. Truly, what you don’t know CAN hurt you.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Writing impartially about people who had wronged me was challenging, and I worked hard to show them as three-dimensional characters. Also, it was really painful at times to eliminate some characters and even some events in order to pare my manuscript down to a book length work. I also struggled emotionally after writing some of the scenes of terror or heartbreak I experienced. My first draft was over 200,000 words, and it was extremely arduous and painful to cut it down.
What came easily?
Dialogue was fairly easy, as the characters seemed to speak for themselves. Also, writing about the traumatic hurricane scenes was relatively easy, as the details were still seared in my brain.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
A few characters are fictitious, while others are an amalgam of a few people on the island. And some – particularly the major characters – are based on real people, but with imaginative details added. All names have been changed – to protect the innocent, and the guilty!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I am a voracious reader, (150-175 books a year) and I learn from all the authors I read. Some of my favorites are Jodi Picault, Barbara Kingsolver, Dreena Collins, Margaret Atwood, Nevil Shute, Paul Theroux, Alexander McCall Smith and Douglas Adams.
From all of them I have learned much that is now part of the unconscious rhythms and beats I employ when I write. However, I can point to several techniques I’m conscious of, including how to: structure a story that lures the reader ever forward; avoid a mid-book droop; include elements of surprise; include a twist that readers realize was hinted at previously; and gradually reveal character details and back story without doing a data dump.
Do you have a target reader?
Not really. I have found that both men and women truly enjoy the book, predominantly the ages of 40 and up.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I treated writing the way I’d managed my time in my prior business. I would write every morning from 8:30 am until noon. My adult son is a highly creative person, and after lunch I would read to him what I’d written. He’d give me his impressions of the themes, main points etc. It helped me to focus on what was important. It was also very motivating.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I use a mixture of structuring and free flow. My writing process was different at various stages. I started by inscribing each key event or incident on a separate post it note, and then assembling them all on a wall, in roughly the order I wanted them to occur. I used different coloured post it notes for different types of elements, such as romance, island beauty, tragedy, humour, terror etc. That way I could see a vague overall structure and move elements around easily. I then transcribed these onto a spreadsheet in those categories. I didn’t use the spreadsheet much, but it helped me see the big picture. Then I just plunged in, writing scenes and chapters, based on the few points I’d written on the post it notes. Eventually I did end up making a table on a Word document where I listed each chapter title with columns for its highlights and characters. I then used that table as a summary for the Content Editor I hired and found it was very useful for moving chapters around to fit a three-act structure.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I wait to edit until a day or more after writing. For this book, I wrote each scene or chapter as a free flow until I was completely done with the first draft. I didn’t edit as I wrote the initial draft, as I found that would hamper or even stop my flow. However, that meant a HUGE amount of time editing afterwards.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes, I hired a professional content editor. Over the course of a year he instructed me how to adapt my manuscript into a more compelling three-act structure, reviewing a third of the manuscript at a time. I also hired a proofreader before publishing on Amazon.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes I listened to Caribbean Calypso, Soca and Reggae music to get into the island frame of mind, but usually I found music too distracting. I used a free white noise app and earphones, which worked really well for me.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, oh my – did I ever! Over a period of 2 or more years I hyper-focused on getting an agent or publisher. I took online courses in how to write a compelling query letter, “elevator pitch” and synopsis. I got feedback on my Query letter from live agents at writers’ conferences and paid extra to pitch to them. I bought the Publishing Market Directory and researched the most appropriate agents and publishers. I sent 65 query letters to Agents and small Publishers, each letter custom tailored.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
My decision to go Indie was based upon three main factors. 1. In spite of all my efforts, I’d had no success getting an Agent. I’d learned that Agents were not keen to take a chance on a first time author. I had run out of hope of ever getting an Agent or small Publisher. 2. I investigated Hybrid Publishers and found the fees they wanted to be outrageous for the service you received. They seemed to make their money from Author fees, not from book sales, and did little to promote your book. 3. The self-publishing/Indie route had shed some of its initial stigma, and hundreds of Authors were now eschewing the traditional route and were self-publishing. I investigated KDP Amazon, liked what I saw, including all the helpful resources they provided, and decided to get my book out there too.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My book cover was designed by a professional contact of mine who had successfully published a famous Artist’s coffee table book.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
My plan is evolving as I learn more about book marketing. I started by announcing it prior to release, promoting it to all my email contacts, Facebook friends and Facebook groups. Once it was published I again promoted it to all of those. I then hosted a book launch party at the local Brewery, where I sold and signed many books. I advertised the book launch in the local paper and on Facebook. I have books for sale in several local stores. I got the local newspaper to interview me and publish it as an article. I reached out to many online newsletters and Blogs and was featured in articles in them. I entered a literary contest and won Book of the Month in the category of Action and Adventure, which I publicized on Facebook. I have now been nominated by the same contest as Author of the year. Next I will research how to use Amazon Ads and that will be my next strategy.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Advice about writing: if you have a book you want to write… don’t just talk about it, start RIGHT NOW. Write every day. It may take a couple of years for you to write a first, second and final draft. If you feel you need training in how to write, then get it. About self- publishing: you must first make sure to get your book polished to be the very best it can be. Hire a Content Editor. Get some Beta readers to give you feedback. Be careful using AI to rewrite or edit your content because AI will take most of your “Voice” and personality out of your writing. And, worse, KDP Amazon has an anti-AI policy. Before uploading your book, use a Proofreader – you need an expert in punctuation and grammar because you often can’t see your own mistakes. Pay a professional to make your cover. People DO judge a book by its cover! Get help writing the back cover blurb. And – don’t pay any so-called Hybrid or Vanity publishers up front. Beware of fake Amazon websites/vanity publishers that will use the words KDP or Amazon in their name to lure you in and then charge money. The real site is kdp.amazon.com. Open a free account and follow the steps described in the dozens of resources and instruction videos they have. You can also look into Ingram Spark, but I found they were more difficult to use and they took a larger fee off your selling price. Traditional publishers should pay you, but you may never get one to take a chance on you. But, you CAN self publish. It may seem daunting, but you can do everything yourself, with some professional help. Take it one step at a time, and you can do it.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town, Seaforth, Ontario, but I have lived in many places around the world.
Where do you live now?
I live in the interior of BC, in the charming small town of Lillooet, nestled in some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I believe it is never too late to reimagine and reshape your life. At the age of 70 I moved out to beautiful Lillooet BC from Ontario, and two years later I self-published Money Moth/Death Moth. It has been tremendously exciting and fun. People here know me as, “The writer”. I began working for the Lillooet Friendship Centre almost 5 years ago, and it is very fulfilling for me to be able to support their work in helping the less fortunate. I still write – providing articles to the local newspaper and journaling experiences. I sing in my son’s folk/rock band, and am a Director on the local Chamber of Commerce and the Music Society. In spite of the painful experiences in the Caribbean, I still live by this quote attributed to Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“
What are you working on now?
I am considering other plots and am also combing through the chapters, scenes and characters that were cut from the original manuscript to see if any are compelling enough to form the basis of a second book.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Money Moth, Death Moth from Amazon US or Amazon UK.