A CLOSER LOOK
For more information on Roxanne Springer’s books, visit www.roxannespringer.com, or www.whiskeycreekpress.com.
Westbrook resident and soon-to-be-published romance novelist Roxanne Springer knows she’s not writing the next great American novel, but that’s not why she writes.
Springer is more concerned with showing her readers a good time. And a good time to her is a love story – first and foremost a love story – accompanied by some high adventure and some sex.
Springer has just made a deal with a small, Wyoming-based publisher to put at least four of her books into print over the next year or so, with a fifth possibly following. Her books will be published in what is known as the erotic romance genre.
And while they’re not the next “Great Gatsby,” Springer couldn’t be happier to be getting published. At 39 years old, she’s written for as long as she can remember and never thought she’d be sharing her stories with other people, let alone making some money at it.
“If you can do what you love and get paid for it, that’s the best,” she said.
Springer’s story starts when she was a child growing up in New Jersey, Texas and Oklahoma and other parts of the country with what she called a father she “didn’t get along with.” Instead of subjecting herself to his company, Springer retreated to her room, where she read constantly, escaping from her life.
As she got older, she started writing her own stories, never considering getting them published. Instead, she put them away into boxes or shelved them somewhere in her home.
It wasn’t until after she moved to Maine in 1988 and was reading what she called a “really bad” romance novel that things changed. She mentioned to her husband, Barry Springer, that she could probably write a better book than the one she was reading. He challenged her to do it.
Springer began her first novel, “To Love an Outlaw,” which will be the third of her first four books to be published, and although it took her four years to finish that book, others soon followed. And others after that. According to Springer, she’s got a number of books partly completed and a box full of ideas for others.
She sent her books to about 30 publishers before she found one, Whisky Creek Press, that would publish her.
And now, Springer is hoping to bring escape to others like her.
While many of her books take place in the West, she has also written a book set in ancient Rome and hopes to write others set in ancient China and ancient Egypt, among other places.
Springer says her books aren’t the typical erotic romance novels. While love is the central theme, her books contain elements of a darker side to life, including drug addiction, violence and sexual deviancy.
“I can’t stand to read a sappy love story, and I wouldn’t want to read one I wrote,” she said.
“Elusive Destiny,” Springer’s first book, is due to be released on March 1. It is the tale of a young woman forced into prostitution by her aunt, who runs a brothel. When a man the aunt is enamored with falls in love with the young girl, the aunt sells her to a brothel in Mexico that caters to men with decidedly deviant sexual tendencies. While there, the girl is forced into a morphine addiction. It’s not until she’s saved by the hero of the novel does she escape, not only her captivity, but her addiction as well.
“It’s almost like a soap opera, where it’s exciting to watch,” Springer said. “Your average person isn’t going to get kidnapped and taken to Mexico.”
Springer has a sense of humor about her books, which she said is necessary because of the criticism she receives for writing what she does.
Although she doesn’t follow any formula for her writing, Springer said, she does incorporate a few key elements. To her, every good erotic romance book needs three things: a hero the reader can fall in love with, a heroine the reader can identify and sympathize with and a villain the reader can hate.
Beyond that, it’s just coming up with the idea, which Springer said isn’t a problem. The only problem, according to her, is finding the time to write.
Springer works the night shift as a certified nursing assistant at the Falmouth by the Sea nursing home in Falmouth, where she’s worked for the past six years. She writes in between rounds.
Springer never went to college, and before she became a CNA, she did a number of jobs, including working at Dunkin’ Donuts. She’s hoping to be able to write her novels full time one day.
Springer’s husband has been a lobster fisherman for 35 years. He said he understands working odd jobs because he worked many before settling on lobstering. As for his wife’s writing, he’s proud of her talent and of her new-found success.
“I probably wouldn’t take that up to my mother – she’s 85 years old,” he said. “But I’m glad to see anybody develop a talent like that. It’s amazing how she rolls these right out of her head.”
Her daughter, Jade Springer, 12, is proud of her mother, as well. Even though she has to settle for a “heavily, heavily, heavily edited version,” according to Springer, she likes her mom’s books.
“It’s cool,” she said. “Her books pull me into the story.”
Springer’s editor, Katherine Smith of Whisky Creek Press, is impressed with her abilities, as well.
“I find Roxanne and her passion for writing refreshing,” said Smith. “Not all authors have her enthusiasm or natural talent.”
Where that talent leads Springer is yet to be decided. For now, she’s signed a contract with Whiskey Creek Press for four books, earning 30 percent of the profits. Whiskey Creek Press publishes fiction and non-fiction in all genres. The books can be purchased as an e-book download, or a paperback version can be ordered and delivered. Book stores will also order copies for customers, Springer said.
Springer doesn’t expect the money to be a lot, and the money isn’t why she’s doing it.
“Would I like to be the Stephen King of erotic romance?” she said. “Absolutely. But I don’t think it’s going to happen.
For now, she’s content just to be published.
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