Since retiring in 2011 and deciding the time was right for her to write those long-dreamed of romance novels, her fingers have barely left the keyboard.

Her first book, a 20,000 word ‘steam punk novella’ (historical fantasy set in the steam-powered Victorian era) which was written in a week, had three contract offers from publishers by May 2012.

“It was quite astonishing ... especially when everyone tells you how long you have to wait for your literary breaks,” Anne told the Guardian.

“My next book was the 60,000 word Holiday Affair and that was an Amazon best-seller in the US and the UK in the romance genre.”

Since then Anne has been juggling her time as a writer with the needs of her private editing business plus a small e-publishing business, Emerald Romance.

And now she has been voted ‘author of the year’ with 370 votes from online supporters at AusRomToday, a site designed to celebrate the achievements of Australian romance literature.

“That came as a complete surprise ... hundreds of readers nominated the authors.

“It’s great for my online profile - marketing is so important. I spend about three hours every day attending to it on Facebook and tsu.co.”

With an English Literature and History degree behind her, the question begs why Anne chose to write romance novels?

“I guess it was born of my love of the genre ever since I was in my teens,” she said.

“And later it is where I escaped from my world of dry and dusty submissions as a librarian and a teacher.

“With romance, there is conflict and tension but there is always a happy ending - I like to write about happiness.”

But new horizons beyond the world of her flourishing e-book career lie ahead.

In July Anne signed a contract with Pan Macmillan for the print distribution of three new books ... starting with a political thriller.

“I’ve honed my craft with romance and now I am ready to fulfil my real dream.

“Kakadu Sunset is a 96,000-word political thriller set in Kakadu National Park involving hydraulic fracking and political corruption.

“I’ve been doing a lot of research, including into the minutes of Northern Territory parliamentary committee meetings where this was being discussed.”

Kakadu Sunset is due for release in July.

* To find out more about Anne’s work, visit her website at www.annieseatonromance.com.