My background & why I'm writing about the industry

I was born in Sheffield in 1970, and taken away from my natural mother at birth. In those days it wasn't acceptable to be a single mum & as my natural mother had already given birth to one child she was labelled ' of dubious & promiscuous character ' and was forced into giving me up. Firstly I went to pre-adoption foster parents then at 9 months old I was placed with what was supposed to be my permanent family.

Apparently I was born a Moira - but that name was never used on any documentation. At school I was known as Julie . When I reached 16, I found out my adoption had never been formalised and so I was given the chance to re-invent myself hence legally changing my name to Charlie, which I've now been longer than any other name.

When I was five years old I suffered my first real heartbreak. My mother sat me on her knee and announced that not only had I come out of another lady's tummy that my dad (who was my foster dad) was leaving.

So the irony was that I ended up being raised as a single parent child after all.

By the time I was a teen (admittedly a rather difficult one) I was in a children's home. At 16 I had my own flat and little or no prospects.

Like most who grow up in care, my self-esteem was low and I felt something was missing in my life - love. So I decided to have a baby, without truly understanding all that would entail, my daughter was born when I was 18.

All I knew was, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life, like many of my school friends had - on the same council estate we grew up on. After a miserable tower block existence, living in squalor and dire poverty, I fell into prostitution at the deep end - the gutter, the streets.

Eventually I worked my way up the ladder but not before giving up my daughter and going to prison. In the end I achieved an incredible lifestyle and became privileged. I travelled half way around the world and became very successful in the industry. I became Yorkshire's most notorious madam.

I retired as a prostitute myself in 1998 and in 2002 sold off the last of my busy parlours. These days I am successful in so many other ways that I never dreamed of and finally I can turn my back on the game.

Why the site?

The main motivation for the site, was the same as why I wrote the book - so that none of my experiences would be in vain. Sharing my story with different people has enabled me to make a positive contribution to society, in a way I never felt possible. I never cease to be amazed at the power of the internet, since the site started in 2002 I've been inundated with emails from people all around the world who want to share their stories or ask for confidential advice as well as reuniting me with several old long-lost buddies!

Of course I realised the internet was the perfect platform for some of my views on the sex industry. I've refused to keep quiet, choosing to be a public speaker for over a decade. I have always believed that my being an honest, outspoken voice in the industry goes someway to change public perception and helps with a more straightforward approach to surrounding issues.

I meet many people in other professions who support my ideals: police, doctors etc and we work closely with the media to put forward sensible approaches based on experience rather than political motive.

There have been several newspapers that have been covering my escapades since I was in my early twenties.

In 2002 I started filming with LWT for a six-part ITV documentary - called personal services, (broadcast 2003) in which I was not only a contributor but also the narrator. That was the ideal time to exit the industry - as one journo put it

'... in a blaze of glory'

About my writing

I started taking my writing seriously whilst in prison ten years ago ( if you want to know why I went you'll have to buy my book! ). Whilst there I entered the Koestler awards; which are held yearly.

If you've never heard of him (and I hadn't) Koestler was an artist from the 60's who believed that prisoners could be rehabilitated through expressing their creative side. Now at first I thought what a load of bullshit, but it really does work! There have been some prisoners who have become famous for sculpture, painting and writing and others. Once a talent like that is tapped there is little impetus for the prisoner to want to go back to prison - suddenly he or she becomes worthwhile, validating his position as a member of society.

I could hardly believe it when I won in two categories - writing and poetry. When I look back at my work then and compare it to today, I can see how much my work has improved. But the desire to continue surely goes to prove that the whole experience truly inspired me.

Since then I've been privileged to take part in some great courses. Firstly I attended a writer's workshop at my local college, Swarthmore in Leeds. I met several other budding writers some of whom I am still pals with & the tutor, Jean was a fantastic figurehead. I also attended a weekend workshop with Laura Fish in Cornwall at the Kings art centre and been tutored whilst on writing holidays With novelists Crysse Morrison, Hugh O'Neil and Helen Carey. Later I was blessed to attend a course with Jonathan & Julie Myerson who also continued to give unconditionally long after the course had finished.

Finally when my book came together I found myself the perfect mentor - Alegra Taylor, author of 'What's love go to do with it', a sensitively well written book all about the real world of prostitutes. Alegra turned out to be a warm and caring human being and a marvellous healer. She was able to help me with some of the more painful writing, working through some serious emotions as they surfaced.
The book itself is based on my true story. I have chosen to write it as memoirs so that I can write it like a story as opposed to an autobiography. The book is now available to buy online:

Priceless: My journey through a life of vice

There are various "survivor" stories on the market today written for various reasons. My personal motivation was neither fame or money (I've had both in the past & I still wasn't happy!). I wanted to achieve two things, to take something negative and turn it into something positive and to make sure that none of my experiences were in vain - if just one person made a life-changing decision after reading my book; finally I really would be able to say my life had truly become Priceless... Since the book came out I'm pleased to say I've actually recieved many such emails fulfilling this wish.